Just like Melody and the Ashgrove witches, something shrouded the Lincoln sisters’ heartbeats. Except theirs was much thicker. A dark miasma that seemed to be sucking their very life force dry.
Instinct told me it was the corrupt magic of the Black Chalice Rite.
Esmeralda glanced toward the house as if she’d read my mind.
“Their healing magic has been enormously useful,” the witch said, her lips stretching in a sinister smile. “Though it’s nearly spent. Another few days and there won’t be anything left to drain. Their powers will be mine.”
Didi’s magic flared around her hands. I felt the witch’s fury blaze hot enough to scorch.
Mrs. Chen began doing something with her herbs.
Shadows fluttered around Barney. His crimson eyes were fixed unblinkingly on Esmeralda.
“The Black Chalice Rite requires a pureblood vampire’s blood. Where did you obtain it?”
Something shifted in the witch’s expression. A flicker of satisfaction that made my skin crawl.
“A lonely vampire is a remarkably cooperative creature,” she drawled. “A few months of attention and affection and he was ready to offer me anything. He thought we were in love.” Her lip curled. “Men are so predictable. He wasn’t even useful enough to keep around once I had what I needed.”
Darkness trembled around Barney. Didi put a hand on his arm when he made to move toward Esmeralda. A muscle jumped along the vampire’s jaw as he curled his fingers so tight he scored lines in his palms.
“You should stop trying to get a rise out of us, witch,” Samuel said, his amber eyes hard. “The Alliance knows what you’ve been doing. Your shell companies have been traced and the Thornwick Family Trust is in the process of being seized. It’s over.”
A change came over Esmeralda then. One that had my shoulders knotting.
Samuel’s wolf growled across our mate bond as he registered the sudden threat.
The witch didn’t look like she was done by any means.
There was movement at the front of the house. I looked around distractedly. Melody and the Ashgrove witches were emerging from the front door, their faces pale and stricken in thespilling light.
Ice filled my veins.
I could tell from their stilted movements that they were moving against their will. More worryingly, I could see something faint and dark shimmering in and out of view around their throats and hands.
My head snapped back to Esmeralda.
Her smile had returned. It was worse this time.
“You brought my pawns to my doorstep,” Esmeralda told Samuel softly. “Along with two more witches. And you’re standing on a ley line convergence I’ve spent a year attuning to my magic.” She tilted her head. “Tell me, Alpha. Do you really think that was wise?”
I startled when the ground began to tremble.
It started deep, a bass vibration that traveled up through the soles of my boots and into my bones. I gasped when I felt the ley lines convulse beneath us. They surged, three rivers of incandescent power wrenched from their natural course and pulled toward the woman standing in front of me.
The Ashgrove witches crumpled where they stood on the porch, black lines flaring briefly like brands across their skin. Melody screamed, a raw, terrible sound. She clutched her head and collapsed to her knees. Blood oozed from one of her nostrils.
It took me a heartbeat to realize what was happening.
Dammit! She’s drawing on all the magic around her!
I exchanged an alarmed look with Samuel. He nodded jerkily.
The sharp smell of Mrs. Chen’s herbs hit my nose.Gavin sneezed out a stream of fire that scorched the grass.
“Get back!” the elderly witch barked. “Now!”
Esmeralda raised her hands as we stumbled away hastily.
