by Deanna Chase
“Only me?” He stood up straighter, his shoulders back, preening like a freakin’ peacock. “But what if I want to show you off?”
She forced a smile. “We can make that happen. But not until I give you your private show.” Pressing her palm to his chest, she rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him.
Full-on kissed him, tongue warring with his, my body pressed against his, my other hand gripping his hip.
He twisted, burying his hand in her hair, grinding against me, his mouth working like a starving man.
I recoiled in the back of my mind, distancing myself from the violation. She might have taken over my will, but I still felt everything. Had to be witness to her fierce determination to do whatever it took to end him. His greedy mouth claiming mine, his rough hands manhandling me as if he had a right to my body.
The urge to unleash the power still flowing through my veins, to fry him with it, to watch him burn, pushed every other thought out of my mind. I craved revenge. Was consumed with hatred. Was ready to finish him.
He broke away, pushing Vienna back as he gasped for breath and held his hands up. “Not like this. Not here.”
“I want you now. I want my hands on you. And you begging me for mercy.” She took a step forward, her voice husky with what appeared to be lust. And it was. Bloodlust. As soon as she had her opportunity, she was going to kill him.
I was going to be used to kill him.
Horror filled me. No! I cried. We can’t do that. We have to turn him over to the Witches’ Council. They’ll take care of him. They’ll decide his punishment.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see him pay for his crimes. There was no doubt he deserved it. But I wasn’t prepared to be involved in ending someone’s life. I wasn’t the judge and jury, even if she had good reason to be.
Vienna didn’t respond to my outburst. Instead, she called up more power, the magic swirling like a hurricane force beneath my skin.
“You’ll be the one doing the begging, Vienna,” he said, all traces of seduction gone from his tone. “No one plays me.”
Magic shot from his fingertips at the same time Vienna raised my hand and her magic exploded into an invisible wall. The moment his spell hit, the wall shattered into a million pieces.
Holy hell. All bets were off. I had no idea how he knew she was lying, but it was clear he hadn’t bought a word of her act.
Xavier leaped forward, both hands stretched out, reaching for my neck. Vienna rolled off the small stage, shooting a stream of magic right at him. Her feet landed on the floor as her magic hit him squarely in the chest, propelling him across the room. He slammed into the wall and, as if in slow motion, slid down to the floor.
Whoa. You’re badass, I said to Vienna.
A ripple of her pleasure fluttered through me at my compliment. She stalked across the room to her murderer and crouched down in front of him. He had a blank expression on his dazed face, but with one touch of her hand to his neck, he blinked and recognition dawned.
“You’re going to pay for this… again,” he growled.
“I doubt it. I’m not that naïve witch anymore, taken off guard by your subtle spells and potions. You’re the worst kind of predator. The kind that people look past because you’re a nice guy. The kind no one believes is a monster. But I know better. I know those herbs you gave me left me impaired and unable to fight you off. You’re a coward, pathetic, and deserve to rot in hell.”
“You first.” Magic crackled around us as they both struck at the same time. Vienna’s was pure white magic, not unlike Jade’s, while Xavier’s had a dark gray tint, laced with black magic.
Watch out! I cried when he shot something that looked like a fireball at us. Vienna dropped to her knee, barely avoiding the attack.
But Xavier was too quick, already mumbling something as pure black energy rose around him, swirling like a cape. His body shimmered, going transparent as he started to fade away.
“Oh no you don’t!” Vienna jumped to her feet. “You’re not going anywhere without me.” She raised her arms and shouted, “Iunctio!”
The black magic shot from Xavier and encircled us. His eyes darkened once again to obsidian as his lips twisted into a sinister snarl.
“You’re not getting away with anything this time,” Vienna said, her tone so calm and icy cold that a dread settled in my gut.
What did that mean?
The blank walls of the dungeon melted away, replaced by mirrored walls, plush carpeting, and bright light streaming through a large window.
“Idiot,” Xavier said and reached for Vienna.
