Vindicate (Insight #5)(75)

I was furious at Silas. I blew wind from my lips; watching the shadows scatter like ash, then thrust my energy at him as I pushed my way between Drake an d Landen. “You son of a bitch. I told you to stay away. I told you if you hurt him, there would be hell to pay!” I roared as I watched my energy have little to no effect on him.

Drake and Landen were at my side, taking every step with me. “Did he threaten you, Love?” Drake asked in his familiar magnetic tone.

“You threaten one of my own – you threaten me,” I said coldly.

Silas’ eyes shimmered as he g lanced at Landen. “He is your light,” his eyes mov ed to Drake, “but he is not. He’s a poison. Like Draven.”

Drake’s energy raged out at Silas, but Silas reflected it. When I saw it coming back at Drake with more force than he had given it I dove in front him . Taking the blow. As I fell to the ground, Silas vanished.





Chapter Fifteen


I could swear that every bone in my body was broken – shattered. I closed my eyes and pulled myself into a ball. I heard the others yell directions at each other. If felt Drake’s hypnotic touch on my head, moving down to my shoulders, then I felt Landen’s hand s moving over every inch of me. I felt his energy inside of me. I nstant relief. We had to get out of here. We were already on borrowed time. I just knew that we were.

I let out a deep breath as my eyes flew open. “I’m going to kill him,” I said as I pulled myself up.

“Stand in line. He’s mine ,” Drake said through gritted teeth.

Landen was breathless and fell from his knees at my side. He looked up at Brady. “Where the hell are we? Where is everyone else? Why are they not here?”

“This isn’t Esterious, man, it’s a wicked Realm that girl took you into,” Brady explained.

“What girl?” Drake asked.

I pulled my self up between them. “Bianca. A rather poorly seductive girl that wanted your status in reality. Wanted Landen’s energy and by all observations, me dead.” I felt a chill rush through my core as I said that last part.

Landen’s rage was instant.

“We need to go back,” Ol ivia ordered . “We need to wake up. Like now.”

Good to know I wasn’t the only one that felt that threat in the air.

I turned my head from side to side. “Cha rlie and Draven are still here and it doesn’t feel like they are having a good time,” I muttered as I took in th e emotions of anger, sorrow , and fear that I felt coming from them. I couldn’t leave them here. Not after everything they’d clearly sacrificed for us.

“You’re weak, Willow. They are, too . Let’s go back and get Aden and Madison. They will know where they are. We’ll co me back, I promise,” Olivia pleaded , reaching for my hand.

I refused to take it. “There isn’t enough time.”

“I agree with her, Willow. A ll of you are weak,” Brady argued .

“This is like a dream. This is our soul, not our body?” Landen clarified .

I nodded, holding my defiant stare with Olivia.

“Turn around,” Landen said firmly to Brady and Olivia.

“What?!” Brady said.

“Turn. A round,” Landen said in a harsher tone than was needed. I knew how weak he felt was fueling that hostility.

Brady and Olivia did as they were told.

Landen glanced across me to Drake, then took my ha nd. His energy melted into mine causing pure rapture in my soul. His energy was intensified; it was like it was on fire with life, passion. I held in a moan that would have been humiliating if I let it out.

I reached out for Drake, but he refused to take my hand . “We don’t have time for this argument,” I whispered harshly as I felt Landen’s energy wave through me again and again.

Hesitating slightly, Drake took my hand and the connection between us was complete.

I felt my e nergy empowering both of them. Each time Drake would pull mine, Landen’s would replace it –escalating my soul ’s core . The room illuminated into a bright glow. When I knew I was strong – when I felt invincible, I let my hand fall from Drake’s. Landen leaned closer to me and let his lips rest on my temple, sending even more energy through me. His lips were blazing. I leaned into him craving more of all that he was.

Regretfully, Landen slowly moved away. There was no time for the reunion we were both hungry for.

The glow faded, and all around us there were shadows mocking the images of man whispering pleas in every language you could imagine.

“Landen,” Brady said, stepping back defensively, guarding us.

The three of us were on our feet immediately.

“This is w hy we needed Aden and Madison. We can’t help them!” Olivia yelled, steppi ng back to us as terror came over her. The fear was a justifiable emotion. We were staring into the faces of the damned.

I gripped Landen’s hand and reached for Drake’s. “Think of how much you love me,” I whispered as I remembered Char lie demanding th at I show the dead that emotion . A s I remembered their first moments in Esterious.

The whispers of the shadows stopped, and they focused on the three of us. “You want to feel this?” I asked.

The whispers began again as the shadows moved forward.

“Remember it. Remember it in a song. In a sunset. In a scent. Remember!” I yelled at them.