Chapter 20

Ahigh-pitch whistling sound roused me from a dreamless coma. Every muscle in my body groaned with complaint as I sat up in my bed, brain coming awake as if emerging from a dark cave clogged with spiderwebs. Rubbing my eyes, I grimaced at the throbbing at the side of my head.

What happened?

Across the room in my kitchenette, and with his broad back facing me, Shadow stood in front of the stove as he shut off the burner. Grabbing the teakettle, he poured the boiling water into a mug.

Eyes widening, warmth spread across my face as a tiny smile crept to the corners of my mouth. "You made me tea," I uttered, my voice hoarse and tinged with a splash of awe.

Startled, he spun around with the mug still in his hand, spilling hot water over his fingers. Shadow hissed as he put the mug back on the counter, cutting himself off from cursing.Taking a steadying breath, his gaze softened over me as he plastered a forced smile on his face, hoping to mask the burn still stinging his hand. "You're awake."

"How long was I out?" I asked, touching a sore spot on the side of my head.

"You fainted on the pavement outside the club. I brought you back about a half hour ago."

"Feels longer."

"You hit your head badly when you fell; knocked you out cold. We really need to work on your endurance. You can't be blacking out every time you use your power."

"Tell me about it. But I have no control over that."

"You will. With proper training you can control how much energy you exert when you tap into the source."

Training? I couldn't feel more like a chosen-one cliché if I tried. Why couldn't the heroines simply wake up one day knowing all this shit?

"Anyway," he went on, "you started shifting around a few minutes ago, so I figured I'd make you this." He picked up the mug and sniffed the steam, an eyebrow hiking up his forehead. "Smells…like a flower garden. Did I do it right?"

I smirked. He'd made me tea, and I couldn't understand why, but the gesture filled me with a fuzzy warmth that reminded me of being wrapped up in a cozy blanket while reading a book. "Above the sink," I said, pointing to the cabinet. "There's a little jar of honey. Pour in a teaspoon and it will be perfect."

After rummaging through my drawers in search of a spoon, he finally found what he was looking for and poured a small dollop of honey, stirring it in as he walked toward me with the mug. As he sat at the edge of the bed, he handed me the tea. "I saw it made you feel better earlier."

I smiled, fingers wrapping around the mug as I brought it to my lips. Letting the steamy aroma of the lavender leaves spread through my senses, I took my first sip. "Mmm," I moaned. "That's heavenly."

"How do you feel?" he asked as he pulled my hair back behind my ear to look at the bump on the side of my head. His touch sent a jolt of awareness throughout my body. I wasn't accustomed to someone taking care of me like this.

I flinched. "Like I was hit with a sledgehammer."

He dropped his hand and his gaze followed. "I failed you. I should've never let you go in there alone."

I placed my hand over his. "Shadow, if it weren't for you, those vampires would've captured me. You found me. I… I don't even know how, but you did. Your voice, what you said to me… It's why I was able to escape."

He remained silent, his gaze still lowered as if he couldn't bear to look at me. The torrent of guilt radiating from his body broke my heart. "Shadow, look at me. Please."

Slowly tilting his head up, he kept his eyes closed, feathery black lashes shimmering with wetness.

"Oh, Shadow. Don't. Please." I squeezed his hand. "Open your eyes."

When he did, my world spun. Black as night, his eyes swirled with specs of sepia moonlight, but it was what I saw in their dark depths that made my soul ache.

Shame.

Putting my mug on the nightstand, I sat up straighter and leaned in, using my thumbs to wipe at the wetness still coating his lashes. It was too late by the time I realized how close we sat on my bed, hip to hip even though my legs were under the comforter.

Our breaths were mere inches apart as I invaded his space, wanting to erase the disquietude stripping him of the usual calm he embodied. "You did nothing wrong," I soothed, my fingers wet with his silent tears. "I'm still here… I'm alive. And it's because of you."

He swallowed deeply, but he remained silent. Shadow didn't recoil from my touch or from our closeness. And for a moment, I forgot he was an air spirit and not a human. We were two friends sharing a moment.

Cupping his cheek, I said, "I made the decision to go looking for CJ. This is on me. Not you."

