Brenna
One hour earlier…
Watching from the windows, the battle raged on in the courtyard below. It took everything I had not to grab my sword and rush out to the courtyard to join the fight. But Adan had asked me to stay here.
Against my better judgment, I decided to abide by my Mate’s wishes.
Suddenly, gold and red light flashed in the room behind me, reflecting on the walls and windows. I dove for my sword, knowing it had to be a witch. But just as I reached it, the sword was thrust across the room of its own accord and into the far wall, out of reach.
“So, you’re still here?”
My head snapped up and Willow was standing behind me, blocking the doorway as red and gold sparkles dissipated around her, fading away. She had teleported here.
“A part of me thought you’d be out there in the heat of the battle, fighting.” She chuckled, inclining her head toward the courtyard below. “But I see you’ve decided to sit this one out.”
“What are you doing here?” I squared my shoulders, having no reason to show fear in front of this woman. “Get out!”
“Uh-uh-uh!” She smiled, wagging her finger playfully in front of her, enjoying my discomfort a bit too much. “Oh, I’m leaving all right, but you’re coming with me.”
“Like hell I am!” I reached for my sword, concentrating hard, trying to remember the basic spells from the Grimoire Magenta had given me when I became a Luna. “Gladius, veni ad me!”
The sword flew swiftly from the wall and was in my hands within a second. I raised it high before me, clutching it with both hands as power rushed through me and brought it down hard at her, but she easily dodged out of the way. Although I still had a lot to learn about the magical part of our world, my magic was heightened when I was filled with adrenaline.
“Guards!”
No one rushed in.
“Guards!” I yelled louder.
Nothing.
Willow folded her arms in front of her, a wicked smile lighting her lips as she waited, tilting her head to the side.
“What have you done?” Rage rushed through my body as I envisioned my men outside our suite, slaughtered.
“Let’s just say... they won’t be disturbing us.”
“You bitch!” I swung my sword toward her, but she raised her hand and yelled, “Gladius, Brennae iugulum resiste!”
All of a sudden, the sword broke free of my hand and stopped firmly against my through in mid-air. I moved toward her, but the pain at my throat stopped me in my tracks. “Release me!”
She sauntered toward me, one corner of her lips curling into a wicked smile. “After what you did to Magenta? I think not. Besides, someone else wants you more than I do.” She lifted one shoulder. “If I had my way about it, you’d be dead.”
“Adan and I had nothing to do with Magenta’s death!” I scoffed, shaking my head as I lowered my voice, trying to get her to see reason. “It was her time, and she was ready to go. There was nothing we could have done.”
“It was her time?” Willow raged, raising her hand toward the sword, causing it to push farther into my throat. Hot blood trickled down my neck. “She had a lot of living left to do! I was sharing my magic with her! My essence—”
“And don’t you think she wanted to protect you, too?” I let out a deep breath. “Before she died, she said she had already taken enough of your magic. If you would have shared more, it could have depleted your magic to the point of death.”
“Then I would have gladly given her the magic of another witch!” Tears filled her eyes, threatening to spill over.
“What?” I let out a deep breath, unable to imagine what she must be going through. If Adan had died, I wouldn’t have rested until everyone responsible was dead, too. “Willow, come on! Would you truly have been willing to sacrifice another witch just so Magenta could live? A life for a life?” I tilted my head to the side, willing her to see reason. “Willow, she wouldn’t have wanted that.”
“I would have paid any price to have more time with her.” Willow raised her chin, straightening her shoulders proudly as she stepped closer. “And as for what she would have wanted, I guess we’ll never know now. Will we?” Quicker than I would have thought possible, she slapped a silver bracelet on my wrist, immediately embedding itself into my skin.
“What have you done?” My eyes widened as they met hers.
A smirk appeared on her lips. “What I should have done weeks ago. You overworked Magenta to the point of exhaustion—”
“No, she never told us a thing!” I clawed at the bracelet, trying to peel it away from my wrist, but blood oozed from around the wristband as pain filled my body. Short of ripping off my skin, it wasn’t coming off. “Take it off! Now!”
“Never.” Willow smiled, shaking her head. “As I said before, someone else wants you.” She stepped closer. “And Mark my words. You and Adan will pay for what you’ve done.”
“That’s ridiculous! Magenta would be rolling over in her grave seeing what you’ve done!”
“Shut up!” Willow yanked my head back as searing pain ripped through my body. “Do not speak for her!”
“And what about you?” I demanded, rage spewing from my mouth like venom. “I had no idea she was even with someone! You could have been here—”
“We kept our relationship quiet—”
“Then don’t come crying to me when she was taken from you.” She stepped closer so we were nose-to-nose. “Do not presume to know me.”
“Gladio, transfige eam!”I yelled, ordering the sword to run her through.
Nothing.
Willow laughed so hard that tears came to her eyes. “Don’t you know? Silver prevents the use of magic! So, if it’s on a shifter, witch, or a Luna, then you can’t use magic. And since wolves and dragons use magic—albeit a small amount—then it prevents them shifting.” She wiped her eyes. “Well, we should go, since your benefactor is expecting you.”
“You sold me?” I growled, my voice raising several octaves. “I’m not going anywhere with you!”
She waved her hand and the sword pressed farther to my throat. “I would rethink that if I were you.”
“Well, thank God you’re not me.” I shook my head. “Magenta would be sorely disappointed in you. She may even come back from the grave to seek her revenge. She wanted nothing more than Adan’s happiness.”
“Yes, at the expense of hers.” She held her hand out to the sword. “Gladium solve, et veni ad me.”
The sword immediately released me and zoomed toward her hand. Willow caught it with ease. “Now, shall we?”
“I’m not going anywhere with you!”
“Think again.” She held my arms firmly as I struggled against her grasp, one corner of her lips curling into a smile. “For your own good, I wouldn’t let go in the Space-Time Continuum.”
“Or else what?”
She lifted one shoulder. “Or you just may be lost forever.” She held onto my arms and then yelled, “Post excessum, Fletcher!”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “Fletcher. I should have known.”
Willow’s lips contorted into something vile, sinister as a growl escaped her lips.
Bright red sparks rushed in and swirled around us. There was no gold in them at all this time. In the short time she had been here, she had turned completely to the side of evil.
“Willow, I’m just glad that Magenta isn’t here to witness what you have become.”