UNDER HIS SPELL (21 page)

“Still she must not die,” Falcon said swiftly, whipping toward the
wall that separated the room from the corridor.
 
“I have said it.”

Jaxon folded his arms.
 
“I
could order her demise, Falcon.
 
You are
no longer the leader here.”

“Oh, this is beautiful,” Nexon grumbled.
 
He fixed his gaze on Skye’s face.
 
“Do you always bring so much harmony wherever
you go?”

“Shut up, Nexon,” Rane responded.

“You will not order her demise,” Falcon continued his conversation
with Jaxon.
 
“You know it is not what I
want.”

“Then I need a reason.”

“A reason?”

Rane came to stand beside his brother.
 
“A reason why Sabrina should be kept alive if
Unger has not already killed her.
 
What
right does she have to live when she has only wanted all of us dead?”

Falcon’s eyebrow lifted.
 
“You
question me?”

Rane didn’t back down, though he saw the spark of irritation in the
ancient wizard’s eyes.
 
“Yes, I do.
 
I think you owe all of us an answer.
 
You have never been one to give arbitrary
orders, Falcon.
 
All we ask is that you
tell us why you are so set against Sabrina’s death.”

Falcon scowled at the gathered group.
 
“I am not accustomed to having my orders
questioned.”

Rane softened his voice when he spoke, hoping to avert a holy
war.
 
“We do not wish to anger you, but
there is something you are keeping from us, something which might make the
difference between who lives and who dies when next we meet Unger and Sabrina.”

Tess, Charlemaine and Skye joined hands and kept to the back of the
room, for once, allowing the men to handle things.
 

Jensen made his way forward, adjusting his robe as he walked.
 
“Falcon, I do not believe anyone here is
questioning your loyalty to the Assembly, but as you are no longer a member of
our guild, it is important that we know the reasons behind your demands.
 
Otherwise, we will follow the instructions
handed down by Jaxon.”

Falcon nodded his head slowly.
 
“I understand, but I do not think any information I have would be of use
to you.”

“You do not want us to kill Sabrina and yet you do not feel a reason
for your decision would be of us?”
 
Jensen expressed the confusion shared by all the wizards in the room.

Tall and commanding, the former leader spared a glance for everyone
in the room, his silver eyes lingering on Skye’s face before he spoke.
 
“I do not think her death would be
beneficial.”

Skye could keep quiet no longer.
 
“And you think her life is beneficial?”

Rane spun around.
 
“Skye,
please--“he tried to reach her, but she moved too quickly.

”No,” she skirted around his outstretched hand, “I want Falcon to
answer my question.
 
What good has
Sabrina done in this world?
 
Tell me she
deserves to live.
 
You don’t even know
her.
 
How could you presume to say her
death would not be beneficial?
 
I know
Sabrina better than any of you here and I can tell you there’s not a shred of
decency left in her.
 
What little conscience
she had when she was born has evaporated over the years.
 
She is hard, cold, cruel and will kill at the
blink of any eye.
 
Now tell me she
deserves to live.
 
One reason,
Falcon.
 
That’s all we’re asking.”

Falcon stood up straighter and though Rane sensed an impending
storm, the former leader relaxed his shoulders and spoke so softly, the wizards
had to strain to hear.
 
“Sabrina is my
sister.”

CHAPTER NINE

Long after Falcon’s words had sunk in, Skye and Rane retired to the
room she’d been given inside the fortress.
 
Neither spoke and though both had a lot to say, they knew there was
nothing that could express what they were feeling inside.
 

Skye’s anger threatened to overwhelm her and the power of her fury
twisted her insides.
 
She walked past Rane
to the bed and sat down on the edge.
 
He
joined her, reaching across to take hold of her hand.

“You’re hurting,” he said.

“You mean because Sabrina has done nothing but cause my family grief
and because one member of your family wants her to live, she probably
will?
 
No, I’m not hurting, Rane.”
 
She jumped to her feet.
 
“I’m furious.
 
Who is this Falcon that he can command leniency for a witch who deserves
to die?”
    

Rane didn’t stand up.
 
He
allowed her to vent, listening in silence as her rants became louder and more
virulent with each word.
 

Angry tears cascaded down her cheeks and she brushed them away,
disgusted with her own weakness.
 
She
turned her back on Rane and walked to the window.
 
“Well, I will not allow Sabrina this leniency
and I will not allow your wizards to intervene.”

“So you intend to kill the witch then?”

The question sent a cold tingle down Skye’s spine.
 
The thought of taking another life left a
sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.
 
She didn’t immediately respond until Rane spoke her name again.
 
“I’m not sure.”

“You’re not sure if you intend to kill Sabrina?
 
I would think that is something you should
focus on considering that tomorrow night you will be facing her.”

“I’ll be facing what’s left of her.”

“Possibly, but it is also possible that Sabrina is still alive.
 
She is a powerful witch.”

Skye clenched her hands into fists.
 
“I know how powerful Sabrina is.
 
You don’t need to remind me.
 
She
has tried to destroy my life at every turn and she has almost succeeded.
 
I won’t let her hurt Emily.
 
Or Unger or whomever it is that has her
now.
 
I will get my sister back and I
will make sure that no one can take her away again.”

“That seems like a
tall order.”
   

“Don’t tell me you don’t think I can do it.”

“I wouldn’t know.
 
You’ve never
accepted your magic.
 
When we first met,
you denied you were a witch.”

Skye’s head snapped up.
 
