The pressure on my throat increased, and I tried to cough. But no air passed my windpipe, and I knew I'd pass out in another second. Already, my heart pounded in my head, and my vision dimmed. My hands were grappling uselessly at the invisible force choking me. But they were still under my control. Quick as a snake, I grabbed her ankle and zapped her with all I had left.
Farkas hadn't expected that. She screamed and jumped back. It broke her concentration, and I pulled a deep breath into my oxygen-starved lungs. Next to me, my men did the same.
"You're like a rattle-snake. I was wrong. I'll kill you first."
I curled into a ball, expecting the pain of what she'd done to Justin, but it didn't come. Instead, she was breathing heavily, glaring at us from a few yards away.
"She's not as strong as she lets on," Kiernan said.
Callahan shouted, "Didn't you do the ritual to make yourselves stronger?"
I slapped my forehead. He was right. We'd done the ritual together, not by ourselves. "Quickly, join hands. And somebody hold onto Macha."
We were the five points of the pentagram, the most magical of all symbols. We were the Quint.
The moment we closed the circle, I felt the power rise. A gust of wind blew across our faces, and droplets of rain hit our skin. Sparks of orange fire and white lightning energy danced across our hands. The ground underneath our feet trembled as Kiernan's magic joined in. Callahan stood outside the circle, watching us with huge eyes. His hair was standing on end with static electricity.
"You might want to step back," I advised. My voice sounded far away, but he heard me and retreated toward the house.
Ignoring Farkas, we closed our eyes and focused on our bond magic. I saw the ties between us, pulsing like five umbilical cords. As I fed my magic into the connection, so I received my men's power. Macha was part of it, but his input was the weakest of us. In the darkness of my closed eyes, all my men were like shining gods. But Macha's spark was sputtering, on the verge of going out. I sent a desperate thought through our connection. "Hold on."
He shone brighter for a moment before dimming again. His feline body wasn't strong enough to hold all the power swirling between us. I wanted to tell him to get out of the circle, but without him, the Quint would fall apart. We needed him.
I opened my eyes and shouted, "Now."
As one, we turned to Farkas and hit her again. She'd warded herself as best she could, but wasn't a match against our suped-up powers. The end was anti-climactic. She'd managed to defend herself against Kiernan's rocks and Lance's stream of fire, but it was the lightning that fried her. She flew back, right out of her shoes. The noise of her head hitting the ground was nauseating. Her feet were smoking.
When I went to check on her, Kiernan shouted, "Be careful. She might still attack."
But she wouldn't. I could tell by the look on her face. She was dying. Blood was running from her ears, her eyes had boiled away, leaving empty sockets. Her hair had burnt off her scalp. A horrible, rattling noise indicated major lung damage from inhaling super-heated air. How she was still alive, I had no idea.
Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something. At first, I couldn't make out any words. But then her whispered words drifted to my ear. "You lost."
What? I stared at the grotesque, ruined face of the former Head Witch.
Her bleeding mouth stretched into a grin. "You lost. The portal... is gone. Forever."
She coughed, took one more rattling breath, and died.
Lance gave me his hand to get back up. "What did she say?"
"She said the portal was gone forever. What does that mean?" Maybe it was the excitement of the battle or the growing awareness that we were still alive. But it took me a few moments to understand what she'd meant.
Both hands flew to my mouth, holding in my scream of despair. My men surrounded me, their questions ranging from concerned to worried. "What? What is it, Amber?"
Callahan had joined us, looking as confused as my men. I turned to him. "She said the portal is gone. Does the FBMA know how to open it?"
He paled. "No. She controlled the portal. Maybe there's a way to open it from the other side, but if she's closed it, we're screwed."
My throat closed up, and my eyes burned. I didn't want to say it, but tears were trickling down my cheeks, and the guys deserved to know.
"She's destroyed the gate to the Fae realm. Our friends... Beth... Keith and Kenzy. The other kids. We can't get them back. They're stuck in the other world."
32
Amber
We stared at each other, my horror reflected in my men's faces. Kiernan sat down, pulling on his hair as he squeezed his eyes shut. "There's got to be another way. Think, Amber."
