Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

Kai. Blue turned to green, an ability Kai knew all too well. Quick as lightning, his fierce grip took hold of Kai’s neck. The magic emanating from his father’s touch paralyzed Kai. Unable to lift his arms in defense, he regretted getting so close.

This had been a mistake, attacking a man he did not know how to fight. Kai swallowed the lump in his throat as he watched his father’s hand curl around his mother’s necklace daggling beside his own. Sorrow for all his mistakes stabbed at his soul as he felt the chain snap. His so-called father beamed with pleasure.

“My dear boy. Tell me what on earth were you doing in the middle of the ocean with this? Why were you and Lucca fighting over…?” Keegan’s words trailed off, and his eyes danced with delight. “She is alive, isn’t she? The rumors of her death were lies meant to deceive me. Tell me what I want to know, boy?” Keegan shook Kai.

Chapter 29

Promises & Forgiveness

“Let him go!” Lucca's voice bellowed.

A blast of light knocked Keegan the ground; he dropped Kai and the necklace. Able to move, Kai snatched the crystal and shoved it into his pocket. Ryker was still on his hands and knees, holding his chest, each breath an act of labor. Yulia and Basil stepped around Lucca.

“Yulia, please, help Rayna!” Kai pointed to the blazing tree behind them.

Rain fell from the sky, dowsing the flames. The smell of smoke and charred wood filled the air. Lucca approached, hand outstretched, and lifted Ryker to his feet. Their eyes met. Sympathy and compassion welled in his grandfather’s eyes. A wave of light poured down Lucca’s arm into Ryker.

“This is what you do with your Kodama magic, Keegan.” Lucca glared at the man. “You siphon life instead of healing others.”

Rejuvenated, Ryker stood on his own. Ready to fight, he glared at Keegan and his remaining men. More Caroco soldiers joined the fight, armed to the teeth, swords and hand cannons at the ready.

“Cheap shot, old man.” Keegan dusted the dirt from his hands. “I am done playing games with you. Give me the necklace. I will find Mariana, and she will stand at my side. You too, boy.” Keegan glared. “One day, you will see. I was right all along. We Katori are meant to rule this world. Not hide.”

“Never,” Kai insisted. “I will fight you with my dying breath if I must.”

“Fine with me, boy.” Keegan brought his hands up from his sides and clasped them together.

Vines from the jungle floor wrapped around everyone. Kai fought to hold his ground; he managed to break the first few, but more took their place. The multitude brought him to his knees. Basil and Ryker struggled and transformed. Their broad beastly bodies ripping the coiled tendrils. Yulia pulled electricity from the air and singed the unwanted shackles.

Lucca stood proud. Light emanated from his core, and the restraints burned away. “I have always tried to be a peaceful man, but you test my limits once again, Keegan. You do not want to see what I am capable of.”

Laughter echoed around the canyon. “You are nothing without the other Lumens. What power do you really have? You’re weak, we both know it. The combined power of all three of you is something to fear, but you are alone. You have not really used your magic in decades. Even when you burned your own daughter, you had no real power. She stopped you easily. This little display of light, is it for the boy? Are you giving him hope?”

There was a history that Kai did not understand, but it was easy to see these two men hated one another. He tried to free himself—a few vines snapped but were replaced with more. “Stay put, boy,” Keegan seethed.

Pulled back down, Kai crumped against the evergreen bindings. Whatever faith Kai had was being tested. He prayed to Alenga for deliverance. Lucca looked down at him. Tears welled in his grandfather’s eyes. “I am sorry, Kai. I was wrong. So many times, I was wrong. I never wanted any of this to happen.”

The sadness in Lucca’s expression wiped away the resentment in Kai’s heart. He could feel the torment in his grandfather’s soul. The man struggled with a choice. Life is precious.

Keegan pulled a hand cannon from his belt. “I am done playing with you. Kill them all.” He aimed at Ryker’s head.

White light bloomed around Lucca’s clenched fists. Kai held his breath, his heart begging for more time. He felt the air thicken with his magic. BANG! White sparks and debris spat from the hand cannons hovered frozen in time. Lucca’s eyes bulged at this foreign weapon. Everyone hung suspended. Time inched forward, struggling against Kai’s power.

Fighting the green tethers, Kai felt the energy within the vines coiled around him. He thought of all the lessons he’d learned to let nature empower him. For once, he needed to bend with his magic instead of force it. Rayna’s aunt Mina’s advice rang in his ears–let nature empower your shift.

He gained power, taking it from the very vines imbued with Keegan’s magic. Time stopped, yet he was free from the constraints. Connected to his inner dragon, he focused only on changing his hand.

Kai felt the power transform his hand. Claws extended, he sliced through the withering powerless vines, freeing half of his body. He shook off the transformation and reached out and grabbed his grandfather’s ankle. The alteration of time shielded them both. Lucca looked down at him with understanding. Time pushed back, eager to creep forward.

A blast of pure energy ripped through the air, aimed at the lead balls fired in their direction. The metal balls glowed red and dropped to the ground. Lucca continued, his pulses melting the weapons. Kai breathed a sigh of relief, letting time resume its natural speed. The Caroco men screamed and fled the canyon, clutching their burned black hands.

In pain, Keegan yelled. His hand smelled