Praised By Magic: Unbreakable Series, Book 3

Chapter 3

Tyler

A sharp pain radiates from my heart as I press my hand over it. I don't have to guess what the problem is. Kris. I look in the direction she went. The gentle breeze brings with it the smell of fear. My body tingles as the energy of shifting takes over me. I shift into wolf form in an instant and race towards her scent. If I run into danger, it's my chosen shift. Sarah, Nehemiah, Vi and Kyle shift and follow close behind me.

We run deeper and deeper into the woods. I begin to wonder if this is some kind of trap. Why would she have ventured so far away from us? I stop suddenly, seeing the clearing ahead.

You don't think she went out there. Alone. Do you? Sarah asks the question we are all thinking.

She went somewhere. I don't smell her anymore. Nehemiah says.

I shift to human form. "She didn't go willingly. Someone forced her."

The other shift behind me.

"Let's go get her!" Kyle demands.

"We don't know where she is," I say.

"You better figure it out," Kyle says angrily. "I'm NOT going to let her die."

"And you think I WILL?" I stand in front of him, fists clenched.

"Guys, stop!" Sarah pushes me away from Kyle. "None of this is going to help her. Direct your anger elsewhere."

I turn and take a few steps away. I release my fists from their death grip and wiggle my fingers to get my blood circulating again. What am I doing? I can't fight Kyle. He just wants to protect her. Same as I do. All of this madness is taking its toll on me. I fall to my knees and drive my fists into the hard ground. Tears sting my eyes. I know she can handle herself, but I shouldn't have let her out of my sight.

"We will get her back." Sarah kneels beside me.

"I love her."

Sarah embraces me in a hug. "I know."

****

Kris! Kris! Where are you? My skin tingles from the scorching flames burning all around me. The smoke is thick, and my lungs sear from the sting of the stagnant air. I cough repeatedly and search frantically to find her. My body trembles out of desperation, fear, and adrenaline. The once tall, flawless brick buildings now crumble and fall. I don't know where I am, but it's a place in disarray. Kris! Kris! Kristina! My voice cracks as I continue to yell for her. A loud cracking noise to my right gets my attention. I turn towards it. Before I can make out what is happening, a big flash of blue-green light comes from behind me. The light drives forward at a fast pace. I don't have time to react to it. When the light reaches me, I'm thrown back into the debris field. A loud BOOM sounds and shakes the earth beneath me.

I awake in the middle of the night with a start. I dry my eyes and the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hands. The dream I've had multiple times continues to haunt me. I first had it when healing from the infected stab wounds by Jason. Kris's manic ex-boyfriend gave to me. It feels real every time. When I wake from the dream, I have to convince myself it didn't actually happen. This time is different; my dream has come true. Kris is gone and I know all too well who has her. Angela.

Sarah sits beside me, her hands folded neatly in her lap. I know I don't have to tell her what I've dreamt about. She already knows. Being able to read each other's minds can be a good and bad thing.