Page 24 of Rising Darkness

I shared a look with Dason, then spoke aloud. “We trust our allies and expect that our allies will trust us in return.”

“Stand down,” Darbonne snapped over his shoulder. “Our only hope of stopping the evil bleeding into our realm lies with these men and their mate, the Veil Keeper.”

Gasps and murmurs made their way through the crowd, but they parted as we passed, following Darbonne swiftly into the house. Syler stood sentry at the door, making sure no one attacked while we entered the house.

“Give me that,” Darbonne ordered, taking the map from Dason and sending a vase crashing to the floor as he cleared a large round table that stood in the center of a massive foyer. A chandelier hung above, casting rainbows of light around the entry. Spreading it out, Dason magicked some weights to hold the corners and placed them so the map remained flat.

Darbonne took the scrying glass next. “Do you have anything of Lorn’s I can use in a spell? Or a picture of her?”

“Got it.” Axel reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and scrolled through his photos until he landed on one of them smiling at the top of a Ferris wheel. The city lights behind them sparkled, but it was Lorn’s stunning smile that placed my heart in a vise.

“Lorn?” A feminine voice appeared at the top of the stairs as a fiery redhead came into view. “I swear I heard you say Lorn’s name.” Jogging down the steps, the girl marched right up to Darbonne like her natural enemy wasn’t standing in the entrance.

“Do you never follow directions? I warned you to stay in your room until I told you it was safe.” Darbonne glowered at the girl, who propped her hands on her hips.

“And I’ve told you I’m not your property. I heard my best friend’s name, and I’ll be damned if you’re going to keep me locked up like some prisoner.” Whirling to us, she asked, “Where is she? I thought she was with you.”

“That’s what we’re here to find out,” Kota barked. “Darbonne. Map.” Kota issued orders like he was a born alpha. He was tired of waiting and worrying, and I felt his need to do something, anything, to get his mate back.

The rest of the pack buzzed with the same anxious, dangerous energy.

“Emmaline,” Darbonne scolded. “This is not the time.”

“Where is she? What do you mean you have to ‘find out’? Did you lose her?” Em turned her accusatory emerald gaze on all of us, and Dason growled from the challenge and recrimination.

“We didn’t lose her, she was kidnapped.”

Em whirled on Darbonne, made a fist, and punched him in the arm. As petite as she was, she barely hurt him. “Were you even going to tell me my best friend, mysister, was in danger?”

“She’s the Veil Keeper. She’s always in danger.”

“You’re infuriating,”

“As are you, darling. Now let me work.” Darbonne waved his wand at the phone and began chanting. A replica of the image lifted from the phone, shimmering with translucency.

As the images on the map shifted and changed with the ongoing spell, Em began pacing behind Darbonne, muttering to herself until she suddenly paused and went as white as a sheet. A chill dropped the temperature in the room to near freezing, and a puff of breath escaped the pale redhead.

“The spirits say her soul is complete, but her body is weak. She’s in a hidden place of stone and shadow.” Em collapsed, and Darbonne lunged, catching her in his arms before she hit the floor.

Chayton and Kota rushed to the girl to make sure she was alright. Kota’s hands glowed blue as he took her hand and poured healing magick into her.

“She’s not hurt.” Darbonne cradled the girl close. “Her magick is powerful and untrained. She can’t contain it when she accesses it and it takes a physical toll. Besides Lorn asking me to keep an eye on her friend, that’s why I’ve taken her under my wing. I’ve instructed her not to use it, but she refuses to obey orders.”

“She’s my best friend, you brute.” Em stirred, and pressed a hand to her forehead. “I’d do anything for her. It’s a small price to pay.”

Helping her to her feet, Darbonne led her to the table, keeping her close and eyeing her with concern that seemed based on feelings rather than on his duty as her self-imposed guardian.

“The map should lead you to her general location.” Darbonne jabbed his finger into the middle of a mountainous area. “You will find her somewhere here. The scrying glass, however, can only be activated by our kind. I can summon her image, but it requires a small ceremony and takes time.”

“No. We can’t spare another minute. Thank you,” I shook hands with the warlock, something I never thought I’d do.

“You need to hurry. The spirits said there’s been a shift in their realms.” Em warned. “Be careful. There’s strange magick at work.”

“Syler,” I barked, and my friend crossed the threshold and joined us. “Axel, can you get us there?”

Studying the map, Axel crinkled it in his hands, refusing to waste another second to roll it properly.

“Of course I can.” Another portal and we were in the middle of towering redwoods.

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