Page 46 of Midnight Witch

A familiar magic flitted across her skin.

Mae took a shallow breath.Here we go.

The doors to the chamber opened. Abraham walked in, his owl Shiloh on his shoulder and Jared at his side.

Mae narrowed her eyes as they crossed the floor. “Took you long enough. As far as I remember, I didn’t waive my right to an attorney.”

Jared studied her coldly from where he’d stopped outside the magic circles. “You waived that right when you killed all those people.”

Mae decided against protesting her innocence and telling them the violent acts they’d witnessed in those video clips were all in their heads. It’d been crystal clear since the day before that one of the mirage magic’s intentions was to make her allies loathe her just for being alive.

Her gaze shifted to Abraham. “It seems magic is open knowledge in this illusion. This will make things easier. Release me before I bring this entire facility down on your heads.”

Abraham’s eyes flashed gold. The runes around her brightened.

Mae clenched her jaw when the sorcerer’s power licked atSoul Shield.

It stank of the mirage magic afflicting him.

“You speak as if this is all some kind of game!” Abraham spat out. “You should be begging me not to kill you, Witch Queen!”

Mae grimaced. “Wow. This spell sure did a number on you.”

Abraham glared at her. “Your lies mean nothing to me. You’re a monster and you’ll be treated as such.”

Mae swallowed a sigh. There was no point getting frustrated. Trying to convince them that what they were feeling toward her was the true lie when they were still under the effect of the mirage magic was going to be as effective as talking to a brick wall. She turned her attention to Jared.

“You should have spent more time with your friends in Chicago, like Violet and Miles. If you had, you would have been protected by their divine power and I wouldn’t have to kick your ass on the way out of here.”

The Immortal recoiled. He recovered and took a threatening step toward her.

“What do you know about Chicago?!”

“It’s the place where you got that divine sword you wield.” Mae’s gaze dropped briefly to the hidden switchblade strapped to his left ankle. “The one the guy who’s going to be my ally made for you.”

Jared lowered his brows, a muscle twitching in his cheek. “I don’t know how you got that information, but I doubt Artemus would ever mingle with the likes of you. As for Violet and Miles Nolan, we’ll soon free them from your wicked enchantment.”

Mae leaned back in the chair, a mocking half-smile playing on her lips. “Not if they beat you first. FYI, Artemus will probably do the same when this is over.”

Jared’s expression turned ugly. “Why you—!”

“Don’t!” Abraham warned as the Immortal rushed toward her.

Jared stepped inside the magic circles.

Heat filled Mae’s belly.

The runes around her shifted from green and gold to a violent red.

“Contain!”

A crimson bubble burst around Jared. The Immortal cursed as he found himself trapped inside her prison. He removed the knife from his ankle and unleashed the holy sword within.

“This is gonna hurt.” Mae narrowed her eyes. “Sever!”

The spell engulfed Jared. He groaned, dropped the blade, and doubled over, teeth bared in a grimace of pure agony and knuckles white where he gripped his skull.

Abraham cursed. “Shield!”

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