Page 3 of The Heirs

“We need to move. I can’tseewhat she’s turning in to but if we don’t move this whole room is going to erupt into chaos. That’s the absolute last thing we need.” Knox responded in that knowing voice of his that usually pissed me off. But right now, I appreciated him taking the lead, I sure as shit didn’t want to be responsible for what was about to happen, even if she was one of my Shifters.

Gently picking Kalani up in my arms, I nodded to Knox, telling him to lead the way. With Knox at the front, Eli and Maeve trailed behind me, walking out of the room unnoticed. I didn’t know where Knox was taking us until I recognized the trees around Halley’s dorms. I shouldn’t realize the area based on trees alone, but I grudgingly had to admit I spent more time than reasonable around these woods, hoping for even the slightest glimpse into Halley’s life. I knew that made me a fucking creep, but she had a hold on me I couldn’t explain. I was going to blame it on the hot as fuck sex we had.

Ushering us all into the common area in the dorm, I resisted the urge to look around Halley’s space, focusing on the task at hand. On the walk over Kalani’s body had started twitching uncontrollably and I knew the shift would happen sooner rather than later. Laying her body softly on the floor, I began pushing the couches out of the way. We had no clue what would happen, better safe than sorry. Knox began helping by moving the end tables and together we moved the large bookshelf to a corner. With the entire space bare besides Kalani lying on the floor, I stood in the entry way to the room, as far away as possible. Eli and Knox stood beside me, but Maeve hesitated, clearly wanting to be there to support Kalani. It was fucking stupid. I mean, I could understand, but it was still idiotic. The girl could get seriously hurt. Before I could grab her in exasperation, Eli stepped forward and gently guided her to where we all stood, whispering in her ear. I didn’t know what he said, not caring enough to strain my hearing, but Maeve’s body relaxed in his arms, so apparently it helped.

Staring at Kalani, her body continued to show signs of shifting, twitching in and out of whatever creature was set to appear, and we all waited with bated breath for the unexpected. And for some reason, I knew that whatever happened was going to change the Divine world once again. And I wasn’t an ounce surprised that it was Halley fucking Jameson’s best friend.

Chapter Four

Halley

A shake on my shoulder pulled me out of unconsciousness and I groggily woke up for the second time today. Exhaustion continued to eat away at my body, and I swatted at whoever was trying to wake me. Didn’t they realize I needed fucking rest or else I would have no chance of recharging?

“Wake up princess.” A voice bit out and I peeked my eyes open to find Wilder staring back at me. Memories of healing him and then allowing him to feed from me flashed through my mind and I couldn’t deny the shivers that ran up my body at the thought of him drinking my blood. The pleasure was something I had never experienced before and considering I mostly hated the man standing above me, I swore to myself it would never happen again. The only reason it had happened to begin with was because he had seemed so weak, and I had felt bad. But now he was obviously feeling much better. Color was back in his cheeks and the annoyed glint I had grown accustomed to shone in his eyes.

Rolling my eyes, the attitude was clearly back and the moment I saved his life over, I pushed myself off the floor. My head began spinning and I nearly lost my balance before warm hands gripped my arms, keeping me upright.

Glancing up at Wilder, my breath caught, and I tried to push my indecent thoughts away. It was bad enough I was already physically involved with two men; I didn’t need to be lusting after another, especially one that loathed me with his whole being for reasons unknown. I blamed the bite for these feelings swirling through me and the fact we had both saved each other’s lives. Or at least that’s what I’m assuming happened during the battle, I still couldn’t remember.

Stepping away from Wilder’s enticing body, I snapped at him.

“Is there a reason you couldn’t let me rest longer? I clearly need to.”

Wilder smirked as he responded. “Besides the fact I’m tired of having you in my room? In case you forgot, there was a battle going on out there. People died. There’s no time to rest princess.”

Glaring at him, I felt the ache in my chest intensify. As if I could forget that people had died. My fucking best friend died, and it was clear Wilder gave zero shits about this fact.

