The Witch Is Back

by H. P. Mallory

  You know he cared for you, a small voice piped up from within me. Don’t try to kid yourself, Jolie.

  Sinjin tricked me, I responded. I don’t care what Mercedes says or what excuses Sinjin makes—he isn’t being honest. Yes, he wanted to protect me but he also hungers for power, and I’ve always known that. Everyone knows that.

  “At any rate,” Rand continued. “Punishment must be doled out to those who transgressed against the Queen. I will not allow this to be swept under the proverbial rug.”

  I swallowed hard as I considered it. It wasn’t like Mercedes could be punished, Or could she? She was like this supreme being—way more powerful than any of us—so how could we hope to punish her? I wasn’t sure. Which left one person. I couldn’t help it—I glanced back at Sinjin, only to find his eyes trained on me.

  “I await my punishment with bells on,” he said as he disappeared into the cold night air.

  Are you Team Rand?

  Read on for an exclusive short story told from the point of view of your favorite enchanter.

  Sinjin Sinclair was a bloody bastard.

  “I am just attempting to point out the obvious,” he said and shrugged as if his interests in Jolie were merely casual, nonthreatening. Clearly he’d overheard my most recent conversation with her—the one where I’d told her in no uncertain terms that I would not allow her to fight in the Underworld civil war. No, Jolie was too valuable, too precious … she meant entirely too much to me for me to allow her to risk her life.

  I glared at him as he leaned against my desk and acted the part of unconcerned. I wanted nothing more than to evict him from my home but that was an impossibility—not with our legion of Underworld soldiers currently stationed at Pelham Manor, my home. And as much as I disliked the vampire, he was fighting for our side and, therefore, a comrade, so here he would remain … until further notice.

  “I will not allow Jolie to take part in the battle.” I took a quick breath. “And that is the end of it. This conversation is over.”

  I glanced outside at the throngs of our soldiers as they sparred against one another in the moonlight, practicing for a battle that would be much more black-and-white—either they would survive or they wouldn’t. The only thought that caused me any comfort was the fact that if our side prevailed, Jolie and I would see to it that every soldier who perished would be reanimated. It was Jolie’s gift—the ability to bring the dead back to life.

  “Is it?” Sinjin asked, reminding me that he was still there, fastidiously attired in his customary black. In the one hundred fifty years he and I have been acquainted, what I’ve realized, aside from the fact that Sinjin is anything but likable, mostly due to the fact that he believes the world revolves around him, is that he is more than popular with the ladies … he always has been. Whereas I have always found myself to be a bit too cynical, too reserved and introspective, Sinjin is the opposite. He’s garrulous and confident, witty, and with what most women consider striking good looks, he’s easily navigated the waters of feminine attraction and laid stake to any woman he wishes to call his own.

  My biggest fear was that he’d set his sights on Jolie.

  “I have nothing more to say,” I finished and even attempted to leave the vampire behind me as I started for the door, but the undead seem unable to grasp the concept of subtlety. In Sinjin’s case, I imagine propriety perished alongside morality when his mortal body died and he became the bastard corpse with whom I’d unfortunately just spent the better half of a fortnight.

  “She is stronger than you imagine,” Sinjin called out, his accent suddenly sounding more British than it previously had. His English beginnings were a reality that irked me—in no way did I want to share any similarities with the vampire, not even our British ancestry.

  I turned on my heel and scowled at him as heat began to bubble up within me. Who the bloody hell did he think he was, telling me Jolie was stronger than I imagined? I knew her far better than he did and I was more than mindful of her magical proficiencies. “I am quite aware of Jolie’s abilities.” After all, I had been the one to bloody well discover her!

  “Then you must also be aware of the fact that she will not respond well to your patronization?”

  Given the fact that I was convinced Sinjin had eavesdropped on the entirety of my and Jolie’s conversation regarding the battle, he was already well aware that Jolie hadn’t reacted well to the news that I would not allow her to put herself in danger. The conversation had ended in a minor argument and although Jolie was most definitely angry, I wouldn’t budge.

