Davina (Davy Harwood #3)(35)

“Who-a . . .” someone muttered.

I didn’t care. Every last part of them had to become ash and even then, the pile of ashes would need to be spread all over. I didn’t know the Mori lore and how to kill them, but I wasn’t taking a chance. I kept chanting and the flames doubled in size. A white twinge started to grow on the outskirts of the fire, but that was from The Immortal. I couldn’t see myself, but I knew my eyes had changed to The Immortal white. I kept them lowered so no one could see them until the Mori were completely gone. Then, as the last piece of ash fell to the pile, I raised my hands and made a motion to the left. A strong gust of wind swept through the clearing where we were and picked up the ashes. I sent them off, directing where I wanted them spread, and once I was content, knowing they would never return and never come back to life, I stopped.

I could still feel The Immortal in my blood. She was on an adrenaline high, like she was intoxicated. I was buzzing, but I still waited until an ounce of calmness settled over me. Cal and Spencer had come up behind us, and I turned to look at Tracey, so my back was to the hikers.

I asked in my head, “Are my eyes still white?”

She answered back, “You’re fine.”

Reassured, I looked back over the group.

All of them were staring at me with mixed emotions. Cal and Spencer looked like they were crapping their pants, while Gavin was closed off. I felt his anger. It was just underneath the surface. He was keeping it contained until the humans were dealt with. Gregory and Tracey had similar reactions. I felt the awe in both, but they were also resigned. They were waiting for Gavin and me to fight, then to keep on with whatever we decided.

I grinned slightly, but felt regret, too. “I shouldn’t have left.”

That was all Gavin needed. He erupted, “YOU THINK?”

“AGH!”

Cal and Spencer fell back again, their fear spiking once again.

I took a breath and held a hand out to Gavin. “You didn’t need to come.”

He bristled back. “You had three Mori about to rip your spine out, and you’re telling me we didn’t have to come?”

Tracey said quietly, “You knew we would.”

“You cast a sleeping spell over us.”

I stiffened, hearing the accusation coming from Gregory. I started, “I’m sorry—”

“Wren is alone,” Gavin interrupted. His eyes were narrowed to slits, and his jaw clenched. “She continued to Roane.”

“I didn’t ask you to come with me,” I argued back. My blood started to pump again. “I came here on my own.”

“To do what?”

His words felt like a slap in the face. I winced. “To save Kates.”

“You’re lying to them.”

I closed my eyes. This is not the time.

“Too bad,” The Immortal snarled at me. “You’re going to have let me talk. You have to stop lying to them.”

“Davy?”

I shook my head at Gavin, turning half away from them.

“They can smell your lies.”

I grew still, hearing her answer. It was simple and given to me so calmly. I asked, “What?”

“If you want to be rid of them, stop lying. Believe your truth. They’ll smell that instead and will do what you want.”

“I want them to be safe.”

“So send them to safety.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“It’ll cost you, but it’ll be worth it. Send them back to Roane. They’ll be safe with him. They won’t be with you.”

“I . . . I don’t have enough strength.”

She laughed at me. “You do. You’ve been restoring it since you woke. You just have to tap into it.”

“What have I been using since I woke?”

“You have a back channel of power. It’s all stored up. It’s where I’m speaking to you from. You are me. I am you. I am this back section of power. Open up your mind and let me in.”

“I . . . can’t . . .” I was going to say I didn’t know to do that, but it wasn’t true. I did. It was the same way I had gotten into Cal and Spencer’s minds. I had my own door closed off to myself. I just needed to find it and burst through it, but . . . thinking about it, I hesitated.

“Come on, Davy,” she started to chide.

“Stop it!” I screamed back, the words coming from my throat as well. My heart was pounding. I could feel her wanting to get in. That was when I realized it—that door wasn’t keeping me out, it was keeping her in. It was keeping The Immortal from completely taking over me.

“Davy?”

I didn’t know who said my name, but I looked to Gavin. Seeing concern and his anger lessening, I almost whimpered. “It’s The Immortal. She’s trying to take over.”

A wave of alarm swept over all of them.

Gavin froze in place and asked, his voice dipping low, “What did you say?”





ROANE


Roane and Bastion had been tailing the Romah army for three days. They were trying to go around them, moving higher on the mountains to give the entire army a wide berth and their progress was painstakingly slow. More than once they were almost discovered and each time, Roane worried about what they’d have to do if that happened. No matter the consequences, whoever discovered them would have to be murdered. If the body was found, that could start a war before he was ready for it. The only plan he had was one he didn’t want to do. It put them at risk as well, but so far, he hadn’t needed to put it into play.