He took my hand and cradled it in his. "It's not safe here, Avery."

My temple throbbed as I thought back to the club. Pressing fingers to my head, I said, "You were right. Those vampires… they know who I am; they were looking for me." I paused, remembering the feral look in the golden-haired warrior's eyes. Kane's eyes. "More like…hunting me."

Blinking away any remaining wetness, his broken demeanor faded, replaced by cold firmness. "They will be back. We can't stay here." Pushing to his feet, he took a step, but I gripped his wrist before he moved far.

"Wait." I pulled him back down. "Sit. I'm not going anywhere until I have answers." Gulping a mouthful of air, I said, "Azrael was there."

His scratched at his chin. "Who?"

"The vampire from my dreams. And his brother, Kane—he was there also. How's any of this possible? How could they know who I am? How can they be real when I've only seen them in my dreams?"

His lips flattened, jaw tightening. "I tried telling you before, you're a dream-walker. It's the only explanation that makes sense."

Cocking my head, I waited for him to elaborate.

"A dream-walker," he continued, his tone rushed, "is one able to traverse through time and space. To walk through the In Between."

"What you're saying... it's insane. You know that, right?"

He blinked. "You still doubt my words after everything you've witnessed?"

I pulled my legs from under the covers and jumped out of bed, pacing barefoot in front of him. "I'm not saying I don't believe you. Obviously, after seeing what you are, running into actual vampires, and this," I said, showing him my palm, "nothing should surprise me. But time traveling via my dreams? That's next level shit. And what the hell is the In Between?" Then a memory flashed in my mind and my breath snagged in my chest, stopping me in my tracks.

"What is it?" Shadow asked.

"The bone queen…" I uttered, voice trailing. "That's what she said to me in my vision before she unleashed her dogs on me. That I wasn't the only one able to walk in the In Between."

Shadow reached for my shoulders. "We need to gather your things. Now."

I flung an accusatory look at him. "You just told me I can time travel and you expect me not to ask questions?"

"No," he crooned. "I expect you to ask all the questions. But can you do it while you pack a small travel bag?"

"Where are we going?"

"Someplace that's not here."

So descriptive. I flew across my room, digging through the piles of clothes still littering the floor and stuffing random shit into a backpack. "What exactly am I packing for, by the way? Where the heck are we even going? Should I be packing shorts or sweaters? Do you have some secret hideaway in some remote mountaintop? And for how many days?"

"Avery, just pack a few changes of clothes."

"So, like four pairs of underwear for a long weekend-getaway-type of change of clothes?"

His cold, stern look didn't give me much to go by, so I just continued picking through the piles, and throwing whatever was a mutable item of clothing and stuffed it into my bag until it was full. I guessed if I needed anything else, I'd just buy it.

I held up my backpack. "Well, now that I'm packing, can you explain how I'm able to travel through time?"

Leaning his shoulder against the brick column in the middle of my room, he said, "The In Between is an unphysical realm where the consciousness lives. It's where worlds connect, where time and space merge into one."

My thoughts came to a screeching halt as I shoved an extra pair of underwear into my backpack, because you could never have too many clean pairs of underwear. "I'm sorry, can you explain that again?"

Hands on his waist, he dropped his chin, pinching the bridge of his nose before looking back up at me. "When a regular person sleeps, their consciousness enters the In Between. Most people stay in the dream realm, never experiencing anything outside of what their mind conjures. But some people can walk beyond the veil of the dream realm, and into what is called the Tunnel."

"The Tunnel?" I asked, yanking a couple of T-shirts from a half-fallen drawer.

"Its length is as long as all time, and it exists at the vortex where all worlds connect. Only a dream-walker can enter the Tunnel. Once that happens, the dream-walker is immediately brought to a certain time and place, past, present, or future. Sometimes you'll view events as if looking into a mirror, other times, while rare, you will transfer your consciousness to someone living in that place and time, experiencing the world through them."

My jaw dropped. "That's fucking crazy."

"Avery…"

"I'm sorry, but this is all…" I huffed, unable to come up with words to describe how I felt. "Are you telling me all this time when I thought I was just having some vivid dream,, I was actually dying that witch's death? Like actually dying?"

