Bewitched (Bewitched, #1)(74)

His magic flares through my body, lending me his might.

I lug the girl into my arms once more, trying not to think about just how much I’m in Memnon’s debt. I’ve used a lot of his power tonight.

Got to get to shifter territory. I can worry about the sorcerer later. The most important thing is making sure this girl is safe.

I’ve taken maybe five steps when a monstrous roar fills the night air.

Well, fuck. There’s the monster. Now he’s accounted for.

And I think he’s after my ass.





CHAPTER 28





I hate running. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

That’s all I can think as I trip over roots and half stumble, half sprint through the Everwoods, my wounds so numerous, they’ve become one massive ache, one that Memnon’s power is no longer able to fully dull.

Oh, and there’s a monster somewhere in the forest at my back.

Nero lopes next to me, his eyes glinting in the darkness.

Ahead of me, the barrier comes into view, the magical line shimmering just the slightest. The sight of it gives me a final burst of adrenaline.

From the darkness behind me comes another roar.

I eye the barrier again. I’m going to make it—I am—but even so, there’s nothing to stop the monster from following me across.

Have to deal with the creature first.

I fall to my knees and lay the girl down as quickly as I can. After rising to my feet, I back away from her.

“Nero,” I say, nodding to my familiar, “guard the girl.”

In the forest behind me, twigs are snapping and branches are swaying as the monster barrels toward me.

I barely have time to turn toward it before the creature slams into me.

The two of us go down in a tangle of limbs. I hit the ground hard, the air knocked out of me.

Before I can draw in another breath, two monstrous hands close around my neck.

I gasp, my panic rising.

Can’t breathe!

Above me the creature’s lips draw back, and it hisses, revealing sharpened teeth.

If I could scream, I would. The thing looks human, but everything from its pallor to the odd smoothness of its features is wrong.

I reach for its hands, desperate to pry them from my neck. I startle at the feel of the creature’s skin, which feels like…like…potter’s clay.

Don’t I have a magical aptitude for clay?

The being’s hold tightens, and a gurgled sound comes from my mouth.

Selene, use my power! Memnon bellows inside my head.

Power, right.

I yank on Memnon’s magic, and for the hell of it, I try drawing on the creature’s own essence. To my shock, I feel its magic migrate from its body to my own. After gathering all the accumulated power, I force it down my arms and out my palms, willing the hands beneath mine to loosen.

For a moment, they do, and I drag in a grateful gulp of air.

But then those hands tighten once more, and the creature stares down at me with those lifeless obsidian eyes, its features slack.

A shadow drops from the treetops above us, landing heavily on my attacker. I hear the dull sound of clay breaking, and I swear to the triple goddess that the monster’s back caved in under the impact.

Nero snarls above us. I see a flash of his fangs, and I feel a stray claw of his accidentally tear at my flesh as he mauls the creature between us. I grunt at the wave of pain that comes a moment later.

Damn the gods, Empress, USE MY POWER! IT IS YOURS! Memnon roars.

My pain and panic and those compelling words are enough to call forth another wave of power.

I don’t mean to let my magic make use of my blood; it’s simply that my attention drifts briefly to my newest wound, and the magic follows. Once there, my magic feasts.

My power comes alive like never before. I didn’t know it could feel like this—like a live wire. It’s burgeoning more and more as my blood dissolves.

I gather it in my palms and move my hands to the monster’s chest. Its own hold is still fast around my neck, despite Nero’s attack.

For an instant, I move into Nero’s head.

Move away. Now, I command him.

I shift back into my own head as my panther hops off the creature, then prowls back to the girl.

Black spots obscure my vision, but I wait until my magic has finished devouring my blood. I know that’s forbidden magic; I know that tomorrow I’ll be sorry I used it.

But tonight, I have no remorse.

I stare into those empty eyes, and I speak a single word. “Annihilate.”

My power detonates.

The creature blasts into the air, its body shattering as it’s thrown across the forest. My spell continues, the last of it hitting a tree and cracking it apart.

Then the woods fall silent, so painfully silent.

There is my queen. Memnon’s words seem to echo in the silence, though I know I’m only hearing them in my head.

I take a deep breath of air, then cough, my throat raw. Nero comes over to me, rubbing his head and then his body against my face.

I force myself to my feet, though my body feels incapable of holding me up. I stumble over to where I saw the creature’s remains fall.

When I get to where I think it landed, I whisper “illuminate” into my hand.

A weak orb of light bursts forth, the light from it flickering. I blow it off my palm, watching it float over the ground.