by R L Medina
I scowled at him. “This has nothing to do with my coven.”
“They were rogue witches. The coven wouldn’t bury them in the city.”
My head snapped to Ryn. “How do you know?”
His solemn eyes met mine. “I’m the one who buried them here.”
“And you’re the one who killed them too, aren’t you? The ones who didn’t die from the curse?” Fane pressed.
Ryn looked away, falling silent.
Shock filled me.
I knew about Grace and all the humans he’d drained, but he was responsible for the death of rogue witches too? How many?
Fear crawled on my skin. The rumors of his past replayed in my mind. Prince of Darkness. Heartless Heir. It was so hard to reconcile the horrific truth with the man I knew now. He was gentle, kind, nothing like the monster he’d been before.
I pushed away the thoughts and turned back to the clearing. “But where are the bodies? The ones you buried?”
Fane scoffed. “Gone. Obviously. You didn’t think I brought you here to stare at some witch graves, did you?”
My eyes shot to Fane. “That is exactly what we’re doing.”
He snorted and pointed to the gaping holes in the earth. “Yes, but as you can see, they’re empty. Graves aren’t supposed to be empty.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” I snapped.
Rhys held up a hand. “Shh. Listen.”
I stilled. Fane mumbled something under his breath and turned away. Branches snapped in the distance and leaves rustled behind us. The animals were silent, but something was moving in the forest, growing closer.
“What is it?” I asked Ryn.
Fane sneered at me. “Like he would know.”
Irritation flared inside me, but I caught Ryn’s serious look and bit back my retort.
“Can’t you feel that? Something is off.” His voice turned urgent.
Embarrassed that I hadn’t, I licked my lips and focused my senses on the magic around us. It slammed into me full force. I winced as pain overtook me.
Ryn was right—something was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Before I could make sense of the alarms ringing through me, a powerful gust of wind enveloped us. It tore through the clearing and whooshed in my ears. Tree branches snapped and flew around, barely missing us.
Nature had chosen her side, and it wasn’t with us.
“Run!” I screamed over the torrent of noise.
We turned in unison as the wind strengthened, battering us. I went down first and then Ryn. Fane was nowhere to be seen.
I gaped at the spot he’d been standing in. What the hell? What the hell was happening?
Ryn grabbed my hand and yanked me to my feet. He turned for his brother and swore.
His eyes shot to mine, wide and frantic. “Where is he?”
I could only shake my head.
“Fane!” he screamed above the roaring wind.
Voices echoed around us. I squinted against the strong wind and gasped as bodies—dead bodies—emerged from the forest. Some were whole while others had limbs and other parts missing. My stomach churned at the sight.
“What the hell? What is this?” Ryn asked.
I swallowed hard. “The rogue witches. There’s so many of them.”
“But how are they… alive?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is it the blood moon?”
My eyes shot to the sky where the red moon hung. Magic swirled in the air, it pulled and tugged me in a heightened frenzy. I summoned it and let it rush through my body.
“This is our forest. Leave or die,” one of the witches spoke.
I shuddered at her eyeless gaze. Movement startled me, making me skitter back against Ryn. His strong arms wrapped around me and pulled me back to his side. A thoughtful, protective gesture, but unnecessary. I was the one with the magic.
The witches lumbered toward us and I raised my hand to cast a protection spell. Something invisible hit me first. Pain ripped through me, making me gasp.
Ryn fell to his knees beside me. I blinked at the zombie witches in confusion. How could they cast? They were dead and cut off from magic.
“I’m sorry about that, but you left us no choice.” Fane’s voice came the forest.
I whipped to find him and a hooded figure standing in the clearing. A rogue witch?
Red spotted my vision. “What are you doing?”
“Fane. Why?” The pain in Ryn’s voice cut me like a knife.
I glared at Fane.
He stood, emotionless. The red moon illuminated his beautiful face. So beautiful and so cold. He was the devil, and we’d both ignored our gut instincts.
