And waited.
But to my horror, none of them responded and realized I could no longer sense any of them.
Panic blew open the magic capsule in my chest. Heat consumed me in a fiery embrace as my power threatened to explode, but whatever heinous magic had paralyzed me also stopped my magic from escaping.
The heat and pressure burned me from the inside out, melting my bones. Or so it felt. Tears trickled down my cheeks at the agonizing pain tearing me apart.
“Father.” Alaric’s smooth voice stemmed my panic, easing the magic firestorm waging a war in my chest. I exhaled slowly and focused on trying to remain calm.
Kenji would be here any minute now. He’d have a plan. My familiar had always saved my bacon in the past. Mostly because I made sure he had an endless supply of bacon.
Alaric would surely help me too. He’d said in the library that he wanted to make me his, and I believed him.
So why was his father here, and why wasn’t Alaric helping me escape this malignant spell?
“It saddens me it took Rink to bring you into line, but I’m pleased with the outcome.” Who was Rink?
I tried to turn my head, desperate to see what was happening outside my field of vision, but the magic held me firm.
“She looks just like her mother.” The snooty female voice was not one I recognized, but the reference to my mom triggered a fresh burst of fiery magic.
I genuinely feared I might die. Burning alive was even worse than drowning. Who knew?
Was this what the witches burned at the stake endured? Goddess save us all.
“Stop fighting the magic, Alaric.” A pair of stockinged feet encased in elegant stiletto shoes crossed my line of sight before pausing. Stars above, were they made from troll skin? From the gray, stone-like texture, it seemed likely.
I nearly heaved my guts up at the very idea of magical beings being skinned to make leather shoes for rich bitch witches.
And yes, this bitch had to be a witch. Despite being paralyzed, I could sense her magic. The cloying power brushing over me suggested this was Alaric’s mother, Brianna.
I’d seen pictures of her online. Alaric looked nothing like his mother, strangely, but Brianna was undeniably beautiful in a cold, untouchable way. She and Tiberius made a very photogenic couple, and from what I’d heard, they were well-suited personality-wise, both of them psychopaths.
“I can see her father in her too,” the witch commented.
“Her looks don’t matter. It’s her magic I want.”
“Father…you…” A pained groan emanated from my left before I heard a faint thump as a heavy body hit the floor.
“Be quiet, son. If you continue to fight the enchantment, it could cause irreparable brain damage.” Tiberius sighed. “I’d prefer it if that didn’t happen, but you are not indispensable.”
A tinkle of feminine laughter followed, and I shivered as a cool draft brushed my legs.
“Sir, it’s time to leave.”
“Good, good. We’ll be there shortly. Check the wards to make sure the witch’s mates can’t find her.”
“Of course, sir.”
Something crashed to the floor.
“For fuck’s sake,” Tiberius grumbled. “I should have told Rink to reinforce the spell. He’s fighting it too hard.”
“Be careful, Alaric,” the female warned. “Your mother’s life hinges on your cooperation.”
Mother?Was Brianna not his mother?
“You…will…regret…” A blast of magic silenced Alaric. Ice coated the floor in shimmering blue crystals. When it reached my exposed skin, I sighed in relief as it cooled my magic.
