Anya Bast - Witch Fury

Theo had seen one only once before. It was not something you forgot. Light flickered and pulsed around the portion of matter that had been twisted and altered to form a bridge between Earth and Eudae.

Through it came the Ytrayi in a blessedly heavy stream. The Atrika didn’t look very happy to see them, either.

The blue ball pulsed in Rue’s hands, no longer emitting the magick-killing shots that stole elemental power. Theo and Sarafina watched as he crushed it like a ball of tinfoil into nonexistence.

“Where’s Stefan?” Sarafina said beside him.

What a good question.

“The bastard’s not getting away again.” Theo growled. He’d slipped away after his father, William Crane, had been killed at Duskoff International. He’d escaped from Gribben twice . No way was he running away from his punishment this time.

Theo knew that Sarafina’s magick had been tapped out, probably from fighting Bai. He could feel that raw, empty spot in her. Why she wasn’t flat on her back was a mystery. Looking around at the carnage in the room, Theo realized that many of the Coven witches didn’t have any stores of magick left, either as a result of the blue ball or from the battle.

Power exploded near them as the Ytrayi and the Atrika locked horns. It was nice to have some reinforcements.

“Come on,” said Theo, dragging Sarafina by the hand down a corridor. “I want you somewhere safe.” The library was empty but for Micah and Isabelle. Micah sat in one of the chairs near Thomas’s desk. Theo didn’t have to guess what the problem was.

Micah raised his head momentarily to look at him, then dropped it again.

“Can you get it back?” Sarafina asked, going to his side and laying a hand on his upper arm.

Isabelle looked at her and shook her head.

Shit.

“Stay here, okay?” Theo said to Sarafina. She’d be safe in here. If something did happen, Isabelle was ready to defend. “I’m going to find Stefan.” Theo made his way out of the room and back into the fray beyond the sanctuary. The Ytrayi were making quick work of the Atrika . They were destroying the Coven, but at least they’d probably win in the end.

Now. . if he was a slimy, cowardly warlock, where would he be?

Theo was betting Stefan was hiding somewhere, if he hadn’t already fled the Coven once Rue and the Ytrayi had shown up to rub his nose in shit.

Hmmm. There were lots of places to hide in the Conservatory.

He made his way there, dodging demon battle as he went. The warlocks all seemed to have fled or were defeated. The Coven witches were trying to help the wounded and were rounding up the warlocks they could to throw into Gribben.

The Conservatory, other than having its water all drawn out by the water witches, was largely untouched. It was a change from the last battle that had occurred in here, which had destroyed about fifty percent of the place.

Sounds came from the back of the Coven — sounds of a fight. Theo ran in that direction, sword still clenched in his hand.

At the back of the Conservatory, Theo found Jack and Stefan in an old-fashioned knock-down, drag-out fight. Kind of fitting, since in an odd way, they were brothers. Their magick had been tapped out and Stefan’s Atrika bodyguards were long gone.

Theo pulled a spell from his badly sapped reserves, making his tats tingle, and threw it at the warlock. It hit Stefan dead-on and the warlock flew backward to land in a bush, where he lay motionless. “That’s for Sarafina, you fucking bastard.” Jack collapsed to the ground and drew a ragged breath, bowing his head. “Theo, man, I’m so happy to see you.” Theo offered him his hand and Jack pulled himself to his feet. Together they looked at Stefan, out cold in the bushes.

“What the hell do you want to do with him?” asked Jack.

Theo stalked to him, sword in hand, but killing someone wasn’t his first desire, and never when they were lying defenseless. His hand clenched on the sword handle as Theo tried to control his temper.

Then it hit him.

Theo turned toward Jack. “I know the very best possible punishment for this slime.”

SARAFINA WIPED AWAY A TEAR, WATCHING ISABELLE stroke Micah’s hair. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose her power the way Micah had. Now so many of the Coven witches were dealing with it.

“Isabelle.”

Isabelle looked up from Micah’s side. “Mother?” Catalina stood in the doorway, propped up by Thomas. Her normally tanned face was pale, and she looked her age for once.

“She was hit,” said Thomas tightly.

“Oh, no.” Isabelle rose and went to her mother, allowing her to lean against her as she led her to the couch against one wall. “Damn it,” she whispered.

Thomas stepped into the room. His clothes were ripped and blood marked him. He had some nasty acid burns along one arm, but he was alive and he still had his magick.

“It’s over,” Thomas said. “The Cae and the Ytrayi have defeated the Atrika and are now taking them back to Eudae.” He smiled faintly. “We won.” But it had cost them all greatly. That was written all over his weary face. He didn’t need to say it.

“Where’s Theo?” Sarafina asked.

Thomas jerked his head toward the foyer. “You should all come.” Isabelle helped Catalina from the room with Thomas.

Sarafina went to Micah. “Would you rather stay here?” she asked softly. “I’ll stay with you, if you like.” Micah shook his head and rose. “I’m okay.” That was a lie.

Yet he glanced at her and a smile flickered over his mouth. For a moment he almost looked like the Micah she’d come to know. “I lost my magick, but I still have my life. I still have my freedom. That’s enough.” They walked side by side out to the foyer where the Atrika were being pushed and thrown unceremoniously through the doorway by very pissed-off Ytrayi . Thomas, Isabelle, and Catalina stood near them, watching. Some of the daaeman were unconscious, others dead. The rest wore collars around their necks. Sarafina guessed it was the same idea as hand-cuffs, since the Atrika who wore them looked utterly defeated.

It was a good look on them.

Theo stood near the doorway with Jack and Adam, a heap of something at his feet. It took her a moment to realize it was Stefan.

The last of the Atrika were sent through the doorway and the Ytrayi —some of them badly injured and others carrying unconscious or dead comrades — began to also step through.

Rue was across the room with Claire. Sarafina watched them hug, then come to stand near Thomas.

“Once I told you the day might come when we would need to form an alliance,” said the Cae .

Thomas nodded curtly. “You were right. That day did come.” “It’s time we truly open up the pathways of communication, don’t you agree?” A muscle worked in Thomas’s jaw. “Yes.” “I propose Claire to act as our liaison. I have devised a way to more easily open a doorway and can give Claire this ability as well. She will act as—” “Ambassador,” Claire volunteered.

Rue inclined his head. “And maybe she can just come for a visit now and then, too.” Sarafina met Claire’s eyes briefly and suppressed a smile.

“If she chooses,” answered Thomas.

Rue glanced around at the ruins of the Coven. “Do you require more diamonds to repair the damage?” Thomas shook his head and grinned very slightly. “What you gifted us with before has been well invested. We have enough to repair the Coven and run it for the next hundred years. Thank you for your offer.” Theo had thrown Stefan over his shoulder. He walked over with Adam and Jack. “I was tempted to kill Stefan, but I thought up something better than death, if Rue agrees.” “Tell me,” said Rue.