Chapter Fifty-Eight
MAEVE
Gathering every speck of magic inside, I concentrate on expanding this into my limbs. My hands shake as the energy builds and I launch an attack on her mind.
I barely touch Anastasia before she hits back. My ears ring as I drop backwards to the ground, but I refuse to give up. I seize what I have left and project myself towards her. This time, she falters for a second before a slow smile crosses her face.
I'm dragged to my feet by an invisible force and I grip my neck as I choke against imaginary hands. Anastasia beckons me with a finger and I obey, stiffly walking towards her. "A taste of your own magic, little witch prodigy," she whispers.
Reaching inside her coat, she pulls out a dagger and offers it to me, the hilt glittering with gems. I make fists, rejecting her commands in my head.
The pressure on my throat grows as she raises a brow. "Take the dagger."
"And do what?" I rasp.
She moistens her lips and leans forward. "Cut yourself. Not badly, maybe a tiny slash on your palm."
"Why would I do that?" I ask, voice shaking. As I say the words, I take the dagger from Anastasia's hand, looking back at her as she laughs.
"You're not the only one skilled in making others do what you want them to. Your professors are useless. I can teach you your full potential. That ridiculous witch at the academy is holding you back, not helping."
I hold the dagger away from my other hand but however hard I fight, I can't stop the blade moving to my palm.
"I suppose Tobias told you his past?" she asks.
I nod, eyes squeezing tears as I slice the dagger across my skin. Blood pools in my stinging palm and I look down in horror.
"I want to know if the real Tobias is in there. How close to the surface his worst part is—the hemia. I'll show you how much he wants to hurt you, not help you. Turn around."
Tears continue to prick my eyes as I turn to face Tobias and meet his gaze. His expression is grim and he glances at my hand for a brief moment before looking back at me.
What does she mean? I ask him.
I told you not to fight her.
Help me.
"What did I hear," asks Anastasia, voice a horrified whisper. "What is this?"
I shake my head at him because the closer I get, the more I worry Anastasia's right. I squeeze my hand into a fist, and the warm blood trickles along my wrist. Tobias's breathing labours as he watches me. Has he suppressed his hemia side enough?
"Tobias had such a reputation once," coos Anastasia. "I hear he wiped out a whole coven in one evening's work."
My feet are like lead as I drag myself closer to him and his pained eyes.
Trust me. She's lying.
But I sense his response to me. He can't hide the temptation crossing his mind. "I don't drink blood," he says to Anastasia through gritted teeth. "Not anymore."
"Oh, but you want to, and Maeve's blood would be exquisite."
Trust me.
I close out Anastasia and allow my mind to open to Tobias's, knowing if I don't trust him, my situation could get much worse. Anastasia is toying with us.
Pain runs through my head as if my skull split in two as energy flows through the conduit between us. The dagger falls from my weakened hand as Tobias absorbs my energy, emptying my body and mind.
"Oh! You prefer your pneuma side? I would've thought a lamia attack would be more interesting for the girl," calls out Anastasia. I stagger as I lose more energy to him. "You're hurting her. Don't kill another witch, sweetie."
I tremble, convinced I'm about to collapse again. Tobias didn't feed on me, but the weakness I feel might as well be blood loss as the dull buzzing in my ears grow and the world darkens. The ground wobbles beneath my feet, and I gasp as Tobias yanks the last of my energy from me.
I fall forward as Tobias yells out in anger and the magic pulses from him, invisible to everyone.
The force fills the bubble Anastasia has us in, ricocheting off the barrier and creating a static that lifts my hair. "Leave here!" he yells.
"Do you want me to kill you?" comes Anastasia's furious voice. I daren't look up and wrap my arm around my head as a wave of magic passes over us, engulfing and dragging us down.
"I'm removing the obstacles," she snaps. "Kicking aside the pawns. I want Maeve."
"You don't touch these kids," he growls.
I'm dragged forward like the tide pulling me back again as Tobias sends another jolt of energy at her. Is this what pneuma vampires can do? This is magic, not a skill.
