Page 44 of The Black Witch

I jump at the sound of Lukas’s stern voice and the feel of his strong hand gripping my arm. I straighten and pull my tear-soaked hands from my eyes.

He’s down on one knee, his head level with mine, eyes full of fire.“Stop it.”

His harsh tone stuns me into astonished silence.

I choke back my tears as anger at his treatment wells up within me. Wasn’t he right there? Didn’t he see those...things? A dark fury takes root, replacing my fear with steel-cold anger.

“That’s better!” Lukas snarls as I glare at him with as much hatred as I can muster. “You arenotweak!”

“How can you say that?” I spit out, wanting to strike him. “You’re wrong!”

“No, I’m not,” he vehemently counters, still gripping me. “I can sense power in you. You lookexactlylike your grandmother, and her blood runs through your veins. Your uncle has done you a grave disservice by not preparing you for something like this.”

“Don’t youdarespeak against my uncle!” I cry. I try to jerk my arm away from him, but he holds on tight.

“No, Elloren, it needs to be said.Hedid this to you by leaving you unarmed and ignorant!”

An uncomfortable doubt rises in the back of my mind. I beat it back.

“You don’t know anything about my uncle,” I say firmly. “You’ve never evenmethim!”

“They were at your uncle’s house, Elloren.”

I stop trying to wrench away from him. “What do you mean?”

“The Icarals. Galen got a confession from one of them before he killed it. They escaped from the Valgard Sanitorium. One of them was an empath. He found out about you from a worker there—someone who knows your aunt. They were waiting for this, Elloren—for the next Black Witch to be found. They went straight to your uncle’s house, but you were gone. They found your uncle sleeping, and the empath read where you were from his thoughts by touching him. If your aunt hadn’t pulled you from there, you’d be dead right now.”

I stare at him, wide-eyed and frozen.No, this isn’t happening. This isn’t real. “I’mpowerless. Why would those...thingsthink that I’m the Black Witch?”

Lukas doesn’t answer. He just keeps his unwavering stare fixed on me.

I already know the answer, though. It’s my blood.Herblood—that’s what the creature sensed. And I look just like her.

“The third Icaral,” I finally say, my voice strangled. “Did they find it?”

Lukas takes a deep breath. “No.”

“And my uncle?” I ask, almost in a whisper.

“He’s fine,” he says, his voice losing its angry edge. “They weren’t after him, Elloren. They were afteryou.”Lukas’s hand loosens then falls away from my arm. “We’ve sent guards to your uncle’s house as a precaution.”

“But what about Rafe? And Trystan?”

“I’ve already sent guards to find them and escort them across Verpacia’s border, if they haven’t crossed already.”

“And once they’re across?”

His lips turn up at the edges. “You won’t have to worry about them once they cross the border. It’s ward-magicked. Verpacia’s military force is formidable, and they have the help of the Vu Trin sorceresses. You’ll be safe there, as well. You’re safe now. The Icaral’s weak. Its wings were amputated long ago. Your aunt’s guards and I will escort you to University, and we’ve already sent word to the High Chancellor about what’s happened.”

My wrist is beginning to throb. Miserable, I turn it over for his inspection, bloody scratches and gashes ringing it where the creature gripped me. I wait for Lukas to expresssomesympathy.

He takes my wrist in his hand, his touch surprisingly gentle. His eyes meet mine and his expression goes hard. “You’re lucky,” he says. “It will scar and be a constant reminder to prepare yourself. These are battle scars, Elloren.”

“Why are you soharsh?” I cry, wrenching my wrist away.

“Because,” he grinds out as he grips both arms of my chair, “you donotneed to be coddled!”

“You don’t evenknowme!”

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