A Wicked Night

by Kiersten Fay

  Again Saraphine’s magic fought back. A mighty voltage snaked out like a whip.

  Crack.

  Agony constricted her throat. Through gritted teeth, she choked out the next phrase of the incantation.

  Crack.

  Hell’s fire ignited in her chest. She worked to suck in a cooling breath.

  Crack.

  Boiling heat landed in her gut like a vat of acid.

  “Stop this!” Bray was yelling at Saraphine, or at Cora. She couldn’t tell which. She hoped he didn’t harm Saraphine, but she couldn’t worry about that now. A tiny pinprick of corrosion appeared above her left hand. That minuscule evidence set her resolve. With each new whip of pain, she cried out another word.

  Crack.

  Her bones felt like glass, especially her hands. The slightest misstep would shatter her. The smell of rust plumed alongside burning flesh. A rumbling noise drowned out Bray’s harrowing bellows. An echo of metal groaning reverberated through Cora’s ears. Her voice was raw, yet unrelenting. Now it was as if the incantation was being ripped from her by force. She couldn’t stop it if she tried.

  Crack.

  The inscrutable lashing continued deep under her flesh, slicing through muscle to find every nerve ending in her body. Her magic flowed out in the form of a scream, agonized and frayed. Knuckles white, she clutched the bars, digging her fingers in.

  Amazingly, the metal gave an inch, degenerating at a molecular level. She could almost see the atoms breaking apart, was fascinated by the brilliant colors of destruction.

  A thin red fissure fracture the bar in her right hand, danced upward inch by inch, then split into a web. Another small crack found the left bar.

  Then, as if from the inside out, the bars abruptly exploded.

  Cora dropped to her knees.

  A find dust wafted out to the edges of the room. Tiny flakes of metal shimmered to the ground.

  Hunched, she drew in heavy breaths. For the first time, she noticed a layer of cool sweat along her forehead. She swiped at it with the back of her hand and turned to face everyone.

  They all gaped, incredulous.

  “I can’t believe you just did that,” Saraphine gasped.

  Though Cora’s body ached in every way possible, she made a show of strength by pulling herself to stand. Then she crossed the threshold of the cage and managed to keep from stumbling as she made her way to Mace.

  Kneeling, she gently cupped his cheek. She had no idea what the curse was doing to him. Was he was feeling even a hint of the pain she’d just experienced? With any luck, he was merely unconscious, oblivious. Yet his agonized expression said otherwise.

  Angling her wrist by his lips, she jimmied his mouth open and used his fangs to puncture her own skin, then watch as her blood coated his mouth.

  A perception of overwhelming hunger sieged her from behind. She turned to see Knox on his feet behind her, riveted by the sight of her blood, his fangs bared.

  She pointed a ridged finger at him. “Later for you.”

  He glared, both shocked and indignant. At first she though he would do what Knox does best and just take what he wanted, but instead, he slanted a dark gaze at Saraphine. Vengeance leaked off him like bad cologne.

  “Bray,” Cora rasped. “Protect Sara.”

  Saraphine’s eyes widened in horror as if she suddenly realized the magnitude of her situation.

  Bray dutifully fronted her like a muscle-packed shield.

  Knox shot Cora another irritated look, then stepped out of the cell to address Bray. “You taking orders from a witch now?”

  “I owe her my life,” Bray fired back, “and I’ve come to trust her judgment. Have you forgotten I’ve been MIA?”

  “No,” Knox grumbled. “Just don’t care. I’ve got my own problems. Both of which are in this room.”

  Saraphine brazenly stepped out from behind Bray. “Touch me and I’ll hex your private parts with seeping boils.” Magic gathered in her palms at the threat.

  Knox clenched his fists. “I’d drop you before you could utter a word.”

  “You’ll not come near the girl,” Bray promised.

  Knox went quiet, studying Bray. Then he glanced back at Cora in blatant accusation. “You bonded him?”

  Cora frowned and turned away. Here it comes. She braced for a slandering diatribe. Instead, Knox began to chuckle. After a moment, his chuckle turned into an all-out laugh which then morphed in to a side-splitting guffaw.