She stepped back, or tried to, but was frozen in place. “What the—”
“You didn’t think I was going to let you hitch a ride and escape just like that, did you?” he asked, anger making his voice shake. His long limbs were jerky as he reached for her again.
I recoiled, still shunted to the background inside my own body. Vienna’s fear and panic mixed with my own, and that’s when I started to worry.
You have to stop him, I said.
“I… can’t.” She was frozen. Locked in place. His magic had done something to her, neutralized her. Made it so she couldn’t fight back once again.
His hands closed around her throat, squeezing until she choked.
My own consciousness faded in and out as he dragged my body toward the blinding sunlight.
“You can’t be trusted. I always knew you were a liar.” The hatred and disappointment emanating from him startled me. The entire time we’d been in his prison, he’d shown affection, even his twisted form of love for her. Now his true colors had shown themselves. This is what he’d been like the night he’d thrown her over the railing ten years ago. The desperate man who couldn’t live with the fact that she would never love him.
And now it was even worse. She’d made him think, even if only for a few moments, that she was willing to give him everything he ever wanted. But she’d betrayed him, and he was going to make her pay.
Make me pay.
The sliding glass door opened with an ear-piercing screech.
“It should never have come to this,” Xavier whispered into my ear, his breath hot and smelling of rotten eggs.
I recoiled, flinching in his arms, and let out a tiny gasp of air when I realized Vienna was no longer in charge of my body. I glanced down at my pale skin, noted the silver ring I wore on my right ring finger and my electric-blue nail polish.
Xavier’s hand tightened around my neck, followed by the other one, yanking on my hair, snapping my head back. He stared into my eyes, his changing from obsidian back to pale, lifeless blue. “Where did she go?” Xavier demanded, shaking me. “We weren’t done here.”
I tried to shake my head but couldn’t. He had me locked in place. I struggled to suck in air, resulting in a sick, gurgling noise as my vision started to blur again. If I didn’t get free, I was going to pass out any second. I had to do something.
Anything.
“That stupid witch.” Xavier pushed me toward the railing, slamming my back against the metal bars. “You in there, Vienna?”
Was she? I had no idea. And no idea how to answer. So I went with my gut and choked out, “No, she isn’t.”
“Son of a—”
I kicked out. Hard. My boot struck his shin. He let out a surprised grunt and lost his balance, causing him to release his hold just enough that I was able to pull away from his death grip.
“You stupid—”
The refresher self-defense class I’d taken less than a week ago sent me into overdrive. Using the heel of my hand, I thrust upward, catching his nose, and jerked my knee forward, ramming him in the groin.
Only he dodged to the left and my knee hit his thigh instead, but that didn’t save his nose. A sickening crack rang in my ears, followed by blood gushing down his face.
His hand clasped over my forearm just as I spun, catching him with a roundhouse kick to the side of the head. He released his grip and slammed into the side of
the railing, his body folding in on itself.
Finish him, Vienna said, apparently still sharing my body. Don’t let him do this to anyone else. Throw him overboard, just like he did to me. Vienna’s words mixed with my adrenaline and I took a step forward, more than willing to do her bidding.
Xavier was still crumpled on the balcony, blood dripping from his nose when I yanked on his hair, forcing him to look up at me.
Hatred stared back at me.
I didn’t care. There was a force inside me now, willing and ready to end him. Power so sweet, so all-encompassing, radiated down to my fingertips. Vienna’s power.
Use it. Do what you have to, she urged.
I wanted to. Ached to do it. To send him over the rail of the ship. To make him suffer just as Vienna had.
“You don’t have the nerve,” Xavier spat.
“Watch me.” Her power crackled down my arms
“Release the magic,” Xavier ordered, lumbering to his feet, confidence in his smug expression.
