Page 172 of Wicked Heirs

We burst out to see the courtyard already emptied.

“The smoke,” I called as I saw it dissipate and a single being there over by the gates, a hand pressed to the dome that was now visible as his crimson magic touched it.

Dressed all in black—tough, worn leather pants and an open-collared shirt, a cloak billowed around him. Creepy, almost white eyes sent a shudder through me.

Constantine Vale in the flesh.

“Holy shit,” I rasped.

No.

The dome shuddered, flickering in and out of being.

“He’s siphoning it,” Xavier said.

“Using extreme black magic to achieve such a thing without being a natural siphon,” Orpheus told us.

I saw Alena shudder and Xavier wrap his arm around her. “Oh my God. He’s here. He’s free.”

“Get inside!” someone called, and I craned my neck to see Professor Targus trying to usher us inside with the others.

The dome shattered, drawing our attention.

And then Constantine blasted through the gates like they were nothing, turning them to kindling.

We all turned to rush into the building where I could see some of the professors within conjuring another protective ward.

But just as we were about to step inside, we were wrenched back by Constantine’s magic and dragged halfway across the courtyard, just a few feet from him.

He released us and I looked to see him fire a bolt of his magic at the main building, effectively magically sealing it and keeping them back.

I seethed at him, “Psychopath. Get gone. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong anywhere.”

The monster bared his teeth in a wide, creepy smile as he took all four of us in.

“Ah, my special creations. It’s been so long.”

“Creations?” Orpheus spat. “What are you talking about?”

He gestured at Alena, “I had the phoenix’s parents murdered near you so you’d unleash the dark side of your magic, priming you nicely for me.” He eyed me. “And I wanted you vengeful and to tap into all that rage. It’s the source of your greater power.” He gestured at Xavier. “And creating you speaks for itself. You’remyheir now, sireling.” He smirked at Orpheus. “And ruining your father through making him believe he could actually double cross me cast you out of his suffocating control wherein you became your own man and explored the full breadth of your power.” He rubbed his hands together. “Mmm, so much careful manipulation, but it paid off. Look at you now, all drawn together. By me. By my actions. You are my heirs.”

“The fuck we are,” I snarled. “You murdered my parents, now you’ll die bytheircreation.”

He laughed derisively. “There’s that delicious rage. Perfect. That’s it, embrace it, baby phoenix. I have great plans for all that raw fury. For all of you.”

“You’re demented, completely unhinged,” Alena spoke for the first time since she’d laid eyes on him, the bastard who’d caused her to stop using her magic for years on end.

“I’m afraid not. Youwillall fulfill your respective roles in my plans.” His eyes flamed as he eye-fucked her. “You first, darling princess.”

He was right in front of Alena with a burst of vampire speed like none of us had ever seen before.

We couldn’t even react before he dropped his fangs, fisted her hair and buried them in her throat.

She screamed as he drew brutally hard.

I started forward, unfurling my wings, intending to rush him with the full force of my phoenix speed.

But Orpheus was there first, firing a bolt of his purple magic that slammed into Constantine’s gut and blew him back several feet.

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