AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tan’yi’nug let out a growl that vibrated the floor beneath her. She turned to see three shadows in the wide portal to the pyramid. Hecate, and her two alpha sons, Horatiu and Dragomir. A pain sliced through her heart when she realized how much her nephews looked like her own sons.
“There you are, sister.” Hecate stepped forward with a hesitant smile, clasping her hands in front of her. “I’ve made the potion for the eximo spell, but I will need your help.”
Eilea said nothing as she returned to Tan’yi’nug, facing them within the shadow of her snarling dragon.
“I know I don’t deserve your trust, but I won’t hurt you.” Frowning, Hecate dropped her hands to her sides. “Please.”
Eilea scented the air for any sign of betrayal but sensed nothing.
She peered up at Tan’yi’nug.
She knows I will tear down this pyramid if you don’t return,he answered.
She touched his scaled chest, letting his warmth seep into her bones. Though it wasn’t cold, a chill had crept into her very soul. So much damage had been done. How could she trust her sister now? Still, what choice did she have? Though she was a powerful sorceress, she knew she would need help saving her sons.
Reluctantly, she pulled away from Tan’yi’nug. “Come for me if I’m not back in an hour.”
He bowed his head, nuzzling her chest.I will.
She took a hesitant step toward her sister, then another, refusing to take her outstretched hand as she marched past her and into the portal’s shadow.
“This way, Aunt,” Horatiu said, motioning toward the long corridor in front of them.
“Of course it’s this way,” she grumbled, following him, then crossed her fingers and whispered, “I’m coming for you, my sons.” They’d suffered long enough, and she would not let them down this time.
* * *
AS HER EYES ADJUSTEDto the dim lights of the flickering wall sconces, Eilea realized the spell chamber was just as she remembered, and yet it felt so foreign. She recognized the aromatic smells of various herbs like sage and rosemary mixed with darker, magical plants like sirenshade and demonspell that reminded her of sweet, blood wine. She walked around the long, low table in the center of the room, her fingers skimming the polished wood covered in jars of everything imaginable, from bat wings to volcanic ash. This place was her home, yet it wasn’t. It belonged to a sorceress in her past life. Tor, Jezebeth, Daeva, Lucian, and Cyrus stood at the other end of the room, the hearth at their backs while they warily eyed her. Jezebeth floated up toward the heavy rafters dissecting the stone ceiling. Tor held the wispy end of Jezebeth’s foot like a child with a balloon.
Eilea turned when Hecate walked into the room with her two alpha sons. She inwardly smiled when Horatiu and Dragomir took their place by their mate, leaving Hecate to face Eilea alone.
Hecate folded her hands in front of her, her face nearly unreadable except for the slight tic above her brow. “I’ve made the potion needed for the eximo spell.”
Eilea nodded toward Jezebeth. “Let’s get on with it.”
Hecate visibly swallowed, holding a hand out to Daeva. “This is a powerful spell. It will take every witch.”
Grumbling under her breath, Eilea took Daeva’s other hand, a jolt of surprise running through her when she sensed the other soul within Daeva. How? Had she imagined it? Then again, why should she care? The witch had probably locked her in the curse chamber after she’d passed out.
Hecate nodded to Tor, and he dragged the tip of Jezebeth’s foot toward the center of a pentagram that had been burned into the floor. The pentagram was dusted with fragrant herbs and framed by a salt circle. Once they reached the outer three points, Hecate chanted, “Exsolvo corpus,” as the pentagram began to glow, phantom flames rising from the outer edges. She repeated the spell, louder and louder as Jezebeth’s translucent form shook like Tor was rattling her.
Jezebeth let out a shrill cry and fell to the floor, her spirit form materializing into a solid person as she gasped against the tiles like a fish out of water. Pressing her palms against the floor, her shoulders caved inward, and she shook like she was having a seizure.
Eilea clutched her throat. “Jezebeth, are you okay?”
The djinn looked up at Eilea with an excited gleam in her eyes. “I’m free! I’m free!”
Hecate smiled broadly, a proud tilt of her chin. Eilea had to admit, her sister’s spell was clever. Did that entitle her to forgiveness? No, but at least she could finally leave this place and get her sons.
“You are.” Daeva held a hand down to her, an impatient look in her eyes. “Now get up.”
Eilea couldn’t fault Daeva for being curt with Jezebeth. The djinn had a knack of testing everyone’s patience.
Jezebeth took Daeva’s hand and jumped to her feet with a squeal. “I’m free!” She spun circles like a child in a meadow. “I’m free!”
Daeva loudly cleared her throat. “You can play in your new body later. We have to save my sister.”
We? Daeva wasn’t going. She shot Hecate a concerned look. Biting her lower lip, her sister gave a curt nod.
