I wince, I know too well the pull of a fated mate. What it’s like to be with that mate, how it feels. I miss it every day. Every fucking day of my life. “You know I can kill your mate. You know my power.” I move closer to Donovan and the vampire tenses beside him.
“Don’t, Lilandra. I don’t want you as my enemy, but if you do this, our friendship ends with your life.”
I chuckle. “You know I’m stronger than you. You’re only an elemental.”
She winces, and I can tell I hit my target. Sophia had wanted to become a warrior witch before we were at Paranormal University. As soon as she started though, she knew she couldn’t be a warrior witch, that she was like her mother, attracted to the fire.
“Trying to hit an old wound. I see what you’re doing, and it won’t work. I have to ask, do you miss him? Really miss him or have you cast a forgetting spell so you won’t feel empty and alone the rest of your life?”
It was my turn to wince at her words as they struck deep. “I think talking is getting us nowhere. I’ll ask one last time because we used to be best friends. Hand me the Seal, and spend the next century with your mate.”
Sophia looks at her mate. I know mating a werewolf brings forward new abilities and they can communicate through thought. “What is your decision, Sophia?”
Without replying, her mate charges me, as Sophia casts a spell to help him. I shoot a silver bullet at them both, but miss my target. She has always been good with fire, but I can tell she’s learned a few new tricks.
I cast an earthquake under their feet, needing them out of the way so I can get to the vampire who has the Seal. They both jump and Donovan runs toward me again, with Sophia casting another spell as he does. Backflipping away from them, I land closer to the fucking vampire.
“Sleep,” I cast trying to slow them down. I hit the werewolf with it, but since that kind of spell isn’t my specialty, I know the effects aren’t the strongest and it won’t last long. Running toward the vampire, I shoot him with the ultraviolet bullets, causing him to hiss. “Give me that Seal, vampire.”
“Never, you’ll have to take it from me. I’d advise you to forget about it. I’m old and of true vampire blood. I can fight you. Those ultraviolet bullets will slow me down, but they won’t kill me.”
That fucker was a born vampire. What he says is true, my bullets will only slow him down. It’s not rare, but it’s getting harder and harder for vampires to have children with their mates so it’s become harder to find someone like him. “Give me the Seal.”
He takes it from his pocket and shows it to me. The calling is growing stronger the closer it is to me. “This is what you want? No, I’m not giving it to you, it belongs to us. It will help us to fulfill my friend’s dream. A community without borders...”
“Shut up, Jeremy. She won’t understand. You know where to go, we’ll distract her. Get the Seal to the Lady.”
“Lady?”
Donovan looks at me. “You don’t understand. You should have died alongside your fated mate, if that’s really what he was. I’m starting to doubt it though.”
It’s been a decade, but I can’t contain my hurt and anger his words cause. “I may not be able to kill him, but I can kill you, and that includes your fucking mate.”
Sophia jumps at my words. She’s never seen me this way. I cast a regroup spell for anything in my energy range to become a weapon with silver material. “You will pay for this.”
I fill my energy with my hurt and not my anger. Magic that comes from anger is hard to control. Everything with magic has consequences and needs balance. Using my anger could turn me into a black arts witch and as a warrior witch, I don’t want or need that in my life.
My fingers tingle, and my eyes become white. That is when my power is at its strongest. Being able to make any kind of weapon with magic can sometimes turn ugly.
“We need to go, love. That’s her strongest spell.” Sophia creates a wall of fire and stops most of the weapons I hurl at them. Donovan howls and starts running with his mate. I turn and see the vampire has disappeared. I need to find him again. That Seal needs to be in the coven under the Librarian’s protection. It’s too much power for them, and I know it’s going to be bad news for us.
Concentrating on my tracking device, I follow his mark. Once again I have no choice but to get the Seal back. I need to stop that fucking vampire, fast.
Chapter Ten
The Lady
SECRET SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS, MONTREAL
“We have news from the team. Apparently, a warrior witch has gone up against them. Donovan only had time to text me to say that Jeremy was able to get the Seal.”
I smile at Selena. “Good, very good. Jeremy won’t have any problems getting away from her, not with his vampire speed.”
Selena’s phone buzzes. “Oh. The warrior witch is Lilandra Reeves.”
I look at my papers, I have information on everyone that could possibly go against us. I find it. “Hmmm. She’s the warrior witch that lost her mate ten years ago.”
“What are you thinking?”
I need to convince her to join us. She’ll be a great addition to our team. She’s one of the most powerful warrior witches in existence. Especially with her trick of being able to form any weapon she wants. I see a note from Sophia, and think. “Selena, text Donovan back. I have something that Lilandra Reeves won’t be able to resist.”
I begin writing using my casting spell. My assistant peers at what I’m doing and when I finish the last letter, she looks at me in disbelief. “You can do this, my Lady?”
Being a black faerie has some advantages. I’m willing to use that part of the craft others won’t as they’re afraid of the price. I have no issues with paying it.
“Text him and tell him about this. He needs to get Sophia to make the deal. She was her best friend.”
