"I had hoped that the rest of
the world would stand still
while I got myself together
again, but Chaos and Tragedy
had marched into other
lives close to mine as well."

~~Julie Metz

****************

~Nova~

"Alana told me that meditation was a good way to know ourselves," Nevada was telling me as we wandered around the front courtyard. "It's apparently a good way to practice my dream walking ability, too."

"I'm not sure I'm patient enough for such a thing," I replied, my eyes scanning the treeline.

After deciding that the four of us weren't coming up with any new ideas or theories about any of the recent discoveries, August sent us all on our separate ways. We all agreed to do our best to relax but continue with our routine as best as possible. Nevada and I hadn't quite found a routine other than random training whenever it was convenient. It wouldn't be long until that would change, most likely whenever Dominic and Alana returned.

August had kissed Nevada before retreating to stand guard in the tower, power rolling off of him in surprisingly strong waves. It was impressive, I wouldn't lie, but I was more intrigued with Robbie's newest addition. He had walked the two of us outside, planning to patrol the grounds while we talked and meandered around but disappeared briefly into the bushes.

When he emerged again, Robbie had taken his wolf form, black coat shining in the sunlight as strong muscles rippled beneath. He was stunning although that word didn't quite describe what I saw when I looked at him, silver irises bright with happiness. I couldn't help but laugh as he had dropped his clothes from between his powerful jaws, grinning with his tongue lolling out the side like a giant puppy. 

With a lick to my face, his tongue rough and wet across my skin, Robbie had let out a playful tip before bounding off into the trees.

"Are you even listening to me? Nova!" Nevada shouted in my ear, waving her hand in my face.

"Damn, woman, what the hell?" I glowered, rubbing my offended ear. "What?!"

Nevada rolled her eyes. "I was talking to you and then you zoned out. You probably didn't even hear what I said, did you?"

I bit my lip, blinking down at her innocently. "Of course, I was definitely not listening."

She snorted, bumping her shoulder against my arm as we started walking again. 

"This summer has been insane," she said quietly, a subtle smile on her face as she glanced up towards the tower. "Never in my dreams… sometimes I still question if all of this has been real."

My hand reflexively traveled to the mark on my neck, the curves and spirals that swirled along my skin feeling slightly raised and warm beneath my fingers. The bite mark from Robbie was there as well, hidden within the thick lines, harboring a sweet ache every time I moved my head.

"I know what you mean," I replied, my voice almost wistful and dreamlike. "This wasn't how I expected this summer to go."

There was a large, flat boulder midway between the house and the trees that Nevada and I perched on, heads turned to the sky as we leaned back on our hands with our eyes closed. It was a peaceful day, the chaos of the world feeling farther away than it usually did. We sat in silence for a while, and I lost myself in the feel of the world around us. 

Bees buzzing and determined, hopped from flower to flower as birds sang in the trees, swooping through the air as they chased each other. I could feel their energy, small bundles of power, pulsing and swaying as they moved. The magick that flowed through the earth beneath us, strong and radiant, dancing in the air we breathed, in the wind that caressed our skin. It was almost as if I could see it in my mind's eye, a rainbow of colors gently throbbing as it painted the picture in my head.

"Can you feel it?" Nevada whispered as if afraid to break the spell. "It's everywhere, surrounding us. I've never experienced something like this, something this strong. Tell me it's not just me."

"It's not," I promised with a smile as I took her hand.

Power shot through me, gathering in our joined hands and bursting outward away from us. The quartz pendant on my bracelet grew heated against my skin, my body jerking from the jolt of energy. My eyes burst open and Nevada let out a cry of surprise, her free hand grasping at the necklace beneath her shirt.

All around where we sat on the boulder, weeds and flowers that had been sporting unblossomed bulbs burst to life, flowering before our eyes. Before either of us could react, the entire yard was covered in various colored wildflowers, a bushel of roses at the corner of the house growing full and heavy with crimson petals. My breathing was shallow as magick coursed through us and I forced myself to breathe in and out of my nose while hoping to calm my pounding heart.

Nevada released my hand, green eyes wide.

"What did we do?" she asked quietly, looking around in amazement. 

I didn't say anything at first, reminded of what I did to the dead roses at the cemetery. But this was different. Flowers had bloomed where there hadn't been any before, creating a meadow of spring everywhere we looked. We had done this, our magick stronger than we had realized.

"We should probably not touch anything we don't have to for a bit," I admitted with a sigh. "Our magick is obviously strong together so hugs would probably be disastrous until we get this shit under control."

"Yeah, we don't want to blow the house up or something," Nevada agreed, looking sheepishly.

I followed her gaze, finding August peering down at us before his head turned to survey the rest of the yard. I waved more enthusiastically than the moment called for just to annoy him and he just shook his head.

