Chapter 10

Chapter

Ten

CATALINA

T he sky above New Orleans darkened with unnatural speed, swirling clouds heavy with dark magic and an ominous energy that crackled in the air. Catalina stood on the edge of the Crescent Nexus Tower, staring out over the city as the first drops of rain fell. But this wasn't a regular storm—this was something far more dangerous. She could feel it in her bones, the raw, volatile magic in the air, and the familiar pulse of something otherworldly: Cipher's doing.

An eerie silence blanketed the city, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder as an unexpected hurricane approached. Catalina's eyes narrowed as she saw the storm begin to twist and warp, the dark clouds taking on an unnatural greenish hue. The storm was infused with Cipher's dark power, its winds howling with a ferocity that threatened to tear the very fabric of reality apart. This was no ordinary hurricane—it was a storm born of magic, one that sought to destroy everything in its path.

"He's pulling magic from the storm," Catalina said, her voice tight with urgency. "This is more than just an attack. This is it. He's tearing open a rift between realms."

Beside her, Riker tightened his grip on his weapon, his muscles taut with tension. "Then we take him down now," he growled, his bear side close to the surface, ready to fight.

"Agreed." Maeve stepped forward, her face pale but determined. There was no time for doubt, no time to second-guess her motives. Catalina knew they needed every bit of power they had if they were going to stop Cipher.

The sisters had split up—two of them had gone to reinforce those who had formed a ring around the city as a last line of defense. Catalina was working within the city itself to rally what forces she could so that if she failed, the others might still be able to contain the evil that threatened to destroy everything they had worked so hard to protect.

With Maeve's help, they breached the defenses of Crescent Nexus, making their way through the corrupted halls of the tower. The air inside was thick with dark magic, the walls themselves pulsing with a sickly energy. Catalina's skin prickled with every step they took, her magic on high alert.

The wind whipped around them as they made their way deeper into the distorted tower, the dark magic twisting the hallways, creating illusions and distortions that shifted the space around them. Riker, ever grounded and tactical, guided them through the maze of trickery, his shifter senses sharp enough to see through Cipher's manipulations.

"We're close," Riker said, his voice steady. "I can feel it."

Catalina nodded, focusing on the flow of her magic. She had to push aside the emotions swirling within her—betrayal, anger, fear—and let the raw power of her fae nature rise to the surface. She could feel it building, a burning energy that thrummed through her veins, desperate to be unleashed. She had always been cautious with her magic, holding back, but now, there was no choice.

As they reached the core of the tower, the wind howled louder, tearing at their clothes and sending debris flying through the air. And there, in the center of it all, was Cipher. His form was barely recognizable now—a monstrous blend of machine and magic, his body shifting and warping with every movement, his face a twisted amalgamation of flesh and metal.

"You're too late," Cipher hissed, his voice distorted by the magic coursing through him. "The storm will tear the veil between realms, and I will rule them all."

"Not if we stop you," Catalina said, stepping forward, her eyes blazing with fierce anger and willpower.

Cipher laughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed through the chamber. "You think you can stop me? You're nothing compared to the power I wield!"

Without warning, Cipher lashed out, his magic warping the space around them, creating illusions that twisted reality. The walls of the tower bent and distorted, making it impossible to tell what was real and what was not. Catalina staggered, her head spinning as the ground shifted beneath her feet. Cipher's power was too great, too overwhelming.

But Riker was there, steady as ever, his hand gripping hers. "Focus," he said, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We can beat him, but we have to do it together."

Catalina took a deep breath, grounding herself in his presence. He was right. Together, they could stop Cipher. She closed her eyes, letting her magic flow through her, not holding back this time. She called on the full power of her fae nature, letting it surge through her veins until she was glowing with violet light.

Beside her, Maeve and Geneva raised their hands, their combined magic swirling around them as they joined forces with Catalina. The air crackled with energy as their combined powers merged, creating a barrier against Cipher's reality-bending illusions.

Cipher roared in fury, lashing out with dark magic, but the Duvalls stood firm, their magic holding strong. Riker shifted and charged forward in his bear form, his massive claws slashing through the illusions, disrupting Cipher's concentration.

The Duvalls pressed the attack, their magic weaving together in a dazzling display of power. The storm outside raged, its winds tearing through the city, but Catalina could feel the shift—the weakening of Cipher's control. He was faltering.

"Now!" Catalina shouted, pouring everything she had into one final surge of magic.

The room exploded with light as their magic collided with Cipher's, destabilizing his form. The twisted blend of machine and magic that made up his body flickered and warped, his form unraveling before their eyes. Riker charged forward, his massive, sharp claws slicing through what was left of Cipher's corporeal form.

Cipher screamed; his voice a blend of rage and pain. "You think you've won? This is only the beginning!"

With one last, desperate roar, Cipher's form collapsed, disintegrating into a swirling vortex of dark magic. The storm outside raged on, but Cipher was gone, his presence fading from the world.

Catalina staggered, her knees buckling as the last of her magic drained from her. Riker was at her side in an instant, shifting as he ran towards her, catching her before she could fall. His arms were warm and steady around her, anchoring her in the chaos that still swirled around them.

