“You don’t get to dismiss me like that!” I yelled and stormed closer but didn’t get in. Rage boiled inside of me, threatening to burst out like a volcano. I balled my fists at my sides. “What are they going to do to us?”
He spun around and screamed, “Strip us of our Marks!”
I gasped. WHAT?
“You heard me!” His cheeks were flushed and his eyes a little wild. “They can strip us of our Marks and our magic, Tegan. Take it all away.”
I blinked and took an involuntary step back. “They wouldn’t.” I glanced down at the II Mark on my left forearm. I’d only just got my magic.
“They would. They’ve done it many times before.” One second he was in front of the jeep, and the next he stood right in front of me. His jaw muscle popped. He gripped the edge of the passenger door. “If we break this rule, we lose everything. Is that what you want? Is that what you want me to sacrifice? Maybe you do. You just got here. You’ve been in The Coven for less than two weeks. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything to you.”
“Doesn’t meant anything?” I shouted back. How could he even say that to me? Tears stung the backs of my eyes. “It means everything!”
“Does it? This is my entire life. This is my family. Two of whom just died, Tegan. Is that how I’m supposed to repay Kessler for everything he’s done for me? By making him strip me of my magic?” He took a step closer. “We’d be humans, Tegan. Are you ready to never see your parents, Bentley, Emersyn, Cooper, all the rest of our friends ever again? We’d have to say goodbye to everyone. Are you ready to do that just for some boy?”
“You’re not just some boy,” I whispered back before I could stop myself. I knew he was right—I wasn’t willing or ready to say goodbye to everyone I cared about. The mere idea made my stomach turn. But Tennessee was not just some boy. I’d just met him, but what was happening between us wasn’t just some crush. At least not for me. “You’re not some boy.”
His face fell, and I saw the same pain inside me in his eyes. “Are you that willing to give up all your magic? Because I can’t say I am.”
I closed my eyes. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream and break something. “I don’t know how to pretend I don’t feel this way.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
Ouch. My heart sank and twisted into a knot. A cold chill washed over me, and it felt like pinpricks on my skin. I shivered, and it had nothing to do with the breeze. “What if I can’t?”
He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “You must.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Tegan
Someone was following me.
There wasn’t a fraction of doubt in my mind. The only questions I needed to focus on were who was it and where did I go now?
There were plenty more that I’d definitely get lectured on later…like why the hell did I go for a walk at night by myself when I knew there was at least one witch performing dark magic? Because Tennessee Wildes, that’s why. My father and Devon took Bentley to Uncle Kessler’s to talk about what Tennessee and I discovered last night. I was invited to go with them, but I didn’t trust myself to be around Tennessee after our day at the beach. Emersyn went to the movies with Royce and Willow. I was invited to go with them as well. However, the last thing I wanted was to watch a romance movie when I was living one.
Fast forward an hour or two, and here I was. Alone. In the dark, a few too many streets away from my house. Away from my entire witch community. Smooth move, Bishop.
The worst part? I had no idea how long someone had been following me. I was too lost in my torturous mental loop thinking about Tennessee. It wasn’t until I stopped at an intersection that I felt the ice-cold tingling down my spine. Okay, Tegan. Now what? My initial reaction was to turn around and run home the way I came…but something inside me told me that wasn’t the right decision. That thing inside me hadn’t led me astray. Yet.
I zipped up my favorite black hoodie, though it was thirty degrees too hot for it. Sweat dripped down my back and into my bra. But, like Tennessee had noticed, it was my security blanket. It calmed me down, especially in moments like this.
I really need a weapon. And a brain immune to emotions. To top it off, I forgot my cell phone at home again. Maybe if I got back into my neighborhood I could go up to a house for help?
Okay, instincts, don’t let me down.
