Page 97 of Witch Queen

It’s okay.Mae ignored the fire scorching her flesh where she’d just assimilated dozens of cuts.I’m okay!

She glowered at Vedran, the dark power he had unleashed seeping into her body through her pores and mouth and nose as the rest of Cortes and Vlad’s injuries were transferred to her. Her white magic purified the Sorcerer King’s power of the corruption that tainted it before it entered her cores.

She felt her strength return.

Mae began consumingVortexnext, her wounds healing as magic flowed freely through her veins once more. Air started moving on the bridge.

Vedran took a threatening step toward her.

Oscar’s fingers twitched. His lips trembled. “Dis…perse.”

The Sorcerer King recoiled, eyes widening in disbelief as the spell acceleratedVortex’sdestruction. He whirled around with an enraged snarl and stormed over to Oscar, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him into the air. The sorcerer gasped.

Vedran’s lips curled back on a hideous grimace. He squeezed.

The handful of seconds Oscar had bought Mae was all she needed to gather her magic so she could incant her next spell. Her lungs expanded as she took a deep breath.

“ABSORB!”

The barrier protecting the bridge wavered as she consumed it. The New York coven and their allies replenished it instantly.

Mae found she could move again. Brimstone snarled and shook himself out. Hellreaver hummed, black and red static coming to life around him. Magic churned the air around them, their auras so powerful it created ripples in the river far below and caused the bridge cables to sway.

Mae lifted a hand.

“SUBJUGATE!” she and Na Ri roared.

Vedran grunted and almost doubled over, shock flaring across his face as he clutched his stomach.

They headed for the Sorcerer King.

* * *

Elation lightenedRose’s chest as she tore at the darkness enclosing her soul fragment. She had witnessed the moment Ran Soyun used her magic on the demon who had possessed her body and she knew her every movement must be filling him with agony.

A faint groan echoed through the void surrounding her.

Rose smiled savagely.

Ran Soyun’s spell had granted her the advantage she needed, just as she’d promised it would. All Rose needed to do was hang on a little longer until Barquiel confronted Mae. Her heart swelled.

I’m coming, Mae! Wait for me!

* * *

Barquiel groundhis teeth as he bounced inside the portal taking him to Earth, his movements all over the place.

Although the effect of Ran Soyun’s magic had faded once he’d entered the rift, it had weakened him considerably in the seconds he had been in contact with it.

How could she?How could she leave me for that bastard?!His talons scored deep cuts into his palms as he recalled the sickening image of the woman he loved in his archenemy’s arms.I swear, I will kill Azazel with my own two hands and give Ran Soyun his bloodied, beating heart!

Light appeared at the end of the portal.

A tint of corruption filled his nostrils.

Barquiel scowled.Vedran!

* * *

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