Page 52 of Wicked Heirs

What I saw when I rematerialized just beyond the wrought iron gates shocked me to my core. I knew in that moment that it was a sight I’d never be able to forget, that would be burned into my memory forevermore.

Two trees were on fire and so much worse than that was the sight of two people bound opposite one another and being ravaged by said flames.

“Oh my God,” I breathed.

The flames were so violent and out of control as they both screamed in agony that I couldn’t make out their faces or their identities at all. I could just see the outline of two people and that was it.

I reacted on instinct and called my golden power forth in a rush that had me choking, a nasty burn rushing through me like a vicious tidal wave.

I pushed past it, focusing on the two people needing help, and then I was streaming my magic, either palm at each oneof the trees, trying to cut through the flames with my angelic power.

As it hit, I saw it make an impact, drawing the flames back a little, preventing them from raging any higher.

But it wasn’t enough.

I pushed harder until I was crying out at the pain of exerting too much effort compared to what I was really capable of at this stage in my life.

And then I felt something odd.

Something dreadfully unsettling.

A nasty chill that shot through my veins.

I knew I should stop, but I didn’t.

I couldn’t when those people were suffering.

The chill permeated every part of me and then I watched in horror as my golden magic streaming at the trees was infiltrated by black flecks.

Oh my God!

I’d tapped into something dark with all the terror, frustration, and desperation to force it and access greater power, no matter the cost.

“Magical corruption, Nephilim,” a voice sounded suddenly right behind me.

Before I could even crane my neck to see who the hell it was, a flash of blinding bright red filled my vision.

And then I was crying out as it slammed into me, ripped me right off my feet, snuffing out my magic in the process, as I was propelled away across the grounds.

I landed hard on my back with a bone-jarring thud.

Harsh winds whipped around me and then a dark figure stood over me.

Black wavy hair escaped the hood of his leather cloak, the thing barely containing his mammoth form. Haunting cloudy, white eyes fixed on mine.

“Constantine,” I choked out.

His lip curled. “That’s right. You’ve just become very important to me. The good news is you’ll no longer perish at my hands. The bad news is you’ll become mine.”

“What… why?”

“Your magic, of course. What I just witnessed makes you an invaluable asset.”

I didn’t get the chance to say another thing as he descended on me.

But then a blast of purple, shimmering power filled my vision.

It all fell away, a bright, white light engulfing me.

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