  He huffed through his laughter, “I can’t wait to hear how you’re going to play this one off.”

  “We’ll explain things later,” Bray said, coming to her rescue.

  “Oh, will you? Will you explain things later?”

  “Stow it, Knox,” Trent snapped. “We’ll figure out what’s going on, I promise you.”

  “Oh, come on, Trent. Isn’t it time to put an end to this madness?” There was a dangerous undertone to his words.

  The rest of the conversation was drown out when Mace, still mostly unconscious, latched onto Cora’s wrist like a man dying of thirst might a water pump. Elation, along with tingling warmth, slammed through her.

  “That’s it, Mace,” she cooed. “Drink.”

  Whether he could comprehend her or not, he did just that, taking her essence into him. The act was as familiar as breathing. And when she felt herself growing weak, she allowed him to continue a few pulls longer.

  Finally, his eyes cracked open. He gazed up at her blearily, and released her. “Cora?” His voice sounded awful.

  She wiped his mouth with the hem of her borrowed dress. “Hi,” she choked out, caging the brunt of her emotions. Yet grateful tears still breached her lids.

  “I dreamed of you,” he said.

  She leaned down to place a soft kiss on his lips. “I dreamed of you too.”

  “You were looking for me. You called out for me. It felt so real.”

  She stilled. She had relentlessly tried to enter the dream realm for him. Was that what he spoke of? Had she been so close to making contact?

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t find you sooner,” she said.

  “Am I dreaming now?”

  “No,” she smiled. “I’m here to take you home. Are you strong enough to stand?”

  He tested his limbs. It was clear in his expression that it pained him to move. After a brief hesitation, he rolled to his side, then painstakingly pushed off the ground. Cora stood with him, cautiously holding her arms out, even though if he were to fall, she could in no way support him.

  “Trent,” she called. “A little help.”

  Trent dubiously eyed the cell, then ordered Knox to go in his stead.

  Knox grimaced, but returned to the cell and propped himself against Mace. “Come on, you rutty tosser. Stop milking it.”

  Once they were out of the cell, Trent took Mace’s other side and together, they started up the stairs, their progress slow and unsteady while Mace struggled to find his feet.

  As a small weight lifted off Cora’s shoulder, another took its place. After they’d gone, she faced Saraphine. “I need your help removing this curse from Mace.”

  Saraphine was still marveling at the remnants of her spell—a dying patch of sparkles along the ground—but Cora’s words snapped her out of it. “I’ve done enough helping you.”

  “I know,” Cora sighed, letting her weary shoulders drop. “I know you have. But please. I can’t do this without you. I wouldn’t even know where to start. I understand why you did what you did.” She gestured to the ruined cell. “Even as angry as I am about it, I get it. But Mace has never done anything to you, and he’s suffering. He’s…dying.”

  Saraphine averted her gaze.

  “Your grandmother, she could see the future, is that correct?”

  Saraphine shrugged noncommittally.

  “She placed a protection spell on Mace, right? And I suspect that’s the only thing keeping him alive now.”

  Examining her shoes, Saraphine gave another half shrug, which w
as confirmation enough.

  “If nothing else, I ask that you trust your grandmother’s judgment. She chose to protect Mace for a reason. Don’t you want to find out why?” Cora knew she had her, could see curiosity blooming over her face.

  At length, Saraphine brought her arm up to gaze down at an opened mirrored compact that Cora hadn’t even noticed she’d been holding. She snapped it shut, then gripped it tight in her palm while a fierce debate marched over her face. Cora wasn’t sure what to make of her actions.

  Finally, stuffing the compact into her pocket, she firmly met Cora’s gaze. “Can you control Knox and that Trent person?”

  No. “I can,” she lied.

  Saraphine eyed Bray as though wondering if she should include him in the mix, but seemed to determine it unnecessary. “Alright then.”

  Chapter 37

  With Meeka balanced on her shoulder, Cora stepped inside the cottage for the first time in what felt like forever. She compulsively checked the talisman around her neck and the other one around her finger, a small stone set into a silver ring—a backup and matching set to Saraphine’s, meant to keep Sadira from possessing either of them.

