The storm mage, trapped in ice.
The images came thick and fast.
Blood dripping.
An endless corridor of locked doors.
Screaming.
So much screaming and fear and pain.
The vision faded, leaving me gasping as black spots floated in front of my eyes. The pig reappeared a few minutes later, squealing angrily for food, but I didn’t have the strength to move.
Like all my visions, I had no way of telling when or even if what I’d seen would come to fruition. Some premonitions did, but the time or place changed—like the vision about the cetus—whereas other future glimpses never happened, probably because the threads of fate continuously shifted depending on decisions made in the present.
Despite telling myself this vision might not happen, I tugged at the tether between me and my witch. I could usually sense her emotions when I reached out, but the bond remained deathly silent. Either she’d raised a shield or something had interfered with our connection.
Trying not to vomit up what little I’d eaten in the last few hours, I dragged myself to my feet and staggered into the kitchen. Perhaps a glass of water would revive me.
The pig grew more vocal in its demands, but I ignored it, too caught up in my fear for my witch’s well-being.
I should have joined them. Four mates were better than three when it came to protecting our witch. The storm mage didn’t count. Yes, he’d gone with the group, but I didn’t trust him. He’d repeatedly hurt and dismissed my witch, which told me all I needed to know about his character. Or lack thereof.
I stiffened my shoulders and thought fast. Time was of the essence, but how was I supposed to travel to Thornville at this late hour? It was past curfew and the campus remained in lockdown, plus I lacked teleportation magic.
As my sanity unraveled at an alarming rate, the kitsune blinked into view and leaped into my arms.
He sank his teeth into my arm, drawing blood and making me gasp at the jarring pain. The shock of the creature’s bite was enough toclear my head, but when I tried to extricate myself, he latched on even harder.
“Let go!”
The kitchen disappeared in a swirl of magic.
6
Raven
Pungent cigar smoke irritated my nose, making me want to sneeze, but my face had frozen. When I tried to open my eyes, it felt like someone had glued them shut.
Every part of me ached. My head especially.
Where was I?
Since I couldn’t see anything, I focused on what I could hear.
A murmur of voices, the chink of ice in a glass, and the crackle of burning logs told me this wasn’t the club.
In a state of panic, I reached out to my loyal familiar. “Kenji?”
“What?”
“Something’s happened! Tiberius Vane is here and I can’t move!”
“Can it wait? I’m in the middle of something.”
“Kenji! Please, I need you!” If my eyes still worked, I would have cried. Instead, I poured all my fear and frustration down the bond with my familiar before reaching out to my mates.
I waited.
