Chapter 26

GRAYSON

" T ell me what to do," Prue says, her voice firm and clear.

This is it. The moment we've been working towards, the reason I've pushed her so hard. And now that it's here, I'm not ready for it. I curl my hands into fists. I don't have a choice, none of us really do here.

I step forward, my eyes locked on Prue's. "You need to reach out and find the broken streams," I explain, forcing my voice to remain steady. "You'll know it when you do. Then you'll need to stitch them together."

Prue's brow furrows. "How will I know?"

"Trust me," I say, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. "You'll know."

"I do trust you." She says to me and the words stab me, a pain hits my ribs that has nothing to do with their injury.

I should tell her. Tell her that there's a chance the time streams might absorb her energy, that she might disappear into them. The words are right there, on the tip of my tongue.

But before I can get them out, Prue takes a deep breath, her eyes closing. I watch as her magic begins to surface, her silver threads, almost the same color of the stars, reach out. My energy rises to the surface, it wants to meet her but I don't let it.

Her eyes snap open, wide with wonder. "I can see them," she whispers. "The time streams. They're... they're broken. White lines, fractured and scattered but they are there."

My breath hitches. She's doing it. She's actually doing it.

"Stitch them together, little witch." I command and her eyes flash to me, and she gives me the smallest smile.

"Ok." One word is all she says.

"Grayson-" Emmett comes up next to me. But before I can turn to respond to him, I feel a pulse of energy around us. And before either of us can move, we are surrounded by dark grey tendrils of magic.

Cole.

He materializes mere feet from Prue, his time jump leaving a trail of dark, almost black energy in its wake. His eyes, cold and determined, lock onto Prue.

Everything happens in a blur.

Cole's hand shoots out, and he focuses on Emmett who isn't prepared and can't throw up his magic in time. Emmet crumples to the ground, unconscious before he even hits the grass.

I lunge forward, throwing up a shield of magic around Prue and myself. But Cole's power slams into it.

"Grayson!" Prue yells out, she's panicked now. I can see Cole's threads wrapping around her and constricting her. He is walking determinedly towards us.

"Focus on the time streams." I grit out. I move forward, facing Cole. "So nice of you to join us."

"Fuck off, Grayson." Cole retorts and then pain explodes through my body. He is pushing his magic into me, with one intention only. He wants to hurt me.

I stagger, struggling to stay on my feet, to keep myself between Cole and Prue.

Cole's magic wraps around me, suffocating. I can't move, can't breathe.

"Grayson!" Prue's voice hits me and she drops her hand, turning to come to me.

I shake my head at her.

"Prue," I gasp. "Do it."

That's all I manage to say before I succumb to Cole's power.