Page 17 of Of Flames and Crows

Roman blinked sweat out of his eyes as the spell started to take its toll on his body. He caught the man’s hateful glare and bared his teeth in a mocking smile.

The red-haired sorcerer’s brow furrowed.

“Rot!” he snarled.

Pressure slammed into Roman. He grunted as he hit the ground hard. Black dots bloomed across his vision when he cracked his chin on the tile.

Filomena hissed in his grasp.

The shield of fire protecting them trembled. Pain gripped Roman as the red-haired sorcerer’s magic washed over him, so sudden and fierce it brought tears to his eyes. He screamed in agony as every muscle in his body locked in violent spasms. His consciousness flickered. Filomena shuddered.

Frostfirequivered and started to fade.

No! I—I can’t let them get their hands on both of us!

Desperation lit Roman’s veins with a final surge of adrenaline. Filomena struggled in his grip, her terror and sorrow piercing his heart and soul as she grasped his design. Roman knew he had but seconds left to act. He took a shuddering breath and mumbled a spell he’d only just learned.

“Trans…migrate…”

The flow of magic pouring through his core reversed itself.

Frostfireshrank and vanished with a whoosh inside his hand, where he held Filomena. It followed a path to the ley line and the nexus of power beneath the city, dragging his familiar with it.

“No!” The red-haired sorcerer swore as the chameleon’s body started to fade. “Disperse!”

The fire shield shattered a heartbeat after Filomena vanished.

Roman finally found a word for the vile magic pressing heavily into his flesh. Corruption. His throat tightened as his grandfather’s face rose before him.

I’m sorry, Grandpa! I wish…I wish I’d had time to say…my goodbyes…

Darkness clouded the edges of his vision as awareness slipped away. He blinked when a strange pulse echoed through his core.

The world went black before he could make sense of it.

CHAPTER8

Mae yawned loudlyas she poured herself a coffee.

One would think you didn’t get a wink of sleep last night,my witch,Brimstone observed.

Hellreaver thrummed against her breastbone.Were your dreams filled with acts of debauchery involving you and the incubus?

Mae gripped the medallion hard and let loose a flare of crimson magic.

“What was that?” she said menacingly.

I take it back! I take it back!the weapon protested in a strangled voice.

Mae sniffed and let go. She wasn’t going to tell them that her dreams had indeed been filled with lewd fantasies involving the incubusanda certain white-magic sorcerer. She swallowed a sigh.

I’m gonna shrivel up like a dried prune if my nether areas don’t see some action soon.

Brimstone caught her glum thought and cast a scathing look at her before addressing Hellreaver.You’re an idiot.You know how grumpy she is when she hasn’t eaten.

Hellreaver pouted and grew heavy around her neck.

Brimstone’s nose twitched.Mae?

---