Page 99 of Hellish Witch

A faint pulse of energy radiated ahead, like a wall of power, invisible to the naked eye and almost undetectable if I wasn’t already open to the currents of magic around me.

“It’s the ward boundary, right? Just there.” I pointed at a subtle line of dark stones, half-buried in the leaf litter.

Alvie beamed at me. “That’s correct, Eve. Your natural abilities are amazing. I can only imagine what you’ll be able to do with training.”

Killian brooded in silence, his focus latched onto the mage.

I tugged at the hem of my jumper, unsure what to do with Alvie’s compliment. “So, um, how do Killian and I get through it?”

“I’ll let you in on a little coven secret.” His smile turned smug as he leaned in close, the clean scent of lavender soap washing over me. “Since I’m our coven’s protector and a high-ranking mage, I’ve been given access to the ward’s keying spell.”

“A secret or a chance to brag?” Killian mocked, baiting the mage.

Alvie ignored the demon, but his smile tightened.

The tension between them had only ratcheted higher and higher, and they’d just met about an hour ago.

“That’s amazing,” I blurted before the two idiots could come to blows. “I’d love to learn about warding.”

Hybrids would always be hunted for our differences. We were slaughtered and enslaved. Rex always had to worry about our kingdom being invaded. If I could add another layer of protection, maybe I could make up for all the danger I’d put everyone in.

Alvie beckoned me closer with a crook of his finger, walking backwards to the invisible ward. “It would be my pleasure to give you a quick lesson.”

I followed, curiosity getting the better of me. What things could I learn that I didn’t even know existed?

Beyond my affinity magic, and whatever nature connection I’d yet to explore, could I do amazing things too? I’d spent my whole life suppressing my mage side, except to heal, trying to be the most demonic of demons. I’d still never fit in.

Could I have been looking at things all wrong? Was I more mage than demon?

Up close, static buzzed from the ward line. I stretched my hands out, combing my fingers as close as I dared. Sparks nipped me like tiny insects, the bites firmer the closer I got to the invisible wall above the carefully placed stones.

“You can feel the boundary, warning you away, correct?” Alvie asked, watching me intently as I fondled the magic barrier, a crease between his golden brows.

I nodded slowly, concentrating on the strange feeling. “Yes, it’s giving me little shocks.”

His frown deepened. “Hmmm, usually you’d be in a lot more discomfort, touching it directly.” The expression melted into another of his bright smiles. “Another talent to uncover about the mysterious beauty.”

I ducked my head, looking away. What did you even say to something like that?

He’d probably meant “abomination” but was trying to be polite.

“If you concentrate on the ward, you might get a sense of the area it covers. My territory is quite large,” he said, a tinge of pride and something else lifting his tone.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the magic before me.

A wonky circle stretched out beyond the wall, blankness filling the vast space. The rest of the forest illuminated with sparks of life, great and small, but nothing shone inside the image of the ward boundary in my head. It reminded me of the dead zone around the portal.

“It spans for miles,” I murmured, blinking my eyes back open.

Alvie nodded. “Yes, very good. Only a select few mages have their signature tied into the locking spell on it, but our whole coven and a few special guests have permission to come and go as they please. Though, the coven elder is alerted when someone crosses. He likes to keep a rather close eye on our movements.”

The last part was said with a sour note. Apparently, Alvie wasn’t a huge fan of his leader.

“Anyway, I’ll let you and your demon…friendin as temporary guests. But we’ll have to go straight to see the coven elder.”

I flashed him a smile, ignoring the mix of emotions squirming through me at the thought of meeting more mages. “That’s great. Really, Alvie, I can’t thank you enough for helping us.”

He returned the smile, reached for my hand where it hovered over the barrier, and squeezed. “Of course, Eve. Us mages look out for our own.”

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