Callahan said, "He's right. I hadn't joined the FBMA when the Fae contacted us, but it was them reaching out to us. Not the other way round. There's got to be a way to open another portal."
"Amber. Come here." Julian’s voice was full of dread.
I turned and stumbled. "No."
Julian kneeled next to a person, lying motionless in the grass near the driveway. Macha’s hair was singed in places, and his beautiful blue eyes were half-lidded, staring into nothing.
My beautiful Macha hadn't made it. Maybe the ritual or Farkas’s death that had broken the spell and turned him back. But in the end, the power of our Quint circle had burned him up. And even though he knew this was happening to him, he'd stayed, to give us what help his small cat body could provide.
My hand shook, stroking his head as if he could still feel the caress. Kiernan's eyes were glistening with tears, and Lance wiped his cheeks angrily. Yet his voice was soft. "Rest easy, brother."
Julian took Macha's hands and folded them on his chest before closing his eyes. A breeze picked up and stirred strands of Macha’s hair. Only a few feet away lay the body of another one of our friends. But whereas Justin’s body was barely recognizable, Macha looked like he was asleep.
The pain of losing him squeezed my throat, making it hard to breathe. My head hurt with the pressure in the back of my eyes as I stared at my friend, my confidant, my lover. Julian was finished with paying respect to Macha’s body. He bent and kissed him on the forehead before getting up.
Something about his posture, about the way he’d leaned over the dead body, stirred a memory. I’d seen him before in a similar posture. And then I remembered. "Julian. Do what you did with the badger."
His head whipped around. His eyes were wide and terrified. "I can't... “
“Yes, you can. Bring him back.”
“I don't know how I did it."
I wasn’t taking “no” for an answer. "I saw you. You created some kind of cloud, and the dead badger came back to life."
Julian’s face showed a mix of regret and fear. "It was a fluke. I tried it before, and the animals turned into black sludge. Just like the flowers I gave you. And I've never tried it with a person."
No. He wasn’t doing this. I stalked towards him, my finger pointing at him. "He's dead anyway. What difference does it make? At least try."
Lance and Kiernan watched us, some small sparks of hope in their expressions. Julian looked from me to the others.
"Please. Try. For me."
He took a deep breath, coming to a decision. "As long as you understood this might not work."
He placed his hands on Macha's body and bent his head, his eyes closed. Nothing happened. He held his position for another moment, before his shoulders sagged. "It's not working."
"Bollocks. You’re doing it wrong." That was Kiernan. "We beat Farkas together. We can do this together as well."
Callahan watched us as we shuffled into a circle around the cooling corpse. His face was carefully bland, but he took a few steps away from us. Smart man. Kiernan placed his arm around my shoulder while I touched Lance on my other side. Then we placed our free arms onto Macha. The moment my fingers touched his skin, the power built between us. It wasn't as glorious as when the pentagram had boosted our individu
al magic. Instead, it felt like my life force was sucked slowly, painfully, through Julian into Macha.
I ground my teeth as the pulling sensation grew. Sweat pooled on Kiernan's top lip, and Lance groaned. But we continued, trusting Julian to bundle our energy. My vision grew fuzzy as the transfer continued, so when Macha's leg twitched, I thought it was wishful thinking. But then it happened again.
"It's working." Kiernan’s mouth pulled into a huge grin.
From there, things progressed quickly. Macha's arms twitched, and he lifted his head and stared at me. My smile grew until I was laughing with sheer relief. Callahan muttered, "You gotta be kidding me."
Julian removed his hand. "He's back."
He tried to stand up, but fell back on his ass. "Woah. Feeling a bit dizzy."
I buried my head against Macha's shoulder, sobbing with relief. He patted my back awkwardly. "You're heavy, Whitman. Give a guy some space."
I pulled back and glared at him. Macha beamed and winked. I said archly, "You've got to stop hanging with Kiernan."
Then I pressed my lips against his. "Welcome back."
He hugged me tightly. "So damn glad to be back."
