Page 58 of Witch's Fate

No contest.

She flung out her wand, sending a great jet of flame toward the witches climbing out of the pit. They fell back, shrieking, but would rise again soon enough.

Sofia turned her wand toward the mansion and sent a jet of flame through the night. It blew apart the left side of the porch, sending flames licking up the side of the house.

“Holy shit, yes,” Inara breathed, then drew her wand and threw another jet of flame at the house.

“Light it up!” Sofia yelled. A distraction. A coven’s home was valuable. Grimoires and potions, wealth and history, all were within.

The coven wouldn’t know whether to fight them or save their home.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the dark-haired soulceress pull the golden one from a pile of rubble. Their men charged from the dust, heading for the witches. A silver apparition of a wolf ran alongside Felix and the blond man carried a gleaming sword. As they clashed with the witches, the soulceresses appeared at Sofia’s side.

“Can you destroy the house?” Sofia asked as she sent another blast of flame at the second story.

“Not a problem,” the golden soulceress said.

Sofia spun and raced toward the pile of rubble that covered Malcolm. Kitty still scratched at the stone that waspiled as high as Sofia’s head. The witches must have blown out the entire dungeon, and Malcolm had caught the brunt of it.

With a flick of her wand, she began to move the stones. Kitty jumped free. After a moment, she caught sight of Malcolm’s shirt. She raced to him and dropped to her knees.

His torso was crushed, seeping blood.

Fear shot through her, tearing a gasp from her throat. He lived, but barely. Only because he was an immortal. It wasn’t grievous magic or a beheading, so he would be okay. He had to be.

She moved the rest of the rocks from his legs, then glanced at the battle. The soulceresses controlled a giant tornado that was tearing the house apart while Inara and the men held off the witches.

“Time to go!” she screamed as she grasped Malcolm’s shoulders and aetherwalked them away.

A second later, they appeared in the foyer of his home. Malcolm lay on the floor, ashen. His breath was shallow and harsh, straining through lungs that barely worked. Fear streaked through her, sending her heart racing.

Oh fates, he lay here because he’d thrown himself in front of her. How many times would he do that?

She couldn’t lose him. She couldn’t.

Kitty watched Malcolm pensively as Sofia laid her hands on his chest and sent a burst of healing energy through him. She wasn’t technically a healer, but she’d learned how to magically mend bone and muscle from her mother. He would heal more slowly, but hewouldheal.

He had to.

He drew a deeper breath and she sagged in relief.

A second later, two figures appeared in the hall. Then three more. Their saviors and Inara.

Felix fell to his knees beside Malcolm. “Is he all right?”

“I think.” Her voice trembled.

Felix ran big hands over Malcolm’s chest and neck. He sagged. “He’ll be all right. He just needs to recover.” His gaze met hers. “You’re very powerful.”

“Yes. More so because of Malcolm.” The power he’d given her had definitely enhanced her healing abilities. “We should get him somewhere comfortable.” She didn’t know when he’d wake, but she didn’t want it to be on the floor.

Felix nodded and picked his brother up, then aetherwalked away. Sofia followed, assuming he went to the bedroom. When she arrived, she saw him put Malcolm on the bed.

“Bad luck that he landed under all that rubble,” Felix said. “But he’ll be fine. He’s strong.”

Sofia went to his side and laid her hand on his brow. Her heart ached to see him here like this.

“You’re Sofia?” Felix’s silver eyes studied her. Whereas Malcolm was all elegant strength, he looked like a lumberjack.

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