Page 111 of Spellbound & Speechless
“Ah…” I chuckle. Hopefully, it doesn’t sound as nervous as I feel. “I didn’t realize you stole from the beings that made you.”
“Only with permission.”
She gives me no actual answers, and I don’t expect her to—nor do I need her to. All I need is to buy time, and she seems happy to give it to me.
Help… she’s here.
I call to Mac through our mating bond. No response. There’s no saying if he’ll be able to hear it, but it’s my only hope.
“A demon gave you permission to steal from its spawn, then?” I ask.
She curls her nose. “I know what you’re doing. I know they’re coming.”
I lift my head higher. Maybe the plan isn’t as foolproof as we thought. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Your coven,” she says. “Or are they your sisters?”
The grimoire isn’t here. There’s no way for her to attackour family—not yet, not now—but I still want to reach for it. If I can’t save myself, I can savethem.
“Coven,” I say, lying through my teeth.
If only I knew how to use our mating bond better. Can Mac feel the stress I’m trying to send his way? Fear grips me to the point where I can no longer feel him. On the other side of our bond, Mac is always warm, like at a bonfire with friends or curling up in bed at the end of a cold day.
I’m ice cold now. Where is he?
“But will they come soon enough?” she asks.
I stand, and she follows. It’s all too like the last time she chased me through the house, but this time I’m prepared.We’reprepared. My heart races, but she can’t hear it. It’s a small comfort.
She doesn’t know about the wolf pack, either. She can’t. Someone will come any minute.
I have to scream so they can hear me, so they can know I’m in danger. That’s part of the plan, too, but I can’t do it. The sound doesn’t come. I don’t want to be the damsel in distress anymore. Just this once, can’t I take care of myself?
“It doesn’t matter if they do,” I say. “Don’t you wantmymagic? There must be some good in it.”
“But you’re too weak to use it.” She pushes closer, reaching for me with her clawed hands.
My chest heaves as I go back into the kitchen, nearly stumbling over a chair. “That’s what you think.”
Goddess. I’ve already backed myself into a corner. Why is the scream still caught in my throat?
Her grasp becomes more powerful, reaching me with a strength a witch shouldn’t have, surely borrowed from someone else—a wolf or vampire. She grabs my arms, making it impossible for me to wiggle out.
“Help!” I cry, finally finding my voice.
It’s the only word I can get out before she snaps a finger, silencing me. It’s as if my mouth is glued shut. Her grip loosens, feeble, and I realize…
She can only use one type of magic at a time. That may be useful.
“Be quiet,” she hisses. “Let’s leave this between us for now, shall we?”
It’s too late. With a rumbling growl, a wolf rushes through the front door. It’s Mac. I would recognize his wolf form anywhere. His light brown fur and bright blue eyes are still home to me, even when he looks more animal than man.
His presence does nothing to stop the erratic beating of my heart.
“Gods dammit all,” the corrupt one says, wheeling around to face the wolf. She summons a fireball, holding it like a warning. The magic that’s been closing my mouth loosens.
“Mac!” I yell. “Run! Get the others!”
