I blink and the figure is gone, but the people on the ground remain surrounded by the velvety dark blue ink swirling just off the ground unchanging, motionless. “I got you Smalls.”
“Take a deep breath Bitty.”
“Come on Tiny, some back to us.”
I hear the words, but I can’t believe them. I’m still staring at their unmoving forms. It’s their voices in my head because I want to hear them so badly. I can feel pressure on my arms, but I can’t look down. Why can’t I move? This isn’t right. Something is off. I focus back on my three guys lying on the ground, but their voices are all around me.
“That’s it, blink, look at us, focus, Tiny.”
“We’re right here.” I feel hands on my cheeks, but no one is there. What is happening? Is the Rogue King using magic to disorient me? Magic. Wait, what was I doing before this? Magic, Gentry and Elena were doing magic. I’m part of the spell. It’s not real. But, if it isn’t real why can’t I look away? I can’t turn off the vision. I try to pull away.
“No, Bitty. Stay here. Don’t move. Breathe. Listen.”
“Tiny, let me have some of the fear. Let us help you.” Dakota is talking to me, but he can’t be. He’s in front of me shredded and not moving. “I’m here, let me help.” I feel arms tighten around my waist and my back is flush with a broad taught chest. I take a breath in. Cinnamon. I smell Dakota right behind me. “That’s it, Smalls. Let us help.”
I lean back, I hope my instincts are right. This whole thing is so strange I have two realities going on. The one I can see and the one I can hear and I can’t make the two match up.
“We’re still here Bitty. Think and look, control it. See past the illusion.”
“I can’t” It’s all I can whisper.
“Yes, you can, Tiny. We’re here, feel it.” I can feel large fingers lacing with mine and then squeezing tight, almost painfully.
“What is taking so long?” Someone behind me growls in question.
“This one seems to have more layers, multi purpose. This is one being used to control you boys as well as whatever illusions have been keeping everyone under control. There is a lot to unpack. Skylar, I need you to fight this with us. Wherever you see, whatever is causing you pain right now, look through it, see through the illusion. Find the truth. This one is for you to break.”
So, no pressure or anything. Why can’t I just have regular lessons from regular instructors? Why is everything thrown at me and learn as you go? I can’t seem to open my mouth to make words come out. She said see through the illusion. I can hear Oliver and Cam talking to me. I know Dakota is behind me, his arms around me. So he can’t be the bloody mess in front of me.
I focus on that. I tilt my head back. He’s still there, his chest is supporting my head. His heartbeat is fast though. Does he see what I see? Or maybe his version of his loved ones dying? I breathe deep, warm, spicy Cinnamon. I squeeze my right hand still laced with Cam’s. My left is engulfed by Oliver’s. I flex those fingers too. Another deep breath, Honey and Citrus join the mix.
They are here with me not on the ground. I can see the navy mist start to thin. I see Sierra and Sam, then Lil and Jena and Mateo. All my friends are looking at me with varying degrees of worry. The vision tries to pull me back in and it hurts, like ice burning my skin it prickles everywhere and I struggle to hold my focus, but if this is on me and I want to end this I have to fight.
I take a deep breath and let the scents around me solidify my strength. I think about containing the evil magic that has been forced onto these beautiful plants. I imagine a glass bubble and siphon the navy mist inside where it can’t harm anyone else.
My breathing is labored and I am sweating now, but it is working. The visualization is helping me clear my vision. The whole clearing is in my view now. One more surge of ice shoots down my spine, through my heels and into the ground and then my body collapses.
“Damn, Smalls.” Dakota picks me up, but for the first time since we started doing this, I am awake.
“Great work Little One. You are tired and I am sure the Hemlock will be much of the same. Do you still want to try?” Gentry is close to me now. When did she walk over here?
“F*ck no, she’s not trying another one.” Cam sounds appalled. “Look at her, she can’t even stand.”
“I am looking at her, Alpha. This is the first time she has come out of the spell conscious and she dispelled this one herself. This is her decision to make, not yours or mine and I will respect either choice as will you.”
“We have to.”
“Bitty are you sure? That one was rough.”
“But not as rough as the first two and I’m starting to figure out the magic. We only have a few more days and these have to go before we can deal with the fire back at the pack house. I’m okay, I will probably pass out and need you three to carry me home and snuggle with me, but if we all expect it then we can deal with it.” I touch his cheek with my palm and he leans into it. I don’t totally understand this shift in our relationship, but I’m just going to go with it.
“You’re always going to give her what she wants aren’t you?” Cam asks from next to me and I smile a little.
Oliver looks at me and winks. “Probably.”
Cam growls again as Dakota silently turns and walks back to the truck. We don’t get in the front seat though. He somehow maneuvers into the backseat without putting me down. Cam slides in near my head and Oliver slides in, laying my feet in his lap. Sierra and Sam jump in the front seats, like this is totally normal.
“Sleep Smalls, we have about an hour to get to the next spot.” I nod my head and lay back onto Cam’s lap.
I roll on my side so I am facing his stomach and let his warmth and scent surround me. He starts to run his fingers lightly through my hair. Dakota’s warm hand slides under my shirt and rubs circles into my back and Oliver has my legs tucked up into him. With their warmth and scents and the gentle sway of the truck, I am out in no time.
When they wake me up, I feel completely refreshed. Without words we all step out of the truck and start the process over. This time Cam is behind me, Oliver to my right and Dakota to my left.
