by R L Medina
“It’s the blood moon, child. Don’t be afraid of the magic. Let it in,” the dead witch whispered in my ear.
Ignoring the chill racing along my back, I did what she said. The magic rammed through me and I could barely stand under the onslaught. Pain filled all my senses. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t hear.
There was only pain—hot, icy, burning, shredding pain.
My head spun.
“No!” Ryn’s voice called out.
I ran towards the sound. Blinking, I tried to focus under the pain.
The branch was sharpened to a point and glowing red. It was a permanency spell.
A permanent stake—permanent death.
It flew towards Ryn.
Air rushed out of my lungs. No.
My hand shot out, and I chanted the first thing that came to me. I watched, breathlessly, as my spell unfolded.
The stake meant for Ryn jerked backwards. It landed with a sickening thud and squelch squarely through Blake’s heart.
I fell to my knees in horror. A reversal spell. What had I done?
Ryn leapt over Blake’s fallen body and stood in front of me. He pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me. “It’s alright. It’s alright, Kenzie.”
My body was numb. As hard as I tried not to picture it, I saw it replay again and again. The branch. Blake. The blood. Nausea rolled inside me.
“The barrier.” The witch’s voice made me cringe.
“Your coven still needs you,” Ryn reminded me.
Right. Diego. I sucked in a breath and nodded.
“Yes. Let’s do this.”
“Are you sure you’re up to this, Kenzie? Won’t it take a lot out of you to do this spell?” Ryn whispered.
Worry flashed in his golden eyes.
My body protested the thought of another spell. I was still recovering from what I’d just cast.
“I’ll be fine.”
He didn’t look convinced, but I didn’t have a choice. We needed to do the spell before the blood moon was gone.
“Come,” the witch called.
I glanced back at Blake.
Ryn shook his head. “Leave him for now. We can bury him later.”
Bury. His words made me shiver. Pushing away my guilt, I turned and followed him and the witches farther into the woods.
26
McKenzie
I tugged a strand of my hair and laid it against the stone alongside the finger bone the dead witch had placed there. My body still thrummed with magic, magic that was ready to be unleashed once more.
The power behind my cast was intoxicating. I’d never felt my magic come so easily—or so painfully before. I felt invincible. Too bad Fane and Diego were too far for me to reach.
“We will help you break the spell and in return you will release our souls,” the witch spoke.
I nodded at her. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you help Allison break the barrier when she resurrected you?” Ryn interrupted.
My eyes widened in surprise at him. It was a good question. One I should have thought of myself.
The witch turned her eyeless, decomposing face toward him. “We had no magic at our disposal. There was no blood moon.”
“Why did she raise you? Did she tell you?” I asked.
“No, but I believe she meant to bring someone else back. Someone she loved.”
“Someone who died from the curse, probably,” Ryn spoke.
A lump grew in my throat. I was so tired of death and all the grief. We’d lost so much and if I couldn’t find a way to stop the spell, we’d lose more.
“Are you ready?” The rogue witch’s question brought me back.
I nodded and flinched as she gripped my hand in her bony appendage. A shudder ran down my spine at the touch. Another dead witch grabbed my other hand and squeezed it in her icy cold grip.
Together we chanted, and the magic swirled around us in a frenzy. I winced as it shot through me, the pain double what it usually was.
“Step back,” I instructed Ryn.
I couldn’t look back to see if he listened. Our voices grew, and the magic rolled through the forest, ripping right through us.
It was sharp and demanding, filling me to the point of bursting. My skin felt paper thin as if any moment it would be shredded to pieces. Something warm trickled down my lips and tickled my chin. Was I bleeding?
My heart slammed against my ribs and my body shook. I was vaguely aware of Ryn’s panicked voice calling my name. The sound of bones rattling together filled the air. We were all shaking, I realized—shaking and floating in the air.
Fear struck me. It was too much power. Too much. I couldn’t handle it.
My ears popped and a scream tore from my throat. I was falling.
Too fast.
I tried to summon more power to stop myself. Instead only pain filled my senses. I screamed again and closed my eyes, waiting for the crash.
Strong arms caught me. I trembled and gasped. For a minute I lay there, my body worn past exhaustion and my mind a scrambled mess.
Where were the witches? Had we done it?
Struggling to sit up, I blinked and looked around. The magic spun around the air. It was just as strong and powerful, but I couldn’t call it to me.
“Kenzie, are you okay?” Ryn’s voice woke me from the stupor.
I could only nod. Yes.
“The barrier?” Ryn asked.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and stretched my hand toward it. “It’s open. We did it.”
My magic thrummed inside me, but it would be awhile before I’d be able to cast again. I bit back a groan as pain sliced my head.
The ground swayed and spots dotted my vision. I could barely make out the dead witches as they disappeared into the forest. I glanced at the spot Blake had fallen. He wasn’t there. Did they take him?
“Kenzie.” Ryn’s concerned voice echoed in my ear.
He sounded so far away.
I winced as the ache in my head grew. My whole body burned, and it was all I could do to keep my head up.
“Kenzie, what is it?”
Ryn held me tight, anchoring me in place.
