by Emma Dean
She’d been just as alone as Mika had been. But she’d had less help and nothing to guide her. Claire didn’t have a raven or a fox to help her learn. Even Eisheth hadn’t known about her.
Why was that?
“How did you hide?” Mika asked, taking another step closer. “The demon doesn’t seem to be aware that you’re a blood witch.”
Claire laughed at her, blood coloring her teeth – she must have bit down on her own tongue to produce it. “Blood magic is more powerful than you can imagine.” Then her sister spat blood on the ground and whispered a word.
A bloody vine shot up and wrapped around Mika’s throat. Her concentration shattered and so did the black circle surrounding them. Claire lurched to her feet and threw out her hand.
But this time Mika was ready. She threw up a shield at the last moment, but not just any shield.
One made from blood. It sliced through Claire’s creature and blocked the curse that would have killed Mika had it landed. The pain from pulling her own blood from her skin to shield was excruciating, but it was nothing compared to what she’d already endured.
Mika wove her hands in a pattern. For this one she needed to concentrate, speak the right words. She couldn’t afford to screw up now, not when Claire threw everything she could at her.
Every hit against the shield was like being stabbed by a thousand tiny knives.
Between one breath and the next, Mika dropped her shield and threw the net she’d made of fire and energy. It landed and Claire dropped to the ground.
Before her sister could get it off, Mika dove and disintegrated the net, turning it into glass thanks to the sand in the dirt. The shard of glass hung over her sister’s neck.
“Yield,” Mika begged.
Claire reached out again and Mika stomped on her hand to keep her from casting.
“If neither will yield, both will die,” Takahashi warned, somehow projecting her voice into the circle. “It’s one of you, or both.”
Claire was already muttering a kill spell Mika recognized, one that would rip Mika’s veins from her body, no hesitation at all, only hatred in her eyes.
Mika closed her eyes and released the glass, praying for forgiveness as the sound of flesh being sliced apart reached her ears.
The purple shield disintegrated, and the silence was deafening.
She opened her eyes and blood pooled around her sister; eyes lifeless but still open in shock with the glass embedded into her throat.
“Mika Gabrielle Marshall has won the challenge,” Takahashi announced.
But no one cheered.
This was what hatred and spite had done to her sister.
Mika knelt down and scooped Claire up, so much lighter in death.
No one stopped her as she walked with her sister’s body toward Eisheth. No one said a word when the demon reached out and they disappeared into that choking nothingness.
30
Mika stood in the spacious yard with the small forest that contained every Marshall witch who’d settled in San Francisco. Her black ball gown fluttered in the breeze that hinted at autumn – the same one she’d worn for her grandmother’s funeral.
She stared up at the tree that had been her great-grandmother, and the others around it, Elizabeth, Annie, Victoria, Eliza, Eleanor, Minnie, Helen, and her mother.
And now her sister.
Kneeling she placed the ashes of her sister deep in the ground and then placed the ash sapling over Claire.
Her sister had been alone and misguided, but she’d also been stubborn as hell and desperate for power. Maybe she thought it would protect her just like Mika had.
But she would never know now.
Hands palm up, Mika whispered the rites that would put a witch’s soul to rest. She focused on the tree and nudged it slightly as she finished the words that would give her sister the peace she so desperately needed.
The ash tree grew and grew until it was just as tall as the others.
Mika was the last Marshall witch.
The last blood witch.
With no one to perform the matriarch ritual in her clan, Takahashi would take over, but it had to wait until the next new moon.
Until then…
Mika glanced over her shoulder and eyed the pair of ravens in the trees just outside the wards Eisheth had set up.
The demon hadn’t asked questions when she told him what she needed. He’d just done it, placing wards around her property. No one could get in or out unless they had the power to do so.
Not even Selene could get in and she’d tried.
Mika sighed and turned back to the trees that represented every female in her family.
Audrey had already left for training. She hadn’t pushed when Eisheth had brought all her stuff and a letter from Mika explaining the situation.
Her sister was dead. Mika was matriarch of nothing.
She needed time alone, time to gather her thoughts and come to terms with what she’d done.
Mika had killed her own sister.
Claire hadn’t given her a choice, but Mika couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened had she yielded instead.
Her mouth was still bitter with the aftertaste of blood – hers, and Claire’s.
A few weeks alone, that was all she needed. Then she would go back to the university.
As soon as she was matriarch, she would adopt Audrey into her clan.
