by Emma Dean
“But we don’t know what the Morrigan gave her,” her father snapped. Mika flinched at the tone in his voice, half expecting him to smack some sense into her brother. “We need to learn the full extent of her powers.”
Oh Jacob. Even in death he’d been used. Either she would have lost that fight, or she would have taken Jacob down. Azrael and her father hadn’t cared as long as they’d gotten the answers they needed.
She felt that deep in her soul.
It felt like everyone was using her to figure out what exactly it was Azrael wanted and how he planned to go about getting it.
Sweat beaded on her forehead and Mika could feel her connection to the memories fading. “Do you have what you need?”
“Nearly.” The goddess strode towards Mika’s dad and inspected him from head to toe. “It seems Azrael has gone to another realm. One that feels familiar.”
“Challenge her for her position,” Mika’s dad went on. “There are no rules about whether or not it must be a female. Only that to become Witch Queen, you inherit or are challenged. We need that position. Don’t disappoint me.”
“I won’t.” Jacob turned and walked right through Mika and she felt it like a punch to the gut.
Her sweet brother had been so burned up with the feeling of betrayal he’d joined the very people he hadn’t trusted.
Sometimes, what broke a person made them stronger. It made them want to keep the thing that broke them from happening to anyone else ever again. And sometimes, people broke and the shards of what they were never stopped digging into them. It never stopped torturing them until they wanted everyone else to hurt just like they did.
Jacob would have abused his power, punishing everyone he thought was responsible for what had happened to him instead of trying to keep it from happening to anyone else.
“I cannot place this realm, but I now have somewhere to begin,” the Morrigan murmured. She studied Mika’s father like he was nothing more than a disgusting bug. “I will keep searching.”
Mika released the memories in the blood and they free fell back into their own reality.
The cold November sun shone down on her and Mika looked up at the clear sky. She’d missed Morgana Island.
“Are you all right?” Morgana asked, checking Mika’s torso.
Aine teleported into the temple and went to go stand next to her mother, dressed in armor like the Morrigan was. Gone was the gorgeous woman tending her flowers. Mika shivered at the sight of them. She prayed they’d never be the ones hunting her down.
“I’ll report in as soon as possible,” Aine told her, setting her hand on the Morrigan’s arm. “Good hunting.”
“Good hunting.” Mika watched them disappear and pushed away Morgana. At some point the water had settled back in the fountain, but half of it was missing. “Dagon, we need to talk to the Council. Right now.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he warned, reaching down to help her out of the frigid water. “You need rest.”
“I’m fine.” And she was. Mika was more than fine. Other than a little bit of tiredness from the fight, she felt totally normal – as if she hadn’t been impaled on demon glass and nearly lost a fight to her brother. “We need to take care of this problem or everyone is going to die.”
If that was a simple test…Mika didn’t want to know what would happen when Azrael actually exerted some energy to accomplish what he wanted.
“Mika.” Dagon yanked her out of the fountain and crushed her to him. The hellhound was still stronger than her, and she didn’t feel like fighting him at the moment. “We should talk to the others, let them know you’re alive.”
Her eyes closed as she remembered the sound of all those bodies hitting the ground.
“I need to go back with something. After all, I promised I would protect them. It didn’t take very long for me to fail.”
“You didn’t fail.” Dagon’s fingers tangled in her hair and she rested her forehead against his chest, taking a moment to just breathe. “You fought for them just like you said you would. Without you there, it would have been much worse.”
“I just…I need to find a way to keep Azrael from taking everything I have. I have to speak to the Council and get them to understand exactly what we are up against.”
“We still need to talk to Jess and Lucifer, we need a plan. The Council won’t know how to help us.”
Mika didn’t know how they could either other than signing over every hunter and willing shifter. Would the witches fight, or would they consider that taking sides? Now their neutrality would be truly tested, and Mika was sick to the stomach wondering how far they would take it.
“What am I supposed to do, Dagon?” Her fingers gripped his shirt and she dug her fingers into the fabric as panic swept through her. “Lucifer and Jess are hiding something. They’re using me and mine to test the waters in the war against Azrael, and the Council wants nothing to do with it. How am I supposed to stop this apocalypse?”
It was the first time since finding out who exactly was behind the Hellfire Society that Mika had let herself freak out.
All her training, all the power she’d been given, the strength and expectation the Morrigan had placed on her—and now immortality.
Mika didn’t want to live forever just to see the end of everything she loved.
“I don’t think it’s just on you to stop,” he murmured, tightening his arms around her. “But we need somewhere we can defend, somewhere that we can control.”
Mika looked up at Dagon and his beautiful face. It was so unfair how pretty he was with his brown skin that seemed to glow in the sun and the warm brown eyes that could flash into hellfire at a moment’s notice. He had savage beauty though with a sharp jawline and high cheekbones. Nothing about the hellhound was soft.
“I don’t know anywhere like that.”
“Here,” Morgana said. “This island had wards that I’m sure could be reactivated. It was a sanctuary and thus has the necessary defenses.”
