He glances around, looking shocked and unaware.
“I release you,” I say a little louder. “I release you from this prison, Leighton. I’m so sorry, but you’re free.”
Dark eyes rove the crowd, the spear seemingly forgotten. They land on Connall and soften, then return to me. “Louuuuu Heeeectorrrr,” he murmurs.
“You remember me.” It’s a statement. I know he does. It’s always been us bound up in this horrible magical contract that led to innocent monsters being hurt.
“I’m sorry,” I repeat. “I had no control over what happened to you then or now, and I’mstillsorry.”
He halts a moment, then lifts a hand to look at it. The tips of his fingers seem to blur and move, and then they disappear into tiny blue dots that float away on the evening breeze. More and more of him disappears until he has no hands.
He looks up at me. “I don’t blame you, Lou Hector,” he says calmly. “I’m happy for you.”
Grief chokes me as I watch more of him disappear, using my magic to coax his soul out of the earthly binding. Power builds and builds under my skin, blue flames sluicing along my hands as Leighton disappears faster and faster.
“Easy, Lou,” Laerith whispers.
Leighton looks at me with a soft smile. “Goodbye, and thank you…” He closes his eyes and breathes slowly, his head falling back as he lifts what’s left of his arms.
Flames swirl up my fingers to my elbows as magic builds and sparks. My vision goes blue until all of downtown is cloaked in the same hue as Leighton. Every heartbeat is like a blue flare within each monster. I become aware of them, of their life forces.
Of the control I have over those life forces, if I wanted it.
“Easy, girl,” Laerith hisses. “Don’t let it go to your head!”
“You’ve got this,” Connall purrs, the sound vibrating up my back.
Magic stings its way along my skin as Leighton disappears from view, and then it barrels through me, exploding out of my fingertips. I’m barely aware of the sounds of glass breaking and monsters shrieking.
And then it’s lights out for ya girl Lou.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CONNALL
Main Street explodes into blue flames, every glass window shattering outward and lighting on fire. Monsters duck and run, screaming, but all I can focus on is Lou, who collapses into my arms. Iggy doesn’t let go, falling against me with his body still wrapped around her head.
“Iggy, give her a sec to breathe,” Wren says calmly, reaching for the small gargoyle.
He ignores her and slaps Lou’s cheek. “Wake up, Lou! We did it—well, you did it! Wake up!”
I’m barely aware of Alo dropping out of the sky and reaching for his son. But Iggy won’t leave Lou any more than I will.
Dirk returns to his physical form and helps me guide Lou carefully to the ground. She’s surrounded by her sisters and Laerith, who stands on the sidewalk with a smug grin.
“Couldn’t quite control it in the end,” she quips, “but, damn, that was quite the fireworks show.”
It’s chaos after that, as town leadership arrives and checks on anyone who was injured by the glass. There’s nothing major, but Doc Slade rushes from monster to monster as I hold Lou in my arms.
By the time he gets to us, he’s covered in sweat, looking a bit harried. He blanches when he sees Laerith. “Erm, hello again,” he blurts out, going from harried to totally frazzled.
“Hello, Doctor,” Laerith purrs. I’d swear she tossed a little extra depth into her voice.
Slade gulps and drops to a knee next to Lou, mumbling something about vampires low under his breath. He checks Lou over as I stroke her face and neck. I should be worried. No, I should be freaking the fuck out at my mate on the ground. But my wolf is calm. He’s just waiting for her to return to us. Somehow, some damn way, I know she’s fine. That she just needs a quick reset because of her power.
I still don’t know much about blue magic, but I’m bound and determined to learn as fast as possible so I can support her. But I sense her, like I’ve always sensed her. I want to take her home, put her in a nest, and service her until she’s done with me.
It’s what she needs and I know that now.