Callahan drove us to the compound. The FBMA would took care of the bodies, including Justin’s. I’d been reluctant to leave him behind, but Callahan promised he’d be treated with respect.
“I can’t believe fucking Whitehall of all people saved us,” Julian muttered as we pulled away. He’d been the victim of one of our former teacher’s Tech-Mag’s demonstration and had never quite forgiven him.
I couldn’t stop crying. “He risked his life for us. He didn’t deserve this.”
Kiernan rubbed my arm. “No, he didn’t. But he knew the risks.”
Callahan’s gaze met mine in the rear view mirror. “He’ll receive a hero’s burial. We won’t forget him.”
“As if that makes a difference to his family,” I muttered. But it made me feel a little better that Justin’s sacrifice wouldn’t be forgotten and covered up in the name of state secrecy.
“He’s not the only one, Amber.” Callahan’s tone was compassionate but firm. “There are many people who’re ready to lay down their lives to protect the magic-turned of our world. This isn’t over yet. There are still hundreds of kids trapped in the Fae world.”
“But I killed Farkas. She said the portal is gone.”
“That’s true. But there are more ways to skin a cat—“
Macha cringed. “Seriously?”
Callahan continued, “Sorry. Bad turn of phrase. What I meant to say is that there may be another way to reach the Fae world. And we’re hoping that you would support us in getting them back.”
There was a moment of silence in the car while Callahan waited for my answer. I knew already I’d do anything to free those students. But I had to confirm it with my men.
“Whatever you decide, we’re with you. All the way,” Julian said while the other three agreed.
I laid my head against Kiernan’s shoulder while holding hands with Lance and Macha. Julian slumped against the door of the wide SUV, taking a well-deserved nap. I’d never been prouder of them. And together, we’d face the coming storm, in this world or the Fae realm.
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Note from the Author
Thanks so much for reading Second Chance Heat.
I’m super proud of this book because I wrote it in under four weeks in April 2021.
My dream is to be able to write a book a quarter, and after practicing and improving, I’m getting closer to that goal.
Originally, this book was supposed to be the conclusion of the Second Chance Academy, but there were just too many open ends.
So the definitely final book Second Chance Doom will be available end of August 2021. Although I’ll try to get it done much sooner.
I haven’t figured out the story yet, but suffice to say that Amber and her men will embark on a new adventure once they’ve escaped the Academy for good.
Which means there might be another series with the same characters, or a spin-off series featuring Beth, Keith, and Kenzy. Or maybe I’ll write both!
Want to be notified when my next book releases? New books are always priced at 60 to 80% cheaper during the first two days. Plus you’ll be the first to find out about giveaways and competitions.
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Thank you again for your support!
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xo, Ella J. Smyth
Also by Ella J. Smyth
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In the Second Chance Academy Series:
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Second Chance Doom, #5
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Out in August 2021.
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Book Five of the Second Chance Academy series, a reverse harem, medium-burn novel with a HFN.
Ella is also the author of the renowned Spirit Walker series.
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This is an exciting, fast-paced love story between two reluctant spirit walkers, forced into working together to save the worlds from certain destruction.
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Find out more on Ella’s website: https://www.ellajsmyth.com/books
About the Author
Ella J. Smyth is a paranormal and urban fantasy romance writer. She makes her online home at www.ellajsmyth.com.
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You can connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EllaJSmythsReverseHaremSisterhood, and you should send her an email at [email protected] if the mood strikes you.
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You can follow her convoluted and fantastical flights of fancy on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/ellajsmyth where she casts her heroes and heroines in the most amazing places on earth.
www.ellajsmyth.com
ella@ellajsmyth
To my husband who took on the cooking, cleaning, and general household while I was up to my eyeballs in writing. My daughter who didn’t fail her final exams (we hope) while I couldn’t “motivate” her. To my son who supplied me with booze and chocolate.
SECOND CHANCE HEAT - BOOK FOUR OF THE SECOND CHANCE ACADEMY SERIES
by Ella J. Smyth
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 by Ella J. Smyth
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Second Chance Heat, a reverse harem magical academy HEA paranormal romance: Book Four of the Second Chance Academy Series Page 18