“There was a reason for that and thanks for reminding me.”
 
She began to stroll around the room.
 
“You know, I think you’re right.
 
I think it’s time I embraced who I really
am.”

“I don’t recall saying that.”

“You didn’t.
 
I did.”
 
Feeling the power flowing within her, Skye
breathed in a deep breath and held her arms wide.
 
“It’s time.”

Rane got up off the bed.
 
“Skye, you need to think long and hard about this.
 
Delving into your magic when you have not
been properly taught can be dangerous.”

Skye swung around.
 
“Then I
guess you’ll have to teach me.”

Rane tipped his head to one side.
 
“I’m a wizard.
 
I don’t teach
witches.”

“You do now.”
 
She walked to
stand in front of him, her hands on her hips.
 
“Either you teach me how to accept this magic or I’ll find someone who
will.”

Rane put his hands on her arms.
 
“Wizards don’t like ultimatums.”

Skye put her hand against his chest.
 
“Fine.
 
Then you can stand on the
sidelines and watch me take Sabrina out of the picture.”

“Taking Sabrina out of the picture definitely sounds like killing
her.”

“Not necessarily.
 
I could
send her to
Siberia
.”

“There’s always the chance she could escape.”

“I’ll take precautions.”

“And what makes you so sure Sabrina won’t take the same
precautions?”

Skye gritted her teeth.
 
He
was pushing her, goading her to make a decision she wasn’t so sure she was
ready to make.
 
“If I learn this magic
and become what I was born to be, will I be able to put Sabrina where she needs
to be?”

Rane sauntered toward the chest of drawers and leaned one hip
against the edge.
 
“Possibly.”

She drew in a deep breath.
 
“Will you teach me then?”

Rane gave her a mocking smile.
 
“That’s better.
 
I like to be
asked.”

“Sometimes Rane Hansen, you’re an ass.”

***

Skye walked through the garden surrounding the wizards’
fortress.
 
The scent of the honeysuckle
and gardenias surrounded her and the warmth of the air embraced her, leading
her farther away from the serenity of the castle.
 

For some reason, the cave beckoned her and she sought the comfort of
the darkness, the coolness of the stone walls.
 
She knelt on the hard ground and placed her hands palms down on the
floor in front of her.
 
She’d seen her
mother take the same position many times when she was looking for peace.
 
Skye just hoped it worked for her.
 

The tinny voices captured her attention and she lifted her head in
time to see a long line of well-wishers approaching her.
 
The same little man she’d seen before led the
pack and he brandished his weapon with a warning look on his face.

Skye sat back on her haunches and stared at the miniature band of
warriors.
 
“Look, guys, I don’t know what
you are looking for, but I don’t have it.
 
So please go away.
 
I’m simply
looking for peace and quiet.
 
I’m not
here to fight.”

With voices united in gibberish, the men communicated among
themselves.
 
Then the leader approached
her, drawing in close enough for Skye to see the tiny suspenders and striped
pants he wore.
 
She clapped a hand over
her mouth to keep from laughing.
 

“What do you want?” she asked in a small voice tight with laughter.

The small man climbed onto her knee and poked her with stick.

“Ouch,” Skye lifted her knee and the man slid, causing an excited
outbreak behind him.
 
Skye picked him up
with two fingers and stared at his small face.
 
“What part of ‘please go away’ do you not understand?”

The man gestured with his arms and babbled incoherently.
 

“I’m sorry.
 
I don’t
understand what you are saying.
 
Can you
speak English?”

The talking ceased and the head of the well-wishers tipped his head
to one side and frowned.
 
He placed one
finger against his lips and fell silent.
 

“Still don’t understand.”
 
Skye set him down on his feet and patted the top of his head with one
finger.
 
“Why don’t you take your buddies
home?
 
I really just need some quiet
here.”

Instantly, the man became furious, shouting and gesturing until Skye
climbed to her feet.
 
“Okay, you
win.
 
I’m leaving.”

“That isn’t what he wants you to do,” Rane spoke from the entrance
to the cave.

“I must have a homing device on me.
 
How can you find me so easily?”

Rane smiled and slid down into place beside her.
 
“Our souls are united.
 
Do you not think I could find the other half
of mine?”

Skye slid him a
glance.
 
“Stop trying to earn brownie
points.”
    

“Are you ready to begin training?”

“At first, I want to know what this little guy wants.”
 
The leader had climbed back up onto her knee
while she was speaking with Rane.

Rane held out his hand and the leader jumped into the center of his
palm.
 
“He wants you to know you are
welcome here.”

“All that energy just for that?”

“He wants to help you,” Rane continued.

Skye gave the little man a sad smile.
 
“I wish he could.”

“You might be surprised.
 
Here.
 
Give me your hand.”

Though Skye eyed him warily, she held out her hand.
 
The leader walked across her fingers and
settled himself in the center of her palm.
 
He seated himself Indian-style and closed his tiny eyes.
 
He began to hum and the sound came out in a
full-bodied tenor, loudly enough to echo against the walls of the cave.
 
A blue light began to emanate from the
minuscule body and the humming intensified.

Skye felt the heat first.
 
It
started in the center of her stomach and spread outward to her limbs.
 
Then came the peace, a serenity that captured
her heart and soul.
 
Even with her eyes
closed, Skye knew the exact moment the leader left her and when she opened her
eyes, Rane was smiling at her.
 

“He wishes you well,” he said softly in her ear.

“How did he do that?”

“He