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The other young woman closes the distance and glances around the trap with her lips pursed. “I can’t see anybody. Maybe your magic is making you imagine things?”

“Or maybe he’s made himself invisible to everyone else but me,” Alienor says.

“There’s no such enchantment in the coven’s grimoire, and I don’t sense any recent spells.”

Annoyance flashes in Alienor’s eyes. Her friend is only partially right. My magic doesn’t come from witches but from the fae. The wound in my chest aches from where the Barghest devoured the portions of my heart that housed my soul.

“Can’t you accept that there could be more to life outside the coven?” Alienor snaps.

The other young woman flinches. “If you think so little of us, maybe I should undo my enchantment.”

My pulse quickens. I push my magic against the barrier in case it wavers. I must be alert and escape at the first opportunity.

“Aggie, what are you doing?” Alienor’s voice rises an octave.

“I’ll tell you what.” Aggie pulls out her wand. “I’m holding this trap hostage until you bring me my broomstick.”

“Don’t!”

With a swish of Aggie’s wand, the power detaining me vanishes.

I lurch forward with a triumphant roar and slash my claws across Aggie’s back. Blood explodes from her fabric, and the young woman falls to the ground with a scream.

“Aggie,” Alienor shrieks.

I grin down at my trembling wife, all thoughts of charming her forgotten.

“At last, I have you.”

ChapterSix

ALIENOR

Cold shock spreads across my chest and seizes control of my limbs. Time stills, and I can’t feel my heart beating or my lungs drawing in air.

The Boogie Man just clawed Aggie.

He used talons on her that were strong enough to rip the plaster from the walls.

He bares his teeth and grins, his green eyes flashing with triumph. Nothing on his features says that he’s here because of mistaken identity. He either has a vendetta against me or the entire coven.

As his gaze drops to my fallen cousin, a surge of panic squeezes my heart, sending blood back to my limbs. If he can’t reach me through my locket, then he’s going to make me watch him tear Aggie apart.

Without thinking about it, I drop down and cover Aggie’s body with mine.

“Alienor.” His deep voice rumbles down my spine. “You will face me or I shall kill this woman.”

I raise my head, finally meeting the Boogie Man’s eyes. “Why are you doing this?”

“Why indeed?” He reaches down, looking like he wants to pull me up by the hair.

My breath catches. I cling onto Aggie, squeeze my eyes shut, and send out a prayer to the goddess, Rheda, that the magic protecting me will hold.

The air above my head shifts with the force of his movement, but I feel no claws.

“Look at me,” he says.

“You made a huge mistake, coming here.” I raise my head, my voice trembling. “Get out of my house before I call for reinforcements.”


Tags: Siggy Shade Fantasy