Page 12 of Wicked Bite
“Piss off.”
Atlas Savage had a bad habit of pinching nerves he shouldn’t be touching. Was he right? Maybe. Did I care? Kind of. Was I going to return home to live out a destiny that wasn’t my own? Hell, no.
“The truth is agony, my friend. To which you have little time to own up to it. In the scheme of life, each pays their dues to the gods, and the balance must be met.”
“Do you listen to half the bullshit that comes out of your own mouth?”
He took another bite of apple. “Do you listen to half the bullshit that comes out of my mouth? Free wisdom is priceless.”
I rolled my eyes. “I can’t be doing this with you right now.”
“Facts are facts, my friend. And the fact is, you’ve got to bring your arse home.”
A ball of fire flew from within the halls of the darkened school and soared up toward the sky, lighting up the dark walls like it was midday.
“Fuck.”
“What’s happened?” Sav’s voice changed from casual to serious in a moment.
“I think we’re about to be attacked.”
“I shall be there momentarily.”
I shook my head. “We can’t just have a random vampire moving about killing things.”
“Like they would spot me. It’s as though you’ve forgotten what my job is.”
Silvery power flowed out in front of the halls like seeking vines. They bathed the hallways and courtyard in a silvery glow. The low hum of an alarm sounded, and I knew shit was about to go down.
“Right, got to go, mate.”
“Grayso—”
I ended the call and glanced down at the courtyard. A huge phoenix flew from below and straight up toward the sky. Tuck, a fellow guardian of the witches, was also a phoenix shifter. If he was out this late and not in Zinnia’s bed, something was really wrong. He flew high above us, balls of fire shooting from his dark feathery tail. Each one hit a torch on one of the four towers of the school, igniting them into huge warning lights. Fire traveled down the sides of the school, lighting the torches in the hallways and the dorm rooms. In seconds, the whole school would wake and be ready. Those who were trained would take up their positions. Those who weren’t trained would go into a secure place. I hated that they were so young and faced with so much. But I would be damned if I let any of my crew get injured on this night.
Serrina, the Witch Queen of enchantments, sprinted out from one of the hallways across the courtyard. She looked like she hadn’t slept at all, with dark bags under her bright blue eyes. Her blond-streaked hair was in wild tatters, and her clothes were wrinkled like she hadn’t changed in days. This was not typical for the beauty but stress did funny things to people. “What’s happening?”
I dropped down from my perch high above them all and kept to the shadows. No one saw or heard me, but I wanted all the info I could get.
“Warwick is attacking.” Zinnia, The Siphon Queen and High Queen of all of Evermore, was in full control. Truth was, I liked her, had even helped her find love. Because if a Shade couldn’t, then I’d make damn sure she would. She practically vibrated with power as her silvery magic clung to her dark hair and pale skin. She spun in a circle, looking to the top of the walls that surrounded the school like a fortress and toward the thick metal front gate.
“What? Why?” Serrina’s eyes widened and streams of her red magic seeped from her fingers. It danced along the ground at her feet like pools of fabric.
I love this lot and their fantastic powers.
Zinnia pointed toward the main gate. “I have no idea. But I want them all coming from one direction. I don’t want warlocks just invading from every wall. It’s better if we contain the flow to one spot where we can focus our power and attack. Can you force them to the front gate?”
Smart girl.
“I can force them to go away if you want.” Serrina pressed her lips into a thin line. “Or send them all straight to Hell.”
Zinnia shook her head, and that midnight hair flew all around her face. “No, let them come. It’s time they learned who they’re messing with. We’ve been nice long enough. If power is what they respect, then power is what they will see. But it’ll be on our terms.”
Sometimes the only way to stop the violence is with strength. A hard lesson for one so young to learn.
Serrina gave a single nod to Zinnia then let her magic flow over three of the four walls of the school, bathing it in a dim red haze that I was sure our enemies wouldn’t see. I pressed my hand to it and instantly I felt the need to go toward that front gate. The warlocks would be walking right into a kill zone and not even know it.
Tabi, another of the Witch Queens, sprinted across the second floor toward us. She planted one foot on the edge of the railing and launched herself up into the air. A gust of wind caught her, and she landed next to Zinnia. Yellow magic sparked in her wild curls and over her dark skin. Her bright orange sweatshirt stood out like a target in the dark night. I was going to have to watch her closely.
