“Well, well. So he’s the fucking reason you hexed me, bitch.”
In a blur, Saxon moves, pouncing on Calvin before I can stop him. The force of the impact sends both careening to the floor. Saxon is on top, clawed hand high above his head, ready to strike while he keeps Calvin pinned down by holding him by his neck. Solomon comes running out of his office, eyes bigger than saucers and bulging out of his skull. At once, he uses his special familiar power to knock Saxon off Calvin in the nick of time.
“Fuck!” Saxon cries out, hugging his middle. Then he rolls onto his side, and I see that his wound is bleeding again.
My heart shoots up to my throat, getting stuck there. I close the short distance between us as fast as I can, dropping to my knees next to him. This feels like déjà vu. Weren’t we in a similar position not even an hour ago?
“Saxon, are you okay?” I lift his head onto my lap.
“Everything hurts.” He twists his face in pain, pressing his cheek against my belly.
Furious, I whip my head toward Solomon, who is now helping Calvin up. “Did you have to blast him off like that?”
“He was going to kill this idiot here. I had to act fast.”
“I’m not an idiot. That vampire is a menace. He needs to be put down.”
“Fuck you, Calvin,” I snap.
“How dare you talk to me like that? I’m your fiancé. I deserve respect!” He takes a step in my direction, shaking in anger while a vein on his forehead seems about to pop.
“Respect?” I snort. “You have to earn that, asshole.”
He laughs derisively. “You think you’re so special. You look down on me because you’re the future High Witch. Let me tell you a secret, darling. That position is political—it’s not awarded to the most powerful or deserving person. It’s given to the witch who can suck the king’s cock hardest.”
Saxon tenses, but I don’t give him the chance to attempt a retaliation. I’m the one who fires the most powerful attack spell I know without holding anything back. My entire body radiates with energy; my skin feels hot as the violent surge of power rushes through me. Sparks of electricity converge on my outstretched hand a second before a blast akin to lightning whooshes from my fingers. A blinding light illuminates the hallway. There’s a cry and then a string of curses.
When the light fades the air still crackles with the vestiges of magic. My skin is tingling, and my ear is buzzing. It takes a moment for my eyesight to adjust, and when it does, I find Solomon looking like a mad scientist who has just been electrocuted. His hair is sticking out at odd angles, and there’s black soot on his right hand and sleeve.
“Holy shit!” Saxon exclaims. “You fried the headmaster.”
Oh my God. I think I did. Solomon must have stepped in front of Calvin and received the full blast of my spell. Fuck. I’m in a heap of trouble.
Calvin staggers back to his feet. I’m not sure how he fell, but it’s clear by the animosity shining in his eyes that his retaliation will be severe.
“You tried to kill me,” he grits out.
“No. I only wanted to hurt you. A lot.”
“The council will know about this. You can say goodbye to your chances of ever being High Witch.”
A bubble of crazy laughter erupts from my throat. “Do you think your threats scare me? Go ahead. Bitch about me to the elders. Besides, if I’m no longer in line to become the next High Witch, then I don’t have to marry you.”
I won’t marry him either way, but he doesn’t need to know that. Not until I get rid of the deal I made with Elena.
“That’s fine. I like your sister better anyway.”
My blood runs cold. “What?”
“Oh yeah. Once the council deems you unfit for the High Witch role, your sister is the next contender.” He smiles maliciously, making me wish I had more juice in me to explode his head.
Saxon sits up but keeps his hand on my leg. He has no idea how much I appreciate that connection, even if it’s an innocent touch that, so far, has not triggered anything wicked in me.
“You’re not getting Rora, or any of her sisters, motherfucker,” he snarls.
Understanding finally dawns on Calvin’s demented face. “You’re fucking that bloodsucker, aren’t you, little whore?”