“At least you foundsomethingyou’re capable of.” The voice that cut through the air was ice-cold and all-too-familiar. “I was beginning to wonder when my mother would send you home for being such a disgrace of a witch. But apparently you have some skills. You’re a pro at sucking up to those at the top.”
Diana. Someone was bitter.
“I would say that I never took you for a sore loser,” I said, trying to appear flippant as I turned to face Diana, “but that would be lying.”
Behind her, Tabitha and Phoebe gasped.
“I’m a sore loser because you know how to schmooze people in power?” Diana’s eyes narrowed. “Like that matters in the real world. If I was on a mission, and it was myjobto get information from someone, I would’ve excelled. But I don’t need to suck up now to get a leg up later. Iworkfor what I get.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you do.”
“Now, now, ladies, don’t you think this is getting a little heated?” Hunter tried to intervene.
Diana gave him a pleasant, not at all tight-lipped smile. “Honestly, Hunter, I don’t understand why a wizard of your talents bothers trying to make everyone feel so at home. Especially when it’s so obvious that they don’t belong.”
“Yeah, she can’t even shield herself,” Tabitha added, her voice like a little girl’s, too high-pitched.
“And she didn’t know that you can change the color of your magic to be more covert,” Phoebe added with a snicker. “Imagine trying to complete a mission with waterypinkmagic giving you away.”
My fists tightened. “We’re here to learn, aren’t we?”
Tabitha must have been really feeling herself, because she stepped in front of Diana and flipped her long, black hair over her shoulder. “Trying isn’t good enough when you come face-to-face with a demon or malevolent fae. I bet you don’t make it past the Samhain Trial. Hopefully, your partner will bring your body back. Then again, if they have to save your ass so many times during the trial, they probably won’t have the energy.”
“I won’t be a burden to my partner,” I stated through clenched teeth.
“Ohplease, let’s be honest, Legacy.” She spread her arms wide. “Whoever gets paired with you is getting the short end of the stick. You’d be doing us all a favor if you left now. At the very least, we wouldn’t have to pray not to get stuck with a magical dud. Malicious magicals aren’t swayed by a pretty face and charming demeanor—which is the best you got.”
My anger reached a boiling point. A beam of shimmering, pastel pink magic burst from my hands, shot toward Tabitha, and hit her straight in the heart. Diana gasped, and the smile fell from Phoebe’s face as she backed away.
Unfortunately, Tabitha didn’t topple. My magic wasn’t strong enough for that, but it did knock the wind out of her.
Still, I barely had a second to revel in my small win before a stream of Tabitha’s orange magic came barreling my way. I dropped to the ground, and smelled a nasty scent as the edge of her power caught my long hair. Quickly, I rolled to put the fire out, and leapt back up.
Tabitha had come closer, and there was a fire in her dark eyes.
“What’s wrong, Legacy? Did I ruin your hairdo?” Tabitha jeered and shot another beam of magic at me.
I darted out of the way.
“Ladies! I think—”
“Stay out of this, Hunter!” Tabitha screamed. “This little witch needs to know she can’t get everything she wants because of who her parents are. Not everyone will treat her like a princess!”
Yikes. So she wasn’t just pissed that I’d attacked first. Myprivilegeincensed her.
Before I could even consider how to calm Tabitha down, she attacked again. This time, I saw the moment her orange magic transformed midair from sheer energy into fire.
I shrieked, but didn’t move fast enough. It hit my arm, and I tried to bat it out, but it didn’t disappear. At least not until Hunter conjured water and shot it at me.
The fire sizzled to nothing.
Tabitha laughed. “See, littleLegacy, you really don’t belong here. I learned how to put out enchanted flames at the age of five. It’s probably best to pack up your bags now.”
I gnashed my teeth, gathered up as much power as I could muster, and roared as I let it fly. A bright pink beam, much more vibrant than my normal pastel hue, soared from my palms.
My mouth dropped open at the sight of it. When Tabitha’s eyes widened, a sense of victory bloomed within me.
It disappeared nearly as fast when she threw up an orange shield.
