Laurel

3:01 Laurel

I felt a familiar though unwelcome pounding in my head. The same I had felt before I was sucked into the Fae world while diving. I couldn't bring myself to ever regret what had happened, I did wish things could have been easier. It took a lot of effort to keep myself calm as the pounding in my head grew stronger through the dinner party. I was trying my best to stay engaged, to help Auris manage the crowd we attracted, to be a pleasant dinner companion at our table. But the cold fear I felt when the pounding went silent in my head, letting me know my time was up, sucked away my ability to hide what was happening.

I watched in horror, as we were locked into a magically sealed room. Hidden stone panels moving slowly into place, each covered with runes to block access to magic. As each stone moved into place more runes along the walls, ceiling and floor glowed, revealing themselves. I could feel Delia's fear as her ability to draw magic was taken from her. But I didn't have time to comfort her, I carried my own magic with me always. Powered by the love my mates gave me.

Black dressed guard flooding into the cavernous space, all focused on me. I felt as my own innate magic took over, regardless of the runes that I imagined were intended to subdue me. I watched from the outside, like it was a movie as my body moved to cast spells, gathering my loved ones closer. I had put up a shield, throwing those that weren't mine outside the boundary of my protection. Until there was a moment where I had all of them together.

Sky, my sweet, steady, thoughtful and endlessly loving first mate. He was so upset, he wanted to come closer to me. To help, but I couldn't let him. He stayed locked in place. Brydel had his arms wrapped around Delia, trying to comfort her, the loss of her magic had deeply affected her, the panic in the room from the other unaware guests was also overwhelming her. Brydel was scared, deeply scared but I could also feel his deep trust in me. I was grateful he was there for Delia, that I had been able to save the joyful wolf, he was the light I had needed. I love both Delia and Brydel, there was no jealousy when I saw them together. Only more happiness that they made each other happy too. Last Auris, my broken dragon who I still didn't fully understand, but just knew I needed. His eyes were so sad right now, I wondered if he knew something I didn't. He probably did, he had had too much time to fill his brain with all the secrets of the world. I hoped he knew I would be ok, I didn't want what was happening to trigger him. To hurt him worse than he already was.

I tried to look each of them in the eyes at the same time that I mouthed I love you, flooding our bonds with my love before I conjured a rip in space and time, and sent my hearts tumbling back to my mansion in the fae city. Hoping they would be safe there. Trusting that they would be.

I felt a tear trace down my cheek after I sent them away. I felt all their hurt at separating. I hoped they knew I didn't have a choice, I wasn't fully in charge of my magic anymore. Spells were flying from my hands, sending black clothed guards flying towards the walls. I was trying to save as many of the hapless guests as I could. Regardless of my desperate efforts it was a bloodbath. The Fae were used to having access to their magic, being able to defend themselves with it. This was well planned and executed. I was trying to get to Titania, to save her, still hungry for the answers she might have when I saw a silver sword erupt through her chest, eviscerating her heart. She had died before I had ever drawn close to her. I had started singing at some point I wasn't sure when, just like at the open mic night so many years ago. The song devolved into a wordless song, resonating through my chest, sounding so sweet in my ears. The room fell into fights around me, until I was nearly invisible in the madness.

The whole cavern had devolved to chaos swiftly after I had sent my mates to safety. Spells and hexes from bottled spells littered the air as everyone left tried to capture their own corner. As I watched the room start to writhe in uncontrolled chaos I became disgusted. So much waste, so much effort in this society was for nothing. How did they stand it? Why weren't they better than the humans on earth when they had actual fucking magic to fix everything. I walked over the corpse of a shifter, wearing a collar identical to the one I had pulled from Brydel with my bare hands. Why was it like this? Things could be so much better.