"Did your, uh, pendant get hot?" Nevada asked pointing at my bracelet like it was a dead rat. "My necklace did."

"Yeah, it's happened before," I answered, holding my wrist up for closer inspection. "I thought it was cool when mom gave it to me, but now I think it's more than just a family heirloom or whatever."

"Guess we'll add that to the list of questions for my parents when they get back," Nevada sighed, standing up from the rock. "Come on, let's find some food.

As we made our way back towards the house, careful to keep a safe distance between the two of us, the howl of a wolf sang out from the woods. We stopped in our tracks, turning towards the driveway as we heard tires crunching over gravel. Moments later, Robbie's wolf form tore from the woods as he raced along a familiar black sedan.

"Speak of the devils," Nevada said, watching the vehicle approach. 

"That's a fictional character in a human horror story," I pointed out. "Is my boyfriend really chasing a car?"

"Yes," she laughed. "Yes, he is."

I face palmed at the ridiculous sight, a choked laugh ripping free as I shook my head. Nevada and I waited on the front steps as the vehicle rounded the house towards the garage, Robbie nearly tripping over his paws to stop in front of us. Raising a brow at him, I opened the door and followed him inside with his clothes tucked under my arm.

After closing Robbie into August's study to shift back and dress, I joined Nevada in the living room. We didn't have to wait long before Dominic thundered into the room, looking wildly around the room.

"There was a wolf in the yard, a big ass beast chasing us!" Dominic bellowed, waving his arms like a lunatic. "Did you not see it?"

Just then, Robbie came into the room with his jeans low on his hips, his shirt thrown over his shoulder, and a glossy layer of sweat coating his skin as he struggled to catch his breath. A wide grin was plaster on his face and I licked my lips at the sight of him, my eyes tracing the matching swirl of lines just like mine on his chest right over his heart. 

"Yeah, we saw him," Nevada cackled from the couch as Alana came in behind him with her arms loaded with plastic grocery bags.

"What? Him?" Dominic asked, his blustered state failing him as it became warped with confusion. His eyes, just as green as Nevada's, drifted around the room before landing on Robbie. "You?"

"Me," Robbie chirped happily, planting a quick kiss on my lips before flopping down on the couch. "You guys missed some things."

"Alright, boys," Alana piped up, dropping all the bags on the floor with a loud clatter. "Get your lazy asses up and help me before I strangle you with one of these plastic bags. That means you too, Dom. We'll figure out what's going on after the ice cream finds its way to the freezer."

"Ice cream?!" Nevada, Robbie, and I shouted excitedly at the same time, all of us jumping to our feet as we rushed towards the garage door entrance.

"Shit, don't touch me!" Nevada shrieked, slipping through the doorway, her arm barely grazing my shirt. "We'll blow up the car or cook all the food at once!"

"Yeah, don't melt the ice cream!" Robbie scolded as we made our way to the open trunk.

"At least I wasn't chasing cars like a golden retriever," I shot back with a laugh.

●●●●

Forty-five minutes later, the food was put away, new weapons stowed in the respective places and the three of us were finally plopped on our happy asses with heaping bowls of delicious goodness. I had to admit I was curious about the weapons, particularly the swords, where they had come from and what the plan for them was, but I let it go as I shoveled the sweetness into my mouth.

The three of us filled Dominic and Alana in on everything we could remember, the new and surprising abilities between the four of us over the last twenty-four hours as well as the small bits of information we had gathered. There wasn't much to go on but what can you do when you basically know nothing? August came down from the tower about half way through the conversation, throwing in bits and pieces that one of us had missed. Honestly, it was all still confusing and a bit overwhelming so I was happy to have not blocked it all out entirely.

Once everything had been explained, including the recent incident with Nevada and I out in the yard, Dominic and Alana stared at us slack jawed and eyes wide. It was a natural reaction to such shocking information, especially with the amount of crap we had just dumped all over them.

“So, let me get this straight,” Dominic finally managed, face hard and brows pulled down, “the claiming,” he barely suppressed a shudder, “seems to have returned your previous abilities and made my kids stronger.”

“Yep,” I answered, draping my legs over Robbie’s lap as I turned sideways to lean against the couch armrest. “Ridiculously stronger.”

The one thing that I definitely didn’t want to get rid of was the strength in my mental shields. I hoped that this magick boost didn’t wear off because the ability to completely block out everyone’s emotions was something I wasn’t sure I would be able to back away from. I could choose when I wanted to feel someone's emotions, or I could throw up my walls and feel nothing but my own. It was a sweet relief that I had quickly grown used to.

“But why did it happen?” Nevada asked, fingers wringing nervously in her lap.

“Well, the prophecy said the two of you would be the strongest fae in history,” Dominic mused, tugging at his short beard thoughtfully. “Maybe that’s what it meant?”

