Page 23 of Untamed Fate (Magic Side: Wolf Bound 2)

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Moments later, my aunt returned and slapped a thin leather album in front

of me. Lifting an inquisitive brow, I carefully opened it. Inside were faded

newspaper clippings and photos. The first headline read, Local LaSalle Girl

Slays Rampaging Ogre! There was a picture of a girl, not more than fifteen,

standing by the smoking corpse of a monster.

I flipped the page. Malign Magic Mingles as Malicious Mage Meets His

Match! The faded color photo showed a red-haired girl on the steps of some

public building. My aunt.

She leaned in and spoke softly. “That was Edwin North, a particularly

heinous criminal and a pervert. He messed with the wrong girl.”

My mind whirled. An album of monsters and villains she’d overcome. Or

to think of it another way, people she had murdered.

What was my death toll now?

“Savannah, you have power—deep, untapped resources of magic. I can

feel it vibrating around you. It’s a gift, but it means you will be hunted and

challenged all your life. Get used to it. You have to face down your fears and

not let them get in the way of the magic around you.” My aunt touched my

hand and smiled when I looked up. “I don’t keep this book because I’m

proud, or because I need trophies. I keep it because sometimes I’m scared.

For myself, for my husband, for my son, and now, for you, too. It reminds me

that the gods gave me the talent to protect myself and the strength to

overcome anything. You have that strength. I know it.”

I swallowed and nodded as I turned the page.

A fierce, bearded face looked back at me with dark, half-mad eyes. The

headline above the little black-and-white photograph read, Victor Dragan

Dead at Last. Laurents and LaSalles Overcome the Dark Cloud Hanging

Over Magic Side.

My aunt tensed. “Dragan was the worst. Absolutely deranged. And I

disintegrated him at the end.”

I scanned the article. “You worked with the Laurents—the werewolves. I

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