evidence on this side that we were under attack. Off to the west was a large gathering of Stratford’s elite, just as the witch had told me.
They weren't connected to the barrier like the Compasses, but they were linked enough to know that bad shit was heading this way, and I admired their bravery in facing it head on.
Reaching through my bond once more to Jacob, I was relieved to find that the wall between us was still there, strong and solid. He was alive and that was all that mattered.
I understood why he'd blocked me out; if the attack on the barrier was hurting … killing them, then his instinct was to save me. What he should have taken into account, though, was that if he died, then so would I, because I wasn’t living through this shitty life without my true mate.
Nope. Refused. Couldn't make me.
It was time to ensure that didn’t happen. Time to put this new power to work.
A dozen or so supes gasped as I slammed into the barrier—fully expecting it to reject me but was too pissed to stop. To my surprise I sailed right through it, coming out the other side to what could only be described as disorder and confusion. Humans were everywhere, dressed in an array of fatigues—most of them camo, with some in black, and a few in blue and red. I was guessing different forces or special units.
Almost as one, they all focused on me … the soul supernatural to emerge from the shielded area. Bullets rained toward me in an instant, and since I was expecting an attack, my ruby shield was in place, deflecting them like they were nothing more than annoying stones.
"Where is President Caine?" I shouted, projecting my voice.
More bullets, and this time I returned fire, using the shield to send them right back into the crowds. Shouts and screams sounded as men and women were hit.
I felt no guilt, just anger. They were attacking me, and I had the right to defend myself.
"I'm giving you to the count of five to produce the president," I called again. "Or I'm going to search for him through all of your corpses."
Silence. No more bullets. No answer.
One … two … three…
Before I got to four, he stepped out in front of his people, thirty yards from where I was.
"Justice," he said, his voice amplified by a microphone. "So nice to see you again. You realize you just broke my treaty by attacking and killing soldiers."
Ignoring him, I let more of my power seep out. I wasn't at full strength, still tapped out from fighting the dragon, but I’d give it all I had. The president clearly hadn’t expected that any of us could face off against him and his stolen power; the attack on the shield to control the leaders was clever, but he’d underestimated the other supernaturals.
He’d underestimated me.
"Your dragon is dead," I told him.
The president laughed. "He served his purpose. I got my talisman." He patted his neck, all proud and peacock-like. "I can hold my own against you creatures, and I can command you."
This was why he was so confident. More than the shield, he had this talisman.
Command us. The repercussions of him being able to control us was too much for my tired brain to truly comprehend. I wasn't even going to try to understand, even if my instincts were telling me that if he touched me, I would lose my free will.
Luckily, he wasn’t going to get close enough to try.
"You will die today," I said without inflection. "You think you understand what you've done, that you've equipped yourself justly for this task, but you’re so wrong."
His expression wavered minutely like I'd hit a nerve, but it was too late for him to back down. This entire shit show was his doing, and I was sure he’d promised these people magic and money beyond their wildest dreams.
"Magic always comes with a price, especially dark magic, and you're about to pay yours."
Leaning down, I closed my eyes, sending power through the ground. Bullets crashed into my shield relentlessly, but I had enough strength to keep it from falling, if only for the few minutes it took me to find gems in this world.
They were there, buried deep—gems that were connected to Faerie. Energy filled me with light and power, everything humming as the ley line between the worlds rebuilt strength. In that moment I was connected to it all, two worlds, two sides