Page 107 of The Witch's Heart
“I don’t understand,” I say. “If I gave you this magic, how is yours stronger than mine?”
“Yours isn’t the only witch blood I’ve consumed, darling.” He winks. “But don’t worry. You’re still number one in my heart.” His voice lilts on the last word and he chuckles as if he’s told a joke.
Confusion cuts through my fear. “What does that--”
Then I remember. Maria’s heart.
He’d bitten into it, eaten it, right in front of us at that party atLe Rêve. Back then, I’d assumed he’d done it out of some need to assert dominance. Some vampire trick to intimidate. A disgusting enjoyment of the cruel and disgusting.
But now, I realize, it was more.
My magic glows brightly in my fingers, but I know, just like I knew who I really was when Logan bit me earlier, that the magic I’m using will not be enough.
Cutter is stronger.
He’s not just a vampire.
He’s a creature of his own making. A product of a vampire who’s consumed the blood of my ancestors. Magic and mysticism runs through his evil veins. If I want to have any hope of defeating him, it will take more than my witch heritage has to offer.
“You’re a hybrid,” I say and he grins victoriously. “Only one more to go.” he glances at Declan and Dean. “And now, because of you, I know just what to do with them.”
I square my shoulders, narrowing my eyes at the monster before me. A plan has formed but it’s risky and I have no idea if it will even produce the result I need.
“I will never give you what you want.”
Rip.
Cutter’s nails slash through Logan’s flesh. Logan hisses as a thin streak of blood pools along his cheek.
Fear punches a hole in my gut and I gasp, horrified at the sight of Logan’s punctured flesh.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a flicker of movement. Maria and her ghostly army hover just out of reach, watching solemnly.
My desire to go to her fuels the magic humming inside me, straining against the leash Cutter has conjured. With all my strength, I strain against it and manage to turn my head toward her. It’s enough to give me hope, and I reach for more.
Another body steps between us and my hope crashes.
Schmidt.
She glares at me and I can already feel her illusion crawling toward me.
“How?” I demand of Maria. “How do I embrace my bloodline?”
She tilts her head, her forehead creased in confusion. “The magic inside you is already greater than--”
“Not magic,” I say, impatience curling in my gut as Schmidt’s mouth curves.
“I’ll take care of her. Then you take the wolves,” she says to Cutter.
“Hurry up,” he snaps.
The air around me plunges to a temperature I know I won’t survive if the illusion takes hold. My magic pushes it back but exhaustion and the invisible constraints Cutter put on me make it impossible to stave off her power entirely.
“Maria, how do I become the beast?” I call.
“Beast?” Maria echoes and I know she doesn’t understand my question.
But Genevieve does. She breaks away from the others assembled and floats toward me.
