Chapter 91 Chapter 91
_Seer’s POV_
I felt it before Kayden spoke the words.
The air around him was sharp with rage and fear. His aura burned bright and wild, like a storm barely held back. When he told me they had traced Tariq’s call, I did not hesitate even for a second.
“I will come with you,” I said firmly.
Kayden turned to me at once. His eyes were dark and blazing. “You don’t have to,” he said, though there was no strength behind the words. He already knew the truth.
“Yes, I do,” I replied. “Susan will be there. Her dark magic is not something your warriors can fight alone. You will need me.”
He clenched his jaw then nodded. “Then we move now.”
There was no more time for debate.
Kayden gathered his men quickly. Fred stood at his side. He was already barking orders. Warriors rushed to arm themselves. The night air filled with the sound of boots, steel and low growls. Wolves paced restlessly beneath human skin, eager to be released.
As we moved out, I felt the pull of fate tighten around us.
Leah is close, I thought. I can feel her fear. And her strength.
We traveled fast at first. Vehicles carried us deep into the southern woods. The forest grew thicker with every mile. Trees crowded together. Their branches tangled like claws. Moonlight barely reached the ground.
Then the path vanished.
“Stop here,” Kayden ordered.
The vehicles could go no farther. Vines wrapped around the trunks like living chains. Thorns scraped against armor and skin. This place did not want to be entered.
We continued on foot. The deeper we went, the heavier the air became. It pressed against my chest. It was thick with magic....dark magic.
Susan has been busy, I thought grimly.
Finally, the man with the equipment spoke. “This is it,” he said nervously. “This is the exact location.”
Kayden looked around sharply. There was nothing.....only forest.
There was no building, no clearing and no sign of life.....just endless trees and shadows.
Fred frowned. “Are you sure?” he asked the man.
The man swallowed. “Yes. I swear. The signal stopped right here.”
Kayden’s shoulders tensed. “Then something is wrong,” he said. He turned to Fred. “Maybe the trace was flawed. There’s nothing here.”
I raised my hand slowly. “Wait.”
Everyone stilled.
“Stay silent,” I said softly. “All of you.”
Kayden looked at me. I could see the confusion flickering in his eyes but he obeyed. The warriors froze. Even the wolves within them went quiet.
I closed my eyes.
At first, there was nothing....only the wind....only leaves brushing against each other.
Then I heard it.
It was very soft....almost nothing.
Soft footsteps.
I opened my eyes. “You hear it too, don’t you?” I said quietly.
Kayden’s head snapped toward me. His breathing changed. “Yes,” he murmured. “I thought I was imagining it.”
I stepped forward slowly. The air in front of me felt wrong and heavy. Like water instead of air.
I bent down and picked up a rock.
Susan is clever, I thought. Very clever.
I threw the rock straight ahead. It should have flown forward and hit the ground. Instead, it struck something unseen with a dull thud and bounced back, landing at my feet.
Gasps broke the silence. Kayden swore under his breath.
I nodded grimly. “This is an illusion spell,” I said. “A strong one. She has woven it into the forest itself.”
Kayden’s fists clenched. “That bitch Susan!”
I lifted my chin. “Dark magic hides. It does not erase. And it always leaves scars.”
I stepped closer to the invisible barrier. I could feel it now. It was cold and sharp against my skin.
I closed my eyes again and began to speak.
“By light unbroken....By truth unseen, reveal what darkness hides. Let false sight fall. Let true form rise.”
The forest trembled faintly.
I reached into my pouch and pulled out a small vial. Inside was a white powder; ground moonstone mixed with ash from a sacred fire.
“This will sting her magic,” I said softly.
I cast the powder forward. It hit the invisible wall and exploded into silver light. The air rippled like glass shattering.
Then, suddenly, the forest peeled away. An old stone building stood before us. It had cracked walls and dark windows. It was a place soaked in pain and secrets.
Gasps and growls filled the air.
“There,” Kayden breathed. “She’s in there.”
Before I could stop him, he charged forward.
“Move!” he roared.
The warriors followed him inside. The building erupted with noise at once.
Tariq’s men were already there. They shifted quickly. I could hear the bones snapping and fur tearing through skin. Wolves lunged at wolves. Claws met fangs. Blood sprayed across stone.
The sound was brutal.
Then Tariq appeared at the top of the stairs.
“This is impossible!” he shouted. His eyes burned as they landed on me. Then on Susan. “You said no one could find this place!”
Susan’s face twisted with shock and fear. “I don’t understand,” she snapped. “My spell...”
“Your spell failed,” Tariq snarled.
Kayden did not wait. He shifted mid-run. His wolf exploded from him in a blur of black fur and muscle. He was massive and furious.
Tariq shifted too. His wolf was brown, larger than most. His eyes were glowing with stolen power.
They collided like thunder. The ground shook beneath them. I turned just in time to see Susan raise her hands. Dark light crackled around her fingers.
I moved fast.
“No,” I said sharply, throwing myself between her and Kayden. Dark magic slammed into my shield. Pain burned through my arms but I held firm.
Susan hissed. “You should have stayed out of this, Seer.”
“And let you destroy the life of an innocent?” I snapped. “Never.”
We clashed....light against dark. But my eyes kept straying to Kayden. Tariq was stronger than he should have been. Leah’s stolen power pulsed through him. He drove Kayden back again and again.
This will not end well, I realized.
I struck Susan hard with a burst of light. She screamed and flew back, slamming into the wall. Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed. She was unconscious.
I did not waste a second. I knew that only Leah could end this. I ran up the stairs. The upper floor was silent. I searched and searched. Finally, I found her in a small and dim room.
Leah was tied to a chair. A circle of white powder surrounded her. Her mouth was gagged. Her eyes widened when she saw me.
I rushed forward...and pain exploded through my feet.
I cried out and stumbled back. The circle burned like fire.
“A ward,” I hissed. “Clever witch.”
Leah whimpered behind the gag.
“It’s all right,” I said quickly. “I’m here.”
I raised my hands and whispered another spell. “What is bound by fear, break by truth. What is sealed by blood, open by light.”
The circle flared bright, then cracked.
I stepped inside. The heat vanished. I tore the gag from Leah’s mouth and untied her.
“You finally came,” she whispered weakly.
I smiled despite the fear tightening my chest. “Of course I did. Come. Quickly.”
She stood but cried out and clutched her side.
I froze. “What is it?”
Her eyes widened. “Kayden,” she gasped. “He is hurt. I can feel it through the mate bond.”
I nodded. “Then we do not have time.”
We moved to the window. Below, the fight raged on.
“Can you reach him from here?” I asked.
Leah nodded shakily. “I’ll try.”
She closed her eyes. Light bloomed around her. It poured from her hands and burst downward like a wave.
Tariq howled as it struck him. Kayden surged forward with a roar. He was fueled by her strength.
Tariq stumbled back. He was shocked and furious. “This isn’t over!” he snarled, retreating as his men followed. “You will regret this!”
Silence slowly fell. I rushed downstairs with Leah.
Kayden lay on the floor. There was blood everywhere.
Leah dropped to her knees beside him. She was sobbing. “Kayden. Kayden, please.”
“He can be healed,” I said firmly. “Focus. On the bond between you.”
She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to his and whispered his name. Light wrapped around them. Slowly, his wounds closed. He opened his eyes.
“Leah,” he breathed. “I thought he hurt you.”
She laughed through tears. “I’m here.”
They held each other tightly, as if letting go would break them.
I looked away.
A heavy feeling settled in my chest.
This war was not over.
The darkness would return.