Page 57 of Blood Magic (Dark Witch Chronicles 1)

At my dry response, his grin spreads. “I’ve been working on it all evening. Give me until morning, and the spell will be operational by then.”

“See that it is.” I shove past him and head up the stairs to my room. The moment I’m sealed inside, I sink to the floor and press my back against the door as all of the pain I held inside bursts free. Tears slip down my cheeks, and I drain the bottle, letting the whiskey burn moments before it is shoved out of my system.

They’d been willing to kill me. I could feel it in my bones. That spell wouldn’t have ripped just the shadow magic from me, but every drop of magic in my body.

It would have been the end of me, and whether or not they realized it, that makes them a hell of a lot more dangerous than I’d previously given them credit for. Pain radiates through my throbbing brain, and I press the heel of my palm against my left eye, hoping to ease some of the pressure by providing some of my own.

They will kill you if you don’t start treating them like the enemies they are.

My hands shake, and I toss the bottle to the side, wrapping both arms around my knees and pulling them hard against my body. The feel of Tarnley’s lips against mine, the passion in that kiss, the way it felt to have his fingers on me… I throw my head back and scream, unable to keep silent anymore.

He’d used me.

Teased me.

And then trapped me.

“You don’t want who I am now.”

“I do. So fucking much. I’m so, so sorry I was so dismissive of it.”

I choke on a strangled sob, my shoulders shaking with grief, courtesy of my broken heart. I’ve loved him for decades, wanted him more than I wanted my heart to keep beating. He’s the singular reason for my remaining in Billings as long as I have.

And he fucking used me.

It clicks then, everything the voice has been telling me.

I have been weak.

Easily manipulated.

All because I let my emotions cloud my judgment.

Yes. But I can help you. I can fix it.

A heavy knock on my door has me wiping my tears away and pushing to my feet. “What the hell do you want, Chasin?”

An elderly man clears his throat. “Not Chasin, Madam. There is a young woman here to see you. The same witch as last night.”

Magnolia.Shit. I’d completely forgotten that I’d asked her to come tonight to start her training. I could send her away, spend my night wallowing, but I’m more than tired of feeling sorry for myself. Of pitying the cards I was dealt.

“I’ll be right down. Keep her away from Chasin.”

“Yes, Madam.” I hear his soft footsteps fade and take a few moments to splash some cold water on my face and clean the crusted blood from my nose. The last thing I want is for Magnolia to know how close I came to losing tonight.

So, with a deep breath, I take a step out into the hall and make my way down the stairs.

I’ve no sooner reached the bottom when I hear Chasin murmur, “You are beautiful. Tell me, have you ever modeled?”

“Miss Magnolia needs to await Madam Bronywyn,” my butler sputters.

“Miss Magnolia is in perfect company, aren’t you, gorgeous?’

“I—”

“I believe I said to keep her away from Chasin,” I tell my flush-faced butler.

He nods frantically. “I tried.”