King Cave (Forever Evermore, #2)(160)

Brusquely, Antonio shouted, “Fucking retrieve, goddamn it!” And he blasted us all with a brilliant light, so bright it had to rival the sun’s.

I heard Ezra grunt, but his grip only tightened on me in the golden glow.

It was suddenly gone and Antonio teetered to the side, hands sliding off me, his golden head of hair falling forward as his head dipped. Cahal grabbed his shoulders, catching him, but Antonio jerked at the contact. He pushed Cahal’s arms away almost drunkenly, muttering, “I’m fine.” He didn’t look fine, and coming from me that was saying something, since I was close to being dead, my vision faltering only to spurt to life with each catching breath.

Cahal snorted but didn’t try to help any further.

“I got it,” Antonio mumbled, his back hitting the wall where he sat on the ground and staying there, his head listing to the side. But his eyes glowed again as he brushed hair off his perspiring face. He waved a lazy finger, and suddenly, a transparent image appeared directly in front of him.

It was of the beach. I blinked — my breath faltering again — realizing that it was a memory. My memory. Because every once in a while, the moving landscape would alter when I had glanced down, looking at Bonnie. There was even the sound of my breathing and the ocean waves and the seagulls. It was from earlier today.

They were going to see the deal I had struck.

Ezra’s grip tightened on me when he saw the door appear in the vision.

“Jesus f*cking Christ, Lil,” Antonio muttered. “Tell me you didn’t…” He trailed off, watching as I opened the door and stepped through the opening. “Oh…shit.” Glancing sharply at Elder Merrick, he stated in a cold voice, “Get Elder Harcourt in here. Now.”

Ezra growled, watching as I moved through the forest, even as Elder Merrick left the room. “What the hell is that place?”

“A restricted Mage space,” Antonio whispered, standing to his feet and moving around the image to position himself on steady legs next to us and Cahal. “She never should have been there. It’s forbidden.”

Antonio flicked his finger, and the image began fast-forwarding. And then went blank. Black, nothing there. He grunted and flicked his finger again, and the image came alive, but in reverse. Another flick and the scene became me running through the silent forest again at regular speed. Only to have the image go blank again.

“Shit,” Antonio muttered, eyes still on the empty image.

“What’s happening?” Ezra rumbled, his voice turning Vampire.

“Wherever she entered, I couldn’t access it by memory,” Antonio growled in irritation. He glanced at me. “Who was the Mage you met with?”

I swallowed, my heart and breathing faltering again, and Ezra jerked me hard when my eyes started to close. Eyes fluttering open, I whispered, “Knocker. No name.” That was the truth. I had never asked. I couldn’t help Antonio.

“Christ, Lil,” he muttered, jerking his finger again in irritation.

Ezra was growling lightly as he stared at the black image, and he pressed his hand to my chest. I felt instant peace. My heart no longer hurt, and though my breathing was still labored and I couldn’t move, I no longer sensed it. A soft groan of contentment reverberated from my throat, and Ezra’s head tilted, resting on top of mine even as he trembled and growled, his eyes still glowing fiercely.

“There,” Cahal murmured, the image back on the beach, but in fast-forward.

Antonio tilted his head, and the image slowed, but still not to regular speed. They watched silently until I had pulled my phone out, hiding in the shadows while watching Cahal’s suite door, and Antonio lifted his head, the image going to normal speed. They heard my conversation with Jack, heard me say that I loved him and Pearl. And what I had asked of them.

Elder Jacobs made an odd noise, then muttered, “Now we know who created that damn mess.”

They all leaned forward, watching my actions intently as I snuck into the room. Saw me break Ezra’s door, creep inside, and ask Bindi to leave. Ezra blinked slowly, seeing himself as he had been. He looked as good as new, now. His skin was back to normal, flush with life, no lingering effects of his poisoning. His lips even looked plump and soft again.

No, I didn’t regret it at all.

They watched as I straddled him. And as soon as I brought the vial out of my pocket, Antonio flicked a finger, and the image stilled. He leaned forward further, studying the image, and then glanced over his shoulder, growling, “Do you know what type of potion that is?”

“No.” I blinked when I heard Elder Harcourt’s voice behind me somewhere.

“Fuck,” Antonio muttered, turning his face back to the image, staring at the potion. “Did you give her the knocker?”

Elder Harcourt cleared his throat. “I didn’t physically hand it to her.”

Antonio straightened. Swung an arm back. Golden light erupted from his palm, arching over our heads. I heard Elder Harcourt grunt and Bindi gasp. Antonio turned slowly, and never before had I seen him look so pissed. He moved his hand, and Elder Harcourt came into my line of sight, caught in Antonio’s web of Mage magic a few feet off the ground.

“He was telling the truth,” Elder Merrick stated slowly from somewhere behind us.

“Did. You. Give. It. To. Her?” Antonio hissed, eyes steadfast on Elder Harcourt.