“Is that true?” Kara was the first one to speak. “Your magic hasn’t returned?”
The only confirmation from Luce’s was the subtle dip of her chin.
“If Hecate wasn’t here, would you have even told us?” I kept my voice as calm as possible, struggling to hold down my emotions that threatened to rise to the surface.
“It could still come back, it just hasn’t yet. There’s nothing to tell.”
Magic not coming back after that many hours was a big deal. Her magic should have been fully restored by now. “Luce?—”
“I don’t even know how she knew.”
“I know everything, girl,” Hecate cut in. “And I hope you wouldn’t have kept this information from your friends considering they need you for their plans to come to fruition.”
“Shit,” Luka swore. “You can’t do the spell.”
My stomach dropped. Every last drop of hope I had coming into this tent this morning dissipated.
“No, she can’t, but I can.” Hecate’s voice was firm.
“I didn’t think your magic could still work that way.” Luce didn’t move, but her eyes tracked the original witch. “That’s what the stories say.”
“There is some truth to those stories; my magic works differently now that I’m no longer a part of this realm, but I can still help.”
“How?” I pressed.
“I can help Luciana complete the spell, by pushing my magic into her.”
“Is that even possible?” Kara asked.
“Yes, it’s been done many times before, never to a spell this caliber, but there is no reason it should not work.”
I should have questioned it more—taken the time to think this over. But we didn’t have time. “How soon can we do it?”
75
ADREONA
“What do you mean it didn’t work?” Keziq jumped as the vase cracked against the wall, the glass shattering and sending pieces careening through the small room.
“I killed the vampire, he turned human again before dying, but vampires still live.”
I sent another item flying. “How did this happen? What did you do wrong?” I seethed.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. Did you consider maybe the spell was mislabeled? The vampire died after all, but only the singular vampire. Isn’t that a good thing? You’re still living after all.”
I stared at the wall, not willing to meet Keziq’s gaze. Yes, I was still alive, that in itself was a win. As much as I tried, I struggled to make piece with my life being collateral damage in this fight to eliminate vampires. But I had taken pleasure knowing my plan could be completed with one simple spell. I guess it was back to the original plan.
“How much magic does it take to complete the spell?”
“A significant amount.”
I dipped my chin. “You’ll continue to kill vampires with it on the battlefield.”
“Why not kill them in battle? My spell has the same effect and it won’t drain my magic?”
“I want to send a message, that’s why.” I glared at her. “Don’t you understand? I want vampires to know I will stop at nothing to eliminate the monsters.”
“What about you? Aren’t you a monster?” I was growing tired of being asked this question.
