Fates Entwined

43

I turned back toward the gathered warriors, seeing some faces I recognized and many I didn't. "Thank you all for coming so quickly. We're going into Solundra, the realm of Helios, to track down Roxandra and rescue Jordan. We don't know what we will face there, but I know whatever we find, the Leos will be ready for it. Leos are creatures of the sun, immune to fire, and nothing can stop us from finding our alpha."

The Leos roared and howled in response, their faces ranging from eager to angry to determined. But not one of them was scared, at least on the outside. The Leos were truly a mighty pack.

The portal burst into life with a flash of light, which settled into a shimmering golden vortex in front of Debra. She nodded to me, signaling it was ready, and I turned to Cannon.

The beta stepped forward first. "For the alpha!" he cried, before striding through the portal.

Once the other warriors saw him go in, they quickly followed, going through the shimmering portal one by one until only Debra and I remained. I took a deep breath and looked around, taking in the town and the people watching one more time, before stepping through.

There was a brief pinch at the base of my spine and the feeling of falling, and then I was on the other side. The first thing I noticed was how sunny and warm it was, like a perfect summer day with just enough shade from nearby trees and a slight breeze in my hair. The sun looked huge in the sky, and a little too close for my liking, but I supposed that was to be expected in the realm of the sun god.

We stood in a grassy area with olive trees and flowers, very different from the desert town we'd just left behind. Lush green hills rose in the distance, and on top of them was a huge Greek structure with gleaming white columns and a giant statue of what I assumed was Helios in front. Dozens of smaller structures dotted the hill around the structure, along with some roads that led up to it.

Debra appeared through the portal, which then closed behind her. She followed my gaze. "That's Helopolis, where the Sun Witches live. My aunt Brea should be there now, along with the Sun Witches she's convinced to join her side. The rest follow Roxandra."

"Should we go there?" I asked.

"No, we don't have time. Roxandra won't be hiding there, and it will take too long to find Brea and try to get help. We're on our own."

"But then where do we go?"

"You tell us," Debra said.

Right. I closed my eyes and breathed in the warm air, opening up my connection with Jordan while saying a small prayer to Helios—my first one ever. Jordan was a true child of the sun as both a Leo and a Sun Witch, and I had to believe the god would want us to rescue him.

The mate bond flared to life in an instant, so strong it made me wonder if the god had heard my prayers. I felt Jordan's life force, alive but weakened, and it tugged on me, urging me to move forward.

"I know how to find him," I said.

Debra raised her eyebrows. “You can feel the mate bond? Lead the way then."

I gestured toward the warriors and raised my voice. "I know where Jordan is. Follow me."

The other warriors moved forward without hesitation, following my lead, and a little thrill shot through me. I led us north, away from the hills where the Sun Witches lived, toward a denser forest. The trees were completely different from the kinds I was used to near my home, these ones suited for a much warmer climate. As we entered the forest, I was surprised by how beautiful it was. I'd expected Solundra to be a desert like Arizona, but this was the opposite. Lush, thick greenery carpeted the ground with brightly colored flowers poking out of the earth and bright green trees hanging over us. Small streams and brooks bubbled and flowed throughout the landscape with crystal clear water. They were small enough that we could step or jump over them easily, and when I dipped my hand into one of them, it was pleasantly cool. I took a sip, and felt immediately refreshed. The perfect way to cool off on a hot summer’s day.

“It’s not what I expected at all,” I said to Debra, who was watching me.

“You expected a lifeless desert, didn’t you?”

“Yeah,” I said. “How did you⁠—”

“I know what you think of the Sun Witch’s magic,” Debra said, lifting her chin. “You’ve watched it destroy and burn, but there’s more to it than that. True sun magic is about life and growth, not just fire and destruction. Before Evanora twisted and corrupted us, the Sun Witches were healers and gardeners, not just warriors. That's what the new Sun Witches are trying to get back to now, under Brea's leadership."

"I didn't know that," I said. "But I'd like to learn more about it."

Debra sniffed, but I thought she looked pleased at my answer. "Later. Right now we need to find my son."

Jordan. The reminder of why we were here sent a pang through my chest, and I started walking faster. There would be time to wonder about Solundra and sun magic later.

With each step, I felt us growing closer, and it took everything I had not to break into a run and go crashing through the trees until I found him. When one of our scouts returned an hour later and mentioned a small structure up ahead surrounded by vampires, I knew that's where Jordan had to be. I sensed him nearby, though he was still weakened by whatever Roxandra had done to him.

I'm coming, I told him through the mate bond, hoping he would feel it. Stay strong.