Page 19 of Claimed By Her Monsters
I blink. “What do you mean?”
“That’s you.” Caspian grimaces, like he’s worried how I’ll respond. “You’re doing that.”
I jerk upright, pulling out of Alister’s arms. “I am not!”
Alister reaches around and reels me back into his chest. “Yes, little witch. I’m sorry to say, it’s all you.”
“You’ve been giving off bursts of energy all night,” Caspian crosses his ankle over his knee and jiggles his foot like he can’t hold still. “I’m siphoning it off.” He taps two fingers to his sternum. “The house routes it through me but I’m almost at capacity. I won’t be able to control it much longer.”
“You’ve been…taking my energy?” I wrinkle my brow.
“Just the excess.” When he sees my look of concern, Caspian adds, “Don’t worry. It doesn’t hurt me. Honestly, it’s good. I haven’t felt this alive in forever.”
I look closer, noting that he does seem more solid, more upright, able to meet my eyes.
Mick licks his lips nervously. “If we don’t initiate her soon, she’ll blow. Burn us to ash.”
“We’ll find a coven for her tomorrow.” Alister’s voice is smooth, but his grip around me tightens.
Caspian shakes his head. “There isn’t time. She needs itnow. Before midnight. Before the gate shuts.”
Mick waves his hand in front of his face like he smelled something foul. “Come on, Alister. I know you can smell the brimstone. It’s getting stronger.”
I catch on a word from earlier and hold onto it. “Initiate?” My pulse kicks. “What does that mean?”
All three men exchange loaded glances, a silent battle of who’ll be the one to tell me.
Frustration spikes. “Oh my God, will one of you grow a pair and spit it out?”
Alister brushes a piece of hair back from my face, tucks it behind my shoulder. “Normally when a witch awakens, several warlocks take her through an initiation that safely brings her into her power with all her memories. During that time, she manifests which element she’ll control. Earth. Wind. Fire. Water. Most witches get one; they rarely get more.”
“What if she’s the Clover Witch?” Mick leans forward, grinning excitedly. “What ifwecan make her the Clover Witch?”
“I’m not sure that’s how it works,” Caspian says, but his expression turns thoughtful like he’s considering it.
“No one’s seen the Clover Witch in hundreds of years,” Alister adds. “You know what happened to her.”
They share a grim look, brows lowered.
“What? What happened? What’s a Clover Witch?” I huff, tired of always being the last to know.
“A clover has four perfect leaves. The Clover Witch controls all four elements.” Caspian, the best teacher of the three, explains patiently.
Mick is practically vibrating with excitement. “It’s fate. I know it. Maddie’s the Clover Witch. Think about it. We initiate her on Halloween night, when magic’s at its peak.” He looks at Alister, then Caspian. “Maybe that’s why the Clover Witch hasn’t returned yet. She needs acreature, not a warlock, to wake her.” He bounces in his seat, clearly thrilled. “Three other creatures.”
I snap, “You still haven’t told me how the initiation works.”
Caspian clears his throat. “It’s a physical anchoring. A union of energies to contain your magic—”
Mick waves a hand, interrupting him. “Stop making it sound so complicated. The truth is…” He turns to me and grins, all sharp teeth. “We fuck you.”
My mouth hangs open. Words escape me.
A log shifts in the fireplace and sparks leap up the flue like falling stars in reverse.
Alister cuts in, “Only if you want it, Madison. Our job is to anchor you, not take from you. Say ‘stop,’ and we stop.”
Chapter Fifteen
