Page 37 of Fated for Flames

“You think I’m afraid of some measly pathetic witch?”

“You should be?” I say as I wave my little fingers in the air with a smirk. It was all a bluff,death by dickwas not the way I wanted to go, but he didn’t know that I shouldn’t use my magic.

“Witch or not you’re no match for my animal,” he sneered.

“You wanna bet?”

Okay, maybe taunting the scary shifter isn’t a great idea.But I was sick of people taking advantage of me.

“Sure, let’s bet,” Viper said, a venomous smirk curling his lips.

I could feel the tension radiating off him, a dark energy that wrapped around us both like a serpent preparing to strike.

“Deal,” I said, extending my hand. He took it, his grip squeezing hard, but I simply smiled as if he weren’t trying to break my fingers.

Just then, Chad appeared by my side, a frown marring his usually cheerful features. “Come on, guys,” he said, attemptingto defuse the situation and removing Viper’s hand from holding mine. “We’re all friends here.”

Viper scoffed.

I shook my head and crossed my arms. “This is between Viper and me.”

Chad looked like he wanted to argue, but one look at my determined expression had him holding his tongue.

“Fine,” he said finally. He stepped back but still kept close to me.

“All right,” Viper said, turning back to me with a glint in his eye. “If you win”—he rolled his eyes like that was highly unlikely—“I’ll declare to the entire class howwrongI was about you and how muchstrongeryou are than me.”

“And if you win,” I added with gritted teeth, “I’ll drop out of this class. But let’s make it at the beginning of next term. There’s no way I’m losing any credits over this.”

“Seems like you’re gearing up for a loss.” Viper grinned—a grin full of smug satisfaction. “I look forward to it, witch.”

A wave of apprehension swept over me. The thought of dropping out of this class was like a punch in the gut. Shit, what have I done?

I guess I’ll just have to prove them all wrong.

Then my gaze found Ryker. His eyes locked on mine, unblinking. Always watching and assessing.

Whatever.

I wasn’t backing down. Not now, not ever.

25

Evelyn

Days blurred into one another, with the routine of classes, training, and dodging Lia’s increasingly hostile glares forming a rhythm I gradually settled into. With each passing day, I grew stronger despite the siphoning, but I also grew wearier as Lia became more distant.

This hadn’t happened last time. Previously, we had remained close. She had played me well, manipulating me under the guise of friendship. But it had all been a lie. This time, everything was out in the open; she wasn’t even pretending to care. It was like we had never shared every secret and were best friends for several years. Whatever lies Morgana had told her, they’d worked, because nothing I did or said made any difference to her.

I was failing miserably, and I wasn’t getting closer to finding answers.

Then, during a class on the History of Witchcraft, something caught my attention.

Professor Wren, a centuries-old male warlock with a sharp mind and kind smile, was discussing a particular instance in our history, but it was the brief mention of matriarch succession that had my hand shot into the air.

It was a mandatory class for all witches and warlocks. From my spot in the back of the room, sitting beside Theo, I could see everyone. Lia, her blonde hair shining under the lights of the classroom, sat near the front beside Ruby.

My heart pounded as Professor Wren’s eyes met mine, an encouraging smile gracing his face. “Yes, Miss Everhart?”

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