Only his commands didn’t work on me anymore. Nothing he said had any hold on me. The fight, Vienna’s magic, whatever it was, had completely broken his spell. He didn’t know it yet, but his curse had been neutralized. I raised my arms, shooting a stream of magic right at his chest. It smacked into him, contorting his body as the electric current rippled through him.
He screamed, and his black magic billowed from his palms into a cloud, slowly moving toward me.
I stood my ground, Vienna’s desire for revenge and my need for justice merging into one thought—Xavier was finished. Her magic crackled at my fingertips, the intoxicating strength of it making me feel invincible.
Bloodlust. It was right there, consuming me. Everything narrowed around me, and all I saw was Xavier, his lanky body hunched over, dull blue eyes locked on mine, evil lurking beneath the surface. Hatred coiled inside me, for what he’d done to her, to Muse, and to me. For any other woman he’d put through hell to feed his twisted desires.
“You’re done.” I took a step forward, lifted my arms, and unleashed the torrent of magic. Dark gray light shot from my palms, colliding with his black cloud. The two streams mixed, then suddenly erupted into a blazing ball of fire. The explosion knocked me back into the suite, and I landed with a muffled thump.
That dark gray magic coiled around me, the heat of it nearly burning my skin.
Again! Vienna ordered.
I shook my head, my body trembling as I finally registered what was happening.
Dark gray magic meant one thing—her magic was tainted with evil.
23
Xavier stormed into the room, small burn holes in his clothes, and smoke clinging to him. The charred smell of hair filled my senses, nearly making me gag.
“Get up!” he ordered.
I did as I was told, but only because being sprawled on the ground wasn’t going to do me any favors with a pissed-off witch coming for me.
“You’re going to need to do a lot more damage than that if you expect to take me down.”
I stood there, frozen with indecision as Vienna’s power strummed through me, ready for the taking. Deep down, I knew she was tapping into something far too dark. I’d been around Jade and the coven long enough to know what black magic could do to a person. Add the fact that I wasn’t a witch, was a complete novice at using magic, and utilizing her power was a really bad idea. I could end up going insane from the evil magic, or worse. A shuddering chill ran through me. I was in a lose-lose situation.
I had no choice.
If I didn’t use my only viable weapon, Xavier would take Vienna and me down. With a heavy heart, I took one step forward, meeting Xavier head-on, and unleashed her poisonous power.
Xavier snarled and met my attack with one of his own. The two magic streams collided once again, only this time instead of an explosion, something deep inside me snapped. I felt giant, unstoppable, invincible. Nothing could beat me, least of all Xavier.
The magic pouring from me curled in on itself and formed a giant dragon. The black-and-silver creature took flight, diving headfirst into the black magic. His mighty jaws opened, and I half expected him to breathe fire. Instead, he sucked in Xavier’s stream of magic, shielding Vienna and me.
Xavier’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open as he tried to back up, but he couldn’t. He was locked in place, joined with my magical dragon.
How are you doing that? Vienna’s voice was back, full of awe.
Me? I shot back. No idea. Is your spirit animal a dragon or something?
No. I don’t have one.
Neither do I. But it appeared I did now, at least for the moment. The dragon continued to steal Xavier’s magic, the creature growing with each passing moment while Xavier fell to one knee, barely hanging on.
His face had turned gaunt and his skin waxy with exhaustion.
I redoubled my efforts, pouring more magic into the dragon, urging him to drain the witch, to take every last bit of his magic until he was weak and begging for mercy.
The vindictiveness started as a small ball of hatred and quickly grew, snowballing at an alarming rate.
Yes, Vienna urged, cheering me on.
I ignored her, so consumed by the need to end the man now kneeling in front of me.
“You’ll never hurt anyone again,” I said, my voice gravelly to my own ears.
His eyes glazed over and his mouth worked, but no words came out.
The dragon’s silver scales turned jet-black, and his eyes glowed red as the last dregs of magic slipped from the man. Xavier fell forward, landing on his hands and knees, frail and broken, completely neutralized.
“Look at me,” I ordered.