"It's over," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "He's gone." She looked at his naked form. "You've got to quit showing off your junk."

Riker stared at her incredulously and began to laugh.

Even as the words left her lips, Catalina knew Cipher might be defeated, but the damage he had done—the rifts between realms—was still there. The storm hadn't abated, and the barriers between the fae realm and the human world were still dangerously weak.

"We have to seal the rifts," Maeve said, her voice urgent. "If we don't, everything will fall apart."

Catalina nodded, summoning the last of her strength. "We need the others."

M aeve took up the position with Gautier and his people while the Duvall sisters worked in unison, their magic weaving together as they sealed the rifts one by one. The air was thick with tension as they fought against the instability that Cipher had created, their magic straining against the forces that threatened to tear the realms apart.

The prophecy spoke of each of the sisters coming into her full power when they found their fated mate, but it didn't mean they were unstoppable. They were a force to be reckoned with, but then they always had been. It was that each of them was stronger with her mate, and together they were far more powerful than they had ever been.

As the final rift sealed shut, the storm began to calm, the winds dying down and the dark clouds dissipating. The city was battered and bruised, but it was still standing. New Orleans had survived the storm—but just barely.

Catalina stood in the wreckage of the Crescent Nexus Tower, her chest heaving with exhaustion, but there was a sense of quiet triumph in her heart. Cipher was gone, the rifts were sealed, and the city was safe. Savannah and Finn O'Riley were taking care of distributing the chemicals he used to ensure the humans of the city never knew how close they had come to complete annihilation. They had won.

For now.

T hat evening, as the sun set over the Mississippi River, Catalina found herself sitting on the balcony of Riker's flat, the warm breeze carrying with it the scent of the city—jasmine, river water, and the faint trace of magic still lingering in the air.

Riker sat beside her, his arm draped casually over the back of her chair, his presence steady and comforting. The chaos of the day almost felt like a distant memory now, though the weight of everything they had been through still hung between them.

"You did good today," Riker said, his voice low and rough. "We couldn't have done it without you and your sisters. This city owes you a debt it can never repay and will never even know about."

Catalina smiled softly; her eyes fixed on the river below. "We couldn't have done it without each other—all of us. I never would have made it through without you."

He glanced at her, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "And what about after all this? What happens then?"

Catalina was quiet for a moment, her mind racing with everything that had happened. She had fought so hard to keep her distance, to keep her heart guarded, but after everything they had been through together, she couldn't deny what she felt any longer.

She turned to him, her eyes locking with his. "I don't know what happens next, Riker. But I'm willing to find out. The one thing I do know is that I love you."

A slow smile spread across his face, and he leaned back in his chair, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'll take that. I love you, too."

Catalina lolled her head back on his leg, smiling before leaning over to grab the bottle of wine that Riker had opened. She lifted the bottle, giving him a mischievous grin.

"You know, I never really liked wine," she said with a shrug, setting the bottle down. Instead, she reached for the beer Riker had been drinking and took a long, satisfying sip.

Riker's eyes darkened with playful indignation. "That was for me."

Catalina raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Maybe. But now I've got it."

He growled, a low rumble in his chest that made her pulse quicken. "You think you can just take whatever you want, huh?"

"Hey," Catalina said, her grin widening. "I'm willing to share."

Riker's laughter filled the evening air, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Catalina let herself relax. The future was uncertain, and there were still battles to be fought, but for now, they had each other. And that, Catalina decided, was more than enough.

R eady for the next exciting book? Click here to read Magic Unrestrained.

In New Orleans' shadows, a fae huntress and a half-demon bartender must unite against darkness—or watch their worlds fall apart.

In the vibrant heart of New Orleans, where magic seeps through cobblestone streets and jazz fills the night air, Savannah Duvall leads a double life. By day, she's a talented graphic designer yearning for normalcy; by night, she's a water fairy bound by destiny to hunt the demons that threaten her city. Isolated by her dual nature, Savannah's latest hunt leads her to The Obsidian Lounge, a new nightclub pulsing with dark energy and secrets she can't ignore.

Gage Tremblay seeks refuge in the shadows. Born half shifter/half demon … Rougarou, he's torn between worlds that both reject him. Taking a job as a bartender at The Obsidian Lounge, he hopes to find peace but instead becomes entangled in a sinister plot that could unleash chaos upon the city he now calls home.

When their paths collide, an undeniable attraction sparks between Savannah and Gage—an attraction both intoxicating and dangerous. As demonic forces gather and a malevolent scheme threatens to poison New Orleans itself, they must set aside mistrust and unite their contrasting powers. Navigating a labyrinth of dark rituals, underground realms, and their own conflicted hearts, they discover that only together can they thwart an impending apocalypse.

In a world where magic is unrestrained and love crosses the boundaries of fate, Savannah and Gage must embrace their true selves to save not just the city, but each other.

Magic Unrestrained is the third paranormal romance tale The Grimm Files series. It blends action, romance, and supernatural intrigue, promising a thrilling journey through a world where the line between hero and monster isn't always clear. Get ready for a thrill ride that will keep you up all night!