There was a twinge of disappointment, but the soul joined to mine accepted that this was its life now. I really had to make more effort in allowing my beast freedom to fly.
"Jacob!" Justice yelled, sprinting for me. Louis magicked me some clothing, and I was dressed by the time she launched herself into my arms. "What's happening up there?" she gasped, kissing me a few times before allowing me to answer.
"They're eating the dragon," I told her.
"Thank fuck we made it back to the ground before they decided some other dragons might make a tasty snack of brains," Maximus said in a rush, dressed and on two legs as well.
"They won't eat any but the one that stole their souls," Louis said, voice strained. He was hurting. In fact, they all looked worse than when we left. Dirt and grazes across their bodies, old blood from where they’d healed.
"It was a good idea," Tyson said, "reversing the tethers. I wouldn't have guessed that was the exact way they'd react, but it was certainly effective."
"It was Tee’s idea,” Louis said, his smile directed at his mate.
“I’ve seen it before,” she said, “but that was when a sorcerer went bad and used death magic to power himself. Those corpses dragged him to the demon realm. In this case, they're clearly destroying the vessel of the power, which should, in theory, release his hold on the ley line."
"The line’s power won’t transfer to the zombies, right?" Grace sounded a little concerned as she watched the slowly shrinking group above.
"No," Louis said without hesitation. "They exist because the dragon has their souls and power. Once he is consumed, they’ll be at peace."
That was the most we could hope for those fallen soldiers. At the end of the day, peace was everyone's ultimate goal.
Before we could celebrate one victory, a surge of power smashed into me, and I jerked at the same time as my brothers.
“Stratford,” I bit out.
Justice turned to me, tapping into our bond to feel what I was, but I shut her off because the pain was debilitating.
Someone was attacking the barrier of Stratford that protected my supes.
38
Justice Winter
I felt his pain the second before Jacob dropped to his knees. Tapping into the bond was my first instinct, but he threw up a freaking wall between us, effectively blocking me.
For a second my heart stopped beating, and when it started again the rhythm was all off. Everything was off, because I’d never seen Jacob like this before.
"What's happening?" Jessa barked. I took my gaze from my mate long enough to see all the Compasses and Louis were on their knees, faces wreathed in agony.
"Jacob shut me out," I said quickly.
"Tyson too," Grace added, sounding way harsher and more worried than usual.
"Jacob said Stratford,” I recalled. “Someone is attacking our home?"
"The barrier," Louis managed to rasp out as he tried to haul himself to his feet. "We have to get back to Stratford and stop Caine."
Fucking fuck.
"Guess we've figured out where the president has been this entire time,” I bit out.
“And what he wanted,” Jessa added. “Our power.”
She was right, that bastard wanted to control all of us and our power. His deal with the dragon had clearly given him both the strength and means to strike against our town. Should have expected that since he wasn’t here. This was the dragon’s big move, and it looked like we were about to see the president’s.
"Hold on to your knickers, ladies," Tee said.
This was no time for humor, but in normal circumstances I’d have laughed as that turn of phrase. Her recent trip to Britain had clearly spiced up her vocabulary.
Tee opened a step-through, wobbling just a little as she did so. "I need a ley line," she muttered. "As soon as we get back, I'll recharge."
With the last of her energy, Tee roped power around the Compasses and Louis, dragging them all through the doorway. We followed, stepping into the chaotic town center of Stratford.
A quick glance sent some relief through me—we weren’t at war. Not yet anyway.
Tee dropped to the ground next to Louis, the pair pressing their hands firmly to the ground, and right before my eyes the color returned to their faces, the strength to their bodies.
"The ley line," Grace explained, and a second later she did the same thing.
Grace was a witchy fey, one that had a varied range of powers, including the ability to heal. I kinda wished I had that one.