Page 93 of Spellbound & Speechless
In a way, she’s right. There’s more I could do with my magic. I could charm the world to give me what I want. I could have made them keep me at my last job—to love me, make my designs precisely like I wanted them, and catapult me to the head of the company.
That’s not what I want to do with my magic, and that’sprecisely why my goddess accepts me. It would be easier to give my magic to the witch, but I don’t trust her to stop there. There’s a buffet of witches at her disposal, after all.
I shake my head, prepared to stop her, but it’s too late. The corrupt witch moves with preternatural speed, and the rest of the party seems to slow down.
It’smagic. A magic she must have stolen when she was away.
She reaches for me, for my heart.
A glowing pink light surrounds us. The world moves slowly as the energy expands from my chest, forming a circle of protection around us—around my mate and me.
It’sourprotection, I realize, but it’s stronger than any mating protection spell I’ve seen. The spells are enough to strengthen a connection, improve communication, and make a pair luckier when they’re together…
Mac and I are strong enough to have an entire force field surround us.
It’s the mating bond of the wolf and the mating blessing of the witch working together. Wolf and witch pairings aren’t rare, but I’ve never known one well enough to ask aboutthis.
The corrupt witch blasts backward, and Mac’s mom rushes after her with claws extended to the woman’s throat.
Mac pulls away, but I hold him, shaking my head. “Don’t go. Not yet.”
The shield may only work when we’re together. I’m not willing to risk letting him go.
The older woman shifts, her bones cracking and blue eyes turning red. A loud howl grows from the depths of her chest. In her wolf form, it’s easy to forget her age. The gray wolf moves with strength and agility.
What comes next is feral; her teeth snap against theneck of the corrupt witch, and her claws press into the witch’s heart.
Revenge, finally, after all these years. It will taste so sweet.
The corrupt witch blasts fire from her hand, and the wolf blasts back, falling into a ball of pain.
“No!” Mac rips away from me. “Ma!”
This time, I let him go. What else am I to do? His mother needs him. I’m frozen. The protective magic fades, and the corrupt one turns to me.
There’s nowhere to run.
I have no defense. My gift doesn’t spark in my shaking fingertips. My magic can’t save me. I may have the magicshewants, but I have nothing to use against her.
I don’t need to move a muscle. Ten witches and others lunge at her, but Juniper is the one who reaches her first, bashing a potion bottle over her head. The corrupt witch lets out a scream, burning, as if she’s covered in acid.
A few feet away, Mac’s mother howls in pain. I can feel him through the mating bond—he’s torn. Save me, or save his mother.
The corrupt witch pulls away. Her long, dark claws slash against Juniper’s chest.
The attention turns to Juniper, where she lies on the ground with blood gushing from her chest. I rush to her side, like many others, but Ozan is there first.
Ozan drops to his knees. “No!” He looks around with wild eyes, muttering an incantation with his hand over Juniper’s chest.
“I’m fine,” Juniper utters. “It’s a scratch. She didn’t take my magic.”
“I don’t care!” His magic does nothing to heal Juniper, and I know why. “You’rebleeding.”
Powerful emotions can help magic—or block it. It seems to block Ozan’s, and I cannot blame him for faltering. Knowing Mac is alive and well, that he’s a few feet away, is the only thing grounding me.
The corrupt witch hurt my sister at my wedding. The realization sinks in, and my heart falls along with it. I am to blame. How could I be so silly? We knew the corrupt witch was still out there. I should never have thrown a party.
“A healer!” I call as calmly as I can. “Or healing potions. Someone, please!”
