by Bethany Shaw
Jamie nodded.
“How do you plan to take out Mother, Father, and the other witches in that room?” Oliver asked, voicing his concerns for the first time.
“I can do it,” Cadence stood up, setting her plate on an end table. “I can take care of them.”
Zak suppressed the urge to beam with pride. She sounded so sure of herself – so confident.
“Are you sure, Cadence?” Jamie asked, lifting her brow in question.
“Yes.”
“I will go with, Cadence,” Zak said. There was no way he was letting her do this alone. “Besides, someone will have to dismember Malcolm’s body again or he’ll regenerate.”
“I’ll go with you too,” Oliver said.
“Me too,” Jamie added.
Zak clasped Cadence’s hand and pulled her back to his lap. They had the makings of a plan. Now they just had to survive the night.
Chapter Sixteen
Zak strapped the cuffs with stakes to Cadence’s arms for the second night in a row. If all went well tonight, they could wake up in the morning and start fresh. They could begin living in the present. That would be wonderful... but he knew fairytales didn’t happen to people like him. The best he could hope for was that Cadence was spared in tonight’s battle.
“Do you think this is going to work?” Cadence asked, her eyes on his fingers as he laced the cuff on her arm.
“I don’t know. I hope it does,” he said, placing her arm by her side.
“Me too.”
“We should head downstairs. The others will be waiting.”
She caught his hand with hers. “I love you, Zak. Whatever happens tonight, I want you to know that. We’re in this together.”
He smiled. “I know.” He leaned and kissed her on the lips, savoring the feel of her soft mouth against his. His tongue flicked out, darting into her mouth and sweeping over her teeth. She moaned and leaned further into him.
As much as he’d like to never leave the room, he knew they had to. Once this was over, he was going to continue where they left off. Hell, he’d lock her in here for an entire week if he could.
He pulled back, brushing strands of hair from her face. “We should go.”
She drew in a breath and nodded. “I’m as ready as I’m going to be.”
Zak took her hand and led her down the stairs where the majority of the clan was gathering. Everyone except for his brother, Melanie, and Maddie was going out tonight. He hoped his brother wouldn’t find any trouble. They’d been through too much to lose each other now.
“Does everyone understand where they need to be?” Oliver asked as Zak led them down the hall and to the large wraparound staircase.
Murmurs filled the room in answer.
“Sounds like everyone is ready,” Zak said, stopping behind the crowd.
“We missed the rally...or whatever you want to call this,” Cadence said in his ear.
Zak shrugged. “We already know what we’re doing.” He turned to her and bent down, lifting her into his arms. “Looks like you get to ride with me one more time.”
Cadence threw her arm around his neck. “You know, I’m growing kind of fond of this.”
“It is the quickest way to travel – and the safest,” he said with a grin.
Cadence giggled despite the severity of their situation. The vampires in front of them began to file out, speeding toward the coven once they exited the mansion. Zak followed behind them.
As soon as he stepped into the cool evening breeze, he took off with Cadence in tow. The trek across town was over in less than a minute. He set Cadence down, meeting her eyes briefly as the rest of the clan gathered at the end of the street.
“Your sleeping compound had better work,” Grace said to Jamie from a few feet away.
Zak turned, watching as his sister took a vial from Jamie.
“It will,” the witch replied.
“I guess we’ll see.” Grace snatched the vial and took a few steps away from the crowd, motioning for a few vampires to follow her. “Let’s clear the way,” she said as she raced toward the coven’s mansion.
Screams and shouts ripped through the air, causing Cadence to flinch next to him. “I guess that’s our cue,” Zak said as he picked her up again.
Another wave of vampires hurtled toward the witches’ home. “Let’s do this,” Cadence said, her voice barely audible.
Zak sped forward, weaving through the masses as he pushed inside the manor. He put Cadence down on the marble floor and looked around. The setup was similar to the clan’s home. Oliver came to a halt next to him, placing Jamie down. The witch looked a little green and unsteady on her feet.
