Page 74 of Lion's Share
“Theoretically.” I ducked beneath a low-hanging branch, and he followed suit while I tried to think of all the things that could go wrong. “The problem is that opening a portal must take a lot of energy, and maintaining it while fighting off potentially dozens of shadow stalkers….”
“One problem at a time,” Ben said, and he paused so he could take both of my hands in his, then leaned down to press an encouraging kiss against my lips. “First we have to find them, and then we’ll figure out how to deal with them.”
If only I could have stayed like that forever, savoring his kiss.
The universe had other plans for me, unfortunately.
Close now, the griffin said, a note of warning in that inner voice. Can you feel them, light-bringer?
I could. The wrongness I’d sensed earlier was much stronger here, like a pressure against my temples, making my head begin to ache. And beneath that, there was something else — a hunger so vast and alien, it made my stomach turn.
We emerged into the same clearing where Ben and I had first seen the portal weeks ago, and my breath caught. Where once there had been a stone circle and hundreds of glowing flowers, there were dozens of moving shadows, all of them flowing around the space where that otherworldly gateway portal had opened before.
But the shadow stalkers weren’t attacking yet.
No, they seemed to be waiting.
They sense you, the griffin said as he settled into a defensive posture, a crouch that would allow him to use his powerful haunches to spring at any enemy that came near. But something holds them back.
And then I sensed another presence in the clearing, ancient and powerful and benevolent. The unicorn stepped out from behind a cluster of trees, its silver coat gleaming even in the uneasy light of those bilious storm clouds overhead. Its horn blazed with gentle radiance that made the shadow stalkers hiss and recoil.
Guardian, the unicorn said, its mental voice resonant and calm. The time of choice has come. Will you claim your destiny?
I looked around at the assembled shadow stalkers, at the griffin ready to fight beside me, at Ben standing steady and tall and determined despite the supernatural chaos that surrounded us.
Either I would step into the role that was my inheritance…or I would fail everyone who was counting on me.
“I will,” I said aloud, even as power began to build inside. Not the wild, uncontrolled energy I’d experienced before, but something focused and purposeful and ready. “I am the guardian of Silver Hollow, and I protect what’s mine.”
The shadow stalkers seemed to sense the change in me, because their waiting posture somehow shifted, and the largest of them, a writhing mass of darkness that appeared to absorb light around it, flowed toward the center of the clearing.
Too long have the guardians slept, it hissed in my mind. Too long have the barriers held us back. Now we feed. Now we grow strong enough to break all walls between worlds.
“Not on my watch,” I replied, raising my hands as electromagnetic energy began to crackle between my fingers.
Light-bringer, the griffin said, spreading its wings wide. Whatever you mean to do, do it quickly. They will not wait much longer.
I reached out with my abilities, feeling for the threads of energy that connected this clearing to the otherworld. They were there, damaged but not severed, still resonating with power. If I could open the portal, create both a way home for the griffin and as a means of banishing the shadow stalkers….
But when I reached deep within to gather the energy I’d need, I heard the unwelcome sound of vehicles approaching through the forest. Engines growling, radio chatter, the heavy footsteps of tactical teams crashing through the undergrowth with absolutely no concern for their surroundings.
Dr. Rosenthal hadn’t stayed put after all.
“Shit,” Ben muttered, clearly hearing the same things I had. “This is about to get a lot more complicated.”
The shadow stalkers heard the ruckus, too, and their attention shifted toward this new source of life energy. Several of them began flowing in the direction of the approaching federal agents, leaving trails of supernatural cold in their wake.
I had maybe ten seconds before this became a three-way battle between federal agents, otherworldly creatures, and whatever abilities I was able to summon.
No problem.
“Hold onto me,” I told Ben, even as I sensed the power within me building to dangerous levels, crackling along every nerve ending. While it didn’t exactly hurt, it was still as frightening as hell. “Whatever happens, don’t let go.”
He stepped close and put his arms around my waist even as the portal began to open, reality bending around us like heated glass. And in the distance, I could hear Dr. Rosenthal shouting orders to her team as they encountered their first shadow stalker.
Judging by the screams, it wasn’t going very well.
Now, guardian, the unicorn said, his inner voice urgent. Show them what the light can do.