She taps out a message on her phone. “It’s done. I really hope you can do it if she agrees.”
“Don’t worry, my dear Selena. I’m well able and I want her to join us. She just needs a little push and that gift is something she won’t get any other way.”
Her phone buzzes again. “Donovan says that he’ll relay the information to Sophia.”
I look outside. I know Lilandra will make a wonderful addition to the team. I’ll do everything in my power to corrupt a warrior witch and she’s one of the best. That makes it even more important she joins our cause.
Chapter Eleven
Sophia
“Sophia, read this.”
I take Donovan’s phone. It’s been five minutes since we escaped, and Lilandra went after Jeremy again. “She’s serious?”
“Yes, I asked for confirmation and Selena confirmed it. I don’t know if she can, but I guess she wants Lilandra to be part of our movement. It’s her ultimate joining gift and will allow her to be whole again.”
I look at my mate. I have my doubts the Lady can really do something like this, but decide to go ahead on the off chance she can. “Let’s do it. Transform and I’ll jump on your back and we’ll try to find her.” He strips his clothes and I jump on his back, being an alpha not only means Donovan is strong, but he’s also big and can carry me with ease.
After several minutes, Donovan catches their scent and takes off. When we finally catch up to them I see Lilandra has managed to catch up to Jeremy and has several weapons pointed at him.
“Bloodsucker, give me back that Seal. It doesn’t belong to you.” She points her weapons directly at him.
“You’re not fast enough to shoot me.”
She chuckles at Jeremy. “Don’t be so sure. My magic is triggered by my thoughts and reflexes which are in tune with each other. All I have to do is think something and it happens.”
I take a step forward. “Stop, Lilandra. I have something for you.”
She creates more guns and points them at us. “Don’t come any closer. You’re a witch but you’ve betrayed your coven with him.” I look at my mate, he hasn’t transformed yet
and is on guard as we surround her.
“I have a deal for you.”
She snorts. “Really, a deal? Since when do you cut deals, Sophia?”
Donovan nods at me. “I have a message from the Lady.”
“The Lady? Who is she?”
“We don’t know much about her, just that she’s trying to put a faction together so we can be one. No more boundaries. You know what that means.”
She looks at me. “That’s what you’re after? You’re delusional, Sophia. The factions are there for a reason and to protect us all.”
My frustration bursts forth. “What would you have done if your fated mate was a different species? You were lucky, yours was human. But humans are weak, you know that. That’s why he was killed in the end. But if he hadn’t been human, how would that have worked under the current system? You wouldn’t have been able to be together and you’d be no better off than you are now. Alone and lonely.”
Her eyes turn more blueish than usual. I know I’ve struck a blow and I feel bad for a second. My temper got better of me, but I need her to back away from Jeremy. I’ve got something I know she’s wanted for the last decade.
“You know nothing about losing your mate, Sophia. You were supposed to be my friend. All of a sudden you disappeared only to reappear with him. Everyone in your coven thinks you’re dead, and that included me. I cried for you.” She doesn’t move, but one of her weapons moves closer to Jeremy.
“Lilandra, I know you’re empty without him. You think your job and your role as a mentor can fill that hole inside you. It never will.”
“I’ve made something of my life and love my students. They are my family. You were part of my family too at one point. Now it seems we’re enemies, Sophia.”
I approach her with my mate beside me. I need to tell her about the offer. It’s a wildcard, and one I hope she accepts.
She shoots a bullet at my feet. I know she won’t kill me, but it triggers Donovan to snarl at her in a warning not to mess with us. I need to calm the situation. I don’t want bloodshed before I’m able to make a deal with her. I hope my best friend decides to join us, but if I have to choose, she will come second every time. Donovan is my mate and he’s my priority.
I can see Jeremy wants to take advantage of the fact that Lilandra is concentrating on us, and I shake my head at him. I know her better than they do, and she’ll react in an instant if he tries anything. She wasn’t lying about her thoughts and reflexes controlling her magic.
“I don’t want to be your enemy, my friend. You were my best friend and you still are.”
She laughs without humor and creates more weapons. “Really? Well, your actions don’t suggest that.”
I continue to walk toward her, and she puts a gun to my head. I signal Donovan not to do anything rash. If he attacks, it will force her to kill us both. She knows neither of us will want to live without the other. “I’m telling you, Lilandra, there’s something you want, and we can give it to you.”
I can see in her eyes she doesn’t believe me. “You have nothing I want, only that Seal, which I doubt you’ll give me.”
I pause, I need to watch my temper and my tongue. I’m a fire witch and have the temper to match. “Lilandra, please. Remove the gun. I really do have something that you want. So much. You can be happy again, like before.”
She looks at me skeptically but doesn’t remove the gun from my head. “I’m listening. Talk.”
“It’s hard to talk with that gun pointing at my head.”
She removes it but keeps it on me as Donovan creeps closer. I know if I do anything wrong, both of them will fight until blood is shed.
“Now!”
“The Lady, she’s very powerful. She’s told us she can bring your fated mate back to life if you join us.”
