Page 22 of Cosmic Power

Barnabas studied her, his silver werewolf shining brightly in his blue eyes. He glanced at his watch and tsked. “As much as I would like to continue this conversation, there’s somewhere I need to be.” He stood and placed his hand on her head, patting her. “But don’t worry. I’ll be back soon, then you’ll see.”

Zamorra glared and slapped his hand away. “Don’t fucking touch me,” she hissed.

Barnabas backhanded her. Her head whipped to the side, more blood filling her mouth. He gripped her hair and roughly pulled her to her feet, dragging her until her face was inches away from his own.

“Youaregoing to learn to respect me, youngin. No matter the cost.” He pushed her away and she fell to her knees.

Fuck. Her body ached, nearly every part of her sore and in pain. Without her werewolf, she knew she wasn’t going to heal anytime soon. Would she have the strength for an escape if one presented itself?

A loud clunk made her flinch and she looked up, seeing Barnabas and the light mage now on the other side of the closed cage door. Iris’ hand glowed white as she waved it through the air, putting the force field back in place.

“Try and get some rest, youngin,” Barnabas said, smiling. “The next visit may not be as pleasant as this one.”

He thought this was a pleasant experience?Zamorra couldn’t help but scoff.

Barnabas turned to leave and she called out to him. “Wait!”

He froze, turning his head slightly to look her in the eyes. “Yes?”

“Roman. Where is he? What did you do with him?” She couldn’t help but worry about the big, burly vampire. She hoped he was okay. He better be, or she was going to fucking lose it.

“Don’t worry about the vampire. He’s beneath you.”

Zamorra scoffed. “That’s very holier-than-thou. He’s not beneath me. If anything, he’s above me. Better than me.”

Barnabas’ brows slammed down in anger. “No oneis better than you. Our blood is superior;weare superior. Remember that.” He left in a huff, Iris trailing behind him until they were out of view.

What the fuck did that mean?

Zamorra waited until she heard the loud clunk of the main door slam shut and then got to her feet, despite her body’s protest. “Navi,” she groaned, wiping at the blood dripping down her face.

The pixie appeared in a cloud of green mist, her face etched in worry. She reached out and placed her tiny hand on Zamorra’s cheek, sending a current of magic into her skin. The pain vanished and Zamorra breathed a sigh of relief. Her nose was still broken, blood still flowing freely down her face, but at least the pain had eased.

“Thank you,” Zamorra said, feeling grateful.

She tried to get her mind under control, her chaotic thoughts making her head spin. Was there a chance Barnabas was telling the truth? She’d be lying if she didn’t admit they had some physical similarities. She’d never met another shifter with her characteristics.

Her mother said her silver eyes were a rare trait, but could they be a family trait instead? Passed down from Barnabas?

Her mind reeled. If it was true, it meant her mother lied to her. For her entire life. And her father…well, he wouldn’t really be her father then, would he?

Pain splintered her heart and she put a hand to her chest, breathing hard. It couldn’t be true, it just couldn’t.

She tried reaching for her werewolf again, desperate for that familiar connection.

Please, answer me. I need you. Zamorra pleaded.

There was no response. She knew it probably wasn’t going to work, but she had hoped it would.

Rubbing her forehead, Zamorra tried her best to think clearly. Without her werewolf to talk to, she felt increasingly anxious. Her guidance was paramount and not having it, not having her, made Zamorra angry. She had to get out of here. Get away from this cell and hope her connection with her werewolf would return.

Zamorra called for the pixie and Navi zoomed to her side. “Next time that shield drops, you need to go.”

Navi frowned and shook her head. She pointed vigorously between the two of them, shaking her head again. She didn’t want to leave Zamorra behind.

“You have to, Navi. You’re my only chance. You need to go and get Luther. Tell him where I am.”

The pixie scowled, her face scrunching up in displeasure.

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