Page 87 of Midnight Witch

PurgestartedoverwritingSubjugate.

Nikolai swore and jumped back to a safe distance.

Air wheezed through Mae’s throat as she finally drew a breath into her starving lungs. Her bond with Brimstone and Hellreaver reignited with a force that rocked her to the bone and turned the air crimson.

My witch!Brimstone and Hellreaver snarled.

Mae lowered her brows at Nikolai. “This ends now!”

He scowled and raised a Moon Magic shield.

Mae roared as she unleashed the power of three.

Purgedestroyed what remained of the sorcerer’s spell and swept through the church in a vicious storm that ripped its walls and roof apart.

Wood and bricks pelted Nikolai’s barrier. Debris rained down around her.

Mae swayed where she stood before slowly pitching forward. She landed face down in the freezing rain. Her ribcage shuddered violently.

The reality of what had just unfolded pierced her heart and mind, bringing with it a wave of agony that tightened her chest until she could barely breathe. Shallow puddles formed under her broken and battered body, leaching away what little warmth remained in her bones and leaving her veins filled with ice and her throat choked with fear.

A denial fell from her lips in a tortured whisper once more. “No.”

The sound was drowned out by the clap of thunder that tore across the distant, angry sky. The ringing echoed in her ears, adding to the dizziness making the world spin around her.

Nausea churned her belly when she attempted to get up. She blinked and bit her lip hard, desperation overriding the despair that threatened to swallow her whole.

Negate! I could try using Negate to overturn the spell!

Fire flared inside her belly as she reached for her magic.

Don’t, my witch.

Mae’s breath caught at the wretched plea. Tendons screamed in her neck as she turned her head.

Brimstone lay a few feet to her left, his bright eyes and rich fur dulled by the magic attacks they had sustained, his chest quivering with shallow pants. Hellreaver was silent where he poked out from under a pile of rubble next to him, ragged blade gleaming flatly.

Mae clenched her jaw.

Her nails scored the cracked tiles as she garnered the last of her strength and pushed up onto her hands and knees, her limbs trembling so hard she knew she would soon be unable to move. Hotness drenched her abdomen and thigh as blood surged anew from her wounds.

“Stand down, demon,” Nikolai said coldly.

Goosebumps prickled her skin at his voice. It took all her willpower to raise her head and meet his gaze.

The sorcerer’s mouth was a thin line. He glared at her, his eyes and those of his crow familiar gleaming with distaste. A dark portal distorted the air behind them, the blood-red light of the Harvest Moon adding another layer of menace where it pierced the turbulent clouds visible through the broken church roof.

It framed Oscar and Rose where they stood waiting for him.

Rose laid a hand on Nikolai’s arm. “Come. It is time for us to leave.”

Fury and anguish curdled Mae’s stomach in equal measure at the possessive look the demon gave Nikolai. He nodded curtly, cast a dismissive glance at Mae, and turned to enter the rift.

The tears blurring Mae’s vision finally spilled onto her cheeks. “Don’t.”

His shoulders knotted at her low mumble. For a moment, she thought her voice had finally reached him. The hate that set his pupils aglow when he looked at her shattered whatever slim hope she still clung to.

“You try my patience, demon. Be thankful they asked me to spare you.” His gaze swept Oscar and Rose before landing on her once more. “The next time we meet, I will not be as forgiving.”

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