This time when I placed my hand on the stone and the portal opened to the Otherworld, these long thick purple lines burst out of the crystal. They shot in all different directions, and for some reason I could sense the thrums of mecca energy running along them. Concentrating as hard as I could, I sent my own energy through one of the lines. It zipped away, and I almost had a heart attack when it slammed up against something hard. Expanding out my magical vision, I was astonished to realize it was the mecca stone under the vortex of Queens.
A burst of understanding hit me, and with that came sparks of excitement. I knew exactly what to do now. Pulling my consciousness back to the room, I focused on the duller lines, those thinner and more fragile looking. These were the ties to the Otherworld, I was very sure. To double check, I let my energy zoom along one, and sure enough it smashed against a stone in one of the courts. Expanding my “vision” allowed me to glimpse a field of orange-leafed trees.
Fall Court.
I didn’t know how long this new gift of seeing the mecca would last, if it was permanent or just a leftover from being inside the mecca with the Red Queen. I had to act quickly. Now that I knew where to send the extra overload of mecca, I gathered as much up as I could and pushed. At first it resisted me; the power wanted to stay right where it was. It had grown accustomed to the Earth side and did not want to go home.
Dragging up even more of my own strength, I not only physically pushed with my energy, but mentally I urged it to follow the mecca lines back to the other stones. As it started to funnel through the portal opening, it was like watching purple clouds being sucked through a vacuum, a magical storm rolling out.
My hair was whipping and flying around as the mecca clouds passed through me. Kade’s muscles were shaking, I could feel them under my grip. No doubt it was taking everything he had to keep me from feeling the effects of channeling this much energy. Violet stepped into us; I felt her hand on my arm, and even more mecca rolled out through the lines. As the energy in the room lessened, it became easier to control the overflow, to see when the lines started to thicken and darken and look as vibrant as the Earth-side mecca. This was how I would know when to stop, to make sure we didn’t give too much away. On the other side of the open portal, in the fae lands, the grass and the trees were now a bright vibrant green, the world again glowing with mecca. Healing.
Violet, Kade, and I had been funneling mecca for many minutes, and just when I was about to release the connection, the Red Queen’s voice came floating through the mecca winds.
Enough.
That was the queen I remembered. I wrenched my hand up, hoping to remove it in one quick hit, but it seemed to be stuck.
“Kade!” I said, with some urgency, still trying to rip my hand off.
This was like being in the runaway car with no brakes again. I was ready now to get off the ride, but there was too much momentum. Violet let out a curse and shot a bolt of power into my arm. With a brief popping sound, I was thrown back, landing hard on the ground. The second I hit the floor my mecca sight vanished, as well as the portal. Kade knelt down beside me, taking deep breaths.
I put my hand on his face, noting his bloodshot eyes, beads of sweat coating his skin. “Are you okay?”
He nodded but didn’t yet speak. Violet was the one to say, “If it wasn’t for Kade’s gift, we would have all been ripped in half.”
Thank the gods my mate was not only brave and strong, but also fierce. He would never give up, not until there was no hope at all left.
Kade cleared his throat and I could see the broken capillaries in his eyes were already healing. “I know this is bad timing, but Selene is entering the palace. Nix said she’s with ten guards and Sabina.”
Dammit. She could have given me at least five minutes to pull myself together. Silver lining though – she wasn’t out killing my people.
“We have the advantage,” Kade said. “We know they’re coming, so where do we want to take them on?”
I stood, my fatigue fading somewhat as focus washed over me. “The basement where Selene almost ended Finn’s life. That’s where I’ll end hers.”
Violet grinned. “Let’s get your crown back.”
We walked to the edge of the room and Finn loped to my side. I had kept up my end of the deal with the Summer Court and fixed the mecca. Now it was time to fight for my people. And if I failed, well, I could think of no greater way to die. Kade’s strong hand slipped into mine and squeezed. Not gonna happen. His reassurance caressed my mind, the heat of his energy slipping inside of me, mingling with my own energy. Wolf and bear were stronger together. Selene would learn that very soon.
As we reached the doors out into the small library that hid the mecca room, voices could be heard out in the hall. I hurried over – Carrie was still out there, maybe trying to dissuade others from entering. She might need our help, and we had promised not to leave her behind.
Kade and I drew our weapons and slowly opened the double doors. There was no time to waste. Not only did we need to help Carrie, we also needed to get down to the basement. The second the doors opened, I leapt forward, blade ready for action. Carrie and four male guards were standing about four feet from the entrance. Kade’s warmth pressed into my back as the five turned to face us. They all bowed.
“Your Highness. We will fight for you,” one of them said.
I let the sword fall to rest at my side, and smiled at each of them.
“Thank you. I appreciate your support.” I was already striding forward, Finn, Violet, and Kade at my back. “We need to get to the basement right now. Selene is coming, and I intend on taking the crown from her and stopping this useless war before anyone gets hurt.”
They fell into line, at the back of our group. No one said anything more as we entered a darkened stairwell and rushed down the many floors to the basement. Inside the two thousand square foot area, there were a total of four entries. I placed a guard on each one. Violet and Finn took point on one side. Kade and I protected the other.
Tightening my grip on my sword, I prepared myself for the fight to come. I would need to be quick. Selene might be bringing ten soldiers now, but she could have over a hundred here in minutes if she put a call out. I needed to take Calista’s advice, play off her ego, and make her fight me one on one. Suddenly Kade grinned beside me, his fierce expression softening. Unusual enough that I had to ask: “What’s so funny?”
“Nix just pecked Larak’s eyes out. He’s blind.”
My grin matched his. Nix was getting a big fat juicy strip of meat from me later. Good girl.
Not sixty seconds passed before I heard Selene’s shrill scream. “Arianna!”
I gripped my sword so tight my knuckles were white.
Bring it, bitch. I’m ready for you.
Chapter Fifteen
The blood of thy enemies is the liquid of thy victory.