Page 38 of The Powerless Witch
Malakai moved to stand by the door, as if to walk him out, but before Isaac could reach him, the werewolf stopped. He turned and stalked back to me, cupping my face and pressing his lips to mine so fast that I couldn’t stop him even if I wanted to.
“Thank you for protecting me today,” he whispered. I just nodded, too stunned to find my voice. Leaning closer until his mouth was next to my ear, he added, “Never do that again.”
Then he was gone.
“Let’s find you more appropriate accommodations, shall we?” Malakai turned to me when Isaac’s steps stopped echoing through the corridor. “I am willing to share mine if you feel more secure that way.”
I glanced at the wide-open window and the starry sky outside, then slid the iron blade into its hidden sheath. Striding next to the Fae prince, I gave him a challenging smile.
“I don’t think anything short of me sleeping with you in your bed will stop your sister from coming after me. So at least find me a place close enough for you to come faster, will you?”
He chuckled, offering me his arm.
“Whatever you want, my lovely rose,” he said with a dramatic wave of his hand, and the tension that had been gripping my shoulders eased at the sound of that nickname. He had called me the same thing the first time we met—even though he had been just a young man back then, fascinated by everything and everyone.
Then I remembered what happenedafterand my smile dropped. I still took his hand because, now more than ever, I had no choice. If I wanted to stay alive, Malakai was the best chance I had. And to get my magic back, I was ready to do anything.Anything.
Chapter 16
Isaac
“Faster, faster!” I snarled, hitting the dashboard as Peter tensed behind the steering wheel. We were already going over the speed limit and if it wasn’t for the thick fog that had fallen over the city, we could have gotten into serious trouble with the humans. But after the call with Allison had cut off because they were being attacked, it was hard to stop at a red light when I knew my people could be dying.
Peter took another sharp turn, and in the next second, our neighborhood came into view. Confusion made us both lean forward as we stared at the empty street and the quiet houses. I was just about to ask what was going on when Peter gasped.
“Magic.”
The word had barely left his mouth when we passed through the invisible ward. Instantly, our eyes, ears, and noses were assaulted by the change of scenery. The space was filled with bodies, both human and wolf. Several of the shifters were rolling around in the grass, trying to put out the fires that licked them, while others threw themselves at the women who stood in a semi-circle at the end of the street. Their powers mixed in a kaleidoscope of blinding shine, their outstretched hands trembling with the torrents of disgustingly sweet magic pouring out of them.
I was out of the car before the screeching of the brakes died down. It took me all but four steps to shift, not caring about the clothes that burst into pieces as my body transformed into a weapon honed to kill. And those monsters were my prey.
The moment my paws hit the ground, voices filled my head.
‘Calm the fuck down! We need to breach their lines! Find a way around the ward! Is there anyone outside of it? Maybe if we attack from the back…’Allison’s voice was steady and urgent, but with the mindlink connecting us, she couldn’t fully hide the panic and desperation in it.
‘Nobody is answering out there! The witches must have gotten them first!’another voice answered.‘It’s pointless to attack them head-on, not with those shields protecting them!’
‘Damn it!’
‘What should we do, Beta?’
‘Are we all going to die?’
‘We must protect the children, no matter what!’
Gritting my teeth, I ran toward the fight, feeling no wards stopping me.
They didn’t expect an attack from the back. Good. Then that was what they were going to get.
‘Everyone, calm down!’I shouted, and they all quieted, relief and determination passing through the link.‘I’ll take care of the wards! Get ready to attack!’
‘Yes, Alpha!’Allison was the only one who spoke, but I could see them all moving with a new spring in their steps, panic draining away and snarls growing louder.
The witches seemed to notice the shift, but before they could react, I was upon them.
I slammed into a tall brunette in the middle of their line, ripping her neck open by the time we hit the ground. Magic slid over my fur, electrifying it, but the resistance that made the air feel like jelly disappeared. I landed on my feet while the witch’s corpse rolled a few steps further. Peter breached their line a second later, tearing another hole in their formation and throwing them into panic. I watched as two of the women at the end stepped back, tendrils of gray swirling around them before they vanished into thin air. A few of the others tried to do the same, but Allison and the rest of our warriors were all over them before they could finish their translocation spell.
I joined them without pausing, tackling another witch on the ground. Fire burst from her hands, but I dodged, the heat of it making my eyes sting. She drew back,trying to summon more magic for another spell, but I sank my teeth into her hand and tore it off. Her scream echoed through the street, but it only worked to fuel my rage.