“It will pass,” Cadence said.
“Over here,” a voice wailed.
Oliver snatched a vial of the sleeping compound from Jamie’s hand and tossed it toward the voice. A few thumps later and the inside of the home was quiet once again.
“Let’s go.” Cadence pushed forward, marching through the house.
“I would have expected more resistance,” Oliver said to Zak.
He nodded. Where was everyone? There was no way it was going to be this easy. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind then footsteps approached – lots of footsteps.
Zak gritted his teeth as a large group of vampires marched toward them from the other end of the hall. Some he recognized as members of the clan. Others, he’d never seen before. They were under Malcolm’s control, and there was nothing they could do for them. Only Malcolm could remove his compulsion. The elder vampire would never agree to that.
Oliver put himself in front of Jamie. “Stay behind me.”
Zak lifted his brow at his brother’s actions but didn’t say anything, instead focusing on Cadence. “Stay back. Only engage them if you have to, you need to save your strength.”
She met his gaze and nodded.
He opened his mouth, but the vampires charged toward them. Zak rushed forward with Oliver at his heels. He picked up a table that was sitting against the wall and smashed it. Grabbing several stakes, he tossed a few rapidly at the approaching army. They hit their mark, and the vampires crumpled to the floor as they turned to ash.
Oliver didn’t bother to pick up the weapons. He just continued to dart forward, tackling several of the vampires to the ground. As older vampires, they had speed and strength on their side.
Zak caught a vampire by the waist, twisted, and drove him onto the floor. He grasped remnants of the shattered table and thrust the wood into the man’s chest. Kicking out his leg, he tripped another man before he could make his way to the witches. Zak jumped forward and grasped the vampire’s hair, then smashed his face into the floorboards. The man howled in pain, but he didn’t stop his assault.
A blur raced past Zak. He reached out trying to stop it, but wasn’t fast enough. Cadence lunged forward, jumping to the side and smacking the vampire on the back with her fist. She twirled and punched, aiming her weapon directly at his heart. The stake slid out of the sheath and impaled the man, turning him to dust as he perished.
That’s my girl.
Zak grasped the vampire beneath him by the neck and wrung it to the side. They’d have to kill him later. Right now, they needed to control how many got past him and Oliver. They needed their strength for the elder witches.
He leapt to his feet and caught another vampire, tossing him against a pillar. The wood splintered, and the pillar separated from the wall due to the force of impact. Zak sped forward, punching. He lifted the man up and shoved him back onto one of the long shards from the pillar.
A few other vampires had made their way between him and Oliver. Cadence was holding her own, fighting with skill and confidence.
Zak hurried toward a woman that was stalking toward Jamie. He gripped her by the hair, tugging her backwards until he could wring her neck to the side. Cadence jabbed another woman in the throat, sending her stake through the skin. The woman gurgled and collapsed.
Zak looked around. All the vam
pires were dead or temporarily taken care of. He sprinted to the wood pieces on the floor, finding as many sharpened ones as he could. Handing them out, the four of them pierced the undeads’ hearts.
“Are you okay?” he asked Cadence and Jamie.
Cadence appeared fine. The other witch’s eyes were wide and she had a cut by her left eye.
“We will be.” Cadence glanced at Jamie, then back to him. “Let’s finish this.”
They’d only taken a few steps when a searing pain ripped through his skull, making his vision double.
Zak grunted as he fell on one knee. He clutched the sides of his head as blinding agony surged through him.
“Zak?” Cadence asked, her eyes darting around the room.
“Keep going,” he said between pants.
Cadence sucked in a breath and continued forward. A door to their right opened, and Liana and Malcolm stepped out. Liana moved one hand toward him and the other toward Oliver. A smile graced her lips as if she was enjoying watching her children suffer.
“I always knew that you would betray the coven, Cadence. Jamie, I didn’t foresee your betrayal at all,” Liana said as Katherine and a few other witches filed out behind them. Their hands were outstretched too, their magic focused on Zak and Oliver.
