There was no doubt in my mind that the place I had been was not of this world.Not only had Sean been there, confusing me with talk of some mysterious person watching over me, but the concept of pain had been elusive and just out of reach. The peace that hung in the air, shimmering as brightly as the magic interwoven to create a place that was both real and memory, could only belong to some kind of afterlife.At least, that’s what I was hoping.Pain was the first thing I felt as that place slipped away. It held my head in its strong grip, claws digging into my scalp to produce a throbbing pain that chased me into consciousness. I hadn’t even opened my eyes yet and there it was.When I did manage to peel my lids back, I tried to recoil at the pale face staring out at me.More pain engulfed me, stinging my wrists, neck, and ankles. It blasted my mind, sapping my strength until even calling out to the shadows felt impossible.I craned my head down, staring blankly at the silver-plated cu
“No. No, I don’t believe you.” Ember said after several seconds of silence.She turned around, her face turned towards the door as though she might storm through it and leave Brandon and I to our own defenses. She didn’t, though. Her hesitation wasn’t just written across her face but was also in her posture. In the way she stood with her arms folded over her chest, her foot tapping incessantly against the concrete floor.I needed to say something, because if Ember left, I had a feeling I wouldn’t be here when she finally returned.“Why would I lie?” I asked her, truly wanting to understand.She scoffed, shaking her head at the door. I was met with a scathing eye roll when she spun on her heel. “Are you really asking me that? What a stupid question. You’re lying because you want me to turn against Freya.”“As if that would work.” Brandon muttered.I sent him a warning glare which he attempted to shrug at, but it was hard to do so when you were bound to the wall by the fiery touch of si
“Unless you want to carry the two of us the entire way, I’m going to need some blood.” I groaned.The second Ember removed the cuffs, my body slumped forward like a sack of bricks.My flesh had become a dead weight that refused to cooperate with my exhausted brain. Concrete bit into the palms of my hands as I struggled to stand to my feet. Ember huffed and released her hold on Brandon, letting him crash to the floor as she knelt at my side.“Agh! Fuck, Ember. Could you have been any rougher?” Brandon groaned, cradling his bloody wrists against his chest.She side-eyed him and said, “Yes, actually. I could’ve.”“Well, thanks for being gentle.” Brandon shot back sarcastically.Ember thrust out her arm, her wrist inches from my face. She stared down at me with a scowl on her face. It deepened when I stared at her through cloudy, disoriented eyes.“I don’t care if you’re on your death bed, this is a one-time offer. Bite me and take some blood before I change my mind.”My vision doubled as
“You’re wondering how we’ve managed to stay on your lands this entire time without anyone noticing.” Ember spoke softly, Angelica’s hand clutched in her own as she led the child in between houses to where the backyard was.Tall picket fences divided the properties, each one the same uniform shape, height, and color. With the moon as our guide, Ember led us to the back of the property, right where the forest met the neatly trimmed grass.“She’s not the only one wondering that.” Brandon muttered sourly, casting a glare in Ember’s direction. “This entire time I thought you brought me to some witchy village.”“Freya told me to bring you to her, and this just so happened to be where she was.” Ember fired back.Angelica giggled, watching the two of them with curious eyes that shimmered brightly even in the dark. My only option was to intervene before they could descend into a full-blown argument. We’d be here all night if that was the case.“How have you been able to stay here for so long w
As the back patio came into view, along with Asher’s broad shoulders and unruly hair, I realized my gut had been right after all. Flecks of dazzling gold swirled in his eyes and were bright even in the dark, much brighter the porch lights with their artificial glow. His shoulders visibly relaxed as his eyes settled on my face. Only I could see and feel the fury that painted his iris’s gold. While my vision might’ve tunneled on Asher, I didn’t fail to notice he wasn’t alone. Reclined on the swinging bench was Breyona and Giovanni. Mason and Clara occupied the two chairs off to the side. There wasn’t a single smiling face, only scowls carved deep with worry. I’d almost forgotten about Ember and Angelica, both of which were partially concealed behind my back, until Asher let out a snarl that nearly shook the entire house. Ember went deathly still. The temperature rose several degrees, quick enough that a sweat began to break out along the back of my neck. I took a step towards my mat
One moment I was there, and the next I was gone.The Shadows melted around my body with ease, filling the gaps of moonlight that shone through with impenetrable darkness. I couldn’t see a thing, couldn’t navigate my surroundings even though I’d been through this forest a hundred times before.My body was no longer my own, stolen by an invisible force that tied its web-like threads around my wrists and ankles, stringing me along the way a marionette manipulates its puppet.The only thing that remained my own was my thoughts. As panicked as they were, the only thing I could think about was Asher and my friends. Were they alive? Were they fighting Cassidy? Had they killed her already and rushed off to my rescue?Each one went unanswered.When the tendrils of darkness slithered away, no longer clouding my vision, I stood somewhere new. At the very back of the field was a rectangular brick building, dimly lit by the streetlamps that seemed so far away.I recognized the building as the town
“My Queen.”Tristan, my first in command. The man I considered both a friend and a worthy enemy. A Vampire I had once hated with every fiber of my being, only to now trust him with every beat of my heart.He was dead.Cold. Unmoving. Not a spark of light in his eyes.He pushed me out of the way. He took the blow that was meant for me. He gave his life for me and its broke Freya’s spell.Tristan loved me. Holly’s head was bowed, her hair a dark veil that covered her face as she wept. Her hands were stained red with Tristan’s blood, but she didn’t seem to notice. She continued clutching at his shirt, whimpering, and whispering under her breath.Without warning the blood ruby unleashed a blast of light that left me seeing spots. Holly ripped the blade from Tristan’s unmoving chest, dropping it as though it were poisonous.Freya’s face had lost its triumphant luster, taking on a more sinister expression. It looked like her skin had been pulled too tightly over her bones, stretching acros
Half an hour later, I stumbled away from Tristan’s body and into Asher’s warm embrace.My legs had been reduced to jelly, and my magical reserves drained so low they might never recover. I could only imagine how much blood and rest it would take before they were back to normal again.Asher’s voice washed over my shoulders, his breath fluttering against my cheek, but the blood roaring in my ears kept me from hearing.I’d poured everything into Tristan—everything.Holly and Giovanni remained rooted in place, searching for any sign of life whether it be a heartbeat or an influx of breath. The inky strands of my half-sister’s hair cascaded down Tristan’s shoulder, hanging off the side of the table he’d been placed onto.With her ear placed against his chest, she waited and waited.I understood her worry. Really, I did. Her mother had to sacrifice ten witches just to lock my father’s soul into my body. While I didn’t have ten innocent people to slaughter, I did have something else on my si