  “So,” Saraphine said, stepping in behind her with a busting satchel of supplies slung over her shoulder. “Devon can’t get to us in here?”

  On the way, Cora had filled her in on Devon’s treachery, along with her stint under the doctor’s care. Hearing it had softened Saraphine further.

  “Not as long as we stay inside the perimeter,” she explained. “I don’t even know how he found me in the first place.”

  Saraphine flushed. “It’s possible he followed Mace back here after he came to the restaurant to, you know, warn me.”

  Cora nodded. “Makes sense. That’s probably the only way an outsider could find this place.”

  “Make way for the invalid,” Knox barked, pushing past them with a supportive arm around Mace.

  “Fuck off,” Mace snapped at Knox, though he continued to lean on him as he guided him up the stairs to Cora’s old room.

  She worried that Mace wasn’t stronger after having gorged on her blood.

  Bray and Trent entered next along with Oz and the children, who had made fast friends. Cora was sure that Oz had compelled them, just as Bray had. They were behaving too politely and were unusually quiet for children their age. But she didn’t have the energy to let that concern her as it should.

  “How soon can you reinforce your grandmother’s spell?” she asked Saraphine.

  “I have some prep work to do, but it shouldn’t take long. You know this will only be a temporary fix, right? Whatever I do, it won’t match Gran’s original spell. She was a top-notch caster, and if Sadira’s curse is burning through her spell this fast, then I can only do so much.”

  “More time is better than none at all,” Cora reasoned, hiding her disappointment. She had hoped Saraphine would be able to remove the curse altogether, but while she’d gathered the necessary supplies, she informed Cora the only way to remove such a powerful curse was for the one who cast it to “call off the dogs.”

  Sensing her dismay, Bray went to Cora’s side and placed his strong hand on her shoulder. He didn’t need to say anything. That small act of comfort was enough for now.

  My rock.

  She reached up and covered his hand with hers, regretting that all she could offer him in return was pain.

  “I need to be with Mace now.” The words were laborious, the guilt suffocating. It was as if her heart had split in two, each hemisphere belonging to a different man. She glanced up at Bray with an apology in her eyes.

  He was smiling at her?

  “I understand,” he replied. No resentment filtered through the bond. He was…sincere.

  Cora couldn’t contain her gratitude for that small gift. She wrapped her arms around his torso and held him in a tight hug. “Thank you.”

  Bray surprised her by crooking his finger under her chin and dipping his head to claim a soft kiss. “I will wait for you.”

  She flushed and braved a peek at the others. Saraphine was the only one who appeared shocked. Trent seemed more annoyed while Oz gave off the air of indifference.

  “Let’s get started, Saraphine.” She mentally caged her embarrassment and lingering confusion.

  What am I going to do?

  She had to make sure Mace survived before she could contemplate her current relationships.

  In the upstairs hallway, they passed Knox on his way out of Mace’s room. Saraphine’s fists clenched and her body tensed, but she brushed past him without acknowledgment. Cora tried to do the same, but Knox snagged her by the arm.

  He made his voice low and threatening. “I want you downstairs in ten minutes.”

  Cora ripped herself from his grasp, something she probably wouldn’t have been able to do if he wasn’t so weakened by hunger. “I’ll attend to Mace for as long as I need. I’ll find you when I’m ready.”

  With that, she left him alone, glowering in the hallway. As she closed the door, she heard him mutter something about their deal, but she ignored him, turning to find Mace grinning at her from where he lay on the bed.

  “I owe Bray everything,” he said weakly. “He brought you back to me.”

  Cora chewed her lip. “I…” She crossed to throw herself into his arms, sniffling. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

  “Same here,” he replied, squeezing her tight.

  “I’m so sorry.” The words began to spill from her before she could stop them. “I’ve ruined everything.”

  “Shh,” he cooed. “We’ll figure out how to stop this curse. I won’t leave you. Ever.”

