squatted down, I squeezed her fingers. Sweet sacred stars. “What the fuck?” I blinked, hoping the images seared into my brain would change. That it was just a really realistic movie or a special effects reel.
Another high piercing scream tore through the air.
I shuddered. Squeezed my eyes closed for a long five seconds. I took a deep breath. Forcing my eyes open, I watched as robed and hooded figures cut down the missing people of the Village. Men had been hacked into pieces. Arms and legs looked like a child knocked over a Lincoln Log building set.
The women though…the women had been tortured. Slices had been cut away. Strips of flesh littered the ground like the molted skin of a snake. Lumps, that on closer inspection turned out to be breasts, dotted the ground like mushrooms.
“What the fuck is going on? Is this some kind of ritual?” Jeremiah asked, horror turning his voice hoarse.
Hols shook her head. “No. They danced around naked, prayed and sang. Nothing like this. Nothing ever like this.” Her voice quavered.
“Who are the robed guys?” I asked.
She shook her head again. “I’ve never seen them before.”
Ari moved closer, pulled Hollyn against her chest. “Can you enter the Veil?”
I strained to hear Hols’ answer, but it was smothered in her grandmother’s chest. I tapped Ari’s shoulder. “Even if she can, she shouldn’t. What if Merlin is there waiting for her? Or someone else to lead him out?”
I’d lead enough DnD campaigns to know that was exactly what a Big Bad would do. Hell, I’d do it. I wasn’t sending my mate into the Veil again. Not when she’d been possessed the first time.
Hols looked up at me. Relief swimming in her lavender eyes.
Mason joined our little group. “I’m assuming blood sacrifice is still a part of the Celtic system, yes?”
Ari jolted. Her cerulean eyes widened. She nodded as her face drained of color.
Mason’s mouth tightened at the corners. “Then they have spilled more than enough blood to raise an army, let alone this Merlin. If they slaughter all the children as well?” He pointed off to the side of the standing stones. A small pin had been rudely crafted.
Hols eyes lost their fear. They heated into deep hard amethysts. “They’ll not harm those babies. Not on my watch.” She rose to her feet. Had we been in ancient times, I would have expected to see a suit of armor and a blazing sword in her hand.
“Mates,” she called softly.
My brothers and I circled around her. Settling our hands on her skin as if this were a regularly scheduled event, we met the need she didn’t have to voice. I closed my eyes and called to my dragon.
He rose inside me without issue or falter. He pressed against the silken boundary that separated us, careful not to push too far. His power surged through my body.
I sent that power into my mate. Knew my brothers joined me in supplying our woman with the extra power she needed for whatever course she’d decided on.
I heard the rustling and the whispers of our group as they gathered close. While I didn’t recognize their voices, I did recognize the awe that threaded each of their tones. My girl was fucking spectacular.
Just as my dragon was warming up to his task, I felt a pull on the magic. I opened my eyes to see Lukas, Atlas, and Mason had moved closer as well.
Atlas was now a shimmering white wolf that was almost as big as a fucking stallion. Mason was some kind of man with stone for skin. Lukas was still human, but if I squinted and turned my head just right, I thought I could see some kind of aura pulsing off of him.
Jeremiah had a blade in his hands, a bow and a quiver strapped over one shoulder and across his back. “If you can spare some starshine, goddess, I’ll send the first volley.” He holstered his sword and had an arrow notched and ready. He held the point steady for her to light.
I watched in fascination as the deadly glow was passed from her hand to the metal arrow. It blazed in the dappled light like a small sun.
Jeremiah aimed his arrow up at a forty-five degree angle. “Attack as soon as their attention has been diverted.”
He loosed the arrow.
We rushed forward into war.
Chapter 8 – Hollyn
With my mates surrounding me, our forward progress was slow. But we made it to the edge of the standing stone circle. I