Chapter Twelve
Lilandra
“Impossible.” Nobody can do that, especially when there isn’t a body to resurrect. I know, because I put him in the fire myself. I felt my focus shift as I was thrown back in time to that awful night.
“Please, love, wake up!” I scream, my vision blurry with my tears. I don’t want to believe it. I don’t want to acknowledge what has happened. “You can’t leave me alone like this. Please, love. Wake up for me.”
I hit him on his lifeless chest. His body is cold. I can’t believe he wouldn’t listen. I never should’ve given in when he said he wanted to be with me when I went on missions. I put him in danger. I’m responsible for this. I should’ve made him stay home.
“Lilandra, you need to bury him. He’s dead, Lilandra.” I turn as I recognize my best friend, Sophia’s voice.
“Leave me. I want to follow him.”
“No, you don’t. You need to find the ring. You need to avenge him by claiming back that ring.”
I want to kill someone. I want to hit someone. I’m not that type of witch but right now I don’t care. What on earth did I do to deserve this? Why did the fates give me my mate and then take him away? I want to die with him. I can’t live with this emptiness inside me.
“Sophia, cast a fire and burn him. I need you to burn him. He never wanted to be buried underground. Please, Sophia, do this for me.” Sorrow, emptiness, all kinds of emotions fill me. The ring is gone, the call has stopped. How am I supposed to find it again?
“You’re sure?”
“Please, Sophia, I’ve never asked for anything in my life. You’re my best friend. I don’t want to face the coven yet, but I need him to be free.”
She nods and casts a spell. I kiss his cold lips and move back. The fire hits his body which immediately starts to burn. I let go of my tears. I’ll never see him again. Only the memories of us together will remain. I know she’s cast her biggest spell to crush everything magically and she shatters bone at the same time. I keep his ring in my hand.
I look at what is left of him. We were fated mates, life brought us together. I know in my heart that no one will replace him, but it was important for him to have a human wedding. The ring I wear belonged to his mother and it’s the only thing I have of him apart from my photos and memories, but they won’t warm my bed at night or our apartment. I’ll need to move because I’ll never be able to stay there without him. That place belongs to him, and we had something special there. It will only bring me pain, increase the loss and the emptiness in my heart.
I look at Sophia, I know how much magic energy she needed to create this kind of level of fire. She smiles at me. “I want to be alone. Thank you, my friend.”
I wander around the rest of the day, without any purpose. My life is empty now. The only things in my life are my missions and honoring the coven’s request to become a mentor. Nothing will replace him, that part of my past belongs to me, and me alone. It’s my fault and the only way to make him proud of me is to serve the coven like I should have. I should’ve made him stay in the apartment and hit him with a sleeping spell. But how could I? I love him so much that I wanted him to be with me as well, and I could never have taken his choice away. I want to be one with him.
That night comes back in a flash. “Sophia, that’s impossible. Even a necromancer can’t bring him back. I had you burn him for a reason. I didn’t want the temptation of being able to bring him back.”
That was my reason that night. If I hadn’t asked her to burn him, I might have been tempted to reach out to someone to bring him back.
“No, I’m telling you if she said she can, than she can. You have to believe me.”
“I need that Seal. I need to finish my mission.” It’s been my only focus, along with being a mentor, for the last decade since his death. I vowed to the coven to be the best mentor they had. It’s been my lifeline for all these years. It’s the only way I can continue to live.
“Don’t be stubborn, Lilandra. You know how much it hurt that day. I know why you asked me to burn him and crush his remains.”
“Then you know if there’s no longer a body, it’s impossible, and even if it was, it wouldn’t be
him. He’s gone.”
Sophia moves closer. That pain is growing inside me, that hole that never healed but was put aside as I tried to fill my life with something that could never replace him.
She puts her hand on my shoulder. “Lilandra, listen to me. I’m telling you if she said she can, she can. That I guarantee, just as you asked me to turn his body to ash, because you knew I could do the job properly.”
I look at her, and for a second, I can see him clearly which surprises me. Juniper has never been able to summon him. She never knew if he was close. She’s not only a warrior witch but also a clairvoyant thanks to her human mother. If she can’t see him it means he’s not wondering the earth and it’s impossible for anyone to bring him back. I focus back on Jeremy, wondering why he didn’t flee while I was talking to Sophia. I need that Seal. Everything I do is for the good of others and as I prepare to fight once more, a little voice whispers in my ear, asking me when it’s my turn and when is someone going to care about my needs.
Chapter Thirteen
Sophia
I focus all my thoughts on Lilandra. I know she’s lonely and she hides it well, but she needs to face the truth. She needs to ask something for herself, no one will give it to her, only the Lady can.
I can see her emotion in her eyes. I’ve known her since kindergarten, we were only separated because she’s a warrior witch and I’m a fire witch.
“Lilandra, think. No one else has offered to give you your dream, the life you should’ve had with him.”
Donovan rubs against me. I know he feels my emotions, his wolf is very connected with me. I need to make Lilandra see, to make her choose us. “The Lady can, Lilandra. Join us, come with us. You’ll have everything you want, your mate alive and back in your life. You can have a future with him.”
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