Alana had been silent through the entire exchange, her light purple eyes gazing from Robbie to August and back as if studying them. But finally, she leaned forward from her position beside Dominic on the loveseat, curious eyes on Robbie.

“Look at me, Hatter,” she said quietly, searching his face.

Robbie glanced at me hesitantly but I just shrugged, unsure of what she was looking for. When he finally met her eyes, I felt a slight prickle of magick skate across my skin, her eyes glowing bright briefly before they widened. Her power slipped away as quickly and silently as it had come. Our group watched wordlessly as she turned to August, repeating the same as with him. Seeming to find whatever it was she was looking for, she leaned back on the couch, a faraway look in her eyes.

“I felt you in my head… or something,” Robbie said after a moment, his large hang coming to rest on my knee. “What was that for?”

August looked just as confused as the rest of us, Dominic unknowingly echoing Robbie’s action on Alana’s leg as we waited for her to answer. After another long, agonizing moment, she snapped out of wherever her mind had gone, locking eyes with Nevada before looking at me.

“They’ve both... ,” Alana trailed off, struggling to find words as she swallowed. “They’ve reconnected with their souls…”

“Say what now?” Robbie asked incredulously.

Ignoring him, she looked back at her daughter. “Can you not feel it too? Open your mind and look for the connection. If your powers have grown as you say they have, it won’t take much for you to find it too.”

Nevada and I looked at each other skeptically. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know because if what she said was true…

“It’s okay,” Robbie said, twining our hands. “I trust you.”

“That’s not even the issue love,” I admitted before closing my eyes almost reluctantly.

I dropped my guard, my mental walls slipping away into the recesses of my mind and gently guided my power towards Robbie. It brushed against my energy, a heady warmth I wanted to lose myself in but I pressed on. As my magick touched his consciousness, not only could I feel it but I could see it as clearly as if it were right in front of my face. Golden orange and pulsing gracefully through his entire being, velvety soft against the tendrils of my power as it pressed against my own.

My eyes snapped open, wide with disbelief and awe at my own strength.

“Well?” Robbie asked nervously at the same time that August asked, “What?”

“It’s there,” Nevada whispered.

“I felt it too,” I told Robbie before looking at Dominic and Alana. “How is that possible? What does it mean? We still don’t know any of that and we need to.”

“I don’t know,” Alana admitted, sounding frustrated. “But I may know how to find out without drawing attention from the Vampire Council or the Kingdoms.”

“Alana, don’t do anything dangerous,” Dominic instantly warned, taking her hand.

She smiled fondly at him. “Don’t worry. Bella isn’t our enemy.”

We all watched as she stood and left the room without a backwards glance. Dominic swore under his breath and ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up at odd angles.

“Who is Bella?” Nevada asked, still staring at the empty doorway.

“Isabelle Foreaux,” Dominic answered, head in his hands. “She’s a French witch that we met a few years back. She has odd dealings with people on the Black Market, going behind her coven’s back to do as she pleases.”

“Is she into black magick or something?” I asked.

“Dominic leaned back, looking tired. “Not exactly but she has a way of getting what she wants or what others need of her. She’s never hurt anyone as far as I know but I have no idea how she does what she does.”

“That sounds ominous,” August commented.

“No shit,” Dominic muttered. He leaned forward again, elbows braced on his knees. “Okay, so we need to get everything else under control in the meantime while we wait for answers. We need to deal with what is and worry about the why later when the time comes. August you haven’t used your magick in a very long time but I’m guessing with a little work it will be like riding a bike.”

“Do you know how to ride a bicycle?” August smirked.

“Shut it, old man.” Dominic shot back, turning to look at Nevada and I. “You two need to get control of your magick before you hurt yourself or someone else. Thankfully the fridge survived the hands of Nevada but who's to say it will the next time. Anyway, meditate and other magick in the mornings, starting tomorrow, and weapons skills in the afternoon. I can’t go easy because shit is going crazy out there and I’ve got a bad feeling it’s only going to get worse.”

●●●●

The next three weeks were brutal, just as Dominic had warned. Every morning Nevada, August and I would meet up with either Dominic or Alana, sometimes both or we would break off into pairs. The use of our magick was growing more stable by the day, except for when Nevada and I would try to do something together. After the fifth time of setting the training room ablaze, Alana had refused to let us try again while inside.

Every afternoon was spent switching between hand to hand and sword play, which Robbie helped with as well because all he had to do was patrol since his shifting wasn’t an issue. It was hard, but I was getting better with using a sword which seemed to please Dominic who was convinced that was the best way to make sure anyone that was immortal was actually dead. Better safe than sorry he said.