Mika leaned into Dagon, enjoying the way he kept his arms around her as she considered the previous queen. “And Azrael slaughtered you all in a night – even with blood witches and beasts and whatever else.”
“And now you know what we didn’t,” Morgana insisted. “Ward the island against portals and teleportation – Lucifer could do it simply enough. Take the island before Azrael does, and turn it back into the sanctuary it once was. We would have the old magic and the undine.”
Mika turned to look out over the ocean, wondering if that would make a difference. At the very least no one could travel across the ocean as a human without her knowing about it.
That is, if the undine actually wanted to make an alliance with her.
“Should I warn the dean?”
“She might just give you the island.” Dagon shrugged and Mika leaned into him once more, appreciating his warmth. “She opened the gates to all paranormals. I assume she would be open to at least discussing the options.”
And if the dean simply…handed over the island, then there was very little the Council could do once it was in her possession. Mika wouldn’t have to worry about defending it from both the inside and out.
“So, should I meet her now?”
Morgana studied her from head to toe. “Yes, exactly as you are.”
Mika didn’t want to know what she looked like.
“I’ll go find her.” Morgana disappeared then and Mika sighed, feeling a tiny bit better now that she had some semblance of a plan.
“Dagon, you’ve known Lucifer for a long time. Why would he claim me as his sister and then keep information from me?”
The hellhound sighed and she stepped away from his warmth, waving a hand over her clothes. She left everything the way it was but dried the fabric so she didn’t freeze. Not that she could die of hypothermia anymore, but it was very uncomfortable to be cold.
Mika stalked toward that crumbling bridge that had once led to the castle beneath the sea. It had been a
symbol for the blood witches and the Morrigan, but now it rotted beneath the ocean. There was nothing but a memory left that no one remembered existed and even when they stood here, they had no idea what it meant.
Just like the blood witches.
She’d had to remind the Council that she existed and had for a long time – that blood magic was the oldest magic, and it wasn’t necessarily dark. All that and they still didn’t know what they were looking at when they saw it. They only knew that they were afraid of what they didn’t understand.
“Lucifer has always been secretive,” Dagon finally said. “Ever since he was betrayed by his father and his favorite brother, he’s been like that.”
“Who was his favorite?”
“Gabriel.” Dagon came to stand next to her, looking down as if he could see the castle beneath the waves. “Michael has always been…dangerous in the way he blindly followed orders.”
It was almost surreal to hear how Dagon knew the archangels. But at this point, she was pretty numb to the awe-inspiring and shocking.
“Lucifer protects those who are loyal to him, to a fault. He has almost died a few times now, just to keep Jess alive. He is honorable, but…” The hellhound gritted his teeth. “Lucifer simply won’t tell anyone his plans if he believes it will hurt someone he cares about.”
“So, whatever he’s not telling me, it’s for my own good?”
“Or someone else’s.” Dagon took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “Someone you also consider family.”
So, Jess.
“She has him wrapped around her little finger, doesn’t she?” Mika leaned into Dagon, enjoying his heat in the chilly air.
“She has him on his knees for her,” Dagon murmured, turning to face her. His free hand came up and traced the line of her bottom lip. “I hadn’t understood how someone like the prince of hell could submit himself to someone – even someone he loves. But now, I think I do.”
Her heart started racing and Mika didn’t know what to say, what to do. Everything in her was focused on the thumb caressing her lips and how the pleasure it created spiked straight down to her core.
“But you’ve already knelt for me,” she whispered, looking into his eyes that were now filled with hellfire.
“I have.” Dagon bent down slowly, giving her the time to react if she wanted, but Mika realized she wanted this – if only to see how she would react to kissing him.
“The dean is in her office,” Morgana said, instantly making Mika blush and pull away.
She cleared her throat and looked at the spot just over Morgana’s shoulder. “All right, perfect. Thank you.”
“She’s not expecting you.” Morgana smiled slightly, glancing between Mika and Dagon. “You have time.”
“Actually, we don’t.” Mika headed towards the stairs, bothered the ghost was so fucking nosy about her love life. “Maybe you can check in with the undine. Then I’ll have more information for Lucifer when we get back to the eyrie.”
Dagon chuckled and grabbed her hand before she could run off. “It’ll be faster and safer if I simply take you there.”
Between one breath and the next they went from the temple to inside the dean’s office.
De Rosa spilled her coffee all over the desk, cursing as she stood and tried to keep it from ruining her computer.
“Sorry to drop in, but I need to talk to you.” Mika crossed her arms over her chest and hoped this wasn’t going to end badly.
The dean stopped what she was doing and studied Mika from head to toe, seeing the blood and dirt and whatever else. Mika wasn’t sure how bad she looked, but from the horror on De Rosa’s face she assumed it was pretty bad.
“What could I possibly help you with?”
“I need you to give me Morgana Island.”
12
“I can’t just give you the university.” De Rosa stared at Mika like she’d lost her mind.
“Actually, you can.” Mika waved her hand, muttering a simple cleaning spell and the coffee on the desk disappeared. “It’s mine by clan blood. I am the descendent of Morgana le Fay.”
The dean sat back in her chair, clearly flabbergasted. “How?”