He nodded.

"But I've had these visions while awake too."

"Certain dream-walkers don't have to be asleep to cross the veil, and if trained, they can choose when and where they want to travel." His eyes shifted down, his jaw working.

"Is there something else you want to tell me?" I asked.

"I…understand now how you were able to bring Erelldyl through." He paused, his eyes widening. "Transference."

"Come again?" I drew closer, stuffing a sweatshirt into my bag and zipping it closed.

"Not all dream-walkers can do it, but it's the ability to pull objects out from or through the In Between."

I thought about all the times I died on that pike. About the dream in that forest. About the mirror, the witches and the wickedness in the bone queen's eyes. Pressing a finger to my lips, I recalled the most recent vision I had when I touched Azrael. Of us…or him and someone else tangled in sheets. Of unimaginable pleasure. Of…

I shook the images from my head as sweetened heat spread through my body.

"Your mind churns," he said.

I pressed the butt of my palms against my eyes. "That's what happens when you tell someone they can travel through time. That I can pull magical objects from some realm that isn't even physical. All this time I thought I was having dreams or visions, and it turns out it was all real. It makes my head hurt just thinking about it."

Opening my eyes, I scanned my room looking for my boots, needing to keep moving or my body would burst from all the unsettled energy vibrating through me. "But it goes beyond the fact I can do this stuff," I went on as I spotted my shoes by the foot of my bed. "Why does my mind travel to these points in time?"

Before Shadow could reply, the glass panes of all four of my apartment windows exploded inward as men clad in black gear stormed through, landing on the floor in a roll before jumping back up to their feet, rifles aimed at us. Small broken pieces of glass rained over me and I fell as I stepped barefoot on a jagged shard, the pain shooting up my leg.

I screamed as two more men dressed like dark soldiers kicked in the front door, their rifles pointed in my direction. Behind them, two women cloaked in green hooded robes strode forward in such fluid strides they appeared to be gliding.

"Seize them," one of the women shouted.

Terror scaled up my back. I turned to Shadow, only to see plumes of gray smoke and distorted air as he shifted in and out of human form. He moved about the room with the grace of a deadly ballet dancer, bullets erupting as the intruders shot at him but missed.

Shadow volleyed back pulses of blue-white energy, sending men flying against the walls every time he shifted into his human form.

I stared in stunned silence, fear and awe latching onto my bones. I sat on the floor like a useless sack of potatoes, not knowing what to do, but then a sharp pain lanced through my shoulder, and I flew backward, a scream erupting from my chest as I landed on my back.

"Avery!" Shadow's voice reached my ears like a distant echo. I tried sitting up, but my shoulder burned like acid had been poured over it.

"Enough of this nonsense," a female hollered as the floor rumbled. "You pathetic morons. We need her alive."

My vision slipped in and out of focus, but then I felt a familiar presence near me.

"Avery," Shadow said, putting his hands under my back and helping me to sit. "Have you been shot?'

"I… I don't know." I groaned, my heart pounding fiercely against my ribs as I looked around my place. Walls were cracked and my furniture lay in shambles. Icy air blew through the shattered windows and glass crunched underfoot.

"So, you're the famous Spirit Marked," one of the cloaked women said as she approached us. When I looked up at her, I took in a small gasp, startled by her luminous violet eyes. "I was expecting… more."

Shadow turned in her direction, hands moving in some strange formation, but the cloaked woman was just as fast, and before I knew what happened, the small plant I'd had sitting on my nightstand exploded out of the pot, roots shooting out like tentacles, vines slithering like snakes. They'd grown to massive proportions faster than I could even blink.

Panic surged up my throat as the branches wrapped themselves around Shadow's limbs, keeping his arms stretched, his hands immobilized. "You've been quite the nuisance, sylph. Shackle him, now," she ordered the men standing with their rifles. "Quickly, before he shifts."

Two men rushed forward, strapping manacles around his wrists and a collar around his neck—both appeared to be made of iron. He fought against the restraints, the air around him distorting, but not fully. He couldn't shift.

What the hell? What did they do to him?