Zak fought to move, but his body refused. If the witches were younger and less experienced, he could power through, but these were the strongest witches in the coven.
“You sealed the deal when you had my mother killed,” Cadence said, squeezing her hands at her sides. “Let Zak and Oliver go.”
Liana threw her head back and cackled. “Why would I do that? Maybe I can’t kill them, but I can stop them from hurting anyone else again. My husband is quite familiar with the painful lengths we will have to go to in order to complete the task.”
Zak gritted his teeth. They were going to dismember him and Oliver.
“I don’t know how to handle you though, Cadence.” Liana stopped in the hallway as she folded her arms over herself. “Your life is tied to Zakariah’s. Killing you won’t be so easy, will it?”
Zak grimaced. Nothing was going to happen to his witch. He struggled against the magic, finding his footing and pushing to a stand.
Cadence sucked in a breath and let it out. “Why don’t you try to find out?”
Zak risked a glance at her while releasing controlled breaths through his nose to fight the pain. She seemed calm – too calm for everything that was happening.
Liana smiled. “There’s so much you don’t know about the bond. I bet you’d like to know, wouldn’t you?”
“I bet you would too,” Cadence said, wiggling her fingers.
Liana shrugged. “Pity we won’t have a chance to learn more.”
Zak grunted as he took a step forward. Something warm trickled down from his nose, beading on his upper lip. Whatever Cadence was planning, she’d better get to it fast.
“It’s a pity you won’t,” Cadence said.
Zak inhaled as Cadence turned her palms up. In one hand was a ball of fire – in the other, lightning. Thunder crackled overhead, causing the whole house to rattle. It all made sense. She was in control of her magic. He didn’t know what she was waiting for, but he trusted her.
***
Cadence let out a breath as her magic flowed through her veins. She was in control, and the raw power coursing through her was beyond anything she’d ever felt before. It should have terrified her, but oddly enough, she was calmer than she’d ever been.
“Nobody has to die today. Let my father go – let all of us leave here before there is bloodshed,” she said. There was no reasoning with Liana, but maybe some of the other witches would see reason.
“Never. I will end the vampire’s existence if it’s the last thing I do,” Liana said as she jutted her arms out, causing Zak and Oliver to wince and cry out.
Cadence blew out a breath. “You don’t care what happens to the balance of nature? Vampires are a part of the magical community, you can’t just cut them out.” Witches answered to nature. That was where their power came from. There would be repercussions if the balance was shifted so unnaturally, and she didn’t want to find out what they were.
“It will put the witches in power,” Katherine said. “We will retake our place as the leaders of the magical world.”
“Will it?” Cadence asked, shifting her gaze to the other elder witches behind Katherine and Liana. She only recognized one, the woman who had been there the night her mother died. “Is that something you can risk?” she asked, catching the woman’s eye. The woman looked away, her hands wavering.
“I don’t think I can, and maybe witches shouldn’t be at the top,” Cadence went on. “Aren’t we just as bad as the vampires? Maybe we don’t drink blood, but some of you have killed – murdered an innocent woman and attempted to kill her young daughter.” Her eyes drifted to Katherine as anger surged. “I can’t even begin to guess what other atrocities you’ve committed.” The energy churning in her palms intensified, and she breathed in a steadying breath. I am in control.
Liana chuckled as she looked at Malcolm. “Kill both the witches, my love.”
Malcolm raced forward. Jamie screamed as she was tossed across the room, her body colliding with the wall and falling motionless to the floor.
Cadence narrowed her eyes. She had heightened senses and she was going to take full advantage now, dammit. Malcolm sprinted toward her and she darted to the left, narrowly missing his attack. Thrusting her hand out, she zapped him with a bolt of lightning, causing him to curse and stumble.