  I took a few seconds to respond, chiefly to talk myself out of my anger. Sinjin thrived on his ability to upset me. I would not allow him that small victory. When I spoke, my voice was even, calm. “I am not patronizing her. I am merely protecting her.”

  “Perhaps she does not care for your protection?” He elevated a brow in practiced form. “Perhaps Ryder …”

  Ryder … just the mention of the bastard’s name turned my blood to venom. If I had one goal, it was to kill Ryder. The vampire had kidnapped Jolie and delivered her to Bella, the witch with whom we were now at war. But his kidnapping of Jolie was not the reason I detested him—my loathing was reserved for the fact that he’d also attempted to force himself on her.

  And for that, he would die.

  “I will destroy Ryder myself,” I spat out.

  Sinjin’s jaw tightened. It was the only sign that perhaps he wasn’t quite as untouched by the conversation as he would have me believe. “The vampire will die, no doubt.”

  He said it as if he and I shared the goal of slaying Ryder, as if he would see to the vampire’s execution himself. As long as there was breath in my body, such would not be the case. I’d reserved that honor for myself. “Then problem solved.”

  “Doubtful.” He tapped his fingers against his lips and seemed pensive. “Have you not considered that Jolie wishes to seek her own revenge against Ryder?”

  “I don’t care.”

  He shrugged. “Perhaps you should?”

  While I certainly recognized Jolie for the powerful and talented witch she was, she was still a novice. Having only been introduced to this life a year earlier, there was so much she still didn’t know. Furthermore, there was no way anyone would change my mind regarding her fighting in a battle where she would be up against more practiced witches, werewolves, vampires, and even demons. The idea was purposeless—a fool’s errand. I glanced at Sinjin and eyed him suspiciously. “You claim to care for Jolie … would you want to put her in harm’s way?”

  Sinjin shrugged before a grin lit up his mouth, a grin that said the entire conversation had been an act, a mere farce. “I would never put our lovely witch in harm’s way. In actuality, I quite agree with everything you have said, my dear Randall.”

  I didn’t bother to point out the fact that Randall wasn’t my name—it was Rand. And as to correcting him … that was also useless. He thrived on irritating me. “You have a funny way of showing it.”

  “I find I enjoy playing the part of devil’s advocate on occasion.”

  I shook my head, tired of his games. “I have neither the interest nor the time to engage you any longer, Sinclair.” I glanced outside again, catching the glint of metal in the moonlight—of blades and shields interspersed with magical bursts of fluorescent light as my men sparred against one another. It was a cold English night—evident by the frost settling on the window frame. The sound of a werewolf’s howl interrupted the still air of my office. “I need to return to my men,” I said and narrowed my eyes at the vampire as if to say he’d outstayed his welcome.

  “Spoken like a true gentleman.” He finally stood up from where he’d been leaning against my desk and started for the door. At the promise of his departure, I felt a pressure begin to lift from my shoulders. “Perhaps I should check on our ward?”

  And just like that, the pressure returned. “Stay away from her,” I barked. “She’s sleeping and needs to heal.” In order to win the l
oyalty of the fairies for our side, Jolie had recently bested a fairy in a tournament of magic. While that might sound inconsequential, the fairy, Dougal, had nearly destroyed her. But Jolie had prevailed, seemingly by the skin of her teeth, and in return, the King of the fairies had been forced to agree to fight alongside us, against the tyranny promised by Bella. I smiled inwardly as I remembered how small and insignificant Jolie had appeared against the mammoth powers of Dougal. And yet, she had bested him. She had proven her own strength, her own power. It was a moment I will never forget—how frightened I’d been for her, how close to losing her I’d come, and how proud of her I’d been when she’d prevailed.

  And now? Now she was weak and needed to heal.

  “I am well aware, Randall, but I do worry about the beautiful woman.” He smiled again and then inhaled a quick breath, which was all just for show because vampires don’t breathe. “To allay my fears …”

  I took the few steps that separated us until I stood just before him. He was an inch or two taller than I, but I wasn’t intimidated. I was broader. His ice-blue eyes blinked wide with surprise. “Keep away from her.”

