Bitten By Magic (21 page)

“High Priest O’Mallery, I find you guilty of three counts against the laws outlined in the Book of the Treaty: one, trespass on Hive property; two, trespass with the intent on causing harm to a member of the Tri-species Council; and three, assault and attempted murder of the Keeper of the Treaty. I find thee guilty on all three counts.” Her hands closed the book, releasing them from the temporary paralysis. Chaos resumed with O’Mallery immediately casting a death spell at Verity, which Alexa easily transformed into rain. Verity clutched the book and turned to protect it as she was splashed.

Alexa saw him spin on his feet and she quickly cast a lockdown spell over the entire courtyard. O’Mallery spit and sputtered as he didn’t vaporize as he wished. He looked at the warriors beside him in panic.

“Those who fight for the Coven, fight with me. To the death!” He moved with a speed that surprised Alexa as he put himself behind the warriors, who moved to guard him.

Alexa blinked as spells began to whiz through the air with angry shouts and curses. She spotted the High Priest making his way back toward the castle. A spell hit the ground before her and the soil twisted into a huge snake that hissed and struck at her.

Alexa dove to the side as the snake struck out at her. A howl sounded behind her as she threw a spell of control at the beast. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a pack of wolves racing across the clearing.

Her stomach ached as fear for her cousin and her pack made her grunt in pain, more than the solid tail of the snake as it hit her midsection and tossed her into Brynna. They struggled to get up as Wolven warriors slid to a stop just behind the main gates. She recognized Tray Nibet, Reginald’s second-in-command as he changed from a massive red wolf into a man with curly red hair, piercing blue eyes, and a body to drool over.

“Keeper of the Treaty, we have been ordered to come to your aid. May we enter?” Tray’s deep voice halted everyone as they stared at the Pack’s main force.

“She is involving the Wolven against us?” The snake hissed with hatred.

“I am not against the Coven. I’m against a corrupt High Priest who would just as soon strike you in the back as cut your throat.” Alexa thrust both hands out before her. The snake exploded in a fall of soil and rocks at her feet. She aimed her hands at the male Witch behind the snake. “Gayl, I do not wish to harm you. You are innocent in this, but if you insist on defending a man who wants only to imprison the world with the Book of Souls, then you will find punishment at my hands.”

“At our hands. I act with the Keeper.” Verity sent her a small smile, her green eyes blinking through the water drops on her thick lenses.

“Stand down, until we get answers, Keeper,” Gayl answered slowly.

She turned to look at the Wolven waiting. “You have my permission to enter, but only to keep everyone within the castle grounds. No one leaves.”

“Not a problem, Keeper.” Tray crossed his big arms over his broad chest as he stepped within the gates.

“He can’t escape!” Verity cried out as she ran past her, blonde ponytail bouncing in wet curls behind her. Alexa saw the silver robes of the High Priest moving toward the castle doors. She hadn’t locked the castle down. He could escape there.

“Verity, wait!” Alexa began to run, her steps faltering as the doors to the castle opened. Allison, Reginald, and a dark, hooded figure stepped through them, effectively cutting off the High Priest from his route. He changed directions as he tossed a curse at them. Alexa cried out as Reginald grabbed his mate, the spell narrowly missing her.

O’Mallery took to the stairs leading up to the turrets, his old legs moving faster than she expected. His daughter was fast on his tail, clutching her thick book as she ran. Alexa’s feet slowed in front of her cousin.

“You all right?” she yelled. Allison nodded and shrugged her mate’s arm off her shoulder, preparing to defend them. “Stay there,” Alexa commanded them, but a firm hand grasped her bare arm as she made to speed up the steps. The tall man in the dark cloak and hood pulled her to a stop with a strength that caught her attention as her arm tingled.

Alexa’s instant aggression at being touched by any man other than her husband quickly turned into surprise as she stopped to look up at him. Wilhelm yanked her against his chest, the hot surge of sexual tension leaving little doubt about who he was. She took a shaky breath as her hands clutched the rough material protectively covering him. She could feel all the sharp weapons strapped to his chest. Her Elder was prepared for battle. A hot surge of love filled her with magic as she smiled up at the dark hood.

“Where do you think you’re going,
felesage
?” His silky voice held a challenge that didn’t scare her, but instead had her relaxing into his hold for a second.