He didn’t stop for long. His form darted toward her. She ducked, but he clipped her ear, sending a burning sensation across her face. She tossed the ball of fire in her hand. It hit Malcolm in the back. He hollered in pain but quickly shrugged out of his jacket, stomping the flames out on the floor.
Cadence didn’t wait for him to regain his composure; she turned, focusing her energy on Liana. She extended both arms, letting her magic free. The witch gasped as she moved both hands to block the surge of energy, catching it inches before it hit her.
Zak grumbled, and Cadence saw him stand out of the corner of her eye. He raced out of eyesight, but she could hear the thump of what she thought was someone hitting the wall. He was probably fighting Malcolm. Cadence focused completely on Liana and the other elder witches, trusting Zak had everything else under control.
Liana’s hands shook as the energy inched closer. Katherine stood next to her and reached out to help block it. Cadence pushed forward, using every ounce of strength she could muster.
I am stronger than you.
She clenched her jaw and took a step forward, sending the pulse of energy straight into the two witches. They screamed as they were engulfed in a swirling ball of fire and lightning. It whirled around them like a cyclone for several seconds before dissipating.
Cadence blinked, gulping. The women were gone. The only evidence they’d been there at all was a pile of dust on the floor. As she stared at the carnage, a flood of memories seeped into her mind, happy memories of her family. One final image bloomed – a spell done on her father. Cadence covered her mouth, suppressing a whimper as Katherine told her father to keep Cadence at arm’s length, to become a workaholic who couldn’t make time for his daughter. Realization dawned on Cadence. He’d been acting on compulsion since her mother had been murdered. Katherine and the other elder witches had stripped away the loving father she’d grown up with.
She swallowed, forcing down the lump forming in her throat. Anger coursed through her, but she suppressed it too. It was over. She wasn’t a murderer. Closing her eyes, she reeled her magic in.
“I don’t want to hurt anyone else,” she said, eyeing the other witches.
“Our fight is over,” one of the men said, taking a step forward. “Please.”
Cadence inclined her head. “Tell the other witches to stop fighting. Once Malcolm is dealt with, we’ll be on our way.” The witches nodded and scampered down t
he hall.
The door to the room they’d stood in front of was open. A pair of dress shoes was visible. Dad!
A grunt behind her caused her to turn. Zak and Oliver were overpowering Malcolm. She couldn’t tell whose hands went to the elder’s neck, but they wrenched it to the side and Malcolm slithered to the ground with a thump.
The two brothers took a step back. Zak met her eyes, and she sighed. “It’s over,” she said quietly.
“We’ll have to take care of him,” Zak said as he returned his attention to his father.
Cadence’s gaze drifted to Jamie. She was in a heap on the floor, still unmoving. Racing forward, she crouched next to her friend, gently rolling her over. Blood rolled in rivulets down her temple and into her hair.
“Her heartbeat is strong,” Oliver said.
Cadence glanced up, noticing he was hovering over her.
“I’ll help her, don’t worry.” He stooped down, already biting into his wrist.
Cadence wrinkled her nose, unsure how her friend would feel about the medical assistance. She wasn’t going to argue with it, though. A muffled cry came from the open room and Cadence sprang to her feet, running to the room.
“Dad,” she said, her voice catching. He was tied to a chair, bound and gagged.
He made a noise like he was trying to talk, but it was hard to tell with the tape secured over his mouth.
“It’s okay,” she said, hurrying to him. She knelt down and used her magic to release the thick bindings around his wrists and ankles.
“Are you okay?” she asked as he tore the tape off his mouth.
She didn’t wait for him to answer before she threw her arms around him and hugged him. “I thought I’d lost you,” she said.
Her dad made a noise and tried to pull away.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Something sharp jabbed her neck and she screamed as white-hot pain tore her flesh. He had bitten her neck and wasn’t letting go. She jerked back, but her father was stronger than she was and had caught her off guard.
A form whooshed past her and her father was thrown. His body toppled over a desk headfirst but he somehow managed to land on his feet on the other side. Her dad sprung up, landing on the desk in a squat.
