Magicorum Box Set (Books 1-5)

9. Chapter Nine-2

Just watch.

I reach into my soul, calling out to my wolf. “Let’s shift and take down anyone we can.”

There is no reply. I check my soul, finding that my wolf has been knocked out with the same enchanted sleep as Elle. That’s what Nyxa did with the latest round of fairy dust. Not helpful.

Nyxa grips my chin even more tightly. “I heard how you went wolf and killed poor Jules. He was rather clever for a zombie. Such a shame you wouldn’t marry him like your aunties wanted.” Her eyes flare with an evil blue light. “Maybe I’ll ask them here to witness your death.” She turns to the other fae. “What do you say?”

They do a golfer’s clap from their comfy cushions.

“Wonderful idea, Your Majesty.”

“Make her pay.”

Suddenly, the door from the reception room bursts open. A pair of wolves leaps into the room. One is colored in shades of gold; the other has scraggly black fur.

Oh, no.

I recognize their scents instantly. This is Hollywood and Abe. And the way they pace around me and growl at Nyxa? It’s clear that they’re here to help me and Elle escape.

Nyxa turns to me. “Who is this?”

I try to talk through my gag, but that’s not happening.

“Oh, that’s right. You can’t speak.” Nyxa raises her arm. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with here.” More fairy dust encircles the two wolves. When the magic disappears, there stand a very naked Abe and Hollywood. They both grab handfuls of ladies undies to cover their private parts.

“Who are you?” asks Nyxa.

“We’re Knox’s pack,” says Hollywood. He tosses his head of perfectly coiffed blond locks. “He’s our Alpha.”

“Only, he hasn’t accepted that yet,” says Abe. “But we’re trying to prove ourselves.”

Hollywood rolls his eyes. “Abe, you don’t have to be honest about everything.”

Abe keeps right on talking. “Did Knox say anything about what happened at Lucky’s? We were there to help protect you, Your Majesty. Was he impressed? You’re clearly our queen, so we appointed ourselves knights in your court.”

A sly smile rounds Nyxa’s mouth. “Wolves have courts?”

“Oh, Hollywood made that part up.” Abe grins. “He’s going to be Knox’s beta, and he’s really smart.” He turns to me lifts his chin. “So we’re your knights.”

Surprisingly enough, it’s really cool to find out that you have knights, even if they made up the title themselves and tell you about it while naked and covering their junk with bras. It’s the thought that counts, really.

Nyxa mock-sniffs. “This is…so touching. I’ll keep it in mind as I flay you. I’ll even keep you awake for the duration, so we can all enjoy your screams.” The room of fae start up their golfer’s claps again.

I may not be able to shift into my wolf form, but I do still know a thing or two about self-defense. And I know enough to realize that once the baddie starts talking about flaying, it’s time for me to get my fight on.

Picking up a display table by one leg, I swing the entire thing right at Nyxa’s face. It impacts into her cheek with a satisfying crack.

At the same time, Abe and Hollywood transform into their wolf forms and leap straight at Nyxa. The other fairies slowly rise from their lounge pillows. Evidently, fighting breaks out in Nyxa’s Boudoir fairly often, because the dozen of them don’t seem too shocked.

Working together, Wolf-Abe and Wolf-Hollywood have Nyxa pinned to the ground. She’s screaming and flailing around, but she isn’t getting up. Yet.

The dozen other fae stand in a loose circle around us. Silver dust sparkles around their raised arms.

Kneeling beside Elle, I shake her shoulders. “Wake up! We don’t have much time. We have to run.”

While still holding Nyxa down, Wolf-Hollywood motions with his head toward the exit door. I know what he wants: me to leave.

There’s no way I’m going anywhere without Elle.

The fairies around us release the fairy dust from around their arms. A haze of silver motes and magic comes flying at me, Elle, Wolf-Abe, and Wolf-Hollywood. The haze surrounds us for a moment. When it fades, I find myself kneeling beside Elle’s sleeping form. My ankles and wrists are tied behind me. Abe and Hollywood are trussed up with ropes as well.

Nyxa slowly rises to stand. “Thank you, my sweetlings.” She brushes her fingers over her chin. There’s a cut along her jawline. Nyxa glares at me. “I’ll kill you extra slowly for that.”

Blythe steps forward. “My queen, the two girls have magical protection while they are in your store.”

Nyxa rolls her eyes. “Then we’ll transport them somewhere else, won’t we?”

Blythe bows. “My queen, that would require a lot of fairy dust. You’re already—”

“Enough!” Nyxa folds her arms over her chest. “We all know I have enough fairy power to last a hundred years. I could transport all of you anywhere.”