“Obviously I didn’t forget. I just figured I’m no use to anyone when I can barely feel my power in my chest. And as for being in your room, I wasn’t the one who brought myself here. And it wouldn’t kill you to say thank you, I did save your life.”

With a huff, I stormed out of his room and thankfully it sat on the first floor of the dorm so I could easily make my way out. Stomping towards Central Territory, where I assumed everyone still waited for news about the attack, I couldn’t help but let anger overcome me.

How dare Wilder accuse me of forgetting what had happened. And the way he spewed the word princess, as if an insult, and I was simply sitting on my ass while the Hunters attacked. I didn’t want to rest because I felt like it, I wanted to rest because my body had no energy left. And what use was I without my powers?

As my anger sparked, my power began swirling in my chest and I breathed a sigh of relief at the feeling. Although not as strong as usual, I was thankful to at least feel it moving, knowing I still had access to it. And what crazy world was I in that not even six months ago I had no clue about the Divine world and now I couldn’t imagine a life without my power? It was a crucial part of my being now and I could only imagine the emptiness I would feel without it.

Continuing my angry walk, I was close to Central when a firm hand gripped my arm. Spinning around quickly, I brought up my hand, ready to deliver a blow to whoever it was. Before I could even make contact though, the hand wrapped around my wrist, halting my movement.

“Have to be quicker than that to get one on a Drax,” Wilder drawled, that infuriating smirk painted on his face. And even though I knew he was no Hunter, I inexplicably wanted to hit him even harder.

“What do you want? I’m out of your room and going to deal with the battle that Iclearlydid not forget.” I growled, my anger rising with each word.

“Well, I figured I’d let you on your way, but unless you want everyone knowing about your new freaky powers, that I promise has never been seen in an Enchanter before, I’d wait on going to Central.” Wilder responded and I stared at him in confusion before following his gaze to my hands and arms.

A dark haze surrounded my body, not encompassing me, but lying on top of my skin like an extension of it. My eyes widened as I continued to stare, no clue what was going on with me. Wilder clearly seemed to know at least partial information and I wondered if this had to do with my memory loss from the fight.

“What is this?” I quietly whispered, entranced by the inky tendrils floating around me.

“What it is? I have no fucking clue princess. But I do know this is what you looked like before decimating nearly the rest of the Hunters without blinking and then passing out before I brought you back to the dorm.”

Well, that answered one question, Wilder apparently did save me as I did him. I didn’t know how to feel about that and quite frankly now wasn’t the time to dive into the twisted emotions I felt for the man in front of me. There were more important things to think about, specifically this darkness.

As I stared at my arms, my anger simmered, and the tendrils began to fade. Huh. I thought back to my countless lessons with my “tutors” and how each had instilled in me that my emotions were the key to controlling my powers. And it seemed that anger brought out whatever this was. Considering the immense anger that had flown through me after seeing Kalani lifeless on the ground, I wasn’t surprised a large burst of power had taken over me. What concerned me though was that Icouldn’t remember what happened after.Did this new power take over my mind and allow me no control?

Pushing those terrifying thoughts away, I refocused on Wilder, standing with my hands on my hips, not wanting him to see me afraid of my own power.

“Well thank you. So, if I can’t go into Central, what do you suggest I do?” I asked, emphasizingmythank you, still waiting patiently for his after healing him not once, but twice.

Unsurprisingly, Wilder ignored my attitude and led me by my arm, which I belatedly realized he still gripped, towards my dorm. Pulling away from him, I walked briskly ahead, not needing his help to get tomydorm. Unfortunately, Wilder continued to follow. I had no idea what he was playing at. He had literally just kicked me out of his room not even five minutes ago and yet he was trailing after me. The closer I got to my dorm, the more sluggish my walk got, the irritation fading and exhaustion reclaiming its rightful spot inside my bones. Although I knew I needed to deal with the aftermath of the Hunter’s attack, all I currently wanted to do was curl up in my bed and grieve by myself.

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