Henrick took out his phone and checked it. “Yep, they’re almost here. The necromancer can feel their energy getting closer. She’s not alone.”
“I expected as much,” Amera said.
The surly vampire spat on the floor, grimacing when a tooth shot out and clattered on the stone. “What’s the plan, then?”
“I’ve promised them a straight swap, and I mean it.” Amera picked up her phone and texted Mr Fender to tell him that the deal would be over soon. “They can have their weak witch back. The sorceress will spark her own witch hunt as soon as she’s back anyway.”
When she looked up, a figure was pushed into the room. Mother. Her hair was matted, the long curly strands so knotted, they moved as one. A lump pushed into my throat as she lifted her head and looked at Amera.
Her eyes were bloodshot, the usual grey almost white from lack of water and food. Her bones poked out at every angle, barely holding her up as she slumped. The vampire didn’t even bother to catch her as she fell to the floor. Henrick moved to grab her upright again, sneering at the vampire who just shrugged.
“He’s right,” Amera snapped, even though Henrick hadn’t said anything. “She needs to stay alive. At least until they have her. Then I don’t care what happens.”
My energy gave out as Mother lifted her head and made eye contact with me. The pleading in her eyes was evident, the slight tinge of water lining them making my chest squeeze. It was time to go and get her.
A gasp flew from me as I jolted back to my body. Tinniel was still holding me to his chest, gently stroking my hair. My cheeks were damp and snot dripped from my nose. I must have been crying when I saw the state of my mother.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay doing this?” he murmured as I scrubbed my face on the sleeve of my jacket.
I would be more than okay. I was going to get the bitch for treating my mother so abhorrently. “Yes. I’m ready.”
Grabbing his face, I placed my lips on his. His breath rushed out of him as his mouth opened and our tongues clashed in a rushed second of connection. When I disentangled myself, he grinned, his cheeks flushed. Oh, yeah, I’d well and truly claimed the sorcerer.
A surge of energy blasted through me as I climbed out of the cab and inhaled the salty air. The Tower was right on the edge of the River Thames. I’d visited once before, fascinated by the medieval place that had housed so much horror. At least I knew there was an escape underground, out to the river if I needed it. Not that there’d be a boat waiting to take me away in the dead of the night like in the olden times.
“No more waiting,” I told Tinniel, once he’d paid the cab driver. “It’s time to get Mariah back.”
Checking that Beauty was invisible, I tucked her further onto my hip. If I had to use her to get my mother back, I would, even if it meant letting the vampires die. I wasn’t a heartless bitch. I wanted them to be able to save themselves. However, not at the expense of the Ford line.
Kicking off into a stride, I marched towards the entrance. My spine was straight, my head held high as we snuck past the queue with our fast track passes.
My skin prickled as we headed straight to the main building that housed the armoury. I wouldn’t hang around. We couldn’t even if we wanted to; there were far too many vampires around.
My gaze searched through the crowd, my energy tracing their lack of life. I had never been so in tune before. Was it because I was refining my tracking skills, channelling my magic more and more?
“She’s got a lot of security,” Tinniel muttered as we entered the main building.
“She has.” Licking my lips, I clung to the strap of the backpack that held the talisman.
If any of Amera’s men dared to try and take the bag, I would slice the rotting bastard in half. I had a mission to complete and no one would get in my way, not even the human who was chatting on her phone and blocking my way.
Glancing at Tinniel as he waited on the steps on the other side of her, I frowned. He laughed, the sound deep and reverberating around the area. The woman on the phone paused her conversation about her partner’s bedroom antics, leaving me room to excuse myself as I pushed past.
A glacial ice cold settled over me as we skipped up the stone steps and entered the armoury. My emotions hardened as the armour suits came into view, kept in tall cabinets. People milled around, reading the information plaques and talking quietly between themselves.
“The others are in place,” Tinniel said under his breath.
Inclining my head a fraction, I acknowledged that I’d heard him. Zac was hiding somewhere with the perfect line of sight, apparently. I wouldn’t know where or how, but I trusted that he would cover us.
“Can you see them?” I searched past the glass and racks of armour plates. “It’s quite busy in here.”
Shaking his head, Tinniel looked also, his eyes sharp as his gaze darted around the room. “She didn’t say where you should meet?”
Murmuring a negative, I kept one hand close to Beauty’s handle at the same time as treading slowly. Anything could happen. When I’d connected to my mother, Amera had made it clear that she was going to keep her end of the bargain. However, I didn’t trust the woman in the slightest.
“There,” Tinniel whispered, “there’s a man waving at us.”
Just as my man spoke, I spotted the vampire who had treated my mother badly. My stomach churned as he indicated that we follow him.
My boots were moving before my brain had even engaged, dodging through the people who admired the history of England.
“Stay calm.” Patting his pocket, Tinniel checked that he had his gun.
Why was it a compulsion to keep touching a weapon when on a mission? In every show I’d watched or book I’d read, the detective always made sure their gun was still on their person. It wasn’t as if they were going to lose it in the ten seconds since they’d last checked.
