Page 25 of Frost and Fate
The red-haired woman, called Brona, spoke next. “We were told there was a recent appearance of a Shadow Walker as well. Any chance he might join us today?”
Gideon sighed. “He seems to come and go as he pleases.”
Leah stood from the table. “I’ll get him.” Without a word or explanation of how she planned to do this, she confidently exited the conference room. A few discomforting minutes passed before the doors swung open and in walked Leah, followed by Romani. When Aria saw the tall, tanned, dark-haired gypsy boy enter the room, her jaw dropped. She quickly gave Nova an elbow and fanned herself dramatically. Nova stifled a giggle. The gesture did not go unnoticed by all, as was obvious from the scowl creasing Gideon’s beautiful face.
Across the room, a grin formed on Matlena’s wrinkled mouth as he approached. “Oh child!” Her pale mossy eyes lit up. “My father was a Walker. Please let me see you.” She held out her hands and the boy approached without hesitation. As soon as Romani was in reach, Matlena reached out her hands to feel all over his chiseled face. “So strong, so powerful. A Romancellak no doubt.”
Romani looked taken aback, but then smiled and said to the woman, “It is an honor to meet a Seer of the Jolstad Coven.”
Matlena placed a hand over his heart. “For all you have seen in the Veil.” Something silent took place between them, and the room began to fill with somber energy.
Finally it was Laurie who spoke. “Matlena, perhaps you should tell them of your abilities and how you are able to help protect the pack.”
The old woman seemed almost regretful as she stepped away from Romani. She walked to the nearest wall and stood before it. With swift, precise movements she raised her hands, drawing something in the air. After a few words, spoken too softly for Nova to hear, the air began to pulse and take shape. A gold symbol revealed itself on the wall. The writing was something Nova didn’t recognize. Suddenly the symbol began duplicating, forming a repeating chain across the walls from one end of the room and back to where it started. The room glowed with a ring of vibrant symbols encircling it. Within moments they began to fade, and all returned to normal.
“What the heck was that?” Aria said.
Brona answered, her voice melodic, “They’re runes. Many from our Nordic heritage. Matlena wrote a spell of protection and sealed this room. No Collectors can pass through the shield.”
“Wait a second, you’re Norwegian?” Aria asked, pointing to Brona’s velvety red hair.
Brona chuckled. “My mother married an Irishman. I definitely inherited more physical attributes from him.”
Gideon redirected the conversation away from Brona’s looks and back to Matlena. “How does it filter who can enter and who doesn’t?”
With a grim look she answered, “Død. Death. Those with rotting and decaying flesh cannot pass. Only the living may pass.”
Darren asked, “What if they send a human to attack for them? Will it know the difference?”
“Very good question, my handsome man. It will not know in that case. I could make a lycan-only protection but others enter this building daily including humans, Chosen, and your Celestial mate.”
Nova’s eyes went wide.
“Bestemor!” Brona chided. She turned to Nova and Darren. “Apologies, she thinks herself a matchmaker.”
“Don’t apologize for me,” the old woman scolded. “I am never wrong.”
An awkward silence came over the room. Nova didn’t dare to look at Darren. Heat crept into her cheeks. Eventually Gideon spoke again, writing up plans for which areas of the perimeter needed to be protected, and asking about other spells that could help. Nova barely heard them, she felt sweaty, and like her tongue was made of sand. There was a sinking feeling in her gut. Not because she thought Matlena was wrong, but because she hoped it was true. Her chest became tight and the air around her felt thick.
“Hey, Nova,” Aria whispered cautiously. “Is everything okay?”
Nova glanced up, surprised to see all eyes on her. She looked at Aria, concern marring her beautiful features. “Why do you ask?”
Aria tapped on her water glass. “You froze the water.” Aria gestured around the room. All of the water glasses in the room had turned to solid ice. Nova quickly put her hands in her lap. A crystallized outline of her fingers remained on the table. The air in the room seemed to press in on her from all sides. She peered up, noticing a sheet of small snowflakes floating down around the room. She stood up quickly and backed herself toward the door.
“Sorry.” She fumbled with the doorknob, sending ice sprawling across the door and the walls surrounding it. The more she pulled, the more stuck the door became. The winds were picking up in the room and the temperature continued to plummet. Nova’s panic mixed with embarrassment. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She stopped pulling on the knob and sighed.
A warm hand covered hers, removing it from the handle. She gazed into glowing honey-fire eyes. He jerked open the frozen door, placed a hand on her lower back, and ushered her into the hallway. As soon as they were clear of the room, Darren stopped, setting his hands on either side of Nova’s face.
“Breathe, Nova,” he soothed. “You control this power, not the other way around.” The heat of his palms seemed to sink deep into Nova’s skin. She felt a warm calmness take the place of the frantic fear she had been feeling moments before. She leaned into him, resting her face against his chest. Strong arms encircled her. Nova breathed in his spicy scent, and her heart began to beat more regularly.
“I need to be outside. I need fresh air. I need sunlight. I can’t just stay in here all the time.”
“I have an idea.” Darren took Nova by the hand and led her through the complex. They made a quick stop in the cafeteria where he grabbed two sandwiches, a bag of fruit, and some bottled water. They made their way to the elevators in silence. Darren took Nova to the penthouse level, but headed away from Gideon’s apartment. She wondered where they were going, but remained quiet as they wandered through a maze of hallways until coming upon a large, ornate door. “Are you ready?”
Nova looked at him quizzically. As the huge door swung open, her mouth gaped. She stood before a massive greenhouse room, or at least it’d been green at some point. The room had obviously not been tended to for some time. Wilted plants, dried-up trees, and empty pots littered the space.
That wasn’t what made Nova’s jaw drop. The room was made entirely of glass. It extended beyond the building walls and onto a gorgeous glass overhang. Nova walked to the edge of the glittering balcony and looked up. Encased completely in its transparent material, she could see an expanse of soft blues and fluffy white clouds. It was almost like being outside as she stared up at the sunny Georgia sky.
