Chapter 39

CATALINA

~Catalina!~ Dante scolded.

~He’s my mate!~ I didn’t make it far before I was thrown to the side. I winced, sliding against the floor, smacking my head against the concession stand. Ouch.

“Cat!” Before I could get my bearings, I was lifted and thrown over the counter. I crashed into an old popcorn machine, falling to the ground. Holy fuck, someone here really hated me.

~Get up now!~ The urgency in the voice snapped me out of my shocking pain. I struggled to pick myself up. Everything hurt.

~Catalina!~ Just as I got to my feet, I was thrown back again. Only this time, Sebastian caught me, breaking my fall.

“Pay attention!” he hissed in my ear.

“I’m trying!” It wasn’t my fault I was the main target.

He helped me to my feet, running his hands quickly along my body. Thank goodness Nick added that extra protection over my stomach.

“I’m fine.” I wasn’t, but he wasn’t going to let me fight if I said otherwise.

His red eyes narrowed on something behind me. “Let me handle this.”

Without another word, he threw himself back over the counter, rushing toward Poseidon. I was guessing he was the one that attacked me.

I didn’t get the luxury of watching and making sure he was okay, because now I had Hades’ attention. My mother was currently in an intense battle with Zeus. The rest of my mates were helping Lucien with Cerberus. Well, not ~all~ of them.

“Together we can take him.” Dante stood next to me, watching Hades. I nodded; at least I didn’t have to do this by myself.

“That purple power will help weaken him. After that, I’ll finish him.”

Before I could warn him about my wonky powers, he threw himself at Hades. Shit.

I rushed after him with absolutely no plan. How did I activate that power again? Was it anger or fear?

“Now, Catalina!” he yelled, taking a swing at Hades with a dagger.

I threw my hands out, but nothing happened.

“Catalina!”

“I’m trying!” Gosh! Why did I have to be so useless? All this time, and I still had no control over my powers.

Hades laughed, throwing a black ball of mass at Dante. It hit him square in the chest, making him hiss in pain. “Killing your mates will be easier than I thought,” he said.

Tears of frustration gathered in my eyes. I threw my hands out again, but still, nothing happened.

A loud yelp had my head snapping to the right. Lucien lay unmoving on the floor, no longer in lycan form. No! What the hell happened? Mateo and Nick were still locked in battle with Cerberus.

~Focus, little wolf, we’ll take care of him.~ I watched a green glow surround him, protecting him from any nearby enemies.

Another shout of pain had my head snapping in the other direction. Sebastian was still locked in battle with Poseidon, only now he was missing an arm.

Oh God. I fell to my knees, tears falling freely down my face. My mates were dying all around me, and there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t help them; my powers weren’t working.

“Daughter.” I looked up at Nyx through blurry eyes. She and Zeus had been going head-to-head, both showing signs of battle on them. “Get off your knees,” she demanded. “You’re a queen, stronger than everyone here. Show it.”

“How?” I whispered.

She smiled, throwing a ball of magic at Zeus. “Embrace who you are.”

I frowned at her words. That wasn’t helpful.

Getting to my feet, I focused back on Hades. He was getting the better of Dante, who clearly needed my help. Steeling myself, I felt for that power inside me. ~Sorry, little baby, but you need to step aside. Mommy needs her powers.~ I looked within myself, searching for anything.

Then I felt it, small and hidden inside me. Why was it so small? Then it clicked. It was my fault it was small; I’d been pushing it down as far as possible. Because I was scared it would hurt the baby.

All this time I thought it was the baby blocking it, but it had been my fear.

I had to convince myself that my magic wouldn’t hurt it. But I couldn’t, because I wasn’t sure. My magic was different, created in a lab. How did I know it wouldn’t hurt my baby?

“Because it’s a part of you.” Dante’s voice cut into my thoughts. “Just like mine would never hurt you. You’re a goddess, Catalina, in your own right, yet I’ve never siphoned your magic. Because my magic knows you’re a part of me. Just like yours knows the baby is a part of you.”

Could he be right? I took a deep breath, focusing on that little ball of magic, fueling it. I guessed it was time to find out.

Without warning, I felt myself shifting, my lycan coming out to play. When I landed on all fours, the ground shook. I stared in amazement at my paws. Purple electric magic circled my body. Holy cow.

My eyes went to Hades, and I took off. Faster than a vampire, I was in front of him in seconds. With a snarl, I tackled him. He cried out. Whatever this purple magic was, he could feel it. I latched onto his shoulder, shaking my head back and forth.

“Dante!”

“On it!” Jumping over my body, Dante landed at his head, his dagger at his throat. In one swift move, he made a clean swipe. I growled, yanking on his body with force. His head rolled as it separated from his body.

I didn’t bask in my kill, moving on to the next. I bounded over to Nick and Mateo. Time to put this dog down once and for all. I leaped into the fight, landing on Cerberus’s back. My nails dug into his side for leverage as he tried to dislodge me. A burst of flames hit him in the face, getting his attention.

I climbed my way higher, aiming for the third head. “Be careful, Cat.”

I wanted to reassure Mateo I’d be fine, but with my plan, I wasn’t so sure I would be.

My mouth closed around the third head’s neck. I sank my teeth into his throat, digging through bones and tissue. My mates shouted in my head in alarm, but I didn’t stop. Getting a good grip, I yanked with all my might. My mates shouted in alarm, but I didn’t let go. Cerberus gave a pained howl. I dug my claws in even deeper, feeling his blood seeping out.

With a snarl, I tugged harder. The sound of flesh tearing was music to my ears.

Cerberus stumbled and my grip loosened. ~Oh shit, he’s going to fall. And so am I.~

I pushed off his back, aiming for the floor. But my back leg slipped in the blood, throwing me off balance.

All four of my legs flailed through the air as I fell.

~Shit, this big beast is going to land on me as soon as I hit the floor.~

This isn’t good.