Page 30 of Frost and Fate
Romani’s face paled. “He was touching me just before. He must have let go.”
A silence came over the room. “Take me back,” Nova said, extending a hand toward the tan-skinned Veil Walker.
“Absolutely not,” Darren roared.
Nova ignored him. “You saw what we did before. I’ll distract them, then you grab Peyton.”
“You are not going back there!” Darren’s eyes were glowing more fiercely now, his wolf near the surface. He moved to close the distance between them.
Nova reached for Romani. “There’s no time for this! If we want to save him we have to go now!”
Romani’s hazel eyes hardened, and he grasped her fingers in his. As the room went black, Nova could hear the protests of Darren echoing across the space. In a moment they reappeared at the end of the hall. The mass of Collectors was still swarming. She could hear a faint growling sound coming from the center of the heap of bodies. “Get ready,” she said.
“Ready when you are, Ice Queen.” Romani stood, poised. As Nova called upon her powers, the group suddenly looked in her direction. Their attentions had once again been drawn by the power radiating off of her. She raised her fingers in the air and sent a storm of ice shards hurtling down on the decrepit group. The second the ice hit, Romani was on the move. She saw him reappear at the edge of the group. Reaching in, he grasped something and heaved it out. A scream tore through the air as a Collector reached out of the mass and tore a deep gash down Romani’s back. He dropped to his knees, Peyton’s wolf still clutched in his grasp. Nova didn’t hesitate. She ran for the pair, dodging the quickly rising group of half-rotted bodies that reached for her as she passed. Nova allowed the magic to flow freely through her. Shimmering ice shards flew from her fingertips, impaling the gruesome white-eyed creatures. She reached Romani and Peyton’s wolf. With a scream she sent a shockwave of frosted air across the hallway. Bodies flew through the air. As soon as they were clear of Collectors, Nova grabbed onto Romani. A pool of blood was quickly forming around them, though she wasn’t sure if it was Romani’s or the wolf’s.
“Let’s go!” she shouted, and the shimmering Veil took them under. As they reappeared into the conference room, both bodies collapsed onto Nova. She heard shouting as the two injured men were quickly lifted from her. Peyton had shifted back to his human form. Several ribs were exposed across the tattooed lycan’s left side. Blood poured from his mouth, staining the piercings that dominated his lips and nose.
A large hand gripped Nova’s arm and pulled her to her feet. She stared into blazing honey-fire eyes. Darren roughly inspected Nova, searching for the source of the blood coating her chest, legs, and face. “It’s not mine!” Nova pleaded as she attempted to pull free of his panicked grasp. “I’m not hurt but Peyton and Romani are. Get them out of here!”
Darren gave her another once-over before relenting. He turned to assist the injured men, but not before Nova caught the look in his eyes. Anger and rage burned beneath that honey-fire gaze. Several other lycans had come to the conference room, hearing the commotion. Lance had already been moved out. Nova watched as Darren and the others carried Romani and Peyton toward the hospital wing. She sat down, exhausted.
“Nova?” a gentle voice asked. She looked up to find turquoise eyes staring worriedly down at her. “Are you hurt?” It was Brona, the beautiful redheaded witch. Her melodic voice brought a sense of comfort to Nova.
“No,” she answered tiredly. “I’m not hurt. The blood is not mine.”
A soft hand rubbed Nova’s back. “Let’s get you to your apartment so you can shower and rest.” Nova stood up but her legs felt like Jell-O. She collapsed back down to the floor. Brona darted to the conference room entrance. “Lucas!”
The tall blond Australian came sprinting into the room.
“She’s exhausted. The magic…” Brona whispered. “We need to get her home.”
The man swiftly walked to where Nova was sitting. He squatted down until he was at her eye level. “There’s our Ice Queen.” He gave her a gentle smile. “Mind if I help you back to your room?” His subtle Australian accent was unmistakable.
Nova nodded. “Thanks. I don’t know why I’m so tired.”
“That’s the magic,” Brona said. “It takes a toll. You just need to rest.”
Lucas slipped one arm beneath her legs and the other under her back. He carefully lifted her off the ground and she wrapped her arms around his neck for support. Nova didn’t fight Lucas’s help. She was too tired. As they walked, she allowed her face to lay on his warm, firm chest. They walked in silence until reaching the apartment. Lucas waited in the living room while Brona accompanied Nova to the bathroom. The kind redhead drew a warm bath. Once it was full, she gently helped Nova inside. Nova let out a groan as she sank into the tub. She hadn’t realized how sore and achy her muscles were. The hot water was so soothing as its heat seeped into her.
Brona hummed something beautiful as she gently washed the blood from Nova’s long silver hair. Using a warm washcloth, she wiped the blood and grime from Nova’s tired face.
“There we go.” Brona smiled. “No more blood.” The turquoise-eyed woman helped Nova out of the tub and into a fluffy white bathrobe. “Let’s get you into bed.” She ushered Nova to bed and tucked her in.
“It was so terrible,” Nova murmured, as she lay her head down on the pillow. “So many, so much blood…”
“Shhh,” Brona cooed. “It’s time to think of beautiful things.”
Nova felt a soft hand on her forehead, followed by a tingling sensation. The next thing she saw was a field of colorful wildflowers. Fluffy clouds covered the blue sky above and birds sang in the distance. Without a care in the world, she drifted to sleep. In her last moment between sleep and awake, she thought about Brona. She knew so little about the beautiful witch, or what kinds of powers she had. That would be a question for another time. Now it was time to rest in a field of wildflowers.
ChapterFifteen
When Nova awoke, it was to an urgent knocking at the door. She got up and quickly opened it, only to be swallowed up in someone’s embrace. “Oh my god!” Aria shrieked. “I heard about everything that happened! Are you okay?” She pulled away from the embrace to take a quick look at Nova.
“I’m fine, Aria,” she said, still groggy from sleep. “Where’s Brona?”
“Everyone is pretty busy after today. I’m on babysitting duty now!” The petite brunette smiled, a twinkle in her cobalt eyes. “I’m here to take care of you! Which means of course”—she turned to pick up several brown bags—“I brought takeout and wine!” Aria looked Nova up and down once more. “You look like you could use a drink.” Nova’s stomach growled loudly at the mention of takeout. Aria didn’t miss it. “Do you even eat when I’m not around? Or do you spend all your time hooking up with Darren? I don’t care if he puts it in your mouth, that is not food!”
Nova burst out laughing. “You aresoinappropriate. Nobody’s putting anything in my mouth but I am starving so get in here.” She pulled the lycan into the living room and plopped down on the couch. They tore into the savory food like animals and honestly, Nova couldn’t care less. She didn’t even speak again until she’d finished four spring rolls, a spicy crab roll, several steamed gyoza, and a container of steak fried rice.