"I said, don't assault me," comes her scream. "How can you win against a Blackwood witch?"
Tobias drops to his knees beside me, arms around his head.
He's in pain.
Angry he failed.
Anastasia's control over me snaps away like an elastic band and I breathe easily again. "Tobias?"
He stares at the ground, refusing to look at me. All I can see is the blood from his eyes rolling down his cheek. "I'm coming with you," he says. "I don't know what they'll do to you."
Anastasia's boots appear in sight again and she squats beside us. "Your bonded witch wore the pendant when he saved your life that day, Maeve." Her voice is a mix of awe and disgust. "You have Blackwood energy inside you, little witch. I sensed the power in your magic."
Setting the bullet meant for Jamie in front of my face, she stands again and her heels click away. I stare, unable to comprehend the words, listening to Tobias's laboured breathing as I fight against passing out.
I contain Blackwood energy.
Anastasia's magic knocks through the world's natural order again and her spell breaks. I'm thrown, but I don't know where or what by. I crash onto something solid and every muscle feels torn, each bone broken, and my head pounds with pain worse than any vision.
I take ragged breaths as I lie with my cheek to the gravel. No. This isn't gravel. I flick my eyes open and look at the deep-piled, blue carpet beneath my face. Ignoring the agony, I shift to take in my surroundings.
The dark night stares back at me through a bay window with a bench beneath. A four-poster bed worthy of a queen, draped in beautiful silver and gold organza fabric and cushions piled high is half a metre away. The large room belongs to a home owned by somebody wealthy.
But this isn't an ordinary house.
Shadows curl around me, creating figures in the room, and my scalp crawls. They're watching me.
My weak heart beats slowly as I reach out for Tobias with my hand and my mind.
I already know that's impossible.
I'm alone.
To Be Continued
The final book in the Nightworld Academy will be available soon.
Click Here to Nightworld Academy: Term Five
Also available for preorder:
Ravenhold Supernatural Reform Academy
You've heard about the place nobody wants to go, now read about the students who live there.
Click here to preorder Ravenhold on Amazon
(please note this link has been updated)
Blackwood Magic, Matt and Amelia's story, is also available for preorder here
Preorder links in order of publication:
Ravenhold Supernatural Reform Academy
Nightworld Academy: Term Five
Blackwood Magic
Thank you for reading and please feel free to contact me any time on lisa@ljswallow.com
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Read on to find details about my other books.
OTHER BOOKS BY LJ SWAL
LOW
The Four Horsemen Series
Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy
(COMPLETE series available now)
Legacy
Bound
Hunted
Guardians
Chaos
Descent
Reckoning
Companion books
Sinister and Tricked (Halloween Special)
Bright (The Christmas after Reckoning)
Nightworld Academy
YA Reverse Harem Paranormal series
Term One
Term Two
Term Three
Term 5 releasing soon
Daughter of Shadow series
Reverse Harem Fantasy romance
Dragon Soul
Silvercrest Guardians
Ebon Queen (coming soon)
The Demon's Covenant Series
Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy
Held by Magic
Elements of Magic
Coming Soon
Shades of Magic
www.ljswallow.com
LJ Swallow is the pen name for USA Today bestselling author Lisa Swallow… if you like contemporary romance then read on!
Books by Lisa Swallow
Do you like contemporary romance? I write those too!
What would you prefer to read?
British rock star romance?
Try broody Dylan…
Summer Sky
Or bad boy Jax…
Cadence
College romance at an English university?
Because of Lucy
Hollywood romance?
Unscripted
A gamer romance?
End Game
And More….
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About the Author
LJ Swallow is a USA Today bestselling paranormal romance and urban fantasy author who is the alter-ego of bestselling contemporary romance author Lisa Swallow.
Giving in to her dark side, LJ spends time creating worlds filled with supernatural creatures who don't fit the norm, and heroines who are more likely to kick ass than sit on theirs.
If you want to keep up to date with all things LJ Swallow, including early sneak peeks and cover reveals, giveaways and more please join my Facebook group here.
For more information:
ljswallow.com
lisa@ljswallow.com