Page 98 of Destined for Shadows
Melena’s eyes rounded. “The genes are recessive. She could have one from a single parent but not the other. It would explain why she’s always had a strong resistance to compulsion if that somehow influenced her genetic makeup despite not being the dominate factor.”
Bartol stilled his arms around her. “Does that mean your blood completed the process and made her a sensor?”
“She doesn’t feel like one.” Melena’s brows knitted. “But it’s like she’s something similar. Sort of like how the nerou aren’t quite the same, either. It’s…new.”
Micah put his hands on Cori’s feet. Unlike before, she could actually feel the tingling magic working over her along with the painful healing process. She pushed back at the first sign of discomfort, but then she forced herself to relax and let him work. In seconds, her feet were as good as new, including freshly grown toenails.
“I couldn’t have done that to a sensor, but she is able to resist magic now,” Micah informed them.
Cori adjusted herself in Bartol’s arms, finally realizing she was completely naked. “Can someone loan me a shirt?”
Lucas flashed away, returning a minute later with one of Melena’s large sweatshirts and a pair of yoga pants. Cori climbed out of Bartol’s arms and took the clothes. Everyone was polite enough to look away while she crouched on the ground pulling everything on.
Feeling a little less vulnerable now that she’d armed herself with cotton, she gazed around at everyone. She had dazedly noticed it before, but now she really took in how people appeared to her. Each person had a light aura around them. For the nephilim, it was gold—no surprise there. With Melena, it was the same shade of blue as her eyes. Tormod was violet and the werewolves brown. Derrick was an odd burnt-orange color, reflecting his werewolf heritage as well as the demon and angel mix he got from Yerik.
Unlike Melena, she couldn’t sense ages or any other specific details. It was just auras. Cori had been changed in some significant way, though she had no idea what that meant.
“I’m good now, guys,” she said, realizing they still had their backs to her.
They all turned, but it was Bartol who moved closest again and pulled her to her feet. “How do you feel?”
“Fine.”
“Just fine?” Melena lifted a brow. “What’s different?”
Cori explained about the auras.
The sensor frowned. “That’s…unexpected. I don’t see auras. It’s more like vibes for me and information flooding my mind.”
“We can discuss that later.” The alpha werewolf stepped forward. “Do you have any idea what that stone was that you threw at us?”
Cori nodded. “Griff said it was a Gregorian stone that’s supposed to drain the powers of anyone with angel blood. Apparently, Zoe dug a few of them up in Russia and sent one to him to test for her. He said they were very rare.”
A round of curses went through the group.
Melena threw her hands up. “That damned woman always has someone else doing her dirty work, so she can claim innocence.”
Bartol ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I didn’t have a problem with her before, but now she’s going to pay for this.”
“Don’t do it because of me,” Cori begged, not wanting to see him go off alone and get hurt.
She’d witnessed what that stone did to her friends and couldn’t stand the idea of him taking on someone as powerful as Zoe without help. Most of the others were still restricted as part of their punishment for freeing the nerou and wouldn’t be able to go with him if he left now. “She’s stuck in Russia for a while longer, so we’ve got time to deal with her later.”
Lucas began to pace. “Zoe will use this time to further her plans. That’s no doubt who Griff called before he decided to let the sun take him.”
“It was a female,” one of the werewolves confirmed.
A brilliant flash of light filled the yard, followed by several explosions.
Everyone jumped back, moving closer to the house. A moment later, a very annoyed archangel with short, auburn hair and fair skin appeared before them, wearing a tattered and scorched robe. He glowed such a gleaming gold color that it was difficult for Cori to look at him, though she recognized his face.
Tormod snickered at the newcomer. “There are mines all over the place, so you might want to watch out.”
“Not anymore,” the glowing man replied, sweeping out a hand. Dozens of small potholes formed in the earth where they must have been before.
“Remiel,” Melena said, putting her hands on her hips. “Don’t you ever get tired of irritating us with your presence?”
The archangel gave her a disapproving look. “Yes, I do. If you would stop getting yourselves into trouble, I would gladly take a sabbatical from seeing any of you for a while.”
