Page 120 of Princess of Bael

Because someone was expelling a great deal of power.

Power that only the Divinity could maintain and possess.

Power that was mine to protect.

But Kayla felt it as well because of her ties to my spirit. And it was those ties that buoyed me long enough in the moment to navigate away from the frenzy of energy and into a realm of astute understanding.

“Can you track it?” Kayla asked me, confirming her awareness of the energy I’d locked onto.

“Yes,” I told her. But I needed something first.A clear path.Except a strange buzzing infiltrated my ability to home in on the growing power.

“Lift the wards, Zebulon,” Ashmedai demanded. “Ezra needs to be able to fly.”

If Zebulon replied, I didn’t hear it. Because another burst of energy cascaded static across my senses, rendering me temporarily immobile.

Every part of me ached.

My soul screamed at the injustice of it all.

And then suddenly it cleared again.

An ethereal tug at my psyche helped me locate the misuse of power once more, the wrongness of the act calling upon my soul in a blatant demand to right the scales.

I reacted, my wings wrapping around Kayla as I teleported us toward the malicious energy.

Belatedly, I realized I should have left her behind.

However, I needed her to help me focus.

She served as my map, helping me navigate this dark sea of tumultuous waves and violent whirlpools. I wasn’t sure when our relationship had become this power-driven partnership, but I didn’t have time to decipher the hows or the whys of our connection.

We needed to focus on thenow.

Which was unfolding around us in a landscape similar to the place where Kristina had died.

Only it was warmer here. No snow and ice. But a myriad of trees.

I hadn’t paid attention to the location, just the energy signature calling me to this place.

Kayla’s palms lit with flames as she spun in my arms to attack those nearby. She threw a sphere of fire right at them, only for the embers to dissolve into ash against an invisible shield.

Four pairs of eyes all widened as they noticed our unexpected arrival.

It all happened in seconds, Kayla already preparing another attack, her flames flickering with blue undertones as she changed her power.

She didn’t need a weapon becauseshewas the weapon.

I called my swords, one for each hand, and used my wings to carry me toward the barrier. The powerful runes etched into my long blades flickered with magic as I sliced them through the air. They pulsated and absorbed the shield’s enchantment, learning the elements laced through their protective barrier and quickly dissolving the incantation.

“Thatis very useful,” Kayla mused, fire licking across her skin.

“I’ll make you one,” I promised her. My version of displaying gratitude for her kiss of strength and her innate balance that had allowed me to regain my focus.

The four beings inside the barrier stood, their gazes darkening with intent. I didn’t recognize any of them.

They started to speak, but I couldn’t hear them through the shield. A pale-skinned blond male with broad shoulders knelt to touch the ground.

Energy hummed along the earth, causing the land to rumble in response.