“I’m calm,” I replied, surprising myself as I stalked towards the vampire, who casually waited by a wooden door.
Ah, okay, they were going to do business out of sight. Hmmm. Did I want that? What would stop Amera from killing us as soon as we entered the room?
My boots skidded to a halt, my arm shooting out to grip Tinniel’s jacket. He paused, frowning down at me before his eyebrows raised in question.
“We need to be a little more public,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest and shaking my head when vamp guy gestured again.
Turning on my heel, I slunk into the next room, which was quieter. There was an armoured horse and his rider in the centre, encased in a perplex box. Other armour suits were on display around two sides, leaving one corner free. I headed straight there, tucking myself in and leaning against the wall.
“I’ve let the others know our location.” Tinniel didn’t need to question me, he knew my suspicions.
In fact, I could feel him more than ever, our connection stronger than before. Was the charge binding us together every day?
The vamp appeared in the entranceway, his eyes flaring crimson when he saw us waiting. What? Amera had told us to meet her at the armoury. Judging by the amount of armour plates in this one room, we were in the right place.
Shrugging, – seemed to be the guy’s signature move – the vamp disappeared. Several humans approached the room, changing their mind when they saw us standing there. It wasn’t a surprise, we did look shady as fuck.
“I’ve put up a repulsion spell,” Tinniel said, somehow tuning into what I’d been thinking. “We don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“Except Amera,” I said under my breath.
“Huh?” Tinniel took my elbow in a gentle grasp as he ran a hand through his shaggy hair. “Don’t do anything crazy.”
Crazy? Did the man not know me? I was the epitome of crazy. And I was tempted to go bat-shit crazy on Amera, the evil vampire.
Ah, talk of the devil woman. Heels clicking on stone silenced my reply as Amera rounded the corner, striding straight into the room. Hen
rick appeared behind her, escorting my mother, who looked shrunken in on herself, even though she tried to look inconspicuous.
Her matted hair sparked outrage within me, firing my belly. It wasn’t her stick-thin frame or sullen eyes, or even the grazed and bleeding welts on her wrist that had me drawing Beauty out of her scabbard, it was the state of her pride and joy, her usually fluffy curly grey hair.
“Lyla,” Tinniel warned, coming between Amera and I.
His gaze flicked over Henrick, dismissing him with a stoic expression. It was the first time he had seen his brother in years. How had he not lost it? Because he was a trained bounty hunter. No matter what happened, he would stay disconnected from his emotions.
Amera’s vamp guy trod closer, his teeth bared as I extended my sword towards him.
Amera remained still, her hands held up in front of her in surrender. Bloody hell, if she wasn’t prepared to fight me, she really did mean what she had said.
“Give me my mother,” I demanded through my teeth, “and let us leave.”
Snarling, Amera pointed at me with her long red fingernail. “How do I know you have the box?”
A snort flew from my mouth, the sound loud in the small room. It shouldn’t have surprised me that she was suspicious of me. Although I desired my mother, the sorceress would come for me as soon as she was resurrected. As dangerous as the risk was to me, I couldn’t let the vampire race die out. And neither could the Federation. And yet, I couldn’t quite bring myself to hand her the box, not yet.
“It’s in my bag. What’s to say you won’t just kill us as soon as you have it?”
“As much as I’d like to do that, trust me,” Amera said, her gaze skimming over Tinniel when he growled, “I won’t risk losing the box. You must know by now why I want it. You’re not a stupid girl.”
No, I wasn’t. I had all the power, I knew that. But I wouldn’t risk my mother’s life by not having insurance. This had to be over, now.
Slowly lowering the bag, I placed it on the floor and unzipped it with one hand. Beauty was heavy in the other as I dug inside and brought out the silver carved talisman. I wouldn’t let my guard down until everyone was home safe.
“Let us have my mother,” I said, avoiding eye contact with the woman who had given birth to me.
If I were to see the pain swimming in her eyes, I would crumble and lose my nerve. I couldn’t do that, not now. I had to prove to myself, and to her, that I was a true Ford heir. I could become the royal witch I was supposed to be.
“Very well.” Amera clicked her fingers at Henrick.
The sorcerer held my mother’s arm, guiding her towards us.
Tinniel’s spine went stiff as his brother drew near. A glance was shared between them, unspoken words uttered without a sound. My man’s shoulders tensed as Henrick placed my mother into his care. As soon as Tinniel had hold of her, he disappeared, using his magic to teleport them both back to the Federation.
“No!” Amera barked, “How dare you?”
Kicking my foot off the floor, I jumped up and threw the box towards Amera. It flew through the air, landing in her hands just as Tinniel appeared nearby, minus my mother.
My heart flipped in my chest as I glanced at him. He reached for me, ready to instigate the last part of our plan. Sidestepping him, I smiled apologetically when I ran for Amera, my sword raised.
Her eyes widened as her little vampire friend caught my arm, flinging me away from her and pinning me against the wall by my throat. His toothless grin taunted me as he chuckled.
I gripped his arms, trying to wiggle free. Beauty was nearby, tossed on the floor in disregard. Tinniel and Henrick were having a standoff, both staring each other down, daring the other to make the first move.