I turned left and crossed the street with my shoulders squared and my head held high. The eyes watching me prickled like needles against my back. But I didn’t turn to look, or even chance a glance. I didn’t want to alert my stalker that I’d seen them. I needed to not play all my cards at once. If they knew I saw them, they might attack me before I could get to help. I walked to the next street then turned left to head back. Johnson Street was only two blocks away. That was where the witch houses began. I just had to make it that far. I didn’t know who lived there, and they wouldn’t know me personally…but the Mark on my arm should grant me some assistance.
Stay cool. Just keep going.
With every step I took, the cold chill grew cooler and cooler. I flexed my fingers to test my magic. It roared in my veins, begging me to call upon it. But how? There was no water nearby. Saffie’s voice came to mind—Use dirt! I scanned the houses around me while I walked. They all had lush lawns. Which meant dirt for my use.
The wind chime on the house to my right jingled and swayed. I kept moving. One more block. A wind chime on my left rattled like there was a hurricane. I paused mid step and frowned. There was no breeze to be found tonight. The air was calm and unmoving. The trees weren’t even swaying. My pulse quickened. Adrenaline sent goose bumps down my skin. The recycling bin beside me tipped over and crashed onto the sidewalk. I gasped and scurried to the middle of the street.
Whoever was following me…wasn’t human.
A wave of icy energy washed over my feet. NOPE. I forced myself to start walking again. The first witch house was only twenty feet away, a pentagram wreath hanging on their door. I speed-walked up to their white picket fence…and froze with my hands on the gate. I didn’t know these people. Tennessee had said another witch had done the dark magic spell. We didn’t know who that was. It could’ve been any of the witch civilians. Would I know it was them if I saw them? Would the remnants of dark magic linger on their aura? I had no idea, and I didn’t want to risk it.
I backed away from the gate and stumbled to the center of the street. I only knew where a few of The Coven’s houses were, and they were too far away. A shadow passed in front of me. I jumped backward, but it swirled around me like a tornado. This was no normal shadow. It was pitch black and thick like smoke from a fire. Every inch of my skin not covered in clothes burned. The shadow pulsed with raw, hot energy. It reminded me of the spell Tennessee and I had stumbled upon.
Oh my God. It’s here.
Dark magic.
That same sinister energy tickled against my fingers, like it wanted to hold my hand. I was surrounded. I couldn’t see any of the houses, though I knew they were right there. No. I clenched my teeth and willed my magic to the surface. My body lit up like a light bulb, radiating white energy in a wide radius around me.
The shadow hissed and shrieked. It backed away from me, but didn’t go far. I tracked its movements with my eyes, holding my hands out in front of me, ready to fight. The shadow reformed a house back. It moved and solidified, taking the shape of a human. It had two legs and two arms. It looked like the shadow you’d see behind a large man, on the ground. Except it stood on its own in the middle of the street. A menacing aura just watching me.
It wanted something, but it wasn’t getting it from me.
I took a few steps backward without taking my eyes off the shadow. It cocked its head to the side…then opened bright red eyes that flickered like hot embers. My mind flashed the image of the spell under the pier, drawn into the dirt.
Oh my God.
I spun and sprinted down the street, pumping my legs as fast as I could. I pushed myself f
aster, harder. Please, Libby, if you can hear me out there…help me out. I didn’t glance back; it would’ve only slowed me down. But with every step I took, the shadow monster took ten. Its sinister energy pulled at my hair flying behind me. I needed help. I wasn’t trained for this.
TENNESSEE!
Earlier he’d told me I was telepathic. Now I prayed he was right.
Tennessee! I called out with my mind. Help me! Someone help me. Anyone.
The shadow monster gripped my wrist and yanked me down to the ground. My skin burned where it touched me, and I smelled my skin melting off. I screamed and pushed my magic out of me. It shot out like a rocket and slammed into the monster’s chest. It flew backward and landed in a bush. I scrambled to my feet with my heart pounding in my throat.
I sprinted down the street. My wrist throbbed in agony. Warm, thick liquid poured over my fingers. I looked down and found a ring of blood gushing from where the shadow monster had grabbed me. Tennessee!
A roar like a lion rumbled behind me a beat of a second before two red spotlights flashed over me. Smoke swirled around the beams. Every time it made contact, it burned what it touched.
