Page 13 of Fated for Flames

Professor Lucien’s sudden grip on my arm felt like a vise, his fingers digging into my skin. I jerked back, the forcefulness of his hold sending a shock of fear through me. Our gazes locked, each breath sharp and audible in the charged silence. His suspicion was palpable, cutting through the room like a sharp blade.

A surge of panic took over as memories of my past torment flashed before my eyes. The helplessness, the vulnerability—it all rushed back, igniting a fierce fire within me.

I refused to be a victim again. I would not allow myself to feel broken, to feel powerless.

My magic stirred within me, responding to the threat, a protective shield rising instinctively to ward off the danger. But Professor Lucien’s hold remained firm, unyielding.

“This better not be some trap,” he bit out, his voice thick with suspicion. “Or you’ll find the consequences most unpleasant, Evelyn Everhart.”

I tried to wrench my arm free, but Professor Lucien’s grip tightened, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that sent my fear into overdrive.

The panic within me swelled, fueling the growing storm of magic inside me. It coiled and writhed like a living thing, responding to my emotions with intensity.

The world blurred around me as my magic surged forth, an uncontrollable force born of trauma and desperation.

A blinding light ignited around me, but my panic was too strong to stop the magic from flowing out. Shadows danced at the edges of my vision as the raw power of my magic spun out of control.

And then everything went dark.

10

Lucien

The moment Evelyn Everhart knocked on my door, I braced myself for whatever trouble the Luminary Coven was about to bring into my sanctuary. I harbored nothing but disdain for the coven. Their high and mighty attitudes, their secretive nature—all of it rubbed me the wrong way. And yet here I was, about to entertain one of their own.

When the young witch entered, I couldn’t help but assess her from head to toe, my skepticism like a shield against any charm she might wield. They said the Luminary Coven harbored one of the greatest witches in history, and here she was in my office, looking nervous.

The rumors, however, hadn’t prepared me for the sight of her. She was undeniably beautiful, her natural allure unenhanced by the superficial glamours many of her classmates resorted to. Her eyes, a striking gold, almost caught me offguard. Almost. It was rare, a beauty so pure, untainted by spells. Yet beneath that visage, what darkness lay?

Adrien, ever the optimist, saw the good in everyone. That he was already enthralled with this witch was a concern. His judgment seemed clouded, perhaps, by the same charm that now tried to pierce my defenses.

Her request was simple, yet nothing about it felt right.

“You need help with an elixir?” I prodded.

When she produced the bottle, my worst suspicions began to materialize. The dark magic emanating from it was unmistakable, a vile thing to hold in one’s possession.

“This stuff is illegal,” I snapped, the anger and disbelief swirling within me.

Did she not know? Was it innocence or ignorance? Or was this a trap?

Her explanation did little to quell the storm inside me. Taking it since she was a young girl? For seizures? It sounded like a well-crafted lie, yet something in her panic-stricken eyes made me pause. Was it possible she truly didn’t know?

As I examined the potion, a part of me wanted to dismiss her, to send her away and forget this had ever happened. But another part, the part that remembered why I’d become a potion master in the first place, urged me to look deeper.

Plus, my curiosity got the better of me—the chance to study a dark elixir was rare.

“This potion…it has a dual purpose,” I found myself saying, the realization dawning on me. Someone was siphoning her magic, using her. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. If her intentions were genuine and this wasn’t some kind of trap…Consider the potential consequences if this falls into the wrong hands or, even more alarming, if a significant quantity is produced, think of the chaos it could cause!

I proposed the idea of bringing in a healer. For one, they would ascertain whether she truly was consuming the substance, and for two, they could determine the cause of her convulsions. Rafe, with his potent empathic abilities, could also discern the sincerity of her motives. Observing the authentic terror and perplexity in her eyes reminded me that matters were not solely black and white.

As I reached for my phone to make the call, a part of me wondered if I was being drawn into the Luminary’s web of secrets and lies. But another part, perhaps the part that still believed in the oath I’d taken to aid those in need, regardless of their origin, pushed me forward.

I grasped her arm, perhaps a little too harshly. “This better not be some trap,” I warned.

Her panic was immediate, a tangible force that filled the room, building as her fear transformed and ignited a surge of raw, untamed magic.

As her magic spiraled out of control, I realized the gravity of my error. This was no mere witch; she was a tempest, a force of nature barely contained within flesh and bone. My instincts kicked in, and I conjured a vortex, an attempt to contain the explosion of power threatening to engulf us. It was a struggle, her magic was potent and wild, unlike anything I’d encountered. I was barely holding on, the vortex a thin barrier between us and catastrophe.

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