Morgana appeared then, so clearly a ghost with her spectral form. “We have proof.”
Then De Rosa seemed to really notice Dagon. When her skin drained of all color, Mika knew she’d figured out what Dagon was.
“I heard about what you did to the Council,” De Rosa finally said. “I was ordered to report it if I saw you on the campus grounds.”
“Well, considering I own this entire island, and it was once a sanctuary, I don’t see how they can demand anything from you.” Mika placed both hands on top of the desk and noticed the way the dean’s eyes took in Excalibur at her back, and the rip in her sweater where she’d been stabbed. “You gave more than just witches sanctuary when you allowed all paranormals to attend. Will you go against Council wishes again?”
“Why should I?” The dean sat back in her chair and picked up a pen, tapping it against the wood as she considered the ghost, the hellhound, and Mika. “I need more information.”
“What exactly did the Council tell you?”
Mika pushed off the desk and studied the office she’d broken into with Lucien and Ethan. There had been a very different hellhound in this office with her then.
It all felt like a completely different life now. Mika wasn’t even sure it was hers sometimes considering what she’d had to deal with since then.
“They explained what you did.”
“So, you know that I’m Head Witch and technically outrank you?”
The dean smiled at that and nodded her head. “Yes, although you haven’t taken the oath yet. I’m sure they’re hoping you forget all about that.”
Mika looked away. “I’ve been a bit busy.”
“Clearly.”
Mika glanced at Dagon, wondering what he thought of it all, but he didn’t even look at her. He only had eyes for the dean. Did he consider her a threat?
“Why don’t you sit down, and tell me your side of the story,” the dean said, indicating the two chairs in front of her desk. She tapped the intercom on her phone then. “Please clear my schedule for the afternoon.”
“Yes, Dean.”
Mika vanished Excalibur and slumped into one of the chairs. The relief was enough to make her feel like she needed a three-day nap. Dagon was a bit more civilized as he sat, and Morgana perched on the arm of Mika’s chair.
The dean gave Morgana an apologetic shrug. “I would bring a chair in for you, but I don’t need anyone asking questions I can’t answer.”
All of them were quiet as the dean considered Mika and her companions.
Would she take their side again, or would she put her foot down this time?
“Witches were warriors once,” Mika murmured, echoing the words the dean had once said to her. She summoned Excalibur again and set it across her knees. “I know you’re aware of that, somehow – even when the rest of the world preferred to forget.”
“My major was Witch History,” De Rosa admitted. “I was very interested in who we were and how we came to be what we are now. It seems like I’m going to have to repeat a few classes though…thanks to you.”
“Yes, missing information has been found and restored.” Mika tapped the blade and wished she knew the exact right words to say.
Though, talking to the dean was probably the easiest task she had ahead of her.
“So, let’s say I see the paperwork that proves clan rights to this island, and I hand it all over to you. What happens to the students?” De Rosa asked.
Mika hadn’t thought that far ahead. She’d been so focused on convincing the dean, that everything she had to do after hadn’t even crossed her mind.
“Well, I think we should give them a choice,” Mika said slowly, tapping her nails on the sword, enjoying the way they made the metal sing. “Tell them everything that’s going on, and give them the option to stay or go, bu
t I’m not sure how much classes will be able to continue. Azrael will try to take this place, I’m sure of it. The last time he did, he killed Morgana. It’s a symbol to the Morrigan and he won’t let it stand.”
The dean kept glancing at Morgana, at the spectral light that emanated from her. “If she’s your ancestor then she’s also a…”
“A blood witch,” Morgana confirmed, giving the poor dean a feral smile. “Yes. I am a warrior and a dark witch, yet I ruled over this island and my people peacefully. Until the Hellfire Society tried to wipe us from this earth.”
Not pulling punches seemed like a family trait.
Mika cleared her throat. “I gave the Council copies of everything I have on blood witches. I’ll have another set brought here.”
The dean then studied Dagon and she shook her head. “So, Mika is the reason you were reassigned. I’d wondered why.”
Which meant there was another hellhound here.
Mika considered everything the island had to offer, including the portal to hell. That could work to their benefit if she warded the island against new portals and teleportation. Every ally she had in hell could still reach her, and she could leave the island without risking being seen.
So could the ravens.
It would be best then to get everyone who couldn’t travel to hell and back onto the island first unless she could get permission from Lucifer.
“So, tell me the plan, Mika.” The dean tapped her name plate on the desk. “And call me Mircella since clearly you outrank me.”
Holy shit, was the dean actually siding with her?
“Azrael, the Angel of Death, is trying to wipe out the children of other death gods. I think he’s trying to become the only Death. Which means only his children will be allowed to live.” Mika considered everything her brother had told her, and what she’d seen in his blood dreams. “I don’t know how far that will go, but it includes most ‘dark’ witches including necromancers, demon witches – unless they’re ones he’s made, blood witches, ravens, banshees…”
“I assume shadow witches as well then,” the dean—Mircella muttered. “They’re not children of death, but something like that. They’re descended from what lives in the shadow realm.”