Where was Tennessee? Surely he’d heard me, right? Wait! I didn’t tell him where I am! I grimaced and chastised my own stupidity. But where was I? I looked around for a distinguishable landmark, but every streetlight went out, drenching me in darkness. With the shadow monster. It chuckled, and the ground trembled.
Tennessee! I’m running down the street in our neighborhood. I don’t know which one. The lights are out. Help m—OW! I screamed and face-planted into the pavement. Fire touched my arms and flipped me onto my back. I gasped and met its ember-red eyes. Not like this. Nope.
I reached out with my magic and called for earth. The tips of my fingers tingled with comforting warmth. I tried to throw my hands up, but my arms were pinned to the ground. So I screamed as loud as I could, pushing my power toward the monster. Dirt slammed into its chest. It hissed and groaned. I scrambled to my feet, but it was so dark on the street I didn’t know which way to run.
Red lightning flashed a few feet away. It was horizontal, flashing right to left like it was trying to direct me. Two more red bolts lit up the darkness. Everything about the dark energy was red…but Libby’s magic had been red too. I paused for a split second longer then raced toward the lightning.
Each time I got to a bolt, another flashed in front of me. The shadow monster roared in fury behind me. I knew without looking it was too close. The red lightning led me between houses and through people’s yards. A metal mailbox soared over my head, barely missing me. Garbage cans crashed to the ground. Darkness circled around me, but I pushed forward.
Tennessee!
God, what is this thing? My magic and earth powers had only dented it, making it pause long enough for me to get a head start. How long would this game continue in my favor?
The red lightning urged me through an open gate in someone’s backyard. I recognized it in an instant. I wasn’t sure if Tennessee was hearing me at all, but I had to keep trying. Tennessee! Libby’s house!
My chest flared with heat. That demon scar seared with life. I hissed through the pain, but this one I was used to. The red lightning flashed…and reflected against glass in the ground. No. Not glass, water! I ran toward my greatest strength. The pool. Water was so far my best weapon.
The fence behind me exploded. Wooden planks flew across Libby’s yard. I ran to the middle of the pool and stood on the water’s surface. I raised my arm in the air and waited.
The shadow monster stormed closer, its eyes gleaming brighter red. I waited until it was two feet away then shot my magic into the air like a flare gun. I willed the water to swallow me whole and dropped to the bottom of the pool. With my magic, I compelled the surface to harden like glass.
Tennessee!
The shadow monster slid on top of the water, smashing its smoky hands against the surface to get to me. Would it hold forever? I didn’t know. My magic wasn’t permanent. I’d learned that the hard way. I scurried back until the cold tile pressed against me on two sides.
Tennessee! Hurry! I can’t hold him off for long!
Bright white light like the sun shot through Libby’s yard. The shadow monster flinched and turned toward it just as a black object slammed into its stomach. Purple and blue mist swirled in the air where it made contact. A long glowing stick swooped in a perfect arc and swept right through the shadow monster’s head. The glowing stick and black object crashed to the bottom of the pool. I gasped. Tennessee’s sword and dagger.
A second later Tennessee slid onto the pool, his body shining bright with white energy. He spun in a circle on his knees above the water with his palms held out. Blue energy swirled around his fingers like gloves. His eyes were wide and frantic as he scanned the yard. He yelled out, but the water muffled the sound. He turned his back toward me.
Tennessee, down here.
His head snapped up, and he spun around. He looked down at the water, and our eyes met. His shoulders dropped with relief. He yelled something again, but I had no idea who he was talking to. Unless he was yelling at the shadow monster? One second, he was on top of the water, and the next he was on his knees in front of me.
“Hi,” I whispered.
The grin he gave me took my breath away. “Hi.” He scooped me up in his arms and pushed off the pool floor.
When the hot summer air brushed over my face, I took my first deep breath.
Tennessee sat me on the concrete beside the pool. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“You heard me?”
“I heard you, Kitten,” he whispered and cupped my face. “We all did.”