  He’d misunderstood her meaning, and had just made a promise he might not want to keep, but she didn’t correct him. That was a conversation for later. For when he was better. Stronger. At least enough to show her the proper contempt.

  Wiping her tears, she stood. “Let’s get started.”

  As it turned out, Saraphine didn’t require Cora’s help. All she could do was stand by and watch as Saraphine worked her magic. The whole task only took about thirty minutes. When it was over, Mace’s glyphs were almost back to that brilliant blue hue with only a bit of green and orange in places. Then Saraphine informed them she’d have to repeat the spell every few days to keep the curse at bay, and even that wouldn’t work for long. Eventually the curse would grow too strong.

  Although that news was somber, Cora embraced Saraphine in a crushing hug. “Thank you for doing this.”

  Saraphine pushed her away with a gentle touch, growing uneasy. “I’ve done it this once…because of Gran. But for that same reason, I…I can’t, no, I won’t do it again unless you give me what I want.”

  “Knox,” Cora muttered. “Sara, I want to help you find your grandmother’s killer. Please believe that. But I need to be certain that it was, in fact, Knox. You know I’m bonded to him. I’m not sure if you understand what that means, what it feels like, but it’s…well, it’s hard to explain. I can only tell you that it doesn’t feel like Knox is being untruthful when he says he didn’t do it.”

  Mace added, “It isn’t his style to leave such blatant evidence behind. I’m afraid I agree with Cora.”

  Saraphine frowned. “So you won’t help me.”

  “I didn’t say that.” Cora paused. “Teach me.”

  Saraphine cocked her head.

  “You used a truth spell on me before, right? Teach me to do that and I’ll be able to get the truth from him, whatever it may be.”

  “Do you think you could get him to drink the same elixir?”

  After a moment of contemplation, she shook her head. “At this point, he wouldn’t trust anything I offer unless it’s from a vein. There must be another way. Something a little more subtle.”

  Saraphine turned thoughtful. “There is something you could try. A spell that’s utilized when it’s best the subject be unaware, which usually means deeply asleep or in a trance, and it will take a few weeks for
you to master the technique.”

  “I’ll do it.” That would mean a few more weeks that Saraphine would be obligated to help Mace.

  After they agreed on a schedule for her secret training, Cora kissed Mace goodbye so that he could get some much needed rest and then reluctantly dragged her feet down the stairs. Saraphine opted to remain upstairs, claiming one of the adjoining rooms for the night.

  Bray, Oz, and Trent were gathered in the living room. She could tell by the conversation they’d been discussing the doctor and his clandestine motives, and probably would be for some time to come.

  When Bray spotted her, he stopped mid-sentence to grace her with a warm smile. She returned it with one that was a little brittle.

  He stood and crossed to her, pulling her into a warm embrace. “How is he?”

  “We’ve bought him some time.” She tried to sound optimistic, but her tone was a bit hollow. “He’s resting now.”

  “Good.” He raised his hand to gently cup her cheek while his thumb wiped away a rouge tear. “It may take a little while for him to regain his strength now that he’s drunk from you.” His smile was still in place, but as he studied her further, his lips thinned. “You should rest too. You must be exhausted.”

  She was, but there was still something she had to do, and it would be better to just get it over with now. “Knox is expecting me.” She glanced around. “Have you seen him?”

  “He went below,” Trent exclaimed, seemingly irked by her interruption.

  Bray’s frown was complete. “Do you want me to come with you?”

  His offer filled her with unimaginable gratitude, but there was no way in hell she’d willingly allow Bray to witness her with Knox. She sprang up on her tiptoes to gift him with a tender kiss. “That’s okay. I’ll be quick.”

  She hoped.

  He turned dubious, probably curious why she was blocking her emotions, but he said nothing as she slipped away.

  Down the hidden staircase, Cora found the cavern pitch black. Weren’t the torches usually lit? At the thought, two of the torches closest to her on either side of the cavern flamed to life, followed shortly by the next two, then the next, till finally her path was fully illuminated. She recalled this happening on another occasion—when she had been running from Knox, in fact. Oddly enough, now she was headed headlong toward him.