Page 52 of Snow's Charming
Sylus was right. We really fit the star-crossed lovers’ description. My stomach twisted as I wondered if I’d ever be happy. Seemed like Jackie’s life’s purpose was to keep me miserable. I wanted to bolt upright and jump into Sylus’s arms to tell him I loved him and that everything would turn out fine. But how could I claim that to be true when I was feeling the same way Sylus was? We were living out Shakespeare in the twenty-first century, and I hated it.
“Fuck! Accius broke the border. He’ll be here any second with the rest of the pack and my family.” Said Raine.
Claps of thunder echoed in the room, followed by energy balls hitting a target and setting it ablaze. The Nuri witches returned to finish me and Sylus off. I wished I could help him and put him and the pack in a protective bubble, but that wouldn’t happen with this damned hex over me.
“How lovely!”
Fuck—Raine was right. The voice was unmistakable. It belonged to the stepmonster and dripped with saccharine and every other fake and foul sugar imaginable. I loathed her with every fiber of my being and wished I had the honor of binding the bitch’s powers myself.
“You are all here together again. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down elsewhere to kill you off!” She said with a cackle. “Too bad I will have to kill you, Sylus. You are gorgeous and powerful—two things I enjoy the most. But you love the brat, which means your taste in women is questionable, and I don’t do sloppy seconds.”
I heard another energy ball form, and I’d only assume it was directed toward Sylus. I willed every fiber of my being to move, but it was no use. Jackie’s spell over me was too strong. My heart squeezed and my stomach dropped as the ball whipped through the room as if it were a live wire.
“Is that all you’ve got, Jackie?”
Sylus’s voice was fierce with fire. He let out a low growl, and I sensed him shift into his wolf. Whatever spell Jackie had over me didn’t break the psychic connection between me and Sylus. I was thankful for the small favor until my throat constricted.
“Foolish boy! Do you think you can stop me this time? First, your precious shield is under my hex. And second, my coven is stronger now that I’ve joined Accius’s Nuri Coven.”
My heart squeezed again as my breath left my lungs. She was choking Sylus, and I couldn’t stop it. What was worse was, if she gained more power, would they be able to defeat her without me? Dreadful guilt welled up in my belly. I didn’t know how I’d manage, but somehow, I had to wake from this hex to protect the family I love.
“You could join a thousand covens and you’d still be no match for me and my family, Jackie!” said Raine.
“Or me!” said Zhang.
“Hey, is this a private reckoning, or is everyone invited?” Said an unfamiliar female.
“Teagan, Ara, Kiku—with me,” said Raine.
“With pleasure, cuz!” said Teagan.
A howling wind shot through the room, causing the top of my casket to shift open slightly, filling me with hope. If I could wake up, I’d be able to use my protective barrier. Her bruising grip tightened even more around Sylus’s throat, and I was desperate to save him.
A strangely familiar calm washed over me. Calmseemed to flood me right before I surrounded Sylus with protection the last time. I wasn’t sure about being able to produce the shield myself because all the other times, Sylus was holding onto me. I had assumed the barrier only existed when Sylus was touching me. Still, somehow something must have been happening, because Jackie’s shrill voice cut through the air.
“Oh, not this time, brat! I’m going to do what I should have done ages ago and kill you with my bare hands!”
The sound of shattered glass rang out. Shards of glass prick my thighs, forearms, and forehead, followed by the distinct grip of Jackie’s hands wrapping around my neck. I tried to move to fight her off, but the hex she had me under was still too powerful for me to overcome.
“You will not hurt her again, Jackie!” said Sylus.
The weight of his body was near my feet. Suddenly, Jackie’s weight was less heavy against me as Sylus continued to struggle with her. A slap shot through the room and Jackie’s grip on me loosened more. I gasped, and air filled my lungs again.
“Raine!” Sylus said.
“Teagan, Ara, Kiku, say the binding with me. I bind you, Jackie, from doing harm to others.”
The four repeat this chant two more times. The air around me was charged.
“Do you honestly think a binding spell is as easy as tying me up with common clothesline rope, Raine?”
“Solvere!” she spat before letting out a gasp. Her face soon came into my view.
“No! This plan was foolproof. I shouldn’t lose. It just can’t be! I was certain the hex was ironclad.” Jackie said with another gasp.
“As soon as I kill Raine, his binding spell is void, Jackie. Then we will have the pleasure of killing the Yin and Yang Fated Mates together.” Said Accius as he lifted his hands to form an energy ball.
The energy sparked and fizzled. He looked in my direction and then toward Raine.