“Tegan!” My father’s voice echoed through the yard.
“Dad?” But then Tennessee’s words registered. “Wait, everyone heard me?”
Tennessee nodded and chuckled. “Yeah, we all heard you. It was incredible, love. When I heard you, I ran out to the street, and imagine my surprise to find the rest of our Coven with weapons drawn. We’ve been running around the neighborhood trying to find you.”
“Tegan? Where is she?” Emersyn screamed, her blonde hair glistening in the moonlight. “Where is she?”
“She’s over here!” Uncle Kessler shouted.
Chaos erupted in Libby’s backyard. Every member of The Coven who lived in Tampa raced through the garden toward us. Emersyn pushed past everyone else to get to me.
“Tegan, you scared the hell out of us,” Emersyn mumbled and sat beside me.
“Tegan!” My father dropped to his knees in front of me, kneeling beside Tennessee. His golden eyes scanned me up and down. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
I blinked and searched the yard for the shadow monster. “Is it gone? Did you get it?”
“It’s gone. For now,” Tennessee said, his gaze scanning the area as well. He held his hands out, and his two weapons flew into his palms. “But it’s not dead.”
My stepmother, Devon, flew into the yard with Bentley hot on her heels. Her green eyes were wide until she spotted me. A smile spread across her pretty face. She took Bentley’s hand and ran over to us. “Tegan, thank God—oh no, you’re hurt. Let me see it!” She took my hands in hers and lifted them up. It was such a simple, motherly gesture, but it warmed my heart.
Blood dripped from my wrists. I grimaced. “Just some skin. I’ll be okay.”
Tennessee’s face fell, and his skin turned white as snow. “It did that?”
I nodded. “What was that thing?”
“I don’t know.” Tennessee ran a hand through his hair. “Kessler, we need to call Kenneth.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tennessee
Cassandra always said I made a great Emperor because I didn’t want to be a leader. Cassandra said my lack of desire for power made me a better witch. I did it because I had to, and it came naturally to me. But leadership required expectations and responsibilities that I didn’t want to have. Today was the perfect exa
mple.
I was halfway to the back of the school bus when I spotted her. My greatest weakness. My newest responsibility as an unofficial leader. Tegan. She sat in the very last row on the left with her face down, probably looking at her cell phone. My soulmate glyph roared to life, searing through my thin T-shirt. Tegan hadn’t noticed my arrival and evidently hadn’t made the connection between it and her chest burning. She reached up and pressed her palm to her right collarbone area. She rubbed at her glyph.
Remember the rules. You can do this. Just walk up and sit next to her. You are capable of being just friends with her. I knelt on the bench in front of her and leaned over the seat back. “Hello, Kitten.”
I’ve got to stop calling her that.
She gasped and dropped her cell phone into her lap. “Tennessee?”
“That’s me.”
Her cheeks flushed a brilliant red. She tucked her black hair behind her ears. “What are you doing here?”
I reached out with one finger and tipped her chin up to me, wanting to see the sparkle in her light green eyes. Unable to stop myself, I brushed my thumb over her bottom lip. The sunlight pouring in through the crappy excuse for windows hit the silver rings on my fingers and reflected little rainbows onto the bus walls.
I licked my lips and leaned closer. “Would you prefer I go elsewhere?”
She jumped up to her feet so we were face-to-face, eye-to-eye. She rubbed the tip of her nose against mine. “I have rather specific preferences.”
I took her bottom lip between my teeth and pulled.
“I don’t get it.” Emersyn’s voice echoed through the bus from behind us. She must’ve had her trademark cowgirl boots on to make that loud of a stomp from walking. “Can you explain why our AP History class is going to the aquarium for a field trip?”
Saved by the oblivious sister. I pulled away from my catnip and glanced over my shoulder. Yup, Emersyn was rocking her crystal-covered cowgirl boots. “Excellent question, young Padawan. Cooper arranged this field trip.”
The Brave Witch (The Coven: Elemental Magic Book 2) Page 14