“We have to get back to the coven. Stop Diego. Fane.” My voice came out in gasps.
“Are you sure I shouldn’t take you back to my house? Can you make it to the coven?”
I groaned. “First the covenant. I’ll be okay.”
His golden eyes swam in and out of focus and his arms wrapped around me, the only thing keeping me from collapsing.
“Fane? Did he come back?”
Ryn shook his head. “I don’t know where he went. But I swear, when I find him, he will pay.”
A tremor ran through me. Pain filled my senses and I couldn’t respond.
“Hold on. We’re almost there.” Ryn’s voice was warm and soothing.
I reached out for him, grasping at air.
“Hold on, Kenzie.”
My head spun as we arrived at the giant house. I blinked in confusion. This wasn’t my coven. We were back at Ryn’s palace.
I whipped toward him as he reached for me. “I said to take me back to my witches.”
His face was like stone. “You need a healer, Kenzie. Then I’ll take you. I promise.”
Fear spiked my blood. “We don’t have time. Ryn, they need us.”
“We’ll be there. Just hold on.”
My body protested as he carried me up the driveway. Confusion filled me. Where was the carriage? Had Fane taken it? Had Ryn carried me all the way?
Pain overwhelmed my senses, and I gave up on trying to keep my head up. I let it loll against his broad chest as he carried me. His warmth surrounded me and the realization that I heard nothing but silence where his heart would beat made me shiver. Mistaking my movement for cold, Ryn held me tighter.
Once inside, he lay me on a couch and demanded a healer. Deepa came with the vampire healer, their eyes widened at me.
“What happened?” Deepa asked.
“The barrier. I opened it.” My voice was hoarse.
She gaped at me. “By yourself? How?”
I grunted. “I had help. Rogue witches.”
She frowned, but I didn’t explain further. I knew she would ask about Blake and I didn’t want to have to tell her what I’d done. The image of his slackened face made me shudder. He’d left me no choice, but the memory still filled me with nausea.
“Blake is gone. I woke up and he wasn’t here. I think he went back to help the coven, but I don’t know why he didn’t leave me a note.”
Her words made me wince. Ryn met my gaze, a silent question in his eyes. I turned away from him. Though I appreciated his willingness to tell her, I had to be the one to do it. I was the queen after all.
I sucked in a breath. “Blake didn’t go to the coven. He was the mole. He tried to attack us, so I had to stop him.”
Deepa reeled back. “Blake? No. He can’t be the mole.”
My fist clenched. “He was. He was working with Fane. He admitted to killing Julia too.”
Anguish flashed on her face. “No. But she was drained. It couldn’t be him.”
“He led her to Fane.”
She shook her head, mouth opening and closing in disbelief. I tore my gaze away from her. The pain in her eyes too raw.
I’d killed Blake. He’d been guilty of betraying us first, but that didn’t change the fact that I’d killed him, and not out of self-defense like I’d told her. He wasn’t trying to kill me—it was Ryn that he was after and I’d stepped in.
But I couldn’t tell Deepa that. I couldn’t tell any of them that. They wouldn’t understand. How could I choose a vampire over one of my own witches? Even with his betrayal, they wouldn’t understand.
I winced. The pain was spread through my limbs and I could barely keep my eyes open. It felt as if I was breaking apart from within.
Cold dread swirled within me. I couldn’t die. Not yet. Not when I was so close to fixing the curse.
Deepa helped the vampire with the healing ointment and gave me a pill to stop the pain. I shut my eyes, shutting the world out as they worked.
Hurry. Please. My thoughts bounced in my head.
What if we were too late when we arrived? A lump grew in my throat. Kohl was there. And Val and all my witches. We had to make it back in time.
Voices drifted around me. I stirred, pain shooting to my head. My eyes opened, and I found myself on a couch. I blinked against the darkness. A couch, but, where was I?
“Kenzie.” Ryn’s voice startled me.
I glanced in his direction. Candles lit to reveal his worried face. Deepa was there with him and some other vampires I didn’t recognize.
“The coven,” I coughed.
“I’ve sent my vampires to help. We’ll leave at once. Are you sure you can make it?”
I struggled to sit up. “Yes. We have to go now.”
“Kohl would want me to keep you here. To keep you safe,” Deepa interrupted.
My eyes shot to her. “Kohl isn’t in charge. We’re going to the coven. We have to make sure the covenant gets signed.”
Ryn turned to his vampires. “If you see Fane, send me word at once.”
They glanced at each other. One spoke up, “Your highness, your brother has already come and gone. He went to the city.”
To the coven? My stomach turned in dread.
Ryn slammed his fist onto the table, knocking over a chalice. Wine spilled and rose petals shook loose and flew, scattering to the ground.
“What are you going to do about your brother?”
He turned to me. “Let me deal with him. First, we have to make sure the covenant gets signed.”
I nodded and let Deepa help me to my feet. Pain sliced through me, but I pushed it away. Pain or no pain, the fight wasn’t over yet.
27
Valeria
Diego came, but he didn’t come alone. Vampires and rogue witches followed him and all his wolves. His full force against us.
It was war.