Mika had texted Lucien, Ethan, and Corbin and told them she just needed some time to herself. She would always be grateful they respected her enough to give her the time she needed, even if they didn’t like it. Even if they’d all agreed the ravens would watch her through the wards she’d had put up to reinforce her request.
Well-wishers and matriarchs of other clans from the coven had already tried to come meet with her, but Mika needed time to grieve before the world demanded more.
This wasn’t something her boys could help her with, no matter how badly they wanted to.
The air beside her shifted slightly.
“You have a book of mine.”
Mika gave Lucifer a sideways glance.
Sighing, she snapped her fingers and the infernal edition of her clan book appeared in her hand. Without a word she offered it to him.
“Jessica asked me to check in on you,” Lucifer explained, taking the book from her.
“And since you’re the only one with the power to do so…”
“Don’t worry,” he murmured, twisting his hand so the book became nothing more than black smoke. “I put up my own wards around your house. Your raven wants to kill me, I’m sure.”
Mika couldn’t explain the overwhelming relief she felt that her quiet little world was safe for a little while longer.
“My wards come down the day before the fall semester starts,” Lucifer warned, studying the brand new ash tree in her yard. “Figure out your shit by then. I’m not a nanny.”
“Mm.” Mika almost smiled. “I take it they won’t leave you alone?”
“Foxes can come and go in hell; did you know that?” Lucifer asked, rolling his shoulders back in irritation. “Hunter and Lucien showed up and demanded that I do something about your sabbatical. Bossy little shits.”
“It’s endearing,” Mika offered.
Lucifer sighed. “I can ignore them, but not Jess. So, here I am. You’re not going to do anything stupid are you?”
Mika placed her hand palm up and focused. Blood welled in her palm – her own. “Did you know Claire was a blood witch?”
“I didn’t.”
Mika let the blood fall on Claire’s ash tree. “I wonder how she hid herself so well.”
Lucifer turned to face her then, eyes glowing slightly with hellfire. “I don’t know, but blood witches have always been like that if they manage not to kill anyone first.”
“Do they know what I am?”
Had everyone at the challenge seen? Had they understood what had happened?
The devil hesitated. “I don’t th
ink so, but the Council is suspicious thanks to your disappearing act. They don’t like the shadow realm, or it being used. You’re going to have to come to terms with what you are eventually. The world is starting to remember what it forgot.”
He handed her an old piece of parchment. “Don’t do anything stupid, Mika,” Lucifer warned. “If I see you in hell before it’s your time I’m going to be pissed.”
She smiled slightly at that and opened the parchment. “What’s this?”
“A spell to release the Morrigan.” The devil ran his hand through his hair, and she couldn’t help but eye the tattoos that covered his arms and neck. “Do you have the answers you need?”
“Yes and no.”
Why did the devil care?
Lucifer eyed her like he knew she was planning trouble that would somehow affect him. “Until next time, Mika Morganna Gabrielle Marshall.”
Lucifer disappeared and Mika was alone once again.
She tucked the spell into that hiding place between worlds and stared up at the whispering trees representing the family she used to have.
It wasn’t her only family anymore, but it was the last of her blood – her clan.
Mika would do everything she could to make sure she wasn’t the last Marshall witch.
The last blood witch.
The University of Morgana was waiting, as were its secrets. Fall would come soon enough.
Mika turned and walked to the greenhouse, feet bare, black skirts billowing. The belladonna needed tending.
It was almost ready to harvest.
Don’t miss As Wicked As They Come
the next book in this slow burn, reverse harem, witch academy series.
Did you miss A Wicked Raven?
The story of Corbin and his whereabouts during No Rest for the Wicked.
Want Free Stories?
If you subscribe to my newsletter you can get these shorts free on Bookfunnel!
A Bandit’s Prequel
(Short steamy reverse harem shifter story.)
Royal Guard of Draga
(Novella prequel for a Game of Thrones in space slow burn story that turns into a reverse harem, this is also steamy and just the beginning.)
