Magic Trials

by Meg Xuemei X

  I hated to say this, but the alpha didn’t impress me. But I couldn’t remember any male who ever left a good impression on me, except for Jasper.

  “Yes, Alpha Rocco,” David said, and he even bowed a little.

  I wasn’t a fan of that name either, but he might not want my advice on changing his name.

  “That’s the mad-cow bitch,” David added. This was the fourth time someone had called me a bitch today. Just my luck. “I promise you she’ll fetch a top price at market after your men have their way with her.”

  My heart skipped a beat. While I was busy hunting and living my own life, the criminal lords in Crack had gotten into the human trafficking business?

  I met Rocco’s nefarious, dominant stare. He growled when I didn’t avert my gaze, which reminded me of the customs of the shifter packs. They had this submissive game that required anyone who was lesser than an alpha to lower their gaze, unless they wanted to challenge the alpha.

  I was sick and tired of all this bullshit, especially when they should have just let Jasper and Circe go home to make stew and let me go to the market to trade for some necessities instead of harassing us.

  I was in a bad mood now. So, no, I had no intention of looking away or lowering my eyes.

  I had as much right as he to look anyone in the eyes and keep looking.

  Werewolf magic rolled off the alpha, demanding attention. The human gang members dropped their gazes to the ground. The pack members in their human forms dropped to one knee in submission, and the ones in werewolf form lowered themselves and bowed their heads.

  This wasn’t a weak alpha, which made me think of all the lives he’d had to snuff out to rise to the top of the pack.

  Even Jasper wanted to lower his head, and Circe shook behind me, both under the influence of his power.

  That enraged me.

  I brushed off his werewolf vibe and stared at him harder, but added a sardonic smile. A flick of surprise flitted through his eyes, soon replaced by anger and the promise of punishment.

  “Surrender now, bitches,” the werewolf alpha demanded, “and I’ll let you live to serve me and my pack as our whores. Resist, and we’ll tear you limb from limb.”

  Jasper snarled. I bumped his head with my hip to tell him to hold back.

  David snickered in vile delight. He thought he’d brought the bigger gun and finally had a chance to get back at me. He’d called this day my doom day.

  “Hey, Rocco, right?” I asked. “How are you doing? Do you smoke?”

  “What?” he snarled, trying not to appear confused by my question or my boldness. “Are you stupid or what?”

  “I’m not stupid, but I’m curious,” I said. “If you aren’t a smoker, how come your fingers are so yellow? Also, as a woman, I don’t appreciate being called a whore. I’m not too pleased to have been called a bitch four times today either. In a nutshell, I don’t like the way you treat women.”

  Like a flash, I drew a gun from the inside of my leather coat and shot the alpha between the eyes.

  It was either that or be dragged off and sold as a whore.

  I didn’t wait to see if he dropped in a heap or not and wheeled toward the human gangs.

  I fired five shots in rapid succession. While talking to David, I’d made a mental note on who carried guns. So, the gunmen had to go first.

  David didn’t get a chance to call me a crazy bitch one last time before he closed his eyes and died.

  “Didn’t expect this, dicks?” I murmured. “I’m full of surprises.”

  I’d tried not to waste bullets, since they were costly, but we were outnumbered and I wouldn’t take a chance of getting Jasper and Circe killed.

  Extreme circumstances required extreme actions.

  I slipped my gun into a holster around my hips, pulled two daggers, and hurled them at two werewolves. I didn’t stop there as two more of my daggers followed suit.

  I’d packed a dozen daggers for hunting—that was my style. I wasn’t exactly a trigger-happy kind of chick, but I could never be faulted for being prepared.

  Jasper crashed into a massive werewolf who’d been wounded by my dagger. They locked jaws, snarling, pounding, biting, and clawing with animal brutality.

  Circe threw her spells at the remaining humans and werewolves without discrimination. Purple smoke rose from one, and I prayed that she’d tossed the right spell this time.

  Yells, curses, tearing sounds, and steel crossing steel echoed all around.

