Chapter 23

Kellan put his mouth to Nora’s ear. “I’m going to set you down, just for a moment. I need to deal with Mara.”

Kellan was going to enjoy killing the one who harmed his mate, as would his wolf.

Nora was too stunned to reply. Kellan gently sat her on the grass next to the cleared pathway. Trying, even in this circumstance, to make her comfortable. He brushed his lips against hers, then stood to face Mara.

“Any last words, deceiver?” he sneered.

“No. But you’ll not be taking her back, Kellan. I cannot allow you to upset the balance of power.”

Kellan started to shift when a group of vines, poised like serpents, struck at his skin. They wrapped around each of his limbs, holding them taut. Kellan struggled, but even his strength was no match for what held him. Mara’s magic was incredibly strong.

“Mara, stop!” Nora yelled.

“I can’t. Not until your heart ceases to beat.”

Nora watched in horror as Kellan’s skin split open on his wrists from the tight pull of those deadly vines. If she didn’t do something fast, he might end up quartered.

Her former governess’s disloyalty had hurt. Seeing Mara’s magic draw Kellan’s blood was worse. It awoke something dark and deadly in Nora.

She may very well be dying, but Mara was going to suffer what she’d done.

Sensations throbbed inside her body, as they had when she first left the castle with Mara, then again when she was trapped. The earth was speaking to Nora. No, not just the earth. Multiple elements were trying to communicate.

Nora had always refused to open completely, never having wanted to harm the world around her. She’d spent years accidently killing things, drawing too much off the world’s energies.

This time, she completely let go, opening her mind and body to them, overwhelmed, at first by the barrage of images, messages, and secrets saturating her senses. The elements had much to say.

They needed Nora’s help, just as she needed theirs, so they gave her what her life force required—and she allowed it. The process allayed her fears, numbing her, centering her, honing that which made her an elemental.

Nora went cold. Logical. She would save herself. She would save Kellan. Most significantly, she would kill Mara for her betrayal.

Nora leaned towards her husband. Her mate. Looking for an injury close enough to reach. Thorns from the vines that held him had sliced open more than the skin on his wrists.

His ankles and thighs were dripping crimson. She reached out, touching one of his cuts, collecting some of his blood on her finger tip.

“I accept what you willingly offer, Mate,” Nora avowed before putting the blood on her finger into her mouth.

Kellan blinked, staggered by what she was doing. How did she know what to say during the sharing of blood?

He decided it did not matter. If she held this knowledge, she would likely know what would happen once they both performed the rite. Only, he needed her blood to finish it.

Kellan inhaled and realized it wasn’t an issue. Nora’s blood was all over his body.

“What are you doing?” Mara asked, walking towards Nora.

“I accept what you willingly offer, Mate,” he repeated, staring at Nora, ignoring the threat marching closer. Mara would not take this moment from him.

Kellan licked his bicep, where Nora’s leg had been touching him as he ran with her, and he swallowed.

Something clicked into place, like Kellan’s soul was settling into Nora’s. The second their souls touched, a bright light burst free from Nora’s body, followed by a strong wind. The wind was so powerful, it knocked Mara to the ground.

Nora was still being besieged with messages from the world around her. The earth, the wind, water deep in the ground, it all called to her. She looked at Mara who struggled to get back on her feet and a rage like Nora had never felt before bubbled to the surface.

She rose from the ground. Gritting her teeth, she pushed past the pain from her mangled leg. Her fingers itched and she imagined wrapping them around Mara’s throat.

“Nora,” Kellan said. “Nora, your hands.”

Nora looked down and saw tiny flames coming out from each of her fingers. She held them up, entranced.

“No,” Mara huffed. “It’s not possible.”

Nora sneered in response.

She looked at the vines holding Kellan. They were upset at being used in such an ill manner by Mara. Elementals were not gifted by nature just so they could abuse it in return. Nature wanted its due. The entire forest was calling for blood.

“You can let go of him now,” Nora told the vines.

She’d never tried to control an element, but speaking to them felt right. They released him so fast Kellan fell to the ground.

Kellan was stunned. Edward had been right. The tying of their life-forces together would save Nora from the constant drain of energies. It appeared to have closed the hole in Nora’s soul or, at least, repaired most of the damage.

Apparently, it also brought forth her powers. Her scent was different, full of magic now, but just as enticing as before. More so, in fact.

Kellan stood and started towards Mara when he felt an intrusion in his mind. He looked at his wife, comprehending it was her. She did not want him to kill Mara.

It was a strange feeling, communicating psychically. Knowing his mate’s thoughts would take some getting used to.

He stilled, watching Nora as she stared down her enemy. He wondered what his little warrior was planning.

Kellan marveled at the change in Nora. His instinct was to protect her, but it was dampened by the immense amount of power radiating from her frame. He could not only smell it, he could see the glowing aura of magic seeping from her skin, as if her body was too full and could not hold it all.

The atmosphere was heavy and his skin crackled as his mate’s magic brushed against it. It was no time to feel enamored, but his little mate’s power made him burn for her.

Mara was no match; the scales were not even. Nora may have very well grown stronger than Kellan.

“Nora, please,” Mara begged.

“As you tumble to your death, I want you to think about something. The universe—nature itself—paired me with this man,” she pointed behind her.

“It was preordained. You, an elemental, should understand the magnitude of that. It has nothing to do with the balance of power or fairness. It is destiny, pure and simple, ingrained in our every molecule. And you dared to interfere. This is why the vines no longer respond to you. I dare say, nothing in this forest will allow you to manipulate it. You have upset the balance. Not me. Not this marriage. You. A pawn of the Sephtis Kenelm. Take that with you to your grave.”

Nora asked the vines for their assistance and they gladly acquiesced. Two whipped through the air, wrapping around Mara’s arms. They raised her off the ground.

“For the good of the whole, Nora! You must understand that! Your own mother prophesized the threat from the West!” Mara shouted as the vines flung her high into the air, over the ravine, and let go.

Mara’s screams lasted only seconds. When she hit the bottom, her life was extinguished. Nora immediately cut off the flow of energies from the ailing forest. She would never take more than necessary, and what it had given was enough to stop her bleeding.

Nora collapsed, and Kellan reached for her before she could fall to the ground. He picked her up, carefully inspecting her leg. It was covered in so much blood it was difficult to assess the damage.

“Should you use the forest to finish healing?” Kellan asked her.

“No, take me to the greenhouse. I can feel the sickness here. I don’t want to drain it.”

“Alright. I’ll hurry.”

No longer distracted by Mara, the pain came back to Nora’s leg and she winced as Kellan secured her in his arms. Kellan nuzzled her temple, then sprinted for the castle.

As he ran, he couldn’t get Nora’s words out of his head. She had accepted the mating, accepted they were meant to be together. She had even initiated the blood-mating. His heart thumped hard, and not from his exertions.

“Please slow your thoughts, Kellan. It’s a lot to take in right now,” Nora mumbled into his neck, her voice laced with her suffering.

He hadn’t realized he was projecting. His mother had explained what it was like and that it was possible, if not necessary, to control the flow of information. No one needs to know every single thought another has.

Kellan kissed the top of her head and tried his best to concentrate on their destination.