Page 49 of Touch Of Fate
“She talked,” he sneers, narrowing his eyes.
“She didn’t have to,” Mara replies, holding out her hand. “Pain.” He falls to his knees, his mouth open in a silent scream. “I saw the evil things you did to her. You took her heart and shattered it. She wanted a man in her life to trust. A dad should love a child. You used her hopes for a stable life against her.” Mara twists her hand, and he rolls to his side, falling to his back. She releases my hand and moves to stand over him. “Ryan,”Mara drawls, leaning over him. His mouth opens and closes. “Do you have something to say?” She pulls on her spell, and he gasps for breath. I watch her carefully, and there is no indication of a lack of control.
She’s breathtaking in her magic.
“Why?” he breathes.
“That is your question? I thought that would be obvious. Do you deny the abuse Sofie suffered at your hands?”
“What did she tell you?” he asks, his fear leaking through his skin.
“I felt her humiliation.” Mara closes her eyes, the emotion traveling from her mind to his. “She thought it was something she was doing.” Ryan’s eyes fill with horror, never having felt the particular emotion before. “The pain from your fist was nothing compared to the mental abuse.” His head hits the floor as an invisible hand hits him. A bruise quickly forms on his cheek. “Do you feel any remorse?” She eases her control.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” he hisses through the pain. He reaches for her ankle, and I force his hand to the floor.
“Do not touch,” I growl, and my spells slip. The magic controlling the man behind Mara breaks, and he lunges for her. I rein in my concentration and center it on him. His mouth opens in agony as I drain his emotions. His eyes become glassy, and his body stops inches from her back. I take a step, my fury pushing him back. His feet slide against the floor until he hits the wall. I stop beside Mara, and he gasps for breath, his hands clawing at his throat. I suck in everything he feels, every emotion he has ever had, acknowledging them yet turning them into fuel for my magic. His life is filled with the power he holds over the women he abuses, and I can’t imagine how Mara lived with feeling dirty emotions like his. His mind slows, and his limbs drop. I empty his body, leaving him a shell. He drops to the floor, his heart taking the final beat. Pushing my gift into the other men, Iensure I don’t lose control of their bodies. My chest is tight, the anger barely satisfied.
“He won’t hurt anyone again, my Mara,” I grit out.
Chapter Eleven
Mara
Rome’s chest heaves, his face hard and filled with anger. I should be afraid of his ability; anyone would. I search my own emotions and find only fascination. His spells are like nothing I have seen before, and I realize how much he has been hiding. I don’t care that he killed a man. If he were anything like Ryan, he deserved to die. Rome’s actions assure me that he will do anything to protect me, and I feel closer to him.
My spells slipped as I was staring at Rome, and Ryan was crawling across the floor. I thought my magic was a punishment,but now I see what my purpose is. The emotions are a gift, and given to me to make things right. I have to give in to them; welcome them. The problem the last time was that I doubted myself. The ones who suffer at the hands of the abusers don’t have a voice or a way to punish them. I do.
“Ryan,” I call, following him. Holding out my hands, a light mist of white magic rolls him over with the power that comes from it. I focus on him, knowing Rome will take care of anyone who disrupts us. “We aren’t done yet.” I smile, looking at the task at hand in a new light. “Sofie didn’t ask me to come. She doesn’t know who I am or what I can do. I saw all the things you did to her. The years of abuse and the guilt you made her feel. I decided to show you the evils you forced on her.” He presses against the floor, trying to move. “Stop fighting it. Isn’t that what you told her?” He shakes his head violently. “I heard it, Ryan,” I grit out. I stop at his feet and look at him with disgust. “I heard all the things you said to her. You knew no one would believe her, and why would they? You portray a good man. The suits you wear to work hide the monster underneath. Your wife is in denial and forgot the one job she had above all others. Protect your children. Believe them when they come to you, terrified of the bad man who lives in the house with them.” His eyes become wet, and I feel nothing but glee at his fear. “I have a trick, Ryan. I’ve been running away from it, but not anymore. You've had a taste of it, yet you haven’t felt the full scope of the gift. Before you die, I want you to feel everything she has felt since you walked into their lives, into their house. My magic demands to show you.”
Inhaling roughly, I call on Sofie’s memories, urging them to leave my head. I can feel them traveling through the spells, trickling out and into him. I stare at him, seeing the horror begin. Throughout my life, I have felt everything and have hated it. As I watch him, I feel nothing. Sofie’s experiences becomeblurry to me, but they are vivid as they enter him. Bruises join the one on his face. His body thrashes as the damage he did to her appears on him. The cuts from the ring he always wears slice open his lip and his temple. Magic threads rip his shirt, and blood coats his chest.
This is my gift. I need to start treating it as such.
“Please,” Ryan whispers.
“How many times did she beg?” I ask harshly, my voice filled with my spells. “Until she accepted her fate and shoved it all deep down inside.” I’m almost euphoric. To hold so much power over another, knowing he can do nothing. For years, I have felt out of control. Meeting Rome has shown me I can take it back. I have to stop resisting and learn to embrace my magic. I’m tired of hiding. I am a witch, and although my gift is complicated, I have to guide it, trust it and myself. Pushing all of it where it should be, I abandon the spell holding him down. He’s not getting away, lost in the mind of Sofie. His eyes stare at the ceiling, their color gone, and the movie of her life flashing across them.
“Mara,” Lace gasps.
“Stay back,” I whisper, keeping my attention on Ryan. Wind whips my hair across my face, and electricity fills the air. He’s not done yet, and I have to finish it. Later, I will worry about her shock and what she thinks. She has never seen me so detached.
Ryan is nearing the end of the memories, and his face is frozen, trapped. As they finish, his soul is taken to where it belongs, and his body is a shell. I exhale, knowing it is over. The sickness that has overtaken my body since I saw into Sofie’s mind leaves, causing me to feel lighter. The exhaustion isn’t as severe as it was last time, but I still feel drained. I rein in my spells and I smile; they rest inside me, building up slowly for the next time. The breeze settles, and I push my hair out of my face.
“Archer, can you wipe their memories?” Rome asks, and I turn away from the dead body.
“Wait,” I say softly, something calling inside. I move to the closest man, studying his face. My magic is still in control and is urging me to touch. If I do, I know it will be bad. These men are the same as Ryan. There is a knowing deep inside, but I have to be sure. “They need the same fate.” I can feel them watching me.
“You don’t have to,” Rome says, lightly touching my arm. “I’ll take care of them.” His touch calms me, and I lean into the feeling.
“I know they are the same.” I frown and turn to him. “Should I trust it?”
“Yes,” he says firmly. “What is your magic telling you?”
“That they deserve to die. Their souls are dirty, and they will continue to cause pain.” I look around at them, frozen in time.
“Then touching them will only take from you. Leave them to me,” he says softly, and kisses my temple. “Trust your spells and me,” he whispers against my skin, and I nod. “Go to your sister.” I meet his eyes and see only his determination. Turning my back, I walk toward Lace and dread her reaction.
“That was incredible,” she says, smiling softly. “Stop feeling as if I will condemn you. Your power is thrilling to watch. Those women are safe because of you, and the men are getting what they deserve.” I blow out a breath, relief coursing through me.
