Page 42 of Twisted Souls (Twisted Souls #1)

Zara

My head throbbed mercilessly as I blinked against the searing sunlight. Groaning, I wondered if Morgana had poisoned my drink again or if Lana, that spiteful bitch, had tampered with it. Pushing myself into a seated position, I shielded my eyes with my palms, the light piercing through like hot needles.

Ears ringing, I strained to make out the muffled voices around me. Each muffled word pounded my head, and I was desperate for silence.

I reached for my power, commanding my shadows to lash out. They struck bodies—too many bodies and instinctively, my shadows tightened around their throats, silencing their annoying voices.

“Quiet,” I hissed as I blinked, my eyes open again, trying to see where I was and who was talking. I glanced around to find myself in a clearing near a lake.

A very familiar lake.

My shadows burned as if by another magic, and I released them from around their necks and stood, my eyes landing on Lana, who glared at me as she rubbed her neck. My father and stepmother were there, and Atticus seemed to undress me with his eyes as I stared at him. I smiled briefly in his direction as I swung my gaze toward the other bodies I had sensed and froze.

Her sons and others who looked vaguely familiar stood staring at me, all with wild, confused faces.

I stood in the middle of them all and slowly started to back away from them and toward my sister.

What the fuck happened? My head ached, and images started to flash in my mind, but I couldn’t make them all out. My head felt like it was catching up to my body, and I couldn’t understand what I was seeing. I brought my hand to my forehead and gasped at the sight—a tattoo marked my left arm, and my eyes widened in surprise.

The tall, handsome one, Xavier, stepped toward me, his arm outstretched. I looked down at it and realized the tattoo on my arm matched his.

I blinked my blurry vision away as my hearing finally started to clear.

“Zara,” he seemed to plead, his deep, gruff voice filled with panic, desperation, and concern, and I felt it.

A slow smile spread across my face as understanding dawned. I had done it. If we were here, then my plan must have worked.

Devastation shot through me, and I frowned, my eyes widening again as I realized it wasn't me who was feeling that but him .

My smile grew—we were mated.

His face crumpled briefly before he lowered his hand, his face set in undeniable rage.

“Don’t get any ideas, dear; this meeting is spelled so no one can harm another while we are here,” my stepmother's voice rang out behind me, and I turned, glancing at my family, before turning back to the tall male in front of me.

Xavier’s body rippled with power as he fought to contain his rage. I tilted my head in evaluation, my eyes roaming over his body. He was handsome up close, and the thought made me wince as flashes of him shirtless affronted my mind. I scowled, cursing under my breath.

I had only ever seen him from afar and only on a few occasions. I had been shadowing into Nexia with Lana this past year, rallying as many witches as possible in preparation for this moment, for this bond to form.

More images assaulted my senses, and I flinched in pain at the sharp ache forming in my head. I needed rest; needed my body to heal and remember what happened. I looked over my shoulder, and my sister nodded at me.

The emerald glint of Xavier's eyes met mine as I turned back to him, a cruel smile playing on my lips.

“Don’t you dare,” he growled, his shadows swirling around him in anticipation. He must have sensed my intentions, and my lips twitched in amusement as he shadowed toward me. His fingers brushed my arm as I twisted into my own shadows, kicking out my leg, but he anticipated my move and twisted again—but I was faster.

Xavier slammed onto the ground, face first, as I pinned his arm to the ground with my knee. A glint of metal caught my eye—a charm clutched in his hand. I scoffed, a smirk dancing on my lips at his futile attempt.

He snarled at me, pushing me back as he turned and got to his feet. He clearly underestimated me. Good.

“Tsk, tsk,” I teased, my voice dripping with playful malice. “You’ll have to do much better than that, mate .”

I shadowed behind my family, feeling the rush of adrenaline surge through me.

Xavier’s jaw tightened, his eyes swirling with a storm of emotions. Anger flashed hot and unyielding, yet beneath it, there was something raw, fragile. A flicker of desperation mingled with the faintest glimmer of hope.

“I look forward to getting reacquainted.” I laughed, the sound ringing with a promise of chaos.

His eyes widened, panic twisting his features, but it was too late. In one sweeping motion, shadows erupted around me and my family, taking us home.