Witchcraft boiled beneath my skin, tearing at the seams of who I was and the chaos I could become. It pummelled through my veins, filling my mind with tempting promises of satisfaction and respect, trying to entice my withdrawn nature to give in to inklings of carnage.
For the first time ever, I considered bending to its will.
Books, plants, bedding—everything hung in the air before smashing into the floor. A ceramic pot exploded against the wall inches from Alec’s head. Even so, my fire laced the green power with more energy, providing fuel for whatever my instincts pushed me to do next.
Alec froze, eyes darting around the room as another book slammed against the wall.
Shaking his head to get rid of the soil, he pleaded, ‘You have to understand… it’s not like it’s a choice. You should know best—’
Pathetic. ‘Are you going to have her stayhere from now on?’
His throat bobbed. ‘I can’t let her go back there, can I? Besides, she’s safer here; we don’t really know what happened in the Ortensian court.’
Inching closer, I could sense he was about to try to console me. ‘Don’t touch me, or I’ll scorch you.’
This was pointless. I rushed out, sidestepping confused Miriam, and let the door slam shut as I hid in my bedroom. If they knew what was best for them, they would let me be.
I collapsed onto the bed. My magic still twitched beneath my skin, refusing to settle. Of course, fate would burden me with Willow. No matter what I did, I could never rid myself of that wretched family. Like burdock, they sank their thorns into their victim to keep attached, sucking the joy out of their life as sustenance.
Taking off my clothes and throwing them on the floor, I focused on the feeling of the soft sheets against my skin rather than the feeling of impending doom. Slightly cool fabric at least appeared to simmer down the threatening heat whipping beneath my skin, refusing to relent. Soon it was forced to. I was so exhausted that closing my eyes for a second was enough to drift off.
In dreams, at least, it was peaceful.
A ray of moonlight blinded me through the crack in the curtains when I finally decided I’d had enough of rotting in bed. My body needed rest, and so I lay there for hours even after my muscles started cramping and that restless feeling at the back of my head continued making me more anxious. Sometimes dealing with my life felt like too much effort.
‘How are you finding the Isle?’ I reached out to Anya.
‘I met your shadow friend.’
Myheart skipped a beat. ‘The shadow dragon?’
She chuckled. ‘How many others do you have?’
I’d be damned—the grumpy beast seemed to be in a good mood. ‘Just the snake. How was it to meet him?’
For some time now I worried if they would get along. The shadow dragon seemed so lonely; it would be a shame if I had to choose between them. Anya would always be my priority.
‘He’s decent,’ she claimed, and I couldn’t fight off a smile of relief.
‘Decent?’ I poked fun, since her enthusiasm baffled me.
Anya huffed in my mind, like I was pestering her. ‘He’ll do.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I will allow him to keep me company,’ she said, secretive as always.
Allow him… ‘Well, aren’t you generous?’
‘Indeed. How are you?’ my bonded changed the subject.
I sighed. ‘Alec brought Willow here and wants her to stay. I don’t know what I’m going to do.’
‘Why would he do that?’ she screamed.
An urge to roll my eyes was so strong; the longer I fought it off, the more I was afraid I might convulse. ‘She’s his mate.’
‘What? Really? Isn’t your life a clusterfuck?’
