Werewolves Be Damned - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,86

understand how to live without any of them.

Regardless that she faced an uphill, emotional battle, one truth remained: her family was gone. Nothing would ever bring them back. It didn’t matter how hard she wished for a different end for them. This couldn’t be undone and wishing for something different was pointless.

Zia had stayed silent. Perhaps she’d been reading Nexi’s thoughts. Maybe she knew all of what she’d been reconciling in her mind. While Nexi, at the moment, wanted to embrace the silence at her willow, too many questions demanded answers.

Pushing away the pain lingering on the surface, she released the leaf from her fingers and asked Zia, “How did you find us?”

“Valor and Briggs.”

At the low, smooth voice, Nexi raised her hand across her brow to cover the sun, and she found perfection. Kyden leaned against a tree across the way and the sun shone down on his body, his tanned skin glistening. “Did you just get here?”

He shook his head. “I never left you.”

An unfamiliar intensity hummed off him, even from where she sat, almost as if the air seemed charged between them. She might’ve been surprised she hadn’t noticed him, but she cut herself a break considering how confusing everything had been when she had woken.

When Kyden didn’t move to approach her, she frowned. “Do you plan on staying over there?”

He hesitated, his gaze wracking over her, and when his eyes caught hers again, his jaw clenched. “For now, it’s best that I do.”

Before Nexi had a chance to ponder his distance, considering she craved his touch and nearness, Zia said, “Valor came to the Otherworld to help you, and we would’ve arrived sooner, but wolves attacked the Otherworld.”

She jerked her head to Zia in horror, since she had thought she imagined the sounds of fighting before she teleported into Carson City. She stared in silent concern, as Zia added, “I suspect to keep us away from your home long enough for Lazarus to attack you.”

Nexi swallowed. “Did anyone die?”

Zia shook her head slowly, but no pride shone in her gaze, only compassion. “Our Guard protected the Otherworld. I suspect Lazarus gave the wolves hope that once he drained you, he’d come and aid in the fight.”

“That’s good…” Nexi swallowed again, thick emotion crawling its way over her. “It’s good no one else died from the Otherworld.” Needing more answers and not allowing herself to fall to pieces, she put her despair in that place in her soul that allowed her to go on. “Explain this: why was the magic so painful?”

Zia studied her a moment. “As I explained before, I didn’t know what was going to trigger your magic—”

“Oh, I know. I had a vision of Tillie—I saw her dying.”

“Did you?” Zia asked.

Nexi nodded.

Sadness swept over Zia’s features, darkening her eyes. “I imagine that’s your Spirit Witch abilities. You obviously tapped into an imprint left on Lazarus and witnessed the event through him. I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“I’m sorry too, but I’m sorta glad at the same time.” She shrugged, glancing at Kyden, who continued to stare at her with intensity, then she turned to Zia again. “Without that, I’d probably be dead.”

“Powerful, yes,” Zia agreed. “Apparently, your strong reaction to the vision triggered your magic to rise, and because you were so angry, you couldn’t control it. Magic is potent and if unmanaged, it does hurt tremendously.”

Reaching for a leaf, she twirled it, feeling Kyden’s gaze all over her as if he ran his finger down her neck. “So, what happens now? You know, with my magic stuff?”

“It’s imperative you start your training. You’re like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.” Zia hesitated, searching Nexi’s eyes. “But I think it’s best for you to take a little break first.”

Nexi pointed out the obvious. “If I’m so dangerous, why wait?”

Zia gave a reassuring smile, patting Nexi’s leg. “Right now, you’re filled with despair, sweetie, it’ll only lead to disaster. You saw what your anger did tonight. You need to get in control of your emotions before we start digging into your power and open the flood gates, so to speak.”

Nexi thought over the implication Zia presented, and she didn’t like where her thoughts took her. “Are you saying I can’t be a guardian anymore?”

Zia hesitated again, seemed to choose her words carefully. “You need a break. You can always return to your guardian duties, as long as you can control your magic.”

Kyden didn’t give Nexi the chance to ask when they would test