by Linsey Hall
Grey surged to his feet and charged Ivan.
The white-haired man reached for me, and I swiped out with my blade. It cut deeply into his forearm, but he was too quick. He grabbed Orion’s Heart from my neck, breaking the chain.
He raised it upright as he chanted the last words of the spell. His face twisted with pain, and he released the gem. He’d held it for only a moment, but it was too late. His hand had turned black from the contact.
Overhead, the star-shaped window in the ceiling opened again. A beam of light rose from Orion’s Heart and shot into the sky. The gem glowed as fiercely as the power source had. Even brighter.
“You carried this the entire time,” Ivan’s eyes gleamed with sadistic glee as he scrambled upright, looking toward the ceiling and the beam of light that grew stronger. “So much power in such a small stone. More than my power source. Enough to destroy all of Guild City.”
The stone glowed between us, pulsing with a power that made my muscles tremble and my bones shake. Ivan gave me one last triumphant look, then ran for the door, sprinting through the fighting figures of our two small armies.
Horror yawned inside me as I watched the Orion’s Heart pulse. The paint on the floor had begun to glow brightly as the magic transferred throughout the church.
How long did we have?
Grey neared me, his gaze going between me and the retreating Ivan. “Do you need help?”
“Go get him.” I had no idea what I was going to do, only that I had to stop this. Deep in my gut, I knew I could stop it. And we couldn’t let Ivan escape. He was capable of too much horror.
Grey charged past me in pursuit of Ivan.
Shaking, I stared at the pulsing gem, my mind racing. The spell had started again. I could feel it surging on the air, growing stronger with every minute. It would blow soon.
I could turn it back, but I had no container for it. Nothing to truly stop it. Without that, it would blow eventually.
It glowed brighter. Through the blinding light, it began to crack. A great roar sounded. The bomb was powering up. The magic would spin out of control and destroy us all.
We needed something, anything, to contain it.
I grabbed the stone and held it tightly in my palm.
Pain flared, agony like I’d never known.
I gripped it tightly, determined to force it back together. I had the briefest flash of knowledge—this could kill me.
Then the bomb exploded, blasting magic everywhere, a power so fierce that it felt like my skin was torn from my body and my bones were pulverized. I flew through the air and slammed to the ground.
Then power—such overwhelming power—expanded, and everything went dark.
17
Grey
Horrified, I watched Carrow crash to the ground, consumed in an aura of blinding light. For the briefest moment, she was a supernova. The power that pulsed through the church was enough to stop my heart for a second, and then it died.
The light faded, and Carrow lay still.
Terror shot through me.
At my feet, Ivan lay bound in the manacles I’d brought. The bastard had been so strong that I’d nearly been unable to get him.
I left him and sprinted for Carrow. My limbs felt like blocks of ice as I fell to my knees at her side. Her hands lay relaxed and open, and the ashes of Orion’s Heart were scattered in her right palm.
The stone was gone.
Fear threatened to suffocate me as I gathered her close. She was pale as snow with dark shadows under her cheeks. The magic that pulsed from her was strong enough to burn me, making my skin vibrate where it touched hers.
But her life force…
I couldn't feel it.
“Carrow.” My voice was rough. My heart thundered, a violent tattoo of fear inside my chest.
I couldn’t lose her.
Not now.
Not ever.
I brushed her hair off her face. My blood could heal only physical injuries, and this could be magic.
But I had to try.
I bit into my wrist, tearing at the skin. Hastily, I raised my wrist to her slack mouth, pressing it to her lips.
She didn’t move.
“Come on, Carrow. Wake up.” Something inside me roared like a wounded animal.
Still, she didn’t move.
Seconds passed.
She’d absorbed the power of the bomb. Instead of the spelling destroying us, it had taken her.
Mac fell to her knees at my side, a sob rising in her throat. Eve landed near us, stumbling. All around, the battle slowed. The only ones standing were from our side, so we must have won.
But I only had eyes for Carrow.
“Save her,” Mac demanded.
“I’m trying, damn it.”
Suddenly, Carrow shifted, her eyelids fluttering. Had my blood saved her, or was it her magic? It didn’t matter. She was waking up.
Slowly, she blinked. “What happened?”
I hugged her to me, clutching her tight.
Mac jumped on us, hugging Carrow from behind. “You’re all right!” Mac pulled back, confusion on her face. “You are okay, right?”
I released Carrow, lowering her so that I could look at her more closely.
She eased away from me, sitting upright under her own strength. Her eyes glowed with a strange light, nearly neon in their brightness.
“I…feel strange.” She looked at her palms. The ashes of Orion’s Heart marred her skin. “It’s gone.”
“You absorbed all the magic from Orion’s Heart.”
“It was going to explode,” Carrow said, her voice slightly dazed. “It needed a vessel to contain it.”
“So you decided to grab it,” Mac said. “You’re mad.”
Carrow blinked. “I think I might be.” Her gaze darted around the room. “Where is Ivan? Did we get him?”
I nodded. “I’ve bound him. We’ll take care of him.” I was going to find a way to kill the bastard this time. “But how do you feel? Do we need to see a healer?”
