Fated Connection (Book 1)

Chapter 26

NEVADA

A warm sensation caressed my skin, spreading across my body like a soft blanket on a cool night, pulling me from the depths of sleep. I slowly sat up, the sheet pooling around my waist and wa twisted around my legs as I rubbed a hand over my face as if I could wipe away the groggy feeling that continued to plague me. The warmth that had woken me grew stronger, washing over me as the familiarity finally pushed itself to the forefront of my mind.

My eyes widened in realization seconds before a large explosion erupted from outside, the force shaking the house and vibrating my bones. As fast as I could, I untangled the sheet from around me and flew to the bedroom door. Nova and Michael were rushing by as I stumbled out into the hallway, Nova in nothing but his jeans and Michael's clothes disheveled. Their faces were both flushed but while Nova looked anxious, Michael looked furious.

"How did he find us? You said no one would find this place," Nova growled over his shoulder at Michael as he cautiously approached the window.

"I don't know," Michael replied angrily. "This house is cloaked completely from everyone. If you look at it without my invitation it looks to be abandoned and in ruins. There's a barrier around the house that blocks supernatural energy from being detected inside."

Nova didn't respond as he eased the curtain back a fraction, looking out into the night. I hesitantly approached him, knowing that what he was seeing wasn't something he had anticipated. The familiar energy grew stronger the closer I got to Nova and the window, panic edging its way in. I was in no proper state to deal with all of this drama and I sure as hell didn't think I could handle him right now. But I had to know if my suspicions were correct.

"What's happening?" I whisper shouted from behind at Nova, my voice laced with panic. "Nova, what's going on? What was that explosion?"

"See for yourself,"  he answered and stepped away from the window to allow me access.

Peeking through the curtain just as Nova had, a gasp left my lips and my hand flew to her mouth in surprise. There stood August, Hatter, and Dominic in the street in front of the house, bodies poised and faces stony. Looking back at Nova, questions raced through my mind as I struggled to understand what they were doing here. I knew they would come, but how did they find us so quickly and what exactly were they willing to do to get us back?

"Warlock! Send them out and you'll live to see another day!" came August's voice, slightly muffled through the walls but still strong and clear to understand. "We don't want any trouble!"

Michael's body stiffened beside Nova as he watched from the other window, power rolling off of him in angry jagged waves. I had never felt anything like it, the energy like barbed wire wrapping around my skin. Flinching against the sharp stabs of pain surrounding me, I drew in a sharp breath and glanced back out into the night.

"You two stay in the house," Michael demanded before flinging open the front door and slamming it behind him.

"What the hell is he doing?" I hissed at Nova in disbelief. "They won't hesitate to rip him to pieces."

"Don't underestimate, Michael," Nova replied, taking up the space at the window that Michael had vacated moments before. Despite his confident words, even Nova looked uneasy as he watched the scene unfold outside.

"If you didn't want any trouble you should have stayed away from here, dead man," Michael taunted, his tone warning. "You aren't going anywhere with either of them."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Dominic spoke up, his voice cool and even as he leveled his gaze on Michael. 

Michael scoffed in response and shook his head.