Shadows from the Past - Book 2 of To Be Claimed By Her

Chapter 45

North

"You saw him," I said, sucking in a painful breath.

Helios gave me a sympathetic look. "I saw his consciousness. He's trapped North. Kaylie turned him into a hollow. His life force no longer belongs to him."

"What does that even mean? Are you telling me that my husband is gone, that he's a fucking zombie?" I yelled, my hands gripping the back of the chair so hard it cracked. "And what do you mean they shoved Deimos in him?"

Helios sighed, but it was Nyx that answered. She nodded at Queen who came and stepped in front of me pulling my arms around her waist. "Brandon isn't dead, but he's very much trapped. To create a hollow, the caster strips the life force from the vessel. That means she is in possession of his life force. It can be taken back, but it might kill her in the process. As for Deimos, well the entire purpose of a hollow is to seize souls or consciousness. Brandon trapped Deimos inside his vessel."

"Then how was he able to reach out to Helios?" Queen asked. I could feel her confusion and concern. I rested my head on hers, breathing in her scent to calm me.

"That's what's crazy, he shouldn't have been able to. Hell, he shouldn't even be able to think, but he can. Deimos is right, you've found a way, Eveleen. Somehow the connection you have to all of them is stronger than any spell or magic the girls or Erebus, hell even Deimos himself has been able to cast," Helios said.

"It's love," Gabe said quietly. He looked at her with complete devotion. "It's the love we share with her and for each other. I know it sounds corny and even a little Disney, but it's true. Think back to the first time she and Owen died in Faire. My love, our soul connection, tethered her to us. You said it yourself," he said looking at the Morrigan. "She needed her heart and soul to continue. Well, we are all that for each other. If one of us falls, we all feel it. Our connections are so crisscrossed and intertwined that we are stronger than the damn shadow magic they used. I'll lay odds that little wolf has far more than just shadow magic, even if she is a dark goddess now."

Nyx gave a wicked sneer, "Care to test his theory, Eveleen?"

Queen matched her smile, "I think that would be fascinating." I groaned and she looked up at me, "What? Can a girl cut loose and have some fun," she giggled.

"Sean, are your healing powers in full control?" I asked.

He laughed, "Between the two halves, I think Morpheus and I can handle their wounds."

Eveleen

Nyx and I stepped into an open area outside the chateau we were staying in. Loki stood between us, "I would ask you ladies to fight fair, but I'm a realist. The idea here is to test Eveleen's new abilities, not kill her, Nyx. Either of you are free to call the sparring to a halt at any time." He walked toward me, "Ástvinur, listen to your body and trust yourself. If I'm correct, you will be stronger than any of them eventually." He placed a soft kiss on my forehead and I felt a surge of his power weaving through me, calming me.

I smiled at him as he turned to walk away and giggled, when I flicked my finger, planting a swat on his ass. He jolted slightly and turned around mouthing, "Cheeky girl."

"I'm not planning on holding back, so you know," Nyx grinned.

"I'd expect nothing less," I snorted and relaxed my body. She launched a wave of magic that sent me reeling. "Fuck," I muttered.

Pay attention to her body language, Jewel, I heard Victor's voice in my mind.

I let out a breath and nodded for her to go again. Her movements were quick but just before she released the energy, her eyes seemed to shift. I spun, forming a funnel around myself that refracted most of the magic while absorbing the rest. I grinned and shot her own magic back at her. Her face morphed into rage as the wave sent her flying backward. She let out a feral roar and hurled shadows at me. My hands shot up shooting out a wave of light similar to what Corey and Brandon could do. It was blinding as it dissolved the shadows - except one.