“Wilhelm, I’d love to stop and chat, but O’Mallery is getting away. He has to be stopped.”

“Stay behind me,” he commanded as he headed up the stairs in a blur. At the top of the stone stairs they stopped. At the opposite side of the turret stood High Priest O’Mallery and Verity, who was still clutching her book to her chest. The wind was raging, whipping against the little woman’s small form as she fought to hold her ground. Alexa tried to push past Wilhelm, but he grabbed her arm in warning. The High Priest was arguing with Verity, not paying any attention to what was behind him.

Alexa froze as she realized Verity was arguing and fighting against the High Priest’s will at the very edge of the turret. Fear for her friend had her moving toward them slowly. The closer she could get to the High Priest, the better her chances of striking him. Wilhelm tried to keep her body blocked with his, a foolish, gallant move that made her love him even more.
The sweet idiot!

“I won’t let you do this!” Verity yelled over the air pushing her until her back hit the low stone wall.

Let me do this. Give me a moment, Keeper.
Alexa stopped as Verity’s voice echoed in her mind. She held Wilhelm back with a hand on his. Her fingers threaded through his and squeezed as she caught his eye and shook her head. Wilhelm nodded his head in silent understanding.

“You think you have what it takes to threaten me, Verity? Seriously, you are as weak as your mother was. I couldn’t stand her pitiful wailing. You are just like her,” he snapped viciously. Alexa saw the flash of hurt in her friend’s eyes quickly disappear behind her raised chin.

“Thank you. I couldn’t live with myself if you saw even a little speck of you in me.” Verity flinched as he moved closer. The cold wind whipped her wet curls against her cheeks as he held out a hand.

“I demand you relinquish the Book of the Treaty. You are no longer the Holder.”

“The hell I will!” Verity clutched the book against her chest, determination and anger warring in her pursed lips and narrowed eyes. “I am the Holder of the Book. I am not afraid of you, Father!”

“Then I have no need of you.” He thrust a hand at her and to Alexa’s horror a red flash of flame arced from his hand to the book in Verity’s arms. Alexa moved as fast as she could, but she wasn’t in time to stop Verity from going over the ledge.

“Keeper.” She looked over her shoulder as another flash of red caught her eye. She didn’t have time to counter, but she didn’t have to as his aim went wide when Wilhelm tackled him from the side with a cry of war that sent a shiver down her spine. She wanted to check on Verity, but her husband needed her attention more.

***

Wilhelm smashed his fist into O’Mallery’s face with a force that broke teeth. He pulled back to repeat it and felt a blast of heat on his face. Blinding light hurt his eyes as the Witch hit him with a light spell. The hit would have ashed him in seconds before he took Alexa as his wife. As it was, he rolled away to avoid the light.

“Will!” He heard her scream before he felt her small hands on him. “Will, talk to me!” Alexa grabbed the back of his cloak and dragged him up against the stone wall. He opened his sore eyes, blinking against tears to focus on her face through the dark fabric of his hood.

“Easy, Keeper. Where is he?” He tried to push her aside, but she shook her head.

“He’s gone, the bastard. He faded before I could stop him. Did he hurt you?” Her concern neared panic as she patted his shoulders and chest. “I want to lift this hood.”

“I wouldn’t do that. I’m not that confident I’d survive direct sunlight.” His breath whooshed out of him as she collapsed against his chest. He could hear her sobbing against him, the sound of her pain a physical hurt as he wrapped comforting arms around her. He’d wanted to throttle her when he saw her, but all he could do now was hold her tight. “Don’t cry,
felesage
. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” She clung to him with a desperation that made him warm inside. “I saw the light and I thought...” She hiccupped loudly as she placed a kiss on his chest.

“I’m right here. You aren’t getting rid of me that easily, Witch.” He felt like hunting down the High Priest and wringing his neck with his bare hands. “I didn’t know the Keeper could cry.” He lifted her chin with a smile.

“I know.” She sniffed and lifted her head to look over at the wall where the little Witch had fallen. “Verity. I have to see...”

“Let’s go.” He helped her to her feet and held an arm around her as they moved to the turret’s wall. Down below there was a flurry of activity; among the Wolves pacing in a tight circle was a bunch of Witches surrounding an unmoving Verity. Alexa grabbed his waist and he experienced the dizzying sensation of moving through air and space yet again. Wilhelm’s knees trembled as they landed on the ground behind the group of Witches.

