Page 8 of Frost and Fate
Another long pause consumed the room until Gideon eventually replied, “It’s complicated. You’re not only a Chosen.” His gaze swung toward his Beta and then back to Nova. “You are also a Celestial.”
Nova sighed. She thought getting answers to her questions would help, but things were only getting more confusing. “And…what is a Celestial?”
“Unlike the Chosen, who work to train to improve their smaller skills and talents, the Celestial are gifted immense power from birth. These talents often remain hidden for years. They are known to surface under ‘stressful’ circumstances.”
Thinking back to the brutal attack at the warehouse, Nova shivered. Darren took a protective step toward her. Gideon looked at them a moment before continuing.
“Celestials are far more powerful than the Chosen alone. Many have godlike powers, which is why it has been said that the Celestials are gifted their abilities from some form of higher beings or deities. For the most part, their powers seem to stem from the elements—earth, air, fire, water, or a combination of several elements.”
“So you’re saying there are a bunch of people walking around out there with ‘godlike’ powers that could explode out as soon as they get stressed?”
Laurie stepped forward. “You misunderstand. The Chosen may have smaller talents and are more common, but the Celestials are extremely rare. You’re the first we’ve seen in nearly fifty years.” Okay, this was news to Nova. She was some sort of rare superhuman elemental ice witch that got her powers from a mysterious god figure? She was starting to get a headache.
“What happened to the last one? Maybe we can talk to them and get some guidance?”
A quiet tension filled the room. Gideon spoke more softly this time, “She was taken by the Collectors. She was missing for nearly twenty years before her body was found in the Swiss mountains.”
Nova’s stomach churned. “They killed her?” The room remained quiet. “What did they do with her for those twenty years?” Stillness was the only reply.
It was Laurie who broke the silence. “We don’t know. We don’t know why they wanted her, or you.”Or you.Nova’s head spun faster. She began to hyperventilate as the world closed in around her.
“This is too much. I can’t do this.” She darted toward the entrance of the training room and out into the hallway. Flashbacks of the severe beating she took from the Collectors began to appear in her mind. The crunch of ribs, the taste of blood in her mouth, the shattering of teeth. She stopped, pressing her back against the wall, leaning on it for support while she gulped in air.
Darren had immediately followed her out and planted himself in front of her. He stepped closer.
“I can’t,” she gasped. “I can’t do this.” She felt full of panic and fear, like a trapped animal. Darren’s honey-fire eyes burned into hers. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them as he braced his hands on the wall on either side of Nova’s shoulders.
“Look at me,” his deep voice pleaded. When she refused, he used two fingers to tilt her chin up toward him. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” She could feel the heat radiating off of him, smell his delicious spiced scent. Her breathing began to slow, evening out. Their eyes remained locked as warmth crept through her body. He leaned closer, tilting down to her face. Nova could feel his breath now. She parted her lips in anticipation as his mouth inched closer to hers and...
“Everything okay out here?” Leah’s stern face appeared behind Darren. He took a quick step back and away from Nova.
“Everything’s fine. Are you ready to go back in?”
“Yes.” Nova sidestepped Darren and hurried in, catching Leah quirk a dark eyebrow at Darren. They followed Nova back into the training room. Laurie was wringing her hands together. Lance draped a comforting arm around his wife’s shoulders. Noticing their entry, she stepped forward.
“Nova.” Laurie clasped Nova’s hands into her own. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I know this is a lot to take in, but if you will trust us, I promise, we are going to do everything we can to make sure you never end up in their hands.”
Nova gave a weak smile. “Thank you.” She looked around the room. “I’m sorry I freaked out.” She paused on Gideon. “I’m ready to learn.”
Gideon took a deep breath in. “Good.” He signaled to Leah and she closed the training room doors. “Laurie is going to help walk you through how to tap into your powers. Our goal is for you to learn to access them when you choose and not when your emotions get the best of you. Essentially, you should learn to turn your powers on and off at will.”
Nova’s heart thumped. “What if I hurt someone? Those guys at the warehouse, I—”
“They got exactly what they deserved,” interrupted Darren, in a dark tone. When Nova looked over at him his eyes were glowing. Their honey-fire color seemed to burn with real fire beneath. “You never need to think of them again.” There was such finality in his voice that Nova actually believed him.
“Plus,” added Leah, who had remained quiet thus far, “we’re lycans. We heal at a far more rapid pace than humans. We will be ready for whatever happens.” The strikingly beautiful tan-skinned woman owned such a distinct confidence. Nova envied the strength and power she sensed in the Alpha’s advisor.
“And I will be close enough to protect Laurie,” Lance added. “She is not a lycan and will not heal the same way we do.” He stared at Nova, letting the weight of his words sink it.
Nova swallowed hard. “Okay.” She turned to Laurie. “I’m ready when you are.” The rest of the lycans spread out throughout the large room, giving her plenty of space. Only Lance remained close, his body coiled just behind Laurie, no doubt ready to intervene if necessary.
“Don’t mind him”—Laurie motioned to Lance—“he’s overprotective of me.” Lance huffed at this but remained in place. “Now, close your eyes.” Nova did as she was instructed. “I want you to imagine walking down a stone path in the forest. You are surrounded by lush, green trees. Listen to the sounds of the birds and leaves. Smell the fresh forest air. You are safe and at peace.”
Nova listened intently, visualizing Laurie’s words. She began to feel herself sinking deeper into this reality. The breeze touched her cheeks, and she could feel the mossy ground beneath her feet.
“Now continue walking down this forest path. You will begin to notice something in the distance. As you reach the end of the path you will find a large stone wall. Look closely and you will see a wooden door.”
The wall was massive. Nova couldn’t even see over the top. She walked along the wall until she found a worn wooden door. “I see it,” she said, her eyes still closed.