His head slowly rose, shaking from the effort. His pale blue eyes were now ash gray, empty, soulless.
I didn’t care. His time was up. Never again would he lay a hand on another innocent woman. “Good-bye, Xavier,” I said so calmly my voice was foreign even to my own ears.
His eyes closed and he hung his head, prepared for his sentence.
Elation strummed through my veins, energizing me as I focused on my dragon. His head turned to the side, his glowing red eye locking with my gaze. Silent communication passed between us, and then I nodded once and unleashed my dragon.
He shot to the ceiling, hovering directly over Xavier, his black scales outlined with shimmering silver.
Time seemed to stand still in that moment as I saw exactly what would happen to the witch. The dragon would unleash his fire, blasting Xavier with magic so dark it would reduce him to ashes.
Icy fear crawled up my spine and my breath got caught in my throat. I’d ordered this. And I couldn’t stop it. Not now. The dragon was no longer within my control. He was now in possession of all the power I’d taken from both Vienna and Xavier.
I wasn’t sure how I’d done it, but I’d created a literal monster filled with black magic.
The dragon’s jaws opened, and a torrent of evil came gushing out, instantly incinerating the light fixture mounted to the ceiling. Silver flecks of metal rained down in the following silence.
Holy heavens, Vienna said, her fear seeping into mine. What have we done?
There was no time to answer. The dragon shifted suddenly, spinning and wrapping his tail around himself right before he dove straight for Xavier.
“No!” I cried, horrified.
The door slammed open, and familiar voices filled the room, shouting orders and incantations.
Strong arms wrapped around me, yanking me away from Xavier and the now-snarling dragon. My breath came in short gasps and tears stung my eyes as I realized the strong arms belonged to Julius.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” he asked, setting me on my feet near the door.
“I’m all right,” I forced out, grasping his arm as I watched Jade cast a giant white net of magic over the dragon. His wings flapped sporadically, and smoke poured from his nostrils. She stepped back, pulling her net and the dragon away from Xavier.
Kane
stood to the side of her, his demon-hunter amulet out, the eye trained on the murderer. If he even flinched, Kane would take him down.
Julius tightened his hold on me for just a moment, then released me. Staring me in the eye, he said, “I’m going to help Jade. Do not move.”
I nodded once, but as soon as he released me, I backed up until I ran into the wall. My knees buckled and I slid to the floor, my hands shaking. The reality of what had almost happened hit me hard. My vision blurred and the room began to spin. Pain shot through my temple, and I grabbed the sides of my head, rocking back and forth as my stomach rolled.
“Pyper?” The voice was familiar but I couldn’t place it.
The pain intensified. Everything pulsed inside me, needles stabbing my insides, heat burning me from the inside out.
“Pyper!” The cry was more frantic now.
I lifted my gaze and wasn’t surprised to see the dragon had freed himself from Jade’s net. He was right in front of me, his glowing red eyes studying me. Silver magic crackled over his black scales. We locked gazes, and everything else fell away. All that existed in that moment were me and the black-magic dragon. His glowing red eyes bored into mine. Revenge. Hatred. Evil. It was all right there at the surface, giving the dragon life.
And he was a part of me. We were connected. Had the same goal. Without him, I was nothing.
Shaking, I lifted my arm and reached out, needing to once again feel the magic he now carried. My fingers trembled with anticipation. The need consumed me. There was nothing I needed more than the magic. I climbed to my feet, straining to reach him.
And then, just before my fingers brushed his shimmering scales, a deafening blast shot from across the room.
The dragon exploded into a million tiny little pieces, his shimmering scales twinkling in the afternoon sunlight.
Then I started to scream.
Everything hurt. Muscles ached. My eyes watered. And the silence was deafening in the dark room.
I turned my head, wincing at the pain that shot down my shoulder and the ice pick slamming into my brain.
“Oh son of a—” I clamped my mouth shut, trying and failing to swallow. My throat was too raw, too dry. Water. I needed water.