Part 2 (1/2)

Exhaling slowly I started the chant, ”Continere. Continere. Continere.”

”You'll kill yourself,” he mumbled behind me, his words ice cold.

”Save you the trouble,” I shot back, my tone telling him to back off. I meant it.

Only days ago he'd promised to kill me if I didn't track down and apprehend Vaverek. Well I couldn't do that without my team. But more than that these women had become my friends. Okay, not all of them, but some of them and as long as I could breathe I wouldn't let them die. With or without the help of one arrogant, stick-up-his-b.u.t.t warlock.

Even as I inhaled to continue the chant I heard him. ”Alright.”

I exhaled, relief flooding me.

Then he added, ”But only because I still need you to track down Vaverek.”

”Of course.” I said it in a smarmy voice, but he'd earned that. But he just stood there. I shot him a what-are-you-waiting-for glance. ”We don't have a lot of time. Could you get started?”

He tightened his jaw then nudged me aside to focus his Celtic blue gaze on the mess before us.

”Hemma, hanna, druia.” He chanted, a low, deep baritone, the words so ancient I didn't know their origin, but I could feel their punch. Right in the solar plexus. ”Hemma, druia, sanctum.”

That was it. If he manipulated time just a smidge I could do the rest.

I pushed forward until my shoulder brushed his and joined my voice with his, ”Continere. Continere. Continere.”

Like a wind tunnel beginning its process of morphing into a killer tornado I could feel the power tugging, building, but it wasn't enough, not near enough.

I willed Bran to try harder, work faster, do something more and then I felt it, the sweet siren song of power calling my name.

Like a childhood rhyme the words thrummed within me, taunting me. I didn't have to rely on Bran. I had everything within me and more.

No. My father's voice echoed through me. Never, Alex. Remember your promise.

But here? With good people's lives on the line, he'd understand. He'd have to understand.

He's not here. This wasn't my dad but another voice whispering around me. A calming voice. Feminine. Nurturing.

Mom?

It's okay Alex. You were given the gift to use it, not hide from it.

But?

Do not be afraid. I'm with you.

And just like that I knew what I would do. What I had to do.

Swallowing deeply I stood taller and started pulling from Bran's magic. Making it my own.

Adeo. Adeo. Agero. Adepto.

Come. Come. Increase. Acquire.

”Don't, Alex,” Bran whispered at my side. ”It's too dangerous.”

What did he know? He didn't care about me. He just wanted to use me.

Listen to yourself. I'm here with you. You're not alone. The woman's voice again. It had to be Mom. Who else could it be?

I steeled my own voice as I continued.

Suscipio. Solvo.

Receive. Break free.

I pulled words I didn't know I knew. Was my mother really here? Helping me?

Singluaris. Praesentia presencia.

Free the power.

Bran glanced at me, a frown knitted between his brows, but neither of us could speak. It was taking everything we had to weave the magic.

A heady rush washed against me so that I braced myself so I wasn't pulled, not only from Bran but all the other non-human abilities around us. And there were a lot of preternaturals in the street.

I stood statue-still in the nexus of a power vortex as I reveled in the potency roaring through me. Dangerous to everyone around. But not me.

This is what you're meant to do.

The woman's voice. I nodded, accepting.

Biting my lip till I drew blood, I tasted the copper taint and zeroed in. Thrice called, thrice to contain.

”As thou be, so now change. Thought to image. Image to bind. Bind to blood let.”

I raised my hands skyward, aware of the swirl of grit and particles from the destroyed outdoor cafe whirling around us. One of the demons and two of the fae paused in their forward a.s.sault to look around them.

But they wouldn't be in time, because like a psychic vampire I tapped into their power too.

”Continere. Continere. Continere,” I shouted, feeling free, truly free.

A crack of thunder roared across the sunny day. A flash of white-gold light. Everyone on the street froze, then dropped, unconscious.

Even as my arms flopped to my side, drained, I caught a quick movement out of the corner of my eye. From the second story window the twitch of a lace curtain fluttered and fell into stillness.

Vaverek's apartment.

I sank to my knees and knew the worst. Whoever, whatever he was, he now knew my secret. He knew how powerful I could be, harnessing others, willingly or not. He knew there are only two things to do with a weapon like me.