25
McKenzie
Fane smiled coldly. “Why? Why do you think, Ryn? How can you still not see it after all these years? You never should have inherited the throne. You are weak. Pathetic. Too emotional.”
Ryn stiffened.
“And you.” Fane turned to me. “You aren’t surprised at all are you, cariad?”
Anger burned through me—hot and fast.
I spat in his direction, the only retaliation I could manage under the invisible hold.
He smiled. “You knew what I was all this time, and yet you still wanted me?”
“I never wanted you!” I spat, glaring at his smirking face. “Don’t do this, Fane. We can work something out.”
A dark laugh escaped him. “As much as I love to hear you beg, I’m afraid everything’s already been worked out. I keep you both here to stop you from signing the covenant and breaking the barrier while Diego kills the rest of the alphas and his witches take control of the coven.”
My heart leapt into my throat. Elijah and Val. Kohl.
Ryn scowled at him. “But, why, Fane? What is in it for you? You want the werewolf in charge?”
“In charge? No, don’t you see. I’m the one in charge. I’ve always been the one in charge, pulling the strings.”
His words struck me like an arrow. Why didn’t I see it before? How could we have been so blinded and stupid?
“Unlike you, I’m not against sharing power. It could have been us, brother.” Fane’s face hardened. “It should have been us. But you decided you wanted to play the savior.” His gaze flicked to me. “I blame you for that.”
I summoned more magic, trying to free myself from their spell. “Diego won’t share his power, Fane. He’ll stake you the first chance he gets. You were just a means to an end.”
He held up a hand to me. “No, sweet Kenzie, it’s the other way around. I’m using him. If his ego gets too big, well, I can kill him. Otherwise, I’m fine waiting for the curse to take him.”
“And what will you do once the curse takes everyone? It will be just you and the other vampires, and you think they’ll accept you after what you’ve done to their king? Your own brother?”
Fane was in my face in a heartbeat. His icy blue eyes pierced into me. I fought the urge to shrink back and escape that penetrating gaze.
“Well, I’m hoping you’ll find the answers to that. Stop the curse, remember?”
“You think I’m going to help you after this?” I struggled against the invisible bonds.
Magic thrummed around me and I wanted so desperately to grab hold of it and unleash it on Fane. Make him fall. Make him bleed.
As if reading my violent thoughts, his lips quirked into a smirk. “You will.”
I spat at him, but he moved out of reach.
“Allison. Did you kill her?” Ryn’s voice was hard.
Fane stilled. A flash of regret crossed his face before the coldness returned.
“She was supposed to be working on a cure for the curse.” He turned to me. “I didn’t want her to open the barrier, but I didn’t kill her. She died before I could. Past her expiration date, unfortunately. The work of the coven since it was your kind who cast the curse to begin with.”
Heat filled me.
I glanced at the hooded figure next to him. Was it the mole? Whoeve
r it was, they obviously had a lot of power. To keep me and Ryn in their hold for so long.
They think you’re weak…
Pushing away Fane’s words, I focused on a way to free myself.
Fane circled us. “You two will stay put here. Until everything is over. You, I have no use for, brother. But you,” He turned his attention to me.
I shuddered under his gaze.
He smiled. “I still have a use for you.”
My stomach churned. I didn’t want to know what kind of sick plan he had for me. I forced my power out, trying to break the frozen spell his witch had cast.
“Let the rogues have their fun, Blake, but make sure they don’t kill the queen. I need her.”
I gasped. My eyes shot to the hooded figure who visibly flinched.
Fane’s smile widened. “Oops. Guess it doesn’t matter now, huh?”
Anger rolled in thick waves inside me. “Blake? How could you betray the coven?”
He didn’t respond.
I whipped toward Fane. “Did you compel him?”
He leaned toward me. “No. Didn’t need to. As much as I’d love to stay and watch the show, I have other things to do. Try not to miss me too much. Goodbye.”
