Chapter 20

Ayla’s POV

It was now or never, and this better work. I knew as I stood in the arms of my mate Aiden that we had to give everything we had to get this to work. Whatever it was Aleena needed us to do, we would do it without question. That included calling on Alune. The last bloody thing I ever wanted to do again. I really couldn’t see how we could get along, but I didn’t have any choice in the matter. She had merged with me, and I was now stuck being the Exalted being’s vessel; I guess I find a way to live with it or give myself over to her and become nothing – that was something I would never do willingly.

Pacing the room, I took my time; calling on Alune was not something I would ever be ready to do. But Archer needed me, and frankly, I would walk through hell to save him if I had to and back again.

“You ready for this?” Aiden asked. He hadn’t been keen when I walked out of his warm embrace and started pacing. I needed time to get my head straight, and I couldn’t do that wrapped up in one of my men. I couldn’t think straight when they surrounded me. Everything about them was so intoxicating to me that it was sometimes unreal and overwhelming.

“Yeah, I think so; it just scares me. I cannot have her retake full control. I can’t lose myself to her, lose you,” the last words slipped from my mouth as nothing more than a whisper.

“You won’t lose us, not ever. It didn’t happen last time, and if she ever gains control again, I swear it will not happen then,” Axel spoke before Aiden had a chance.

“He’s right, beautiful; you need to believe in yourself; trust us, you’re incredible; nothing can stop you, not even Alune.” Aiden smiled, walking over to me, and placing a sweet little kiss on my cheek, his hand on the small of my back. Even the tiniest touches set my skin on fire when it came to these heart-stopping men.

Taking a deep breath, I look around the room. Aleena was setting up candles and placing the ancient-looking book she had brought back with her and the pretty stick thing she had clutched in her hand at all times. Michael hovered over her shoulder like a fly waiting to land, but she didn’t seem to mind.

Aleena seemed calm from the outside. But anyone who knows pressure could see she was obsessing over every little detail of this setup. I didn’t blame her; nothing could go wrong tonight; it was just too important.

“Right, come on then, let’s get this done,” I tell myself, needing a good kick up the arse to get myself moving. Alune scared me more than I was willing to admit.

“You got this, sweetheart; I promise” Aiden kissed my cheek right next to my ears. I loved how he knew when I needed him the most. A sliver of guilt snaked its way through me. I felt awful for how I had held him at arm’s length for some time now. My grief over Archer stopped me from letting my other mates in, especially Aiden. I was madly in love with all three of the chase brothers, and I couldn’t imagine my life without either of them. But with Aiden, there was just something extra. We connected first, and he protected me so fiercely. I needed to make it up to him once this was all over.

“Alune, are you there,” I tentatively call out to the Exalted, residing inside my body. It freaked me out if I thought about it a bit too much. I hated the thought that I wasn’t alone in my own skin now.

“I did wonder when you would come begging me for my help, my little unwilling host”, her sickly-sweet voice filled my ears.

“We have all we need to gain access to the plane Archer is on, are you going to help or not,” I snapped back, harsher than I ever intended it to be, but clearly, that was how I was feeling.

“Temper, temper, little human, there I no need to be tetchy with me,” Alune failed at hiding her amusement at my expense.

Having a conversation with yourself was weird enough, but it was infuriating how she riled me up so quickly, and she enjoyed it. Right now, I couldn’t afford to fight with my counterpart; it would have to wait until Archer was safely back by my side.

“Alune, enough. Will you tell me what we need to do, please,” I tagged on the please at the end reluctantly. It was odd; when talking with the Exalted, I became unaware of my surroundings; it was like I zoned out so I could entirely focus on the celestial being that now occupied my life.

“Fine, come on, my little host, let’s get your mate back so you can be of some use to me, instead of this het up tense mess you seem to be all the time; I’m telling you it’s no fun being cooped up here with an anxious wolf and listening to the constant turmoil of your messed up emotions” Alune had the nerve to sound bored by my anguish.

“Goddess, your insufferable”, I mumbled back, receiving nothing more than a huff in return. “Thank you, oh might being,” I said sarcastically.

“Watch your tone, girl, I may be all fun and games right now, but I could destroy your world in an instant if I wanted to.”

“Fine, what do we need to do?” I waited impatiently for her to give me the information I needed.

“You got to let me in, for one; otherwise, how the heck do you expect me to help” Alune’s voice was serious, all traces of light and playfulness had left, and Ayla knew she meant business now.

Fear slammed into my gut at her words. I didn’t want her in control, not now, not ever. Ice-cold shivers ran through my body, and it took everything I had to control it. I felt warm bodies press either side of me. Reassurance and love flowed from them. My mates, my life, the ones who help me through it all. It was for them that I was doing this. I knew I had to, but I would be damned if I let her in fully to take control of my body and mind. I’ll open my mind just enough to let her in and guide me, but I would stay firmly in the driver’s seat.

“I’ll let you in, Alune, but you are not gaining control; this is my body, my life, and you are a guest here. Do you understand,” I made myself very clear.