He dropped to his knees, face contorting as he let out a pained groan.

"Shadow!" Battling against the burning sting in my shoulder, I pushed to my feet, needing to run to him, but the violet-eyed woman stood between us. "Get out of my way," I growled, gravity shifting around me. Slowly, the air began to churn, debris rising from the ground.

The woman smirked.

"Let him go or I'll?—"

"Or you'll what?" she challenged, stepping closer. Her violet eyes burned as she took me in from head to toe. "You're in no position to be making threats."

Bitterness coated my tongue. "You don't know what I'm capable of."

"Why don't I show you what I'm capable of." With a flick of her wrist, one of the vines that had sprouted from my plant snaked around Shadow's neck, tightening until he coughed and his face flushed wine-red.

Body trembling, I stared as the vine continued to wrap around his neck. "What are you doing?"

"Ever see an elemental spirit die, Spirit Marked?"

My eyes darted from him to her and back again. "Stop this."

The vine coiled tighter, and this time Shadow wasn't even able to gasp. I'd not known him longer than tonight, yet I felt anchored to him, as if I'd known him my whole life. To see him in agony, to watch him struggle to breathe sent a current of nail-laced fear scraping over my skin.

He was dying. Because of me.

Because of my irrational decisions. Because I'd failed to listen to him. Because as much as I refused to accept the labels everyone had ever strapped on me, I was that kid. The stupid rebellious girl who made dumb choices that always got others in trouble.

He'd warned me; he told me people were coming, that I wasn't safe. And I chose to follow my impulses instead. I always chose to believe my gut feelings were what kept me alive.

But I'd been wrong. My life choices were the things that had kept me on the streets, unable to ever find a home, a family. And Shadow had come into my life, offering me back a piece of my past and I'd all but spat on his face.

Heavenly stars. I'd fucked up everything all over again. The idea of losing him now, when I'd finally begun to unravel the secrets of my life, blazed a path of chilling terror down my spine.

He'd touched my soul, caressed it with his hands. He'd been able to ground the wild anger that seemed to run amuck inside my heart without cease. Losing him would be like tearing my spirit apart. And he'd saved me tonight. Despite my careless decisions, he'd never abandoned me. Whether sworn to be my guardian or not, he'd cared for me as if he'd always been a part of my life.

Universe be damned, I would not let him die. But if I tried to use the untamed power raging inside me, I was beyond certain I'd find a way to fuck it up.

Not this. Not him.

"I'll stand down," I said, eyes pleading with hers. For the first time ever, I would have to learn not to fight. "Just let him go. Please."

‘Avery…no.' Shadow's pained voice echoed in my head as I severed the connection to the power burning inside me. The air stopped swirling and all the debris that had been suspended plummeted to the ground.

‘I'm sorry…'

The woman's lips curled into a satisfied grin. With another flick of her wrist, the vine loosened, air rushing back into Shadow's lungs in gasps and coughs.

"Smart choice," she said, "though weak." She approached and leaned forward until our noses nearly touched. "Love is not strength, it cripples you. Remember that."

Who in the blooming hell was she to talk to me about love? She knew nothing about me, knew nothing about the feelings blazing inside my heart. But I wouldn't flinch under her menacing stare. I wouldn't give her another ounce of satisfaction.

Lips quivering, I fought the pain shooting down my arm, inclining my chin and meeting her wicked gaze. "What do you want from me?"

Her violet eyes darkened to a midnight purple. "Your power."

Icy rain washed over my body as her words sunk into my core. Hunger and ambition sharpened to pinpoints as she aimed her unyielding gaze. She wasn't a vampire—that much I could tell—but she was a predator, nonetheless. With magical powers.

Who the hell is this woman?

Commotion by the front entrance caught both our attention. The woman turned and one of the men came forward. "Priestess, Liliuth, we need to go, now. Kane and his men are on their way up."

Kane?If these people weren't with him, then who the hell were they?

"Cursed leeches," she mumbled under her breath. "We need to split up. You two," she pointed to the closest soldiers,"take her to the roof. The rest of us will try to hold them off. We'll rendezvous back at the checkpoint."