With that he was gone. I stood, fuming at the spot he’d occupied.
“Fane! Get back here. Fane!” Ryn’s voice echoed through the trees.
That was it. We were trapped.
I shared a look with Ryn. Worry swam in his eyes and a rush of fear swept over me. The witches power leaked in the air and I wasn’t so sure Blake or Fane could control them. Despite his insistence that I live, these rogue witches wanted blood—my blood.
If I didn’t come up with something, we would be joining them in death—only we didn’t have the option to return as easily as they had. Our end would be final.
I glared Blake as he stood between us and the wavering witches. “Why are you doing this? You’re not a rogue, Blake.”
“I’m sorry, Kenzie. It’s nothing personal, but I won’t let the humans take control again. If we open that barrier, more of them could come. They nearly destroyed us in the beginning. I’m not giving them a second chance to do it, and I’m not the only one who feels this way.”
My skin prickled with anger and hurt. Is this what it all led back to? Revenge? The wolves wanted revenge, the humans wanted revenge, and now the witches too?
“What about Julia, huh? What about the other witches the vampires have hurt in the past? You forgot about that when you switched teams?” My words came out fast and sharp.
“Julia was an unfortunate casualty. She saw me talking to Fane. She would have gone to you.”
A numbness filled me. Witches turning on each other? The world really had gone to hell.
“You will pay for this, Blake.”
“Your friend. What did you to her? Was she in on this too?” Ryn’s question made me flush with shame.
Deepa. How could I have forgotten about her?
Blake shook his head. “No. I put a sleeping spell on her. She won’t wake up until it’s over.”
My lip curled. “Until what’s over? The zombies over there killing us?”
“Not you. Just him.” Blake’s voice was steel.
The bodies had stilled and were watching us with their creepy eyeless sockets. Some of them wore dirt spattered, torn clothes, while others were in rags.
As if on cue, the witches started moving in unison. A shudder escaped me as they surrounded us. No. It was not going down like this.
Drawing more magic into myself, I let it rip through my body. Pain washed over me as it raged within. I hissed and bit my lip, waiting for it to settle.
It rolled off my skin and before Blake could start another chant, I sent it barreling into him. His hold broke, and he stumbled back with a grunt.
“How’s that for a weak queen?” I threw my arm up and let another burst of power fly.
It hit him in the chest, forcing him back. Ryn guarded my back as the witch zombies advanced. Their high-pitched screeches filled the air.
“How are we going to stop these witches?” Ryn’s question made me pause.
My eyes narrowed on Blake. “If I stop him, they won’t be under his control.”
Blake threw up a barrier between us and scoffed. “They’re not under my control.”
“Only magic rules us,” one of the dead witches spoke.
Under the light of the blood moon they were terrifying. Icy fear gripped me. Because of the lunar eclipse, the magic was heightened—for all of us. Even the dead.
“So, what you were just going to watch while they killed us?” I snapped at Blake.
He threw his hand up to cast, but I was faster. My magic shot out, breaking his wrist. His pained cry echoed in the forest. Grim satisfaction filled me at the sound.
Try casting now, asshole.
“Kenzie, we have to get out of here.” Ryn was beside me.
“But the barrier. We need the blood moon.”
The witches had us completely surrounded now. My stomach dipped. How were we going to stop them?
“Whatever your quarrel is, it’s with me. She’s done nothing. I’m the one you want.” Ryn’s words rattled me.
They looked at him.
“You? You who laid us to rest here? It was by your brother’s compulsion that you let your bloodlust take control. Our flesh is long gone so we have no fight with you. That is, if you leave.”
Ryn gaped at them. Shock ran through me as well. Fane? Fane compelled him to kill the humans and witches in the past? Why? Was it to make Ryn look unfit for the throne?
Anger flashed on Ryn’s face.
I turned to the one who’d spoken. “Please, we don’t want to hurt you. We just want to break the spell.”