Other Books
Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance*
Chaos of Foxes Series
For Fox Sake
All Foxed Up
What the Fox
University of Morgana Academy Series
Something Wicked
Wicked Games
No Rest for the Wicked
A Wicked Raven
Wicked Blood
As Wicked As They Come
Standalones
Spotted Her First
Seeing Spots
Vaudeville Runaway
Bandits
A Bandit’s Prequel
To Catch a Bandit
Blue Mountain Wolf Pack (M/F Wolf Shifters)
Alpha Wolf
Broken Wolf
Wolf Moon
The Draga Court Series (Polyam/RH like Game of Thrones in space without the incest)
Princess of Draga
Crown of Draga
Jasmine of Draga
Heir of Draga
Queen of Draga
Fate of Draga
Prequel Novella – Royal Guard of Draga*
Christmas Epilogue Novella - Winter Solstice in Draga
*Can be read as a standalone before or after Princess of Draga, but in the timeline takes place before Princess.
*All paranormal stories are in the same universe - the Council of Paranormals.
Want updates on when the books are released and my
progress with them?
Sign up for my newsletter @ emmadeanromance.com
Other Books UK Links
Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance*
Chaos of Foxes Series
For Fox Sake
All Foxed Up
What the Fox
University of Morgana Academy Series
Something Wicked
Wicked Games
No Rest for the Wicked
A Wicked Raven
Wicked Blood
As Wicked As They Come
Standalones
Spotted Her First
Seeing Spots
Vaudeville Runaway
Bandits
A Bandit’s Prequel
To Catch a Bandit
Blue Mountain Wolf Pack (M/F Wolf Shifters)
Alpha Wolf
Broken Wolf
Wolf Moon
The Draga Court Series (Polyam/RH like Game of Thrones in space without the incest)
Princess of Draga
Crown of Draga
Jasmine of Draga
Heir of Draga
Queen of Draga
Fate of Draga
Prequel Novella – Royal Guard of Draga*
Christmas Epilogue Novella - Winter Solstice in Draga
*Can be read as a standalone before or after Princess of Draga, but in the timeline takes place before Princess.
*All paranormal stories are in the same universe - the Council of Paranormals.
Want updates on when the books are released and my
progress with them?
Sign up for my newsletter @ emmadeanromance.com
Other Books CA Links
Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance*
Chaos of Foxes Series
For Fox Sake
All Foxed Up
What the Fox
University of Morgana Academy Series
Something Wicked
Wicked Games
No Rest for the Wicked
A Wicked Raven
Wicked Blood
As Wicked As They Come
Standalones
Spotted Her First
Seeing Spots
Vaudeville Runaway
Bandits
A Bandit’s Prequel
To Catch a Bandit
Blue Mountain Wolf Pack (M/F Wolf Shifters)
Alpha Wolf
Broken Wolf
Wolf Moon
The Draga Court Series (Polyam/RH like Game of Thrones in space without the incest)
Princess of Draga
Crown of Draga
Jasmine of Draga
Heir of Draga
Queen of Draga
Fate of Draga
Prequel Novella – Royal Guard of Draga*
Christmas Epilogue Novella - Winter Solstice in Draga
*Can be read as a standalone before or after Princess of Draga, but in the timeline takes place before Princess.
*All paranormal stories are in the same universe - the Council of Paranormals.
Want updates on when the books are released and my
progress with them?
Sign up for my newsletter @ emmadeanromance.com
Other Books AU Links
Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance*
Chaos of Foxes Series
For Fox Sake
All Foxed Up
What the Fox
University of Morgana Academy Series
Something Wicked
Wicked Games
No Rest for the Wicked
A Wicked Raven
Wicked Blood
As Wicked As They Come
Standalones
Spotted Her First
Seeing Spots
Vaudeville Runaway
Bandits
A Bandit’s Prequel
To Catch a Bandit
Blue Mountain Wolf Pack (M/F Wolf Shifters)
Alpha Wolf
Broken Wolf
Wolf Moon
The Draga Court Series (Polyam/RH like Game of Thrones in space without the incest)
Princess of Draga
Crown of Draga
Jasmine of Draga
Heir of Draga
Queen of Draga
Fate of Draga
Prequel Novella – Royal Guard of Draga*
&nb
sp; Christmas Epilogue Novella - Winter Solstice in Draga
*Can be read as a standalone before or after Princess of Draga, but in the timeline takes place before Princess.
*All paranormal stories are in the same universe - the Council of Paranormals.
Want updates on when the books are released and my
progress with them?
Sign up for my newsletter @ emmadeanromance.com
About the Author
Emma Dean is the aspie author of Draga Court and the Council of Paranormals. Juggling work, life, higher education, and a rambunctious toddler leaves little room for much else, but when she gets the chance she dives into a good book and likes to re-read the Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop every year during Christmas.
Follow her on Social Media or
www.emmadeanromance.com