Page 24 of The Powerless Witch

“Fine,” he said, and I nodded my thanks to Alice. “But you’re not coming with us. I can’t watch over you both at the same time.” We rolled our eyes almost in sync before he swatted my shoulder, pointing at the compartment. “Give me back my phone. I need to call Allison.”

Allison was waiting for us when we parked in front of a giant, eerie park that looked like it had jumped out of a creepy fairytale. With the trees naked and the ground dark from the rain that must have fallen earlier, the place was as unsettling as a graveyard. Not to mention the mist that had started to grow thicker and thicker.

I caught Allison’s eye as she looked me over from head to toe before clearing her throat.

“Glad to see you made it,” she said awkwardly, glancing at Isaac, who circled the car to stand beside me. “Now, do you two mind telling me why we’re going into Fae territory?”

“You are not, we are,” Isaac corrected her, and her frown deepened. That’s when she noticed Alice standing by the vehicle, studying her with open fascination. “You are here for her. Allison, meet my sister, Alice. Alice, this is my Beta, Allison.”

“Hi,” Alice said, giving the other woman a small wave. “Nice to meet you.”

“S-S-Sister?” Allison stuttered, looking between the two of them as if checking for family resemblance. And it was there at first glance and at second—they were both tall and well-built and while Isaac towered over his older sister, she had this impossible presence even as she smiled awkwardly when she became the center of attention. There they were, the same warm eyes and frighteningly beautiful features. “By the Goddess, you found her!”

Isaac nodded with a smile, and his Beta finally composed herself. Turning to Alice, she extended a hand with a smile.

“Did you call for Malakai?” Isaac asked when Allison let go of Alice.

“Yes. He might be there already. Let’s—”

Isaac tossed the keys to her, and only her inhuman reflexes allowed her to catch them before they fell into the puddle of rainwater by her feet.

“Get Alice home. She can stay at my house,” Isaac said, sliding his hand to my lower back and nudging me past his Beta. “Has anything happened while I was gone?”

Allison shook her head. “All has been quiet, too quiet. We have doubled the patrols, but the witches haven’t taken any action. The hunters are all but gone.”

Isaac nodded, already turning his back to her.

“Send Malakai a message if anything changes. I’ll get back as soon as I can.” I allowed him to guide me deeper into the park when he stopped, looking over his shoulder. “Keep her safe, Ally.”

“With my life,” his Beta replied just before we took a turn and they disappeared from sight. Isaac led us to a familiar giant tree that looked even more dead than the others, but then he stopped before we reached it. It took me a moment to see the ripples of magic with the mist swirling around us, but then a figure stepped through the glamor.

Blond and unearthly beautiful—in the way his kind often was—he moved with the typical Fae grace, but instead of the cold, hostile welcome I expected, a smile lit up his face. After nodding his greetings to Isaac, his mesmerizing violet eyes settled on mine.

“Well met, Ancient One. You shine just as brightly as the first time I laid my eyes upon you.” He offered me his hand, and I allowed him to brush his lips over my knuckles.

“Long time no see, Your Highness. I’m glad to see your other sibling hasn’t finished you off yet.”

He winced, but then shrugged his shoulders, his entire robe shimmering around him.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Isaac frowned, glancing between the two of us.

“Let’s say that his family is…complicated,” I replied, enjoying the look of confusion on Isaac’s face. “You’re not the only one with family issues, puppy.”

Isaac looked ready to snap at me when Malakai cleared his throat.

“As lovely as it is to see you, I suspect you are not here without a good reason. What do you need from me?”

I felt Isaac’s eyes, his heart speeding up and making mine dance to the same rhythm. Studying Malakai’s smiling face, I had the feeling that he already knew what I was going to say.

“I’m here to make a bargain.”

Chapter 11

Malakai

She had barely changed since the last time I saw her. The same fiery coppery hair, the same gleaming green eyes, the same fire burning inside of her. Except this time, it was reduced to mere embers.

“A bargain?” I raised an eyebrow. “With the Fae?”

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