A worm crawled through her exposed skull and I grimaced. Nausea rolled through my gut.
“Leave the forest or die.” Her voice was cold and determined.
“No. Wait. Please. I’m a friend of… Allison’s. I think she resurrected you?”
Blake scoffed behind me. “Liar. You’re a liar.”
Heat rushed across my skin. I couldn’t wait to unleash more magic on him, but first, I had to deal with the other rogues.
“She was trying to open the barrier. That’s all I want and then I’ll leave. I swear. Please.”
“The forest is ours,” she repeated.
“Yes. I know. It’s all yours. Just let us open the barrier, please and then we’ll go. And we’ll make sure no one disturbs you again.”
“You can’t promise that. If the barrier is opened, more people will come. Humans. Humans destroy everything.” Blake’s voice rose.
He held his injured hand, fingers slowly flexing. He’d healed himself too quickly.
I turned back to the witches. “Please. Tell me what you want, and I’ll help you.”
“Don’t listen to her. She’s the queen of the coven. The same coven that murdered your ancestors.”
My eyes widened. It couldn’t be true. There was nothing in our history about that.
The zombies hissed, their anger and power growing around them. Wind whipped through the tree branches—nature raging on their behalf.
“Kenzie. We have to go,” Ryn insisted.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about. I swear. If there are any wrongs, I will right them. I swear. I will make a covenant with you.”
The head witch cocked her head at me, eyeless sockets staring into my soul. “There are many wrongs to right, queen of the coven. How will you right them?”
My heart pounded. “I will do whatever you ask. Please. Just let me break the spell that is holding us trapped here.”
“A blood oath then. Signed under the power of the blood moon. You will free our souls.”
I gaped at her. “Your souls?”
She pointed a bony finger at me. “The souls your ancestors hide within the coven. Our souls that give you the magic.”
My head spun at her words. The souls tha
t gave us the magic? What was she talking about?
“Yes. I promise,” I blurted.
Ryn exchanged a worried look with me.
“Swear it then,” she demanded.
Before I could move, she sliced my wrist with her sharp nail, making me gasp.
I made the promise and held my bleeding wrist up to her. She placed her wrist on top of mine and I clenched my mouth shut, fighting the urge to puke as her decayed bone brushed against my skin. Her stench filled my nose, so strong it felt as if it was going to burn my nose hairs. Bile rose in my throat.
“How are you going to open the barrier without the ingredients?” Blake’s voice cut into the silence.
My heart sank. He was right—we had nothing.
“Finger bone of a witch elder. Strand of hair of a witch queen. Those combined with the blood moon should be adequate,” the witch spoke.
“A dead witch queen.”
She cocked her head at Blake. “All witches are fated to die. The hair can be taken any time.”
Shock filled me. Did that mean I could use my own?
“But what about the other stuff?” Blake demanded.
I could feel his magic stirring in the air around him. As if he was strong enough to take on all the dead witches and myself.
He’d lost, and he knew it.
“Useless. For any spell all you need is the bare bones,” the witch’s disembodied voice echoed through the clearing.
The other witches jerked and twitched, the sound of the wind rattling through their bodies made me shudder.
Ryn glanced at me. “I can’t tell if she’s making a pun or—”
Blake’s magic cut him off. He toppled over, clutching his chest. His eyes shot to Blake and the fury I saw in them chilled me.
With a roar, Ryn whipped around, moving too fast to see. He was behind Blake now. Ryn was fast and fierce, but Blake’s magic was at full power.
Before the vampire could strike, Blake unleashed another chant. Ryn was tossed back, his body flying into a tree with an echoing crunch.
I ran to him.
A branch snapped off and hovered in the air. My blood ran cold. Blake was going to stake him. I threw my hand up and tried to break the wood, but Blake had created a barrier to protect it.
Ryn’s head whipped from side to side, but his body remained stuck against the tree. A holding spell? My eyes widened in surprise. How was Blake able to use so much?