Page 124 of Possess Me at Midnight

Rhea will do his bidding, no doubt. Now that Mathias has me trapped between them, I’m forced to defend myself. I can’t allow him to use my safety against Ice.

I swallow, cursing the fact no one is able to teleport in or around the house for the duration of the challenge. I’ll have to improvise a plan—quickly.

Swallowing hard, I summon my courage. Each step toward Mathias spurs another tightening of the vise around my throat, another rev of my heartbeat. I resist the compulsion to fist my trembling hands as I stand before the evil wizard. I have one chance, and I have to pray my abilities will not fail me.

Cautiously, I reach out to Mathias. My hand is just an inch from his. I ease closer…

Suddenly, I feel a jolt punch me in the chest. A spell claws pain up and down my back, radiating through my limbs. Then I’m completely frozen, immobile, except for my heart and lungs. Terror floods through me as I realize I can’t even scream to warn Ice, can’t fight back—can’t do anything but become Mathias’s weapon against the man I love.

Mathias laughs. “I’m well aware that you’re half siren, dear. Did you really think I would let your touch sway me from my purpose? Very sorry, but no. I must kill Ice. And you’ll help me. Now be a dear and spend some time with Rhea,” Mathias drawls. “I insist.”

Chapter

Forty-One

Ice

* * *

I scan Blackbourne’s winter-ravaged gardens. The spindle-branched trees devoid of leaves scarcely register. Bram holding my blood-soaked sword and the empty challenge ring blaze across my brain.

On the far side, the Council elders’ verbal praise of Mathias’s battle prowess is both loud and effusive. It’s akin to the vilest ass licking. Do they really think flattery will save them once they’ve outlived their usefulness?

I roll my eyes. “Where’s Mathias?”

Bram’s tense expression says he’s struggling to tune out Blackbourne and company’s grandstanding and suppress the shadow inside him. “He hasn’t returned.”

He’s still in the manor? I flick my gaze toward the grand house, expecting to see Sabelle emerge. She was getting out of bed when I left her. She shouldn’t be long…

“Fuck.” Bram looks me up and down with a growl. “You couldn’t possibly muster that blinding energy on your own. I wish you’d leave my sister alone.”

“I love Sabelle, and I’ve made my intentions very clear.”

“Was it necessary to flaunt her so publicly?”

“She insisted and brushed aside my refusal. You must know your sister can be quite determined.”

I send another glance to the manor doors, my unease growing. Where is she?

“Why can’t you just fucking—” Bram drags in an angry, shuddering breath, then seems to regain control of his temper. “Don’t touch Sabelle again.”

“Did you ask what she wants? She’s a grown witch, not a child in need of your guidance. She loves you, but she’s smart and strong enough to make her own choices. Nothing you or I say will sway her.”

Speaking of, she should be emerging from the manor at any moment. But another glance in that direction proves the doorway is still empty.

My panic ticks up. What could be keeping her?

Bram clenches his jaw so tightly, I wonder if it will break. “Unless you win the Council seat, this conversation is over. Then if she truly chooses you…” Bram thrusts the sword at me. “Take this. What the devil do you intend to do with it, anyway?”

Now isn’t the time to argue. “I think I’ve found the means to win this challenge. It may even kill Mathias,” I mutter absently. My attention is riveted to those damn doors. Nothing.

Where is she?

Bram sits up straighter. “Truly?”

“The black cloud passing through me gave me an idea…”

“How did you fight that off?”