“I honestly don’t know.” She rubbed her chest. “I feel different. More magical, maybe. I don’t know.”
Quinn arrived. He’d returned to human form, though he was covered with cuts and bruises. He looked at Carrow, his eyes intense. “We need to get out of here before the Council members escape their cell. We don’t want them knowing what you just did.”
“No one should know you’re this powerful,” Eve added.
They were right. It was a matter of safety now. Powerful supernaturals were feared, and in my long life, I’d never seen anyone do what Carrow had done. “Can you stand?”
“Not sure.”
“I’ve got you.” I stood, carefully picking her up and cradling her to my chest.
All around, the bodies of Ivan’s men lay scattered. Mine were binding those still living and checking the bodies of the rest.
“I’ve got the main bastard,” Quinn said, and looked toward one of my guards—Eloise. She was tall and strong, a black panther when she shifted. “Will you help me?”
She nodded. “Let’s get him.”
“Bring him to my place,” I said.
Mac and Eve hurried alongside me as I carried Carrow from the church. She felt powerful in my arms, but weak still. Physically drained.
I hoped it was exhaustion and nothing more.
We stepped out into the fresh air. The blue dome had vanished. How the hell was I going to resist falling for her?
Carrow
Several days later, after I’d regained my strength, it was time to meet with the Council again. No one understood what had happened to me, but everyone vowed not to speak of it.
Grey had wanted me to stay at his place, but I’d insisted on going back to my own flat with Mac. My strength had finally returned, but I could feel the new magic going haywire inside me.
Now, I stood outside of Black Church with Mac. Guild City had returned to normal. The blue dome was gone, and Ivan had been taken care of. I ha
dn’t asked Grey what he’d done with him. Something terrible, I had a feeling.
“You’ve got this,” Mac said. “Your practice has paid off, and you’re going to convince them you’re in control.”
“But I’m not,” I murmured.
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is what they think. Control your magical signature, and they won’t know that your power is having a party inside you.”
I chuckled, though it did nothing to lessen my nerves.
The door to Black Church opened, and Grey appeared, looking impossibly handsome in his impeccable suit. He’d arrived early to speak with some of the Council members.
Speak with.
That was the phrase he’d used. I had a feeling he planned to use mind manipulation and coercion, but since he’d be doing it on my behalf, I wasn’t going to argue.
“They’re ready for you.” The concern in his eyes made me twitchy.
He’d had that same concern when he’d carried me from the church after I’d absorbed Orion’s Heart.
He cared for me.
We hadn’t talked about it—we’d hardly talked about anything since the bombing. All our time had been spent practicing my magic. And we didn’t exactly have a relationship in which we talked about feelings.
I swallowed hard, uncertain of how to process it.
So I didn’t.
Now wasn’t the time, anyway. I didn’t know if he cared for me, anyway, so no big deal.
“You’ve got this,” Mac repeated, and squeezed my hand.
I squeezed hers back and walked toward Grey. “Let’s get this over with.”
“You’ll have no trouble,” he said, holding the door open for me.
He followed me inside, and we walked toward the main part of the church. The paint had been scrubbed from the floor and the place returned to normal, but I’d never forget the dark stain of Ivan’s magic.
Walking toward the Council beside Grey was a big improvement from being dragged in wearing Magicuffs. Several of the Council members smiled at me. Most of them, in fact. They didn’t know the exact role I’d played in saving us all, but they knew I’d been there and appreciated it. Even Ubhan didn’t scowl quite as deeply as he had before, though he gave Grey a good, hard stare. The vampire and the sorcerers weren’t friendly, but they were on better terms now that the sorcerers knew why we’d broken into their tower.
Ubhan stood. “You are here to demonstrate that you have control of your magic.”
“Yes.” I stopped in front of them, raising my arms. I drew in a steady breath and made sure I had my signature on tight lockdown, using the tricks that Grey had taught me. “As you can see, you can’t sense it at all.”
The Council members leaned forward, brows creased, as they tried to detect my magic. I stood perfectly still, keeping a tight rein on it by visualizing it as a monster trapped in a cage within my chest.
“Well, I’m impressed,” Mateo said. “Not a hint of it.”
“And I think we owe her a debt of thanks for her role in saving Guild City,” said Cartimandua, the Witches’ Guild leader.
“Of course.” Ubhan nodded graciously. “We owe both of you our thanks.”
The words were only slightly begrudging, and his eyes gleamed with sincerity. He’d been trapped in the cell while the whole thing had happened, able to feel the magic going out of control. He knew firsthand how close we’d all been to dying.
“You may approach the star now so that you can be assigned to your guild.” Cartimandua smiled at me.
I stiffened, going a bit cold. “I didn’t realize I’d be joining a guild now.”
“Everyone joins a guild.” Ubhan’s voice hardened. “You’ve controlled your magic. Now the ceremony will know where to place you.”
“Okay.” I looked at Grey, who stood stiff and still.
“All will be well,” he murmured.
I had the distinct feeling he didn’t mean, “No problem, you’ll be chosen by a guild.” He meant, “This will be fine, even if I have to kill them all.”
