Page 87 of Reckless Witch

I read, “I agree that Leilah Crowe shall be allowed to have her familiar at The Academy,” then hand the paper to Raith.

He takes the paper and extends a hand to Leilah.

She frowns.

He says, “The pen.”

Her lips thin, but she pulls the pen from her pocket and hands it to him. He scribbles something on the paper, then hands paper and pen back to her.

She reads it, then looks at him, brows raised. “Really?”

He shrugs. “You insisted we specify your familiar be returned to you.”

Leilah scribbles something on the paper that I can’t make out, then she reads, “I swear to report to Raith every Friday after class for more lessons,” and shoves the paper toward Raith.

Raith is acting as much a child as Leilah, but this form of punishment isn’t all that bad. She could do with more discipline. Raith is nothing if not disciplined.

He takes the paper and scans it. The twitch at the corner of his mouth is slight, but I know him well. Ciarah—Leilah—has managed to amuse him.

He reads, “I agree that Leilah Crowe may keep her familiar Stony with her at The Academy. Her lessons on Friday night will not last longer than two hours.”

I bite back another laugh. It’s not easy to best Raith. Of course, Ciarah is one of the few people who can best any of us.

Raith hands the paper to Blade, who murmurs, “I agree that Leilah Crowe may keep her familiar Stony with her at The Academy, and the sigil shall be removed from her hand immediately.”

Blade grasps Raith’s hand, slices a tiny, neat cut on the tip of his second finger, then smears a droplet of blood on the paper. I’m next. Blade is a master and I feel not the slightest pain with the cut. He smears my blood on the paper. His blood is next. When he grasps Leilah’s hand, I discern a small tremble in her fingers.

A corner of Blade’s mouth lifts and I discern the small squeeze he gives her fingers. Leilah’s eyes lift to his and he makes the cut so quickly that her surprise comes an instant after the cut.

She narrows her eyes on Blade. “You tricked me.”

“Just a little,” he says. “If you will.” Blade holds the paper flat on his palm.

She hesitates and my heart beats fast. What if she decides at the last minute not to go through with the pact? No, she wants my sigil off her hand. She wants her magic back. She wants her familiar. Still, she fears the pact.

“There’s still time to call this off,” Raith says.

She smears her droplet of blood onto the spot where our blood blots the paper. The flames leap up as if reaching for the sheet. Blade snatches it up in the nick of time, but the sheath of paper rips from his grip as if yanked by an unseen hand and the wind spirits it up and outside our circle.

Raith curses under his breath. My tattoos heat and armor slides down my body like dominoes. I step closer to Leilah. Blade stretches his arms out at his sides and throws his head back. His eyes glow an even brighter gold as he chants in the Fae tongue. The fire leaps higher. Heat radiates off the flames like an inferno. I step in front of Leilah. Flames jump toward me. A feral growl splits the air. Raith leaps across the fire and up and over us to where the signed document whips on the current of air that grips it. My heart jumps into overdrive.

The circle is broken.

The flames call to me. I command my wings and they burst from my shoulders. I swing them around to cover Leilah. The flames surge toward Blade.

Leilah thrusts out her right hand and shouts, “Fire, extinguish!”

“No,” I shout, but too late.

My wings are blown back by her magic. My sigil on her hand glows red hot. I command the flames back, but they are already retreating from her as if in fear. An unearthly shriek sounds in the instant before her magic meets the flames and the coals sizzle as if water has been poured onto them.

Blade’s arms drop to his sides and he stumbles toward the smoking pyre. Raith reaches his side and catches him. Blade blinks. His eyes are again their natural blue.

Raith’s gaze snaps onto mine. “What the fuck was that?”

Before I can reply, Leilah sinks to the ground.

Chapter Thirty-Seven