In other words, Nyxa is low on fae power. Good to know.

Nyxa raises her hand. “No, I have a much better death in mind. We leave the girls here to die of starvation, right beside the dead carcasses of their friends. That’s brilliant, isn’t it?”

More golfer’s claps erupt around the room. The fae really are evil.

“Let’s get this started.” Nyxa waves her arm. More fairy dust flies off her hand. This time, the magical haze encircles the room. Once it disappears, I can see that all the ornately carved walls are gone. Instead the place is nothing but bricks.

Oh, no. We’re magically bricked in. No exit.

Nyxa stalks over to Wolf-Abe and Wolf-Hollywood. They are writhing under her bonds. Nyxa kicks at them with her slippered foot. “I can kill these then. They aren’t under any protection.” She glares at me. “And then, I’ll have you dragged out into the alley to finish you there. Not because I don’t have the power for a transport, but because it pleases me to have you die that way.”

I pull at the bonds around my wrists and feet. The silver cords bite into my skin. They don’t loosen in the slightest, though. My heart pounds so hard, I can feel its beat in my throat. That’s when I remember it.

My cell phone.

I wiggle with all my strength, working my cell free from my back pocket. Closing my eyes, I try to picture the keyboard. What and where do I push to send a text to Knox? My emergency code is TBL. With all my focus, I dip into the power inside my soul. This time, I don’t so much try to grip my fae power as direct it. Silver glimmers shine under my eyelids.

For the first time, fae power trickles through me. My cell phone beeps. In my mind, I can see the magic type in a message to Knox.

Pain explodes across my cheek, snapping me out of my reverie. Opening my eyes, I find that Nyxa now kneels before me. “How about we play?” Reaching out, she wraps her fingers around my throat and starts to squeeze. Every nerve ending in my body goes on alert. My shoulders heave with the attempt to pull in breath, but Nyxa is too strong. My mind becomes a riot of fear; it’s impossible to tap into my powers again.

I struggle under Nyxa’s grip, but it’s no use. As the minutes pass, my movements become more sluggish while my thoughts turn more frenzied. A low thudding sounds in my head. At first, I think it’s my heart, but I realize that’s not what happening at all.

Someone is banging on brick walls. The faintest scent floats on the air.

Sandalwood and musk.

It’s Knox. He must have gotten my emergency text and got here super-fast. I don’t know what makes me more excited; the fact that my magic worked to help me text or that Knox is here so quickly.

Who am I kidding? I’m happier that Knox is here, definitely.

Nyxa releases my throat. I hunch over, gasping for breath. “Oh, my.” She focuses her attention on Knox. “Another intruder to kill. It’s turning into an interesting day. I shall make him turn boneless. That’s always entertaining.”

Knox? Boneless?

Never.

Power and rage erupt through my soul. Colored lights dance in my vision: golden for shifter, red for witch, and silver for fae. They all course through me, but the fae power is now the easiest for me to direct. Silver haze encircles my body. The bonds snap. I rise and lift my arms. A blast of silver energy pours off my palms and slams into the wall. The bricks shatter under the magical blast.

Knox stands on the other side of the new opening in the wall. His face is tight with rage. With a great roar, his wolf bursts free from him as he leaps into the room. Knox races over to Abe and Hollywood and bites through their cords. Now, Knox, Abe, and Hollywood encircle me in a protective ring.

I’m not the kind to stand around when there is work to do, especially now that I know how to focus my fae energy. It would be great to tap into the witch power as well, but heck, I just got a hold of the fairy stuff. There’s no point being greedy. Closing my eyes, I pull on the well of fairy energy, imagining it enveloping my wolf. In my mind, I see my wolf surrounded in a silver haze. The glowing motes of power settle into her white fur.

My wolf awakens.

I focus the power again, commanding her to appear.

Fur appears on my limbs. Muscles reform. Teeth lengthen. My wolf form bursts free. The sense of freedom and power thrums through my veins. I take my place in my pack. With my mate. Moving on instinct, we all turn to face Nyxa.

Nyxa takes a half step backward. “I command you to leave my presence.” But her words come out as a half whisper.

Nyxa is afraid.

As well she should be.

Knox and I share a quick look. There’s no need to speak. We both know what we want to do. Leaning back on our haunches, we spring forward and attack. Tables go flying. I grab Nyxa by the arm and toss her against the wall. I nip another fae in the ankles, making him tumble over. Once the guy is prone, I jam my head under him and flip up. The fae slams into the ceiling with a thwack.