  Sinjin frowned. “I do not believe you lay claim to her?”

  I shook my head, although what he said was technically true. “Jolie might be taken in by your charm but I recognize you for who and what you are.” I had to remind myself that I wasn’t saying this out of jealousy, only to protect Jolie against Sinjin’s advances. He didn’t deserve her and I’d be damned if I stood casually by and allowed him to hurt her.

  “And what is that?” he asked in a bored tone.

  “Scum, Sinclair. You are scum.”

  He smiled without a trace of humor. “Well, I must admit that I am disappointed in your categorization of me, Randall, but I am quite pleased to learn that you believe Jolie is taken in by my … hmm, how did you phrase it again? Ah, yes, by my charm.”

  I grabbed his lapel even though I’d sworn to keep my temper in check. Nothing upsets me more than the ill treatment of those I care about. “Jolie is an innocent, Sinjin. If there is an ounce of goodness in you, leave her alone.”

  He glanced down at my hand in an amused sort of fashion, as if a trespassing ladybird, or ladybug as the Americans call them, had stopped for a quick respite on his shirtfront. He made no motion to free himself. “How do you know I harbor ulterior motives where our witch is concerned?”

  I tightened my grasp. “Because I’m not a fool.”

  “Fool, no, but you do quite enjoy playing the role of hero, I daresay?”

  There was something in his eyes that was angry, that belied his flippant comments, that hinted at feelings that were anything but trite.

  “I have no idea what motivates your fascination with Jolie although I have a good idea it has to do with her abilities and powers …”

  “Really, Randall, do you imagine me to be that shallow and self-serving?”

  The expression on my face told him just how shallow and self-serving I thought he was. “What I do know is that if you ever hurt her, you’ll have to answer to me.”

  “I do not intend to harm her.” The smirk fell off his face. “You do not intimidate me, Randall.”

  “I want you to realize in no uncertain terms that you are playing with fire.”

  Then he laughed and the sound dripped with sarcasm. “Your warlock abilities are nothing to me.”

  He was referring to the fact that witches and vampires were immune to one another’s powers. Before I could respond, he continued. “And although you are quite convinced that I harbor an evil plan where our beautiful one is concerned, I can assure you that your supposition could not be further from the truth.”

  I stood up straight and dropped his lapel. He arched a brow and offered me a quick smile. “Explain,” I demanded.

  He shrugged and smoothed away the nonexistent wrinkles on the front of his shirt. “I will not argue my attraction to Jolie. I find her alluring, irresistible …” He faced me again and smirked. “Sexy.”

  “Attach your sights on another woman, Sinjin,” I bit out. An image of the two of them in a heated embrace flashed through my mind and the air caught in my throat, felt as if it were constricting my lungs. It was a mere fabrication sent from my mind’s eye but it felt concrete, real enough that I could reach out and touch it. I wanted nothing more than to crumple it in my fists, to ensure I never subjected myself to the visual again.

  “I find myself quite enamored of her.” He paused for a few seconds. “Perhaps it is love?”

  Love? I felt my stomach drop and then realized he was playing me for a fool. Sinjin Sinclair did not have the first idea what love was. “Love” did not exist in his vocabulary. “This isn’t a fucking game!”

  “Such language, Randall!”

  Heat was now penetrating me and I had to hold myself in check, force myself to calm down even as my hands fisted at my sides. “I care for Jolie and I will not see her hurt, do you understand?”

  “Do not pin your frustrations over the fact that you have not claimed her on me,” he shot back fiercely. “You had your chance.”

  His words echoed through me, and though I didn’t want to admit it, there was something inside me that agreed with him—a small, backstabbing voice that reiterated the fact that this was my fault. If I had just acted on my feelings for her, taken her when she was mine to take, perhaps Sinjin would never have been a concern, would never have been a player in the contest for her affections …

  “Jolie is not anyone’s to claim,” I said in a low voice, my eyes scanning the wall until they rested on the clock as it lazily ticked the seconds away. It was three forty in the morning. “And the difference between you and me is that I respect her and I genuinely care for her.” I exhaled my pent-up aggression. “I want only what is best for her.”

