Page 27 of Snips, Snails and Werewolf Tails

"Elspeth," Sybil warns as my voice becomes ragged and disjointed. "I think it's time to stop."

But I can't stop yet. I only get one chance at this, and there's no sign that Lucian is going to live, so I keep saying the words and place my hand on his chest where the potion has dampened his shirt and spread like a halo of chalky, wet paste.

I don't know what I expect to happen. Is he supposed to open his eyes? Or suck in a sudden, tight breath? I don't know when to stop. And eventually, I can't. The dark magic bids me to continue. It fills my head with the rhythmic chant of the spell. My eyes burn and my voice doesn't sound like mine anymore. My hands are shaking against Lucian's body, and I can feel my muscles start to seize. I know I have to stop—but Ican't.

"Help her!" Isla screams when the other witches realize I've lost control of the dark magic.

I can only imagine how much worse this might have been if they weren't thrusting all their magic into protective enchantments. I would have been lost to the spell by now without them.

The three of them tighten their circle around me until each is holding me by the hand or arm. They utter the soft words of a counter spell to pull me out of the darkness and toward the light of their magic, which shines like a beacon. And after a few minutes, it works.

As soon as the dark magic lets go of me, I'm hit with exhaustion. My knees crumble under me and the other withes catch me before I collapse onto the floor. I have never exhausted so much of my own energy before.

"Get her some water," Sybil orders to Isla.

"Water? Hell, she needswine." Blair runs off and returns quickly with some of each.

I wet my lips with the water and try to ignore the ringing in my head as I stare at Lucian. I still don't see any sign that the spell worked.

But a few minutes later, Isla suddenly says, "Look" and points at him.

His breathing grows strong and steady and the bleeding stops. Color slowly returns to his skin. He's still asleep, but he looks like he's out of danger.

"I knew it would work." I smile weakly as I take a sip of wine. Blair was right, the wine tastes much better than the water did. "The dark magic saved him."

"Yes, but it almost killedyou," Sybil reminds me in a scolding tone.

"It doesn't matter. It's all okay now, so it was worth it."

Blair and Sybil exchange a glance.

"What is it?" I ask them. They are both terrible at subtlety and keeping secrets. I can read them both like a book. Something is troubling them.

"We don't know if it is actually all okay now," Blair says.

"What do you mean?"

"Sometimes the effects of dark magic aren't apparent right away. Sometimes it takes a while for the magic to claim its price."

"But by the looks of it," Sybil says as she completes Blair's thought, "The dark magic had its claws firmly stuck in you. I would not be surprised if there are repercussions ahead."

"I'm fine." I scoff as I stand up and brush all worries from my head. "Lucian is going to be okay now, and that is all that matters. I wasn't hurt, thanks to the three of you. And as soon as he is recovered, we can figure out how to handle to vampire situation."

I bend down and plant a kiss on Lucian's cheek, hoping he's able to hear me .

"You're going to be alright now," I whisper. "When you wake up, we will be together again, and everything will be good."

I think I see his eyelids flutter and my breath catches excitedly when I think about seeing him open his eyes again. At least for now, things are calm again.

"You should go back to your apartment now and try to sleep," Sybil says. "You need to rest."

"I do." I nod in agreement. "But I'll rest here beside Lucian so when he opens his eyes, I'll be the very first thing he sees. Just like the last time."

I curl up beside him and rest my head against his chest, and as soon as my eyes close, I fall asleep.

16

LUCIAN

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