Page 118 of Blood Magic (Dark Witch Chronicles 1)
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Tarnley
“There are too fucking many of them,” I growl, as Rainey and I duck back behind a wall. She re-loads her gun with iron bullets to put the witches down and nods. She’s bleeding from a cut on her forehead, but for the most part, we’re okay.
Delaney lunges around us, green magic snapping at her fingertips. She sends power flying in all directions. Blood trickles from her nose, but Cole stands beside her in wolf form. Charging as he can and taking out the witches who try to sneak around and flank us.
We’re pinned down.
This was a suicide mission.
Sneaking in the back hadn’t worked seeing as how there is no back entrance to this damn place. It was completely sealed. So, we’d been forced to come back around the front, and Walker was made almost instantly.
Gunshots ring out as he and Rainey both step out, bullets flying. As soon as they’re done, I blur out and snap two necks before power hits me, sending me tumbling backward as pain radiates through my side.
“Give up!” The councilman calls out. “Leave now, and I might let you all live!”
“See! That’s going to be a problem!” Rainey throws over her shoulder. “You’ve got one of ours!”
“Wrong. You are a hunter, and she is a witch. Therefore, she, by definition, belongs to me.”
Darkness spreads through my brain, clouding my thoughts and making my single goal to drink this fucker’s blood. Every single drop.
Until there’s nothing left. I take a step forward, hands clenched into fists. Walker slams a hand on my chest and shakes his head.
“He’s baiting you on purpose. Go out there, and you’re dead.”
“I don’t care.”
The psychic narrows his eyes on me. “Check your shit, Tarnley. Something’s wrong with your eyes. Don’t lose it now.”
Fangs descend, and I bare them, growling as I consider killing him where he stands for daring to get in my way.
“Tarnley!”
Rainey’s voice cuts through, and I shake my head. “Sorry.”
“You’re good. Just don’t lose it, yet. We need you alive.”
Rainey clears her throat. “See, the way I see it, you have two options here.”
“Interesting since you’re the ones at a loss. But please, do continue. I rather enjoy this banter.”
“Option number one, you give us Bronywyn, and I kill you quickly. Option two, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’mreallyhoping you’ll go this route, you keep fighting us, and I torture you once we’ve retrieved her.”
He barks out a laugh that echoes through the foyer of the office building they’ve taken residence in. “What makes you think you’re walking out of here? You’re a hunter. All of you are beneath me.”
“Wrong,” Delaney calls out. She nods at us, and Rainey repeats in kind. They both get to their feet, and we follow, all of us stepping into full view.
The councilman grins at us as the witches flanking him await our next move. If I wasn’t so terrified for Bronywyn, I might be a bit intimidated, given the power flowing openly down their arms.
“And why am I wrong?”
“Because she’s not just a hunter. And I’m not just a witch. We’re Astors, you dumb son of a bitch, and you took what is ours.” Delaney throws up a shield as Rainey fires her gun. Walker and Elijah do the same as the rest of us stand helpless behind the shield, watching in satisfaction as the bullets hit their mark and the power slams into Delaney’s shield. She throws up a second hand and yells as she puts out an intense amount of power.
The moment the last witch falls to the ground, she drops the shield, and we glare at the councilman. He straightens the lapels of his suit. “I am a member of the witch council, and you will not put hands on me.”
“You’re not my council.” Rainey raises her gun and fires a single bullet. It hits him in the forehead, and he falls backward. Without missing a beat, she reloads her firearm and chambers a round. “Let’s go find us a witch.”