“Back away.” Alexa’s authority had everyone scurrying away.

“It’s Verity, Alexa. I’ve tried to heal her, but she won’t let go of the damn book.” Allison turned her head as Alexa knelt down beside her. Reginald was standing behind the red-haired male holding the blonde’s head on his lap. The big man clutched a pair of deformed red glasses in one hand; the other slowly stroked the unconscious woman’s cheek as he stared down at her with a serious expression of concern. Wilhelm knew this man wasn’t a Witch, but a Wolven. Reginald’s second-in-command, if he wasn’t mistaken. He knew that look, recognized it as a man who was truly caught in a woman’s spell and didn’t know how to get out of it. His eyes fell to his wife as she placed her hand over the Holder’s hands.

***

Alexa heard the low growl coming from the Wolven holding Verity in his lap. She looked up to meet Tray’s warning look. Surprise at his protective reaction made her still herself as she held his gaze. Above them, Reginald placed a firm hand on his second’s shoulder.

“Easy, Tray. She won’t be harmed.” Reginald met Alexa’s unspoken question with a small shrug.

“Verity is my friend. We mean to heal her, Tray,” Allison spoke softly beside her and she saw and felt the male’s body relax as he nodded his head.

“Verity, Holder of the Book, I ask that you release this book into my keeping for now. I ask this as the Keeper of the Treaty and your friend. Release it, Verity.” Alexa held her breath as she gently took Verity hands and made to move them away from the book. Her eyes kept moving back to the smoking hole in the big book. She needed to see how far the hole went. If it had hit Verity in the chest, there would be damage. She only hoped it would be easily healed.

Verity’s fingers clutched the book more tightly, then gradually eased up enough for Alexa to move her hands to her sides as Allison gently picked the book up. She set it next to her on the ground before examining the burnt hole in the middle of Verity’s chest. She was breathing, though shallowly.

“How bad is it?” Alexa asked her silent cousin. Allison raised her head, a concerned look on her face.

“I’ll try to heal her.” Allison placed a hand over the gaping hole and closed her eyes as she began to chant a spell of healing. All were eerily quiet as she worked her magic. Verity gasped for air, her eyes flying open as she clutched Alexa’s hands. Her sharp nails bit into the flesh of her palms.

“Easy, Verity. You’re hurt. Try to relax.”

“The book! He tried to take my book!” Verity’s panic had Alexa’s gut aching for her.

“Your book is safe. It is here. Be still and rest.” Allison’s soothing voice worked to relax the Holder. Her eyes closed as she allowed her body to give in to a healing unconsciousness. Alexa took Allison’s hand, giving her all her magic to use as Allison knelt over Verity and began a singsong chant of healing. When she was done, Allison looked up with an exhausted expression.

“I’ll take her to her rooms. You need to clean up the confusion here. Yell if you need me.” Allison looked up at Tray. “I’d move away, big guy. You won’t like traveling Witch Air.”

“She’s right, Tray. Let her go. She’ll be fine in your Alphina’s hands.” Reginald’s calm assurance was the deciding factor that had Tray slowly moving away. In a second both women were gone from the ground.

Chapter Sixteen

Alexa took Wilhelm’s gloved hand and stood. She looked from one confused and worried face to the next as Witch and Wolven stood together. It was a mess O’Mallery had left behind for her to clean up. She felt so tired and old at that moment that all she really wanted to do was be back at the Hive in Will’s bed with him wrapped firmly around her. She looked up at the black hooded figure standing in full sunshine. He’d risked the sun for her. The notion was immensely humbling and gave her the warmest feeling of giddy delight.

She turned to seek out Reginald, who was quietly talking with Tray. “Alpha Leclair, I wish to thank you and your Pack for the assistance given to the Coven this day.” She held out her hand and Reginald took it with a smile full of charm and a little surprise.

“Any time, Keeper of the Treaty. You need only call,” Reginald said with a nod.

“That is good, because I would like to request your services a little while longer. Astoria is laid bare to O’Mallery. He mustn’t be allowed to return. Can I ask that you set up a security team for us to see that he doesn’t?”

“I’ll see to it immediately. Tray, we have work to do. Keeper, Elder Chambers.” Reginald nodded his head to both of them and signaled to his Pack to meet beyond the main gate.