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It gave off a pure, white aura.
I slipped it out and set the book back down. As I opened the folds, I got a case of the giggles.
I’d found a map. And if I was reading the symbols right, it led to a temple.
Oh my God. I’d found a map that lead to the temple of the white mages.
I set the book down and shoved the map in my purse. I needed to get out of here before the Fathers found me.
A throat cleared behind me. Father Alfred stood in the doorway, and behind him, Father Valentine and Matt glared.
Shit. I fumbled with the books that I’d dropped, trying to conceal the fact that I’d taken something from their stash. “I’m sorry, I got lost and thought this might be the outhouse. The smell was… So I lit the candles, and then I saw the books…” I piled all the fallen books in my hands and got up, trying not to drop them. “I do love a good magic book. I didn’t mean to snoop.”
“I’ll take those,” Father Alfred said, anger dripping from his words.
I swallowed. Should I scream now and hope Lucas got here in time, or see how it played out? Was Lucas even nearby? I couldn’t count on that. It would be better to get myself out of this. If I still could. My hands shook as I handed Father Alfred the books. “Thank you. Sorry if I ruined your organization.”
As Father Alfred took the books from me, he muttered something in Latin.
Before I could do anything—run, scream, anything at all—my body crumpled to the ground. I had no control over it.
Pure terror coursed through me and a drop of sweat rolled down my temple. I could feel it, but I couldn’t move.
“Drag her to the center of the circle,” Father Valentine said. “We’ll get you her power, but then you’ll owe a favor of our choosing. Do you agree to the terms?”
“Yes,” Matt said.
Rage like I’d never felt burned hot inside me.
I hadn’t liked Matt before, but now I hated him. Despised him.
He wanted to strip my power. He’d lied to my face yet again, and yet again, I’d fallen for it. Stupid. So, so stupid.
I tried to yell out, but I couldn’t. It was like my voice was stuck. But my magic…
Now I knew what was in the tea. If I’d actually swallowed it down, chances were it would’ve blocked my power. Thank God I’d only tasted the tiniest drop.
I used rhymes to access my magic, because I felt like they gave me strength, but I didn’t need to say the words aloud. I didn’t need words at all. I just liked them.
That was the problem. I used them as a crutch.
The Fathers moved my body like I was a doll, and their dark auras seeped into me wherever their cold fingers touched. They dragged me into the middle of their circle.
A knife burned as it cut along my arms. The metallic scent of my blood filled the room.
I had to focus. They wouldn’t steal my magic. Luciana hadn’t managed it. And these three douches wouldn’t either. I just had to get enough magic out so that I could scream.
Lucas would come. If he really was what he thought he was to me, then he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. I prayed I was right, because I’d only get one chance.
I closed my eyes and felt the tiny trickle of magic I had left.
Release my voice. Release my voice. Release my voice.
I said the simple spell over and over in my head, until I was sure—or as sure as I could be—that it had worked.
The two brujos started chanting as Matt watched over me with a smug look.
The scent of sulfur filled the room.