Wow. The fairies are really toss-friendly. No wonder they’re terrified of wolves.

The wolf forms of Knox, Abe, and Hollywood go after other fae, too. Soon, it’s not so much a fight as a game of catch. We move too quickly for them to summon up any fairy dust. Although, considering how rare the stuff is in the first place—and how much they wasted before Knox arrived—I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran out anyway.

At some point, Nyxa comes to. For a second, I think she might rejoin the battle, but that’s not in the cards. Instead, Nyxa races from the room. Once their queen retreats, the rest of her court follows along closely behind her.

Wolf-Knox looks to me. “Want us to kill them?”

Some of the fairy power I’d awakened now speaks to my soul. “No, there are too few Magicorum left.”

Wolf-Knox sniffs. “Nyxa is a nightmare.”

I shrug. “She’s a fae who’s being a fae.”

Knox nuzzles into the fur on my neck. “You’re too good.”

“I don’t know what I am, really.” I shift my weight from foot to foot. “I only know that it feels wrong to destroy someone unless they are attacking.”

Nearby, a swirl of red light appears on the torn-up carpet. Fresh magic, and since it’s red, this power is of the wizard variety. The crimson light disappears. In its place stands Alec. He’s wearing jeans, a blue blazer, and a grin. “What did I miss?”

“How did you know I was here?” asks Wolf-Knox.

“I slapped a tracking spell on you because, well, you’re Knox. If there’s something to kill, you’ll get into a fight.” Alec lets out a low whistle. “Looks like I missed a doozy.” He scans the room, his gaze landing on Elle’s sleeping form. “No!”

“She’s fine,” I say quickly. It’s awkward to talk in my wolf form. The long canines always get in the way. “It’s a sleeping enchantment.”

Alec kneels beside Elle and pulls a large gemstone from his pocket. Holding the stone in his palm, he whispers an incantation. The gem lights up crimson, the seams of brightness shining through his fingers. Beams of red fall across Elle’s sleeping face. A second later, she opens her eyes.

“What happened?” asks Elle.

“You and Bry got into another caper.” Alec’s tone is so gentle and sweet. “Are you all right?”

Elle sits up and rubs her neck. “Sleeping spells. Why does it always have to be sleeping spells?” She points at me. “That’s your jam, not mine.”

“Maybe we’ve been hanging out too long. My Sleeping Beauty life template might be rubbing off on you.”

Wolf-Knox raises his paw. “Bry called me her king, too.”

“Hey,” I playfully nip at him. “I thought we agreed you were my not-so-charming prince. This is a coup.”

Wolf-Knox mouths one word: king.

“Well, Your Highness.” Alec stands and then gently assists Elle to her feet, too. “How many am I transporting?”

Wolf-Knox looks at Abe and Hollywood. “Definitely Elle and Bry,” he says to Alec.

I nudge Wolf-Knox with my muzzle and stare pointedly across the room. Wolf-Abe and Wolf-Hollywood and droopy ears and tails. “Just me and Elle?” I ask.

Wolf-Knox pauses for a long moment before letting out a long sigh. “Transport Abe and Hollywood, too.”

Wolf-Abe and Wolf-Hollywood start yipping with glee. “Don’t get any ideas,” warns Wolf-Knox. “We’re not pack.”

The yipping instantly stops. Poor Abe and Hollywood.

Wolf-Knox swings his massive head toward Alec. “Can you send these two…back to wherever’s their home? You can do that, yeah?”

Alec flashes his most toothy grin. “For not-pack members, I do such things all the time.” He fishes in his pocket and brings out more gems. “This ought to do it.” Alec raises his voice and addresses the room. “Everyone, over here.”

There is no way I’m switching to my human form now—there are way too many people around. So, I stay all wolfed up as I cross the torn-up shop floor.

That’s when I spy it.

My unshreddable outfit.

Still sitting in a pile where Blythe dropped it.

Now it’s my turn to yip with joy. “My clothes are still here. Can you grab them, Elle?”

“My pleasure.” Elle steps over and scoops the items in her arms. “This stuff is the bomb.” Once she has the items in hand, we all go to stand near Alec.

Alec rubs the gemstones between his palms. “Everyone ready to go?” He poses the question to the group, but for some reason, all eyes have focused on me. Not sure when I became leader of this party, but I like it.

“Yes,” I answer. “Let’s go home.”

Alec casts the spell, and we all go home, including me with my new outfit. All in all, this makes of the best capers Elle and I have ever had.

And that’s saying something.