  “Do not assume to know what thoughts permeate my head. You know nothing of me, warlock,” he spat the words at me, as if his tongue were choking on them. His irritation bled away a moment later and was replaced with a blank expression. He cocked his head to the side, as if he were listening for the faintest sound. Apparently feeling he needed to rely on another of his senses, he closed his eyes and opened his mouth, inhaling as if he were tasting the air the way a cat would. When he opened his eyes, they were glowing white.

  “What is it?” I insisted.

  Sinjin glanced at me for a mere second and then in a flash, he was gone. Before I had the chance to ponder his bizarre actions, a feeling difficult to explain descended on me. It started in the very pit of my stomach, something that felt like the beginnings of panic. I swallowed hard and tried to focus on the feeling as it permeated my core, building in intensity until I could recognize it as terror. But it wasn’t my own terror and the only other person I shared a close enough connection with in order to feel her fear as my own was Jolie …

  Rand! Her voice suddenly infiltrated my head.

  “Jolie!” I exhaled her name and before I could take another breath, I was already through the office door.

  Rand, I need you now!

  I’m coming! I thought the words in return, hoping they would reach her, hoping they would give her some ounce of relief. Relief from what, though, I didn’t know and the thought sickened me.

  If something were to happen to her … I wouldn’t let myself continue the thought. Nothing was going to happen to her.

  I took the steps that led from the second floor of Pelham Manor to the third floor two at a time, running hell-bent for her bedroom, which was at the end of the corridor. My heart pounded in my chest as fear beat a destructive path through me.

  Nothing was going to happen to her …

  At the mouth of the corridor, I was met by the sound of wood splintering, of someone bursting through a door.

  I yelled something unintelligible but pained all the same and tore down the hallway, afraid of what I would encounter in her bedroom. It was difficult to categorize the sounds that emerged—groans and fists meeting flesh, the lone cry of
a wolf. I could only hope Jolie wasn’t in the midst of it.

  It felt like I was running through sand, that my feet couldn’t move fast enough. It was as if time stood still as I forced myself down the corridor. When I reached the doorway, half the wooden door was discarded in the hallway and the other half was still hanging by a whining hinge. My eyes trailed from the splintered wood fragments cluttering the floor to the still lump of a naked man, bleeding in the corner of the room. He must have been the wolf whose howl I’d heard only moments before. My gaze continued up and rested on the small form of Jolie as she lay in her bed, Sinjin bending over her.

  They were both covered in blood.

  “Sinjin, it bit me!” Her voice was panicked, her body shaking.

  “Jolie,” Sinjin started and reached down to touch her face.

  And that was when something inside me erupted, something laced with panic and anger, something protective and primitive. Sinjin was touching her, he was covered in blood … her blood and he was a vampire.

  “Get the fuck away from her!” I screamed as I threw myself into him. But he must have been expecting me because I blinked and he was gone, using his power of excessive speed to sidestep me. I felt myself hit the post of Jolie’s bed and when I turned around, Sinjin was standing before me, wearing an irate expression.

  “She has been bitten by a wolf!” he roared as I realized he’d killed the wolf and it was the wolf’s blood covering him, not Jolie’s. “She will turn!”

  “What?” she shrieked and attempted to lift herself up from the bed but I was immediately beside her, holding her down so she wouldn’t elevate her blood pressure and spread the canine virus through her body quicker.

  She felt so small in my hands, so fragile. Her sweet face was now flushed, sweat breaking out along her forehead and dampening her long blond hair. And her cornflower blue eyes were wide with fear, an expression that stabbed me in my very core. She glanced down at herself and inhaled a quick breath when she took notice of the large and bloody gash below her collarbone. The wolf had bitten into her chest and torn her flesh, obvious from the puncture marks made by his fangs. Blood covered her chest and stained the linens beneath her, spreading in a large arc until I wondered if she’d succumb from the blood loss.