I gave him a weak smile and nodded, turning to walk toward the metal star inlaid in the floor. Visions of Ivan flashed in my head, and I shook them away.
I needed to think witchy thoughts. That was the guild I’d choose, given a choice, though I wasn’t keen on joining a guild at all.
When I reached the bronze star, I stopped, standing right beneath the window in the ceiling. Tension tightened my skin as I waited for the ceremony to begin.
Please don’t knock me out.
I was getting damned sick of being knocked unconscious.
As one, the Council members leaned forward, watching me intently. I felt Grey’s gaze on me, and I focused on his rather than the others’.
As it had the last time, a low chant began to echo around the room. It echoed, flowing through the space like water. Magic filled the air, pressing in on me. I looked up at a noise from above.
The star-shaped window in the ceiling was opening, and a shaft of light beamed down on me.
I braced myself, remembering the last time I’d stood in this light.
But this time, it glowed warmly on me. No pain.
I shifted, looking around the room. Was something supposed to happen?
The Council members looked at me, confusion flickering on their faces. Ubhan looked at the floor, then at me. “The magic isn’t pointing to a guild.”
“Yet she is not unconscious.” Cartimandua’s eyebrows rose. “You’ve grown stronger.”
“Just had a good breakfast.” I gave a weak smile.
“Uh-huh.” She clearly didn’t buy it for a second.
Grey stepped forward. “Something is clearly amiss with your ceremony. You should have that fixed.”
Ubhan glowered. “That is not the case, and you know it.”
“If the ceremony worked, she would be unconscious, or she would be assigned to a guild.” Grey shrugged. “She is neither. Something has gone amiss. I expected better of the Council.”
A low grumbling sounded from different corners of the room, but Cartimandua stood. “We don’t know what is happening with the ceremony, but we can hardly return her to the prison.”
“That is procedure!” Ubhan shouted.
“She helped save your hide, Ubhan.” Cartimandua glowered at him. “Carrow must join a guild soon. If the ceremony doesn’t work for her, we’ll need to find another way to assign one. But in the meantime, we will vote on what to do with her.”
I bristled. I didn’t like the sound of this. The Council was way too involved in my life. But Cartimandua shot me a wink.
She had to know the vote would go in my favor, right? She’d been on my side all along. And I liked her.
I nodded. What choice did I have?
Cartimandua looked at each member of the Council. “Should Carrow stay free until she is assigned to a guild?” Her voice took on a heavier tone. “And do not forget the role she played in saving us all.”
I waited, breath held, as the Council voted.
The no vote went first.
There were some real sticklers, it seemed, because four unfamiliar hands went up in support of keeping me in a holding cell until I was able to complete the ceremony. Ubhan’s went up as well, making it five.
I felt sick to my stomach.
I could feel Grey at my side. The tension surrounding him was a physical thing. Were members of the Council allowed to abstain from voting? If so, and if there weren’t enough votes in favor of letting me walk free, Grey would act.
And it wouldn’t be pretty.
He hadn’t so much as told me that he liked me—because fond certainly didn’t count—and yet, I could feel that he would have my back.
When Cartimandua called for the vote to release me for the time being, the remaining Council members raised their hands.
Thank God.
Tension drained from my shoulders, but I stood straight. I didn’t want them to know how worried I’d been.
“That
is that.” Cartimandua clapped her hands together once. “You may go. But be warned, we will call you back soon to undergo the ceremony once more. In deference to the service you have done for Guild City, we will let this slide for now. But only for now.”
“Thank you.” I spun on my heel and left, getting the hell out of there as quickly as I could.
I didn’t hear if Grey said anything to them, but his disapproval was apparent.
He joined me in the lobby, and we walked out. Silence fell heavily around us, and I remembered the sight of his terrified face as I woke up after the blast.
He’d been so worried for me.
I shot him a glance. How the hell we were going to go forward from here?
There was so much between us, none of it normal.
What were we?
We reached the main doors and stepped out into the sun.
Mac pounced. “Are you all right?”
“Fine.”
“You passed?”
“I did.”
“Do you have a guild?”
“No. And quit with the third degree. I’ll explain later.”
Mac glared at Grey. “Why didn’t you fix it for her?”
It almost looked like he rolled his eyes, but the Devil of Darkvale would never stoop to such a common thing. He ignored Mac and looked at me. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I’ll—”
He turned and walked away.
Damn.
I shot Mac a look. “What a weirdo. Just walking away like that?”
She shrugged. “He’s the Devil of Darkvale. He the ultimate weirdo.” She sighed. “But he was really worried about you when we thought you were dead. You should have seen him.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I went with silence.
Mac grabbed my arm. “Come on. I’ve got something to show you.”
She dragged me through the streets of Guild City. Since the dome had dropped, the mood of the city had been festive. The danger from Ivan hadn’t lasted long, but it had been intense. The swell of dark magic that had rolled over the town had given its citizens a frightening glimpse of their possible fate, and when it had been averted, everyone wanted to celebrate.
A few minutes later, we reached our building. Mac shoved her way through the green door, which was already unlocked.