Nothing new had happened during those few weeks, my days spent training and my nights in Robbie’s arms. News reports, both on the radio and TV, talked about the increasing violence in the outside world. Here at August's mansion, we felt like we were in our own secluded world, but it was an illusion. Every time the news came on, we were all painfully reminded of the chaos raining down around us.

It was the first week of September when shit started to hit the fan for us again. When I woke up, everything seemed normal but for the unease curling in my gut. Robbie had left before dawn to patrol the grounds and I was supposed to meet Nevada in the training room. But as I came down the stairs, a howl split the early morning air, my blood running cold and the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. 

I ran from the house, bursting through the front door, power already flowing through my veins as I searched the treeline. Nevada stumbled out moments later, her own magick crackling against my skin.

"What's happening?" she asked breathless, making room from Dominic and Alana as they spilled from the house as well. "I don't feel anyone."

"Neither do I," I growled, fists clenching as I heard Robbie howl angrily, much closer than before.

The crunch of gravel filled the morning silence as a gold SUV sped down the drive towards us, Robbie hot on its trail. August landed in a crouch in front of us, sparks dancing around the tips of his fingers as he watched the car nearly lose control as it tried to avoid Robbie's large body. My heart clenched in my chest but I didn't movex trusting his instincts to handle himself.

The vehicle slid to a stop, several windows busted, scorch marks dotting the sides, and what appeared to be blood spackling the paint along with mud. It was a sight to see but I couldn't see through the tinted windows.

"Who is it?" Dominic asked, his voice low as he regarded the vehicle.

Robbie took a defensive stance between the vehicle and the rest of us, growling and snarling viciously, teeth bared and glistening with saliva. Anyone in their right mind would be afraid.

"Why didn't the barrier stop whoever it is?" Nevada asked, eyeing the SUV suspiciously.

"The barrier is meant to keep out unfriendlies." August's hands clenched and clenched at his sides. "Whoever that is doesn't mean any of us harm it seems."

I cocked my head, narrowing my eyes at the driver side window, realizing could feel the energy trapped inside. The driver was panicked and afraid but also hopeful, their energy tickling a memory in the back of my mind. My eyes widened in recognition. 

"Michael?" I asked out loud.

Everyone head snapped towards me, Robbie snarling again. I ignored them all, cautiously moving towards the vehicle. The last time I had seen the warlock had been worse than fucked up, Nevada ending up severely injured as he disappeared into the night. I knew I should probably hate him, or be angry, but I wasn't. Pulling the door open, Michael's nearly unconcious body fell into my arms, his shirt torn to near shreds and blood slicking his skin from a multitude of wounds.

"Don't, please! Don't kill me, please," he begged softly, barely able to hold his eyes open as Robbie growled from behind me. "Nova, please… I'm sorry…"

"Michael, what…," I began but his next words left me frozen.

"I have a message from Ashira…"

Before anyone could ask any questions or he could say anything more, Michael's eyes rolled back in his head and his body fell limp in my arms.

"Help me get him inside," I demanded of anyone that was listening. 

His presence was still there, his heart sluggishly beating beneath my fingers as I checked his neck. No one moved and I looked up, glaring at all of them.

"Someone fucking help me," I yelled, eyes blazing.

"I say we kill him," August growled and Dominic nodded in agreement.

"Oh, for the love of the gods," Nevada mumbled, shoving her way by the two large men to take Michael ankles in her hands. August started to protest but she flicked sparks in his direction. "Don't start."

"Let's put him on the couch," Alana directed, holding the front door open as we careful manuevered Michael inside.

Just as we laid him down, her cellphone rang in her pocket.

"It's Bella, maybe she finally found something," Alana informed us as she put the phone to her ear. "Hey, Bel-…"

Dominic, August, along with a naked and pissed of Robbie, gathered in the doorway of the living room, their eyes silently murdering the unconcious and dying warlock on the cushions.

"What?" Alana said, voice quiet and her face draining of color. "Okay, thanks for letting me know."

She hung up, the phone falling from her hands and tumbling to the floor as she reached for the TV remote with shaking hands. The device burned to life, a shaken female news anchor filling the screen.

"I repeat, this is breaking news," the woman said, her blue eyes shiny with tears and her voice wavering as she fought the urge to cry. "Lavarius Cordeaux, King of the Braelyn fae, longest ruler of the Braelyn Kingdom, has been killed along with his youngest daughter, Avrilia, and his wife, Tarliza. Suspects have not yet been named and the causes of death have not been released or determined at this time. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available. May the gods have mercy on their souls."

********************

A/N: I think I might cry! This is the last chapter in Fated Deception, the end of Book 2 in the Fated Trilogy.

Don't worry, the journey will continue in Book 3, which will be reveal shortly after this!

Thank you all so much for sticking with me and super the crew!

Let me know what you think!❤

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XOXO🖤❤🖤❤

~SM~