They nodded as they reached for my good arm and yanked me forward.

"Wait, where are you taking me?" I demanded, limping as they dragged me forward, the bottom of my foot stinging from the broken piece of glass I'd stepped on.

"Home, dearie," the woman replied with a sarcastic drawl.

I noticed they weren't bringing Shadow with us, and a new sense of dread hooked onto every nerve ending. "Hold on. We can't leave him here."

"Oh, don't worry. He's coming with me," she replied. "And don't even think about doing anything stupid, or I'll slice his throat open myself. And then I'll kill your little friend as well. Are we clear?"

My eyes widened, fear scratching at my back. "CJ?"

The vile woman smiled.

Images of me ripping out her eyeballs with my bare hands flipped through my mind. I wouldn't need to unleash any special powers to tear her to shreds. And if she threatened Shadow or CJ again…

A growl rumbled through me.

Keeping it together was a herculean effort, but then I looked over to where her men had Shadow dangling by the arms. Whatever she'd done to him had drained him of his energy, of his power. His head hung to his chest, knees buckling. A jagged blade stabbed at my heart as I took in the pitiful sight. I was responsible for this mess. And I owed it to him and to CJ to keep my rage in check.

"Avery Jaxon, are we clear?" Her tone and use of my full name suggested she knew more about me than I knew of her. Knowledge, I was one hundred percent certain she intended to use against me.

But clearly, she wasn't the only one with intimate details about my life. Seemed a whole slew of supernatural creatures were privy to information and secrets I had yet to learn. And that alone stoked the fires of my volcano.

But I breathed deeply, taming the flames. Eyes narrowing over hers, I gritted, "Crystal." Before I could ask for a pair of shoes, the men dragged me out of my apartment, screams echoing down the hall as some of my neighbors opened their doors to spy on all the noise.

"Get back inside," the men holding me shouted to the onlookers, threatening them with their rifles. I tried looking over my shoulder, needing to see where the woman was taking Shadow, but I was pulled into a staircase before I had a chance to see anything.

‘I'm with you…' a faint voice sounded in my head.

‘Shadow.'

‘You need to find a way to escape, Avery. You can't let them take you captive.'

‘Who are these people? ‘

‘You can't let them take you.'

I winced as I was dragged up the cold staircase, blood from my foot smearing the white tiles. ‘What about you?' I asked, feeling lightheaded.

‘Don't worry about me.'

‘Are you nuts? I'm not going anywhere without you.'

‘Avery, please listen. You mustn't risk your life for me.'

Why was he saying these things? Didn't he understand I couldn't contemplate the thought of losing him? Iced blood sluiced through my veins. I couldn't do this without him. Distraught, I tripped as we neared the rooftop. ‘I need you…' I implored.

‘You need no one, Daughter of the All Spirit. Your power lies within.'

‘Shadow… I can't do this alone.' Tears streamed down my face as the anger I felt inside erupted in a river of despair. ‘I don't want to do this without you.'

‘You… must. My power… weakens.'

His voice cut off when my captors threw open the rooftop door, a blast of arctic wind knocking into me, forcing me to my knees. A helicopter hovered above the roof, blades spinning as two men rappelled down a black rope ladder.

The air in my lungs stalled. No, this couldn't be happening. I refused to leave Shadow behind. These people would not take me against my will.

This… this all felt too familiar, reminding me of the times the police rounded the runaways. Of when I was forced to go to the Winslow Home. A frenzy of hysteria swelled through my chest and my breath hitched. "Let go of me," I shouted through the drone of the helicopter.

I yanked my arms, but their hold was too powerful, their hands gripping me with the strength of a hundred men. The pain that shot up my injured arm caused me to arch my back, and I fell back down.

"Stupid witch!" one of the men shouted. "Hoist her over your shoulder."

As one of them did, the sounds of bullets hitting metal rang in my ears. The man holding me grunted and fell over, taking me down with him. Stunned, I rolled to my side and peered up, and my heart plummeted to my stomach.

Blond hair whipping wildly, Kane ran toward me, red glowing eyes driving the fear of hell deep into my belly.

This time, I couldn't tamper down the white-hot flame that burst from my core.