“Sure, whatever, little girl, just get on with it as I don’t fancy hanging around for ages in that goddess Awful plane you insist on opening up” Alune rolled her eyes in my mind. Goddess knows how she made herself look board in the face of everything we were about to do.

Reaching out, I grasped my mates’ hands and tightly held on. Slowly I closed my eyes and exhaled. Lowering the walls around my mind was tougher than I thought it would be; I guess I had them securely in place and never truly intended on letting me down again. Not for anyone other than the chase brothers. I felt the moments Alune joined me within my mind. A heaviness settled on my shoulders for a while before evaporating into nothingness.

“Ah, now that’s better, isn’t it” Alune’s voice was louder, clearer, and all-around crisper. I hated it!

Aleena’s POV

Twelve candles, perfectly placed. A ring of sage and thistledown, followed by a ring of salt and ash. The scrying crystal was placed in the dead centre of the circle, and the shadow sceptre was to be held throughout the spell casting. The grimoire lay open on the table to the page about plane jumping. Sadly, it didn’t contain much information. Plane jumping wasn’t widely known and wasn’t something seers practised regularly, so I had hardly anything to go on.

“I think I am ready”, I declared on a heavy exhale. Michael was right by my side, never more than a few feet away. I wasn’t going to lie; I loved that he was with me. Even though he had other matters to attend to, like Laura, I refused to think about that right now. I needed a clear mind for what I was about to do.

“Do you need me to do anything? Get your anything,” he asked for the one-hundredth time.

“No, I think we are all set, it’s Alune and Ayla’s turn now” I looked at him as I spoke, knowing he was just as nervous about that part as I was.

Looking at Ayla, I saw she was surrounded by her mates and staring into space. She must be talking to the exalted right this minute. If all goes to plan, then this should be relatively straightforward as long as everyone concentrates and does their part.

Ayla visibly shivered and shook her head like she was shaking something from her hair. The room felt fuller, and the air closed tighter around us. The Exalted had entered the room.

“Alune,” I say and nod her way, drawing a slow smile from Ayla’s face. Her lips inched higher as she nodded her greeting back. The two chase brothers continued holding on to Ayla’s hands even though Alune was in the driving seat. Ayla needed to anchor to her body to maintain complete control, allowing Alune to play her part in this spell.

“I see you are ready for our little spell-casting mission, elf,” Alune spoke with a smirk plastered on Ayla’s face. She huffed and rolled her eyes “fine, sorry, Aleena, Ayla insists I call you by your name. Apparently, I am being rude by calling you by your race” she paused. “This one is so touchy; my other hosts weren’t anywhere near as whiny.”

Michael stared at the girl he loved and called his daughter, knowing right now it was not Ayla but Alune; he still couldn’t come to terms with the fact that his daughter was now something much more than he once thought.

“Are we ready, elf? I mean, Alaina…or whatever your name is?” Alune looked bored. Ayla was only allowing her the barest of control; she wasn’t impressed; it was easy to see.

“Yes, please begin; I will follow your lead”, Aleena replied with a slight bow.

“Okay, fine, let’s get this over with, shall we.” Alune leads the remaining two chase brothers over to the circle. “Boys, I get you besotted with us, but you will need to let go so I can stand in the centre here; if the girl wants to be transported into another plane, she must be situated right over there”, Alune pointed right in front of the scrying crystal.

Moving to the right of Ayla’s body. I hold the shadow sceptre up and wait. My heart slams into my chest at such a pace that I wouldn’t be surprised if it were bruised come to the end of this evening. Michael moved to my left at the same time, and the chase brothers stepped away from Ayla, releasing her hands, if not reluctantly. Alune stepped purposely into the centre ring of candles and held her hands out in front of her.

“Repeat after me,” she said in a firm demanding voice.

“Malagum slaistara pentigiamum anumani,” Alune’s voice rang out true as she spoke the ancient long, forgotten language of the first.

The hair on the back of my neck lifted as the words of power were spoken. I copied her words, never taking my eyes from the crystal in front of Ayla.

“Saniarla frantica hailum anumani,” Alune continued. The air began to crackle, and the sceptre grew hot in my hand. Repeating the unfamiliar words after Alune and focusing on the outcome we wanted, I kept steady as much as possible.

“Anumani, anumani benugilie malie,” the last words left the celestial’s lips with a boom. The room shook, and the windows in the back wall flew open, allowing a sharp, biting wind to sweep through the room, extinguishing all the candles one by one.

Ayla fell to the ground, silent within the magic circle. Her eyes were wide as she stared at nothing.

“Ayla,” both chase brothers shout as they rush forward.

“Stop,” I demand, halting them before they broke the outer ring “she is on her own now. If you want to help her, do your job as her guardians; protect her body from anything that may cause her harm while she walks the other plane,” I warn them with a harsh bite to my voice. Right now, Ayla was venturing into the unknown.

“Hurry, Ayla,” I silently pray.