  “Sorry, dudes,” I shouted at my foes amid the chaos. “I forgot to warn you first. I know I’m a crazy bitch, but you should not mess with this crazy.”

  I smashed into a werewolf with a spear, a diabolic grin on my face.

  A formidable force shook the street, instantly wiping away the smile twisting my lips.

  I sliced at my opponent again and leapt as far away from the werewolf as I could, ignoring his furious bellow.

  A bigger predator, the worst I’d ever felt, had arrived among us.

  CHAPTER 2

  _____________

  The fighting ceased as seven Dominion soldiers stepped onto the battlefield as if they owned it.

  A dark foreboding seized me.

  Right as I’d thought we could get out of this battle intact, a more powerful predator had appeared, and I had a hunch why.

  Shit would go down.

  I licked my lips and pulled my beloved bow from my shoulder.

  “Stand down!” their ringleader shouted at us, his voice stern and manner imperious. “Don’t make any stupid moves if you want to remain in one piece.”

  I rolled my eyes at his idiotic turn of phrase. Why wouldn’t anyone want to remain in one piece?

  The Dominion soldiers surrounded us.

  They hadn’t trained any weapons on us yet, showing they didn’t consider us a threat. I bet they could shoot faster than we could react. After all, they were elite Dominions, all of whom had the immortal gods’ blood in their veins.

  Based on the three-bar badge on the leading man’s arm and an insignia of an eagle piercing through lightning on the chest of his armored uniform, I’d say he was a lieutenant.

  Hazel eyes surveyed the remains of our fight from a hard face. Like all his soldiers, his hair had been cropped military short. The lieutenant flaunted his authority, but the formidable power I’d sensed earlier didn’t come from him.

  My eyes searched for the source, but the lieutenant wasn’t kind enough to give me time to scan the newcomers. He stalked directly toward Jasper and Circe.

  My chest tightened as my blood ran cold. The Dominions had come to take them away.

  I stepped forward and blocked him. “You’re not taking them.”

  Everyone gasped at my audacity, but I didn’t give a fuck.

  I wouldn’t lose Jasper and Circe, but I also knew we might not get out of this crisis this time.

  The ringleader’s face only hardened. “I don’t give a fuck how pretty you are, chick,” he snorted. “Get the fuck out of my way, or—”

  At least he didn’t call me bitch, which was a nice change.

  But I was done being nice. I was done being pushed around and being afraid all the time that one day either the demons or the demigods’ army would come to take the last of my family away from me.

  I kicked the lieutenant in the chest. While he staggered back, surprised and angered, I let five arrows fly toward him and his soldiers.

  “Run!” I shouted at Jasper and Circe.

  But the stupid kids only formed up behind me, refusing to leave, despite me growling at them for their disobedience.

  My arrows had no effect on the gods’ soldiers.

  The Dominion lieutenant lunged toward me with a sword, only to halt midway.

  He stepped back.

  “Fun’s over, little minx,” a rich male voice said, and a shiver of pleasure ran down my spine, making me want to purr.

  What the fuck?

  A giant, masculine male built like a gorgeous sta
tue of bronze strode toward me like he had just descended from the glorious Heavens.

  I glanced at his feet to check if he rode on a chariot of fire before returning my gaze to his face. His light amber eyes laughed at me as mine traced the curve of his mouth.

  For a fleeting second, all I wanted was to lunge at him to lick his lips. I also wanted to trace my fingers along his cut chest inside his long, black leather coat.

  I blinked back to my senses and frowned at him.

  He was the sole owner of the predatory power I’d detected earlier.

  A human should not be able to sense any magic, yet I had this cunning ability—be it a blessing or curse—to not just sense it, but tell its type and grade. For some reason, though, I couldn’t categorize this man’s power. I blamed it on my lack of experience. I hadn’t seen much of the world.

  I could tell, however, that this dangerous specimen contained top-of-the-line, ninth-degree power, which had to make him a demigod. Ten was reserved for Lucifer and the pureblood gods.