The sun had set, and the blood moon lit up the sky. I couldn’t help but think it was fitting. A red moon for what was sure to be a bloody night. Even if the other rogue witches and my wolves came, it wouldn’t be enough.
Our only hope was the covenant. But how would we get Diego to sign it now? I watched from the window as Diego and his minions filled the streets, surrounding us. Their howls echoed in the night.
Elijah stood beside me and shook his head. “This isn’t going to end well.”
I didn’t answer.
Kohl and the other witches were at the front door, chanting another protection spell. Drew and Becca were nowhere to be seen, but I knew they were there. But I doubted they were in any state to fight. Not after what I’d witnessed at the health shop.
“The queen and prince Ryn will come back,” I finally answered Elijah.
He leaned toward me. “It’s not too late. We could make a run for it.”
I stared at him in shock. Anger slithered in my chest. He wanted to run away again?
“We can’t survive this, Val.”
“I’m not abandoning them.”
I turned away from him. Hot tears filled my eyes. How could he even ask me to do that? Pushing away my emotions, I headed for Kohl and the other witches.
Something is wrong.
I frowned at my wolf’s words and scanned the room. Five witches walked up behind Kohl and the others. I frowned. What were they doing?
Traitors.
I gasped. I opened my mouth to warn Kohl, but a loud boom echoed and shook the house. Kohl and his witches flew back as the doors burst open.
Screams erupted. Witches moved, their hands flying and mouths chanting.
“Val!” Elijah called.
I leapt out of the way as the witches sent spells flying at each other.
Kohl shot to his feet, his eyes briefly meeting mine. He turned to the tall witch behind them and shot out his magic. “What are you doing?”
“We won’t let the covenant be signed,” she replied.
Howls and shouts echoed from outside.
Kohl’s eyes widened in panic. “Reset the ward. Now,” he yelled at the remaining witches.
I leapt to the front. Elijah was close behind me.
He pulled at my arm. “What are you doing?”
“We can’t let them in,” I screamed above their roars.
Elijah yanked me out of the doorway and dragged me back inside. I struggled against him. Another set of howls echoed. My wolf perked up.
Our pack.
They were coming. Dread unfurled inside me. Diego would kill them all.
No. What was happening? What had I done? Led them straight into a trap.
Numbness filled me. I let Elijah pull me past the front room and into the back. Into a coat closet. We stood pressed together, his sweat and the faint scent of candles and soap filed my senses.
“Valeria!” I heard Drew calling me.
His voice snapped me into action. They needed me.
“I’m not hiding in here while our pack fights, Elijah. If you want to stay here like a coward, fine. But I can’t.” I yanked myself out of his grasp and went for the door.
“No, Val!”
My leg kicked out behind me, connecting with him. I flung the closet open and stepped out before he could grab me.
I glanced around the crowded room. The Red Wolves and vampires were attacking the coven.
Diego’s eyes met mine. The smugness I saw on his face made my anger swirl within me. He’d won, and he knew it.
Elijah jumped out behind me.
Diego’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t want it to come to this, Val. But you’ve chosen the humans over us. You are a disgrace to all alphas. All wolf kind. You should be glad your parents and all your elders are dead.”
Anger spiked my blood. His words struck like arrows. How could he say that when he was the one who killed the other alphas?
My wolf growled, straining a
gainst the barrier. Free me.
I obeyed.
Diego shifted at the same time. His wolf was bigger and darker, yellow eyes filled with savage bloodlust.
I snarled at him. He circled me, trying to dominate. I held my ground.
My eyes stayed on him, watching, and waiting.
Elijah shifted and leapt for Diego, but Diego’s betas blocked him. His angry howl echoed around us. My mate promised blood.
I glanced around. Diego’s pack had us surrounded, but my wolves were close. My eyes focused on the giant alpha. If I could bring him down, I could end it.
He dove first. I skittered back, but not fast enough.
Sharp teeth cut into my fur and flesh right below my neck, drawing a yelp from me. I struggled against his hold. He lifted me from the ground. The pain speared through me, sharp and hot.
Elijah howled in fury.
I turned my head to bite Diego. His jaws sank deeper into me and I couldn’t reach him. Couldn’t stop him.
He slammed me into the floor, my head spinning as it connected with the cold, hard tiles. My body spasmed as he released me. I whimpered.
Excruciating pain radiated from my wound. He stood over me, blood dripping from his massive jaws. My blood.
Get up.
I struggled to my feet. Diego watched patiently. He wasn’t done with me.
Before he could attack, I shifted back.
Kill him.
Diego growled at me. Pain washed over me as I staggered back. The wound would have to wait. Once I could shift back into wolf form, I could let it start healing, but for now it had to wait.
I searched the room for a weapon.
“Valeria!” Drew voice called from far away.
A dagger flew toward me, and I wasn’t sure if it came from Drew or one of the witches trying to kill me, but I grabbed the hilt and whipped toward Diego.
He shifted, body transforming before me.
“Couldn’t even stay in wolf form. Coward,” he spat at me.
I stood before him, holding my weapon between us. Noises came from the other room. The fight fighting had started.