“Careful, little one,” Tinniel called, his voice loud enough to cut through Amera’s gleeful gasps as she cradled the box to her, “she’ll burn you dead.”
Looking over his shoulder, the vamp grunted, a cocky grin coming to his face. “I’ll take her against the wall. She’ll come so hard, her head will explode.”
Before I could kill the bastard, Tinniel appeared from nowhere, wrenching him off me and throwing him to the ground.
Leaving him to murder the kid, I scooped up Beauty and surged towards Amera, who was so taken by her new toy, she wasn’t paying attention.
Arms came around my waist, dragging me to the floor before I could reach her. Henrick clasped me in his grasp, his hair flapping as he wrestled with me. I lost my grip on Beauty as he crawled up my body, using his weight to pin me down.
Where was Tinniel?
Thrusting against the floor, I checked to see where my sorcerer had got to. He was fighting with Amera’s vampire, punching the boy straight in the face as the kid used his supersonic strength to shove him against the glass of the horse showcase. Okay, so the squirt was stronger than we’d predicted. Still, he would be dead soon.
“Leave her,” Henrick hissed in my ear as he shoved my head against the cold stone floor. “She’s not worth it.”
“You’re a traitor.” My insides burned as he squashed me, pushing the air out of my lungs.
He huffed in my ear as I kicked back, catching his knee with my boot. He didn’t even flinch as he put his lips right next to my ear. “I’m on your side,” he whispered. “Trust me. Leave. Now.”
“I knew it!” Amera screeched, her high-pitched voice shrill in the silent room.
Henrick released me, pushing up and getting to his feet. Amera appeared beside him, her hand wrapping around his throat and lifting him from the floor. His legs dangled as I scrambled out from under him, snatching up Beauty as I went.
Spinning, I lifted the sword, ready to plunge it straight into Amera’s back. Henrick shouted, warning her of my impending attack. What the fuck? He had just claimed that he was on our side. He had lied to try and get me to leave his leader alone. Well, not anymore. I didn’t give a shit if he was Tinniel’s brother, the bitch would die today.
“Lyla,” Tinniel’s voice was weak.
Turning, I frowned. The vampire was on the ground, his head no longer attached to his body. What was the problem?
Amera was screaming, squeezing Henrick’s throat as she lunged him towards the wall. His body froze in mid-air, floating above the ground.
“What the…?” Amera snarled, turning to Tinniel.
I followed her gaze, my arms starting to ache from where they were poised above my head. Wait. I wanted to thrust my sword into her. Why couldn’t I move?
Tinniel stood with one arm stretched towards me, and the other extended to his brother. What the fuck was he playing at?
His expression was pained as he glanced at me, clearly fighting something within him as he strained, his arms slowly moving down.
Amera whooped as she spun, the box clenched in her hands and her hair flying out behind her. No, I wouldn’t let her get away with what she’d done.
Kicking my feet off the ground, I propelled myself forward as Amera neared Henrick. I could feel Tinniel’s spell trying to capture me, the enticing tinge of control seeping into my muscles. No, I would not allow anyone to control me, least of all my bonded man.
“You will not live!” My shout was met with a howl from Tinniel as I plunged my sword straight into Amera’s shoulder, right near her heart.
Her mouth shot open as her body surged forward, crashing into Henrick’s. Blood jetted from the wound, splattering Henrick’s smart suit jacket as he wrapped his arms around the vampire.
I paused when he looked at me, tears blinking from his eyes as he folded over and groaned deeply. What was going on? Why was he wincing and clasping his chest?
Shooting forward, I lifted my arm, ready to retrieve Beauty. My hand met thin-air as the pair popped out of existence, taking the talisman and the sword with them.
“Fuck!” I raged, heat blasting through me and igniting a fire on the ground under my feet. “What did you do?”
Baring my teeth, I glared at Tinniel, as furiou
s with him as I was with Henrick for whisking away my kill. I had wanted to see the bitch dead at my feet. Even had my phone ready to take a picture. Okay, maybe I was being a little dramatic.
“They’re connected,” he said, pointing at his wrist. “Henrick and Amera.”
“W-what does that mean?”
Sure, I’d seen an amber bracelet on the pair of them. I’d just assumed they were a signal to other vampires that they were in the same club or something.
“It means…” Tinniel limped over to me, clasping his chest as he brushed a strand of my hair out of my face. “…that you might have saved your mother, but you’ve just killed my brother.”
Want to know what happens next? Click HERE or on the cover below.
Sign up to my newsletter to keep up to date and receive free books: https://www.rachelmedhurst.com
Join my Facebook group to talk all things books and magic: https://www.facebook.com/groups/603376403108710
Copyright
Copyright © 2021 by Rachel Medhurst
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Published in 2021
Author
Rachel Medhurst grew up in Surrey, England. She writes to prove that no matter where you come from, you can be anything you want to be. Your past may shape you but it doesn't define you. When Rachel isn't writing, she can be found reading and walking in nature.
www.rachelmedhurst.com
The Witch With An Attitude (Federation of Magic Book 2) Page 16