Synergy (See #3)(86)

If we were going to play this game – we were going to play it my way.

I knew the shadows would protect me, that they’d protect Willow; they would do so because we were their salvation. I started to say the words “You are worthy” in Latin and every language I knew. I repeated moments of bliss that I caught glimpses of.

Madison appeared beside Willow and me, and she began to help me reach the shadows. As soon as I had their attention, under my breath I seethed, “End her...end Bianca.”

The images of us began to flicker, then vanished, revealing Drake and Landen’s bodies on the stone floor. Water was all around them. Olivia was the only one with Drake, and she was trying to give him mouth to mouth; I guess the water had gotten into his airway.

This Realm would not give up – would it? I was not going to die here. No one was. I set my intent to hunt Bianca. She was still alive and I could not leave here knowing that.

At that moment, Bianca appeared behind us. Before I could attempt one more deathblow an epic force of energy came from Willow and knocked Bianca back at least fifty feet. The shadows I’d called found their target and consumed the image of Bianca instantly. Silence came at that moment.

Coward. She wasn’t dead. I knew that much.





Chapter Seventeen


Brady and Draven were at Landen’s side, trying to wake him. They held his head out of the water and were splashing as much water as they could over him to help stir him. Aden had moved to Olivia. They were trying their best to make sure there was no water in Drake’s lungs.

Every sense I had was on high alert. I was waiting for my precious shadows to tell me where Bianca had fled. I wasn’t needed here. My purpose was to collect on the debt of misery Bianca had caused. And she was going to pay in full.

I could hear the others screaming directions at each other, still trying to get a response out Landen and Drake. I felt Draven’s stare and found his emerald green eyes peering at me from Landen’s side. He was worried about me. He knew I was about to flee and take matters into my own hands.

“Stay.” His perfect mouth shaped that one word. I almost said no but then I noticed how nervous Madison was. She was standing in the presence of Drake’s soul. I knew they would revive him, and she would have to look him in the eyes. Her dreams were coming to life in front of her. I couldn’t leave her, not yet.

Drake said something to Willow. He was coming back around. Which was good and bad. He was pulling from Willow. Taking in her essence. If he didn’t stop it would surely kill her.

Madison stepped forward and put her hand on Willow’s shoulder. “A promise is a promise. Move. Wake Landen. Wake the healer.”

Even in the state of chaos, Madison was still calm enough to bring Willow to her senses. I could only hope she could handle the moment when Drake did wake, the moment she looked him in the eyes for the first time.

Willow nodded once, then pushed back and turned her attention to Landen. I followed Madison’s lead and fell to my knees next to Drake. Aden locked eyes with me; we had no idea what we were doing. I put my hands around Drake’s wrist and thought of my light, my music, and let it hum against his skin; he furrowed his eyebrows as he felt it. Madison was watching his every move. Slowly, she placed her hands on his chest as her eyes cascaded over his addictive image.

A second later, a beaming light emerged from beneath her hands. It jolted Drake, and his back bowed up and his eyes flew open. He took in a deep, gasping breath, then locked eyes with Madison. At first I was sure he saw Willow in her image, but as his eyes focused, he sat up and I knew he saw Madison for the first time. I could swear electricity snapped in the air.

I felt something warm drip onto my hands, and I looked down and saw them covered in blood. It was coming from Madison; her wound was back. Life was escaping her body, and she was seconds from death. I screamed, not knowing what to do.

Madison collapsed, and Drake caught her in his powerful arms. I could see terror in her green eyes, and I wanted to take it away. I took the ring off my finger and pushed it onto hers, hoping against all hope that if it numbed her emotions it would take some, if not all of the pain away. As I screamed her name over and over, embracing her as tightly as I could, I felt someone pull me from her dying body. It was Landen, and he was wide-awake. When he saw Madison’s body in Drake’s arms, he said, “Who is this?” as he looked between her and Drake.

“Madison - Madison!” Willow yelled. “Heal her! When this happened before Dad said she punctured a lung. She’s drowning in her own blood!”

I reached for Madison’s head, feeling every emotion from terror to grief, every emotion I’d been shielded from in The Realm. I couldn't stop the tears, the grief. I’d led her here. I just let my best friend die, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I kept saying, “Don't leave me! Don’t leave me!” But she wouldn't open her eyes for me. I felt Aden’s arms come around me. He was trying to calm me down and do whatever he could to help Madison, but we were both powerless. I kept thinking about the music, the energy, and rushed my hands across her bloodstained skin, wanting to give her whatever light I had, whatever life I had. I couldn't live without her. She was more than a best friend; she was a part of me.

Landen reached for Madison’s waist as Drake urged us out of the way; Drake was fiercely protective of her body. He cradled her gently, whispering something I could not hear into her ear. He gave Landen a demanding look and together they focused their powerful essence on healing her. Drake didn’t have Landen’s powers, but I knew deep, deep, deep down he had her heart. And clearly she had his.