Destroyer (The Elemental Series #7)(53)

"This is what will happen if you try to bring someone back. Someone who does not have the heart to shift. Someone like your Ash." Talan bit the words out.

He flicked his hand at Meghan and she went to his side, trembling.

"Talan, do not do this," she whispered.

"This is a lesson she will learn. That no one can be trusted. That her friends are not with her. That she cannot do everything." His eyes hardened. "Learn this lesson well, Lark. Seeing as you would learn nothing else from me."

What if Viv had put a booby trap inside of Shazer, too, like she'd done to the gargoyles? I could only hope the same trap that had lain in wait for me would take Talan. But somehow, I doubted it.

Meghan stepped up beside him again and reached around his middle, shaking. "One hand on the heart, one hand on the head." She placed her hands accordingly and bowed her head. "You put your hands over mine, Elemental, then open your power to me."

I looked Shazer in the eye and he winked at me. "Lark, this is not your fault."

Talan stepped into position, reaching around Meghan. "It is her fault, for being childish. For being stupid. You lose those you love when you think you know it all."

I realized then that Talan did not expect Shazer to survive.

"Talan, stop! I will learn."

"Lies." He breathed the word. "You are right, Lark. You only learn one way. Pain. Suffering. They have always been the best tools."

"Please, stop!"

My words fell on deaf ears. I fought the bonds he'd placed on me like never before. Talan was not my friend. He was not trying to help me, but hurt me.



       
         
       
        

And he was going to murder Shazer.

Shazer began to breathe harder, the air flowing in and out of him in huge gulps as though he were running. His body shivered and his skin twitched, but I could see nothing changing.

Meghan shook her head. "Tough one. Talan, do you be sure?"

"Do it, witch."

Shazer grunted and I kept my eyes locked on his as I frantically pulled at the threads of Spirit around me, but it was like fighting air.

"You hurt him, and I will kill you, Talan!" I screamed the words, panic and rage fueling them and my efforts. I focused on the threads on my mind and body.

I told myself a lie I was determined to believe. The bonds were nothing to me. The power of Spirit could not touch me as long as I held tightly to the earth.

A soft voice whispered through me from the ground, the voice of the true mother goddess.

Your mother's unique gift was her ability to see the lines of power. See them on yourself, Lark. See where you can cover them with other lines of power and your connection to me.

Something clicked inside my head as the words opened understanding in me.

The lines of pink that held me touched the earth in places.

Like a brilliant flash of light, I understood how I could circumvent Talan's hold on me. The lines of power from the earth were there, just waiting on me. I slid them up and over the lines that held me down, and the power of Earth flowed through me, even when I was blocked as I was right then. I funneled it through my body and smothered the lines of pink that kept me from moving.

Released, I shot to my feet and ran at them.

Meghan barked at me, "Move now and he'll die for sure. There be a chance yet!"

I froze where I was mid-step. "What?"

"We can't stop the spell or he will surely die," she breathed out. "We must finish now."

Shazer grunted, sweat rolling down his face, his flanks trembling.

Talan stared at me, his eyes wide. "How did you free yourself?"

"He dies and I will kill you." The words were hot and fueled by more anger than I'd ever felt in my life.

My son …  he is trying to help you, Lark. Even if he is going about it the wrong way.

"Then your own connection to Spirit will be lost." He smirked at me. Fucking well smirked.

I smiled back. "Then so be it."

He paled.

Power hummed around us, yet I could feel none of it.

"Meghan, if I add my power, will that help?"

She shook her head. "No. Be quiet."

Biting my lower lip, I watched as Shazer's skin thinned and his body began to shift, his wings drooped and the feathers sloughed off one by one. Tears slipped down my cheeks. They were literally pulling him apart, a piece at a time. 

"Please, Meghan," I whispered. Caught between rage and fear, I still had hope that Shazer was strong enough to pull out of this.

"I'm trying," she bit back. "This don't be easy, Elemental."

I clamped my mouth shut and just watched.