  His power sang in my blood, as if calling to my own power, but I had no magic.

  Vi had warned me to stay far away from any demon or demigod. It was too late now since I was facing a very powerful one right in front of me.

  But I did not fear this demigod—who seemed to terrify everyone else because all round me knees went down and hit the dirty ground.

  “Did you just call me minx?” I demanded, trying to make him feel bad for being a jerk. There might be a chance I could talk my way out of here. This demigod had stopped his lieutenant from attacking me with a scary sword. “No one calls me minx. I hunt and eat minx.”

  He chuckled, as if my defiance only amused him, and that sexy male sound made my toes curl. Good thing he couldn’t see my body’s reaction. Add one more thing boots were good for—hiding how suddenly and completely turned on I was.

  His gaze dropped to my lips for a heartbeat before returning to peek into my eyes, potent magic in his probe.

  I stared back at him, holding my ground.

  His face, playful a moment ago, turned steel hard.

  As power rolled off him, a brutal wind whipped around me, screwing up my facial expression and tossing my lavender hair about.

  Now I would have to comb my hair again!

  The wind didn’t make me shake in my boots, but it rumbled the old library blocks away. If the remaining glass shattered because he’d thrown a fit, he’d have to cover expenses for the repair. I’d send the bill to the Half-Blood Academy, where the demigods resided, according to rumor.

  His magical wind threw everyone else backward, but it didn’t work on me.

  Had he spared me alone, or was I simply so awesome that I could resist his power?

  I got the answer when he silently commanded me, Kneel.

  The word of power slammed into my mind, and I desired nothing more than to drop to my knees and show him my soft belly in submission.

  But I wasn’t that kind of girl. His manhandling only infuriated me.

  I braced my feet apart and glared at him. His eyes turned molten gold at the defiant fire in my eyes.

  I’d truly pissed off a demigod.

  A small yelping sound from Circe and Jasper confirmed just that. I’d help them up after I dealt with this asshole.

  All gods, demigods, and demons were merciless psychopaths. There was no difference between them. Just look at how they tore the world apart with their male egos and wars.

  There was no good guy on either side.

  I braced for a blow from the demigod. I wasn’t his match, and my daggers and arrows wouldn’t do a damn thing to him, but I would still put up a fight.

  His power increased, and I felt like the weight of a truck landed on my slender shoulders.

  Cold sweat dampened my armpits.

  A cocky smile tugged the demigod’s lips as he waited for me to drop to my knees in front of him, but I was one hell of a stubborn chick.

  I refused to bow or kneel to anyone.

  Be gone. You’ll not crush me! I screamed at the weight, and then suddenly it was lifted. I felt light as a feather.

  What’s happening?

  Even since I’d met and possibly vanquished that demon, I seemed to possess some magic. My words commanded power. Maybe I’d stolen the demon’s power without knowing it?

  That was cool if there were no side effects.

  So giddy that I’d resisted a demigod’s compulsion, I flipped him the bird.

  Everyone who saw my finger gasped.

  Had no one ever shown a demigod a vulgar gesture? I might be bold and aggressive, but I wasn’t crazy enough to be suicidal. I just often acted and reacted before I thought things through.

  It was too late to undo the damage now, but I dropped my hands and placed them on my hips.

  A dark, voracious light flashed through his bright golden eyes.

  So I smiled at him, sending him a signal that I could be nice, too, if he wanted to be friendly.

  It must’ve worked because he didn’t strike me but met my gaze as if I were the only person in the world. Then his eyes roamed my every inch.

  That cherishing gaze made me so hot I nearly purred like a kitten being scratched under her chin. A current of electricity sparked between us, and pleasure buzzed over my skin.

  Was that what people called chemistry?

  The demigod stalked closer, his hands stuck in his pockets to show how harmless he was. That gesture wouldn’t fool me. He could attack with a thought. I knew how dangerous he still was.

  I prickled at his proximity, and dread seeped through my body.

  Automatically, my knuckles went white on the hilt of my spear, and my other hand moved toward my gun, the cold metal a comfort against my warm fingers.

  A challenge rose in his vicious, yet sexy eyes. Contrary to how I’d handled the other hooligans, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to attack a demigod first. You couldn’t kill a godly creature with a bullet or even dark magic.

  And I didn’t want to kill him. I wanted to do something else to him.

  I reined in my wanton thoughts.

  A hot ember sparked like dragon fire in the demigod’s eyes. He enjoyed making me nervous, savoring my carnal reactions to his presence. But I didn’t intend to show him anymore weakness, including this sudden, absurd lust.

  I held my chin high.

  He strolled around me, intentionally, just to get another reaction out of me or simply to annoy me. I wheeled accordingly, staring him in the eyes, never showing him my back.

  “Which demigod are you?” I demanded.

  I knew currently there were four demigods ruling half of the Earth, but I didn’t know who this one was.

  Instead of answering, he cocked his head to the side and sniffed me.

  “Hey!” I shouted. I considered that an insult. I wasn’t to be sniffed. I’d hunted in the forest today. I’d run from the demon. I’d fought werewolves and gangs. So naturally, I smelled sweaty. I’d intended to take a shower after the market visit, but my plans had been interrupted by all these uninvited interactions.

  His gaze brightened like the stars, and in the reflection of his golden eyes, I saw mine also light up. But I didn’t like the way he drew me to his flame. I didn’t like losing control, and this demigod was making me nuts.

  “We’re law-abiding citizens, mister,” I said, sweeping my spear until its head pointed right at the werewolves. “You won’t take any member of my coven, but you’re more than welcome to round up those up-to-no-good scumbags. They should fight the demons in the frontier at your Dominions’ command instead of harassing innocent small-town people.”

  The surviving werewolves snarled their disagreement, but stopped at the Dominion soldiers’ hisses. They were the biggest asses now.

  “They’re too old,” the Dominion lieutenant said. “Only the teenage wolf and witch will be enrolled into the Academy. We came for them, so I suggest you step aside if you don’t want any more trouble.”

  I wasn�
��t crazy about his suggestion, so the lieutenant and I traded words, despite everyone gasping at the abusive heat and violent threats in the exchange, until the demigod intervened again.

  “I’ll spare your friends under one condition,” he said with a bright, sexy, yet cruel smile, and my stupid heart fluttered.

  I wasn’t completely immune to him. After all, I was a human.

  I leaned closer to hear his proposal. I would give him a chance to prove that not all demigods were inflexible tyrants who loved to stick absurd rules up their arrogant asses.

  Dark pleasure flashed in his eyes, and he sniffed me again. I didn’t draw back from him right away, despite my erratic heartbeat that warned me not to get too close or I’d get burned.

  It seemed I had an effect on him, too. If my scent could muddle his mind, so be it.

  But I didn’t expect his scent of male, demigod, and sex to slam into my nostrils so potently. My mind went blank for a second.

  I rectified my mistake by putting distance between us.

  This wasn’t the time to get screwed. I had two underage charges to protect.

  I arched an eyebrow to show him that I’d walk if I didn’t like the deal.

  “And what is your condition, demigod?” I asked carefully.

  “You go in their places, Marigold,” the demigod purred.

  CHAPTER 3

  _____________

  “Absolutely not!” Circe and Jasper jumped up from kneeling as if they’d just woken from a bad dream.

  “It’ll be the death of you, Marigold,” Jasper objected fiercely. He had shifted back to a teenage boy and put on his tattered trousers. “You know that only those who have strong gods’ blood in them can survive the trial in the Half-Blood Academy. Don’t do this. We’ll just go with them. It’s no big deal.”

  It was a big deal. They were still too young to understand what they would walk into.

  “Don’t throw away your life for us, Marigold.” Circe nodded. “We’ll go with them. We aren’t your responsibility anymore.”

  My heart sank; she sounded like she actually wanted to go. The way she gazed upon the demigod was like a teenager with a crush on her idol. But I’d thought she was into Jasper. My witch friend could be a bit fickle.