Shadows Entwined (Shadows Descent #3)

15. Thorne

15

THORNE

“Are we just going to ignore the rest of it then? Our dad’s potential involvement, Morgan’s acolytes, the lot?”

No one answers me for a second, but then Blackthorn steps up. “We have to. Amara isn’t here to guide this process anymore, and neither is Morgan, then we have to power forward with our plan.”

“We don’t know who else is working with her, though.”

“True, but there is no being here that is more powerful than me, apart from Miss Violet and, perhaps, the three of you. We have to assume if they are here, they are scrambling.”

“The five of us are badass,” Caine states. “No one would be dumb enough to go up against us.”

“Except our fathers,” I mutter. “Because they can kick our badasses all the way to the NetherRealm and back.”

“Okay, fair point,” Caine murmurs.

Violet stands up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. “We’re wasting time debating this. The Convergence is coming whether we’re ready or not. We need to focus on preparing me to face it and whoever else wants to try to use it to their advantage. You are forgetting that if I am to be this god, then I can kick everyone’s arses. Bad or otherwise.”

I smile, admiring her strength even as worry gnaws at my gut. “You’re right. What do you need from us?”

She takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. “I need to train. I want to push my powers to their limits so I’m as strong as possible when the time comes. I have to take one of these Old Ones into me, but I don’t have to let it rule me. Inner strength is key.”

Blackthorn nods approvingly. “A wise decision, Miss Violet. I can assist with that. We’ll start immediately.”

“I want to help too,” Flint says.

Caine twirls his cane thoughtfully. “I can work with you on defensive spells. You’ll need protection as much as raw power.”

I step closer to Violet, taking her hand. “And as the one who can reach your mind, I will be your magickal anchor, but I can also help protect your mind from being overtaken.”

She nods gratefully. “Yes, thank you.”

“While we set up some training exercises in the gymnasium, you and Mr Thorne work on mind protection. We have precious little time and can waste none,” Blackthorn states, rising and striding off, leaving Flint and Caine to rush after him.

I lead Violet to a quiet corner of the library. We sit facing each other, cross-legged and close.

“Okay,” I say softly, “let’s start with some basic mental shielding techniques. Close your eyes and focus on your breath.”

Violet complies, her expression relaxing as she takes deep, measured breaths. I reach out with my mind, gently probing at the edges of her consciousness.

“Good. Now, imagine a wall forming around your thoughts. Make it as strong and impenetrable as you can.”

I feel resistance as I try to push further into her mind. Her brow furrows with concentration.

“That’s it,” I encourage. “Now, I’m going to try to break through. Push back against me.”

I increase the pressure, searching for weak points in her mental defences. For a moment, I think I’ve found an opening, but then Violet’s resistance surges, forcing me back.

“Impressive,” I say, unable to keep the pride from my voice. “You’re a natural at this.”

Violet opens her eyes with a wicked smile. “Maybe I just don’t want you to know what I’m thinking.”

Gripping her chin, I lean forward and kiss her. “Don’t tease me, princess.” I let her go and sit back. “Try again. This time, I’m going to expend more energy trying to reach into your mind. Defend yourself at all costs. Don’t worry about me, okay?”

She frowns. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“I won’t hurt you.”

“No, the bit where I’m not supposed to worry about you .”

“You are the sweetest creature.”

She narrows her eyes at my soft sentiment. I know that doing this is going to obliterate any sense of compassion and selflessness that she has. I have to wonder if she will ever get it back.

“Close your eyes and defend yourself against my attack.”

Violet nods and closes her eyes, her face a mask of concentration. I take a deep breath, centring myself before launching a full-scale assault on her mental defences.

At first, her shields hold firm, a solid wall of resistance against my probing. But as I increase the pressure, pushing harder and searching for weak points, I feel the first cracks forming.

“Stay strong,” I encourage her, even as I redouble my efforts. “Don’t let me in.”

Violet’s frown deepens, a bead of sweat forming on her temple as she fights to keep me out. I can feel her struggling, her defences wavering under the relentless onslaught.

Just as I think I’m about to break through, something shifts. Violet’s resistance suddenly swells, a wave of raw power pushing back against me with such force that I’m physically thrown backwards.

I blink, dazed, sprawled on the library floor several feet away. Violet’s eyes snap open.

“Thorne!” she gasps, rushing to my side. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened?—”

I sit up slowly, wincing at the dull ache in my head. “I’m fine,” I assure her, managing a smile. “That is exactly what you need to do against an Old One. They won’t hold back, so neither can you.”

Violet nods slowly, but I can see the conflict in her eyes. She’s worried about losing herself, about becoming something she’s not.

I take her hands in mine, meeting her gaze steadily. “Listen to me, Violet. Your compassion and your desire to protect others are your strengths, not your weaknesses. An Old One might have immense power, but it doesn’t have your heart. That’s what will allow you to control it, not the other way around.” Suddenly, this all makes sense to me.

Violet’s eyes shine with unshed tears. “But what if I lose myself? What if I become something I’m not?”

“You won’t,” I say firmly. “We won’t let that happen. I won’t let that happen. Your love, your humanity - that’s what makes you uniquely suited for this. It’s not a weakness to be overcome, it’s the very thing that will see you through this.”

She takes a shaky breath, nodding slowly. “Okay. I’ll try to remember that.”

“Good,” I say, squeezing her hands before releasing them. “Now, let’s try again. This time, I want you to not just defend, but counterattack. Push into my mind.”

Violet’s eyes widen. “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”

I smile reassuringly. “You won’t. I trust you.”

We settle back into position, closing our eyes. This time, when I launch my mental assault, Violet is ready. Her defences are stronger and more flexible. She doesn’t just resist my probing, she pushes back, her consciousness seeking out the weak points in my mental shields.

I feel Violet’s presence probing at the edges of my mind, searching for a way in. Her touch is gentle but insistent, growing stronger as she gains confidence. I maintain my own assault, determined to push her to her limits.

Suddenly, I feel a sharp spike of energy as Violet finds a crack in my defences. She slips through, her consciousness flooding into my mind with startling intensity. Images flash before my eyes of memories, thoughts, and feelings, which are all laid bare before her.

I rasp, overwhelmed by the intimacy of the connection and I open my eyes. I can feel Violet’s surprise and wonder as she explores the landscape of my mind. Her presence is warm, curious, and tinged with an undercurrent of power that takes my breath away.

“Violet,” I manage to choke out, “keep going. You’re doing it.”

I feel her smile in my mind, a burst of pride and excitement. She nods slowly. “It feels different this time. Like I can see everything in your mind.”

“You can,” I confirm. “That’s the level of mental penetration an Old One might attempt. The fact that you can do it already is beyond impressive and shows how strong you are.”

Violet opens her eyes and is quiet for a moment. “Thorne,” she says finally, her voice soft. “I saw snippets of your childhood… Tell me to shut up if I’m overstepping, but I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

I shrug. “It’s nothing new or anything to be sorry for. It is how it is in powerful families. Caine has the same parental control issues. Flint is luckier, but now I wonder if Glacier is the big bad and not all that he seems.”

Violet’s eyes soften with sympathy. “Still, it explains a lot about why you are the way you are. Fiercely protective, possessive…” She trails off, realising how that might sound.

I don’t take offence, though, and chuckle. “You’re not wrong. I suppose my upbringing did shape me in many ways, but not all of them were good. But it also made me strong, and now I can use that strength to protect you.”

Violet nods slowly, her gaze intense. “I understand that now, in a way I didn’t before. Thank you for letting me see that part of you.”

“You’re welcome,” I say softly. “Now, let’s try one more time. This time, I want you to not just enter my mind but try to influence my thoughts or actions.”

Violet looks uncertain. “What? That seems invasive.”

“It is,” I agree. “But you need to be prepared for every possibility. Don’t worry, I trust you completely.”

She takes a deep breath and nods. We close our eyes again, and I feel her presence at the edges of my consciousness almost immediately. This time, she doesn’t hesitate, slipping past my defences easily.

I feel her exploring my mind, her touch curious but gentle. Then, suddenly, I feel a subtle shift. A thought that isn’t mine bounces around my mind: Stand up and spin around three times.

I resist the urge, fighting against the foreign thought. But Violet’s influence grows stronger, more insistent. Suddenly, I’m on my feet, slowly turning in a circle.

“Stop,” I manage to say, halting my rotation after two spins.

Violet’s eyes fly open, shock and awe on her face. “I did it,” she whispers. “I actually made you move.”

I nod, settling back down across from her. “You did.”

She frowns slightly. “It was wrong. I was violating you.”

“You feel that way because you have a strong moral compass,” I explain. “An Old One wouldn’t hesitate to control someone completely. The fact that you feel conflicted about it is a good thing. It means you’re still you.”

Violet nods slowly, processing this. “I think I understand now why this is so dangerous. The power to influence others like that could be intoxicating.”

“Exactly,” I agree. “Which is why we need to make sure you’re prepared to resist that temptation when the time comes.”

She takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. “Okay. What’s next?”

“We need to work on your ability to multitask mentally,” I explain. “An Old One would be able to defend against attacks, launch their own assaults, and maintain control of a vessel simultaneously. We need to push your mind to handle multiple tasks at once.”

Violet nods, determination etched on her face. “Okay, how do we do that?”

“I’m going to attack your mind again, but this time, I want you to defend yourself while also trying to influence my actions and maintaining a mental shield around both of us,” I say. “It’s going to be challenging, but I know you can do it.”

She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes. “Okay, I’m ready.”

I launch my mental assault, probing at her defences. Immediately, I feel her resistance, a solid wall pushing back against me. At the same time, I sense her presence at the edges of my own mind, trying to slip past my guards.

“Good,” I encourage. “Now, try to create a shield around both of us while maintaining everything else.”

I feel a flicker of energy as Violet attempts to extend her protection to include me. For a moment, it wavers, her concentration split between too many tasks. But then she rallies, her power surging.

Suddenly, I feel a cocoon of energy enveloping us both, a shimmering barrier that separates us from the rest of the world. At the same time, Violet maintains her mental defences against my attack and continues her attempts to influence my mind.

I’m impressed by her ability to juggle so many mental tasks at once. “Excellent work, Violet,” I say, my voice tight with concentration as I continue to press against her defences. “Now, let’s see if you can maintain all of this while I increase the pressure.”

I increase my efforts, pushing harder against her mental shields while also strengthening my resistance against her probing. I can feel the strain it’s putting on her, but she doesn’t falter.

She fights to maintain control. Her breathing becomes laboured, but her determination doesn’t waver. I can feel the raw power coming from her, growing stronger by the second.

Suddenly, there’s a surge of energy so intense it makes me grunt. The shield around us flares brightly, becoming almost tangible. At the same time, I feel my mental protection crumble under Violet’s assault, her presence flooding into my mind with overwhelming force.

“Thorne,” she whispers, her voice echoing both in my ears and in my mind before she abruptly leaves my consciousness and passes out.