I dimly registered the pale gray figure lying on the floor by an inky black pool as the sea witch cackled.
“Vampire, what an unexpected pleasure.” With a flick of her wrist, more dark magic blasted toward me.
Aware that my queen would follow me in here, I used my magic to burn through her curse. Only my age and royal heritage protected me from instant death at the sea witch’s hands.
My cousin had been but a child when the witch cursed her, unable to withstand the corrosive nature of the curse, but I was far stronger. Thanks to my bond with my mate, I’d gained power, although I was reluctant to draw on my queen’s magic.
That would always be a last resort.
“Release the merman, witch, and I might spare your life.”
The sea witch cackled louder, amused by my threat. She muttered another incantation, sending more dark magic swirling into the air. If we’d been anywhere else, she would have cast a portal spell and vanished, but the cave’s wards prevented anyone from leaving via a portal until they exited.
“I’m pleased the virus spared you, Prince. You are a worthy adversary.”
I burned away the last of the curse magic and moved faster than the eye could see, but she foiled me with another wall of defensive magic.
Fighting the hag was like a fucked-up game of cat and mouse. The bitch was toying with me while the merman took his final breaths. Sheknew once he expired, the energy boost she received would be enough to best me.
My fangs punched holes in my lip as I realized pride might be my downfall. I’d told the others to stay outside, but I was no longer sure I could do this alone.
Pushing my doubts aside, I drew on every drop of power I had and flew across the cave. The witch’s eyes flared in surprise. She tried to evade me while casting more magic, but her foot caught on a loose rock, causing her to stumble. Her spell fizzled out.
My fingernails extended into lethal claws, ripping through her shoulder. Thick black blood spilled and she screamed, but before I could end her, she flung one last spell at me.
This time, it struck dead center, right in the middle of my chest. I fell to the floor, unable to breathe. The witch couldn’t kill me, not until the merman passed through the veil, but she had severely weakened me.
“Rasmus!” My queen’s voice yelled in my head, but I couldn’t reply.
Then I heard a furious feminine shriek as my beloved mate did the one thing I told her not to do.
21
Raven
Letting other people fight my battles was no longer working for me. Rasmus had told me to stay back, that he could handle the witch. The others apparently agreed because not even Zane followed him into the cave.
But from the awful, debilitating pain radiating down the tether with my vampire, he was in trouble.
Serious trouble.
My other two mates hovered by the door in case the sea witch tried to escape, while Farris scrolled on his phone looking bored and Daresh stayed well back, out of the danger zone.
“Let me past,” I huffed while yelling Rasmus’s name in my head.
“No, little mate. It’s not safe.” Maverick tried to hold me, but I ducked under his arm and flew into the cave. A panicked bellow followed.
I ignored it.
“Finally showing some backbone,”Kenjisaid.“I’m proud of you.”
“How do I kill the bitch?”
Kenji leaped into my arms as the sea witch blasted my vampire mate with dark magic. He lay in a crumpled heap on the stone floor, but I forced myself not to look at him or Kai.
“Blast her with your shadow magic.”
“Shadow magic?”
