Page 111 of Reckless Witch

He grins. “That’s right, and you’d better hope you’re on my team.”

Leilah arches a brow. “I’m a lot tougher than I was when you last saw me.”

His expression softens. “Not too tough, I hope.”

“Tough enough to kick your ass.”

Alexander looks at Raith. “I think that’s a challenge.”

“I’d say everyone is here,” Raith replies. His eyes shift past me and I turn slightly as Gabriel Carter halts beside me. “I wasn’t sure you were going to make it,” Raith says.

“Traffic from Jersey was a bitch.” His gaze shifts to Leilah. “Well, who do we have here?”

“A student who needs to assemble with the rest of the students,” Raith says.

She scowls at him, then says to Alexander, “If you’re placing bets, my team’s a sure winner.”

He laughs as she starts toward a cluster of students who are unabashedly watching.

“I think I should be assigned to her team,” Carter says. “You know, in case anyone needs CPR.”

Raith surprises me by saying, “No one is going to need CPR.”

Carter’s eyebrows shoot up. “Do I detect a note of ownership?”

“What you detect is the reminder that these War Games are a helluva lot more than games,” Raith replies.

Carter’s eyes light with his signature mischief. “Of course, my lord.”

Raith openly ignores him and starts toward the eighty-plus students. I can’t take my eyes off Leilah. She looks so much like Brin as she stood against the knights sent to arrest the witches. My fire ignites and I have to will my cock not to respond. We five had been there to protect the women. To protect her. But she’d protected the women, and the air had crackled with electricity as the warriors ran for the woods, followed by nightmares that, I’m sure, haunted them to their dying days.

Raith’s voice projects over the wireless PA system as he instructs the students to open their envelopes. The tearing of paper fills the air for a long moment, then a murmur washes over the students.

“Team One, to the left,” Raith orders. “Team Two, to the right. Team Three, opposite Team One, and Team Four, opposite Team Two.”

The students shuffle until everyone is standing in the correct locations with their assigned teams. As planned, Leilah is on Team Three with Darryl Jones, a young mage with experience in our war games. It is hard knowing we’re here as observers and can’t accompany Leilah into the virtual Shadow world.

“Ethan, Blade and I will monitor your progress through the virtual Shadow world. Seton Alexander and Gabriel Carter are standing by in case of a medical emergency.”

Whoops and shouts go up. Alexander bows to the crowd. As he passes Leilah on his way toward Carter and the waiting medical kits, he waggles his eyebrows. She shakes her head but laughs.

“Our battlefield is there.” Raith points to the right of the field where a subtle shimmer is visible against the trees. “This year, we have created a virtual world that reflects a city like New York or Chicago during the Shadow War.”

A loud murmur ripples through the students. Even Carter’s brows rise in surprise. I don’t blame them. I’m still uncertain about the safety of a virtual Shadow world.

“You have each been assigned to a team that we believe will best utilize your abilities and training,” Raith says. “You are allowed to use magic when needed. But part of this training is to teach you to differentiate when you should and shouldn’t use magic. Be prepared for a Shadow attack if you do use magic.” He turns to face Team One. “Team One will guard the streets against roaming demons. Anyone in Team One know how to kill a demon?”

“You can’t kill demons,” a student, Jonathan Bennet, calls out. Jonathan lifts a silver talisman hanging from a cord around his neck. “You have to trap them in an enchanted object.”

“Very good,” Raith says.

I hear pride in his voice.

Raith shifts again. “Team Two will aid humans and Margiddians infected by The Shadows.” He pauses. “Can anyone in Team Two describe the best way to deal with humans infected by Shadows?”

“Soft earth magic,” Maggie, a young siren, calls. “Harmony, peace. Get them some place safe.”

Raith nods slowly, then faces Teams Three and Four. “Teams Three and Four will infiltrate the home of the crime lord, whose house is protected by Shadow magic. You will capture him, then break the spell he cast on his human bodyguards. Remember, it is forbidden to kill humans who are under a spell. Your team leaders will identify the officers in your teams and will instruct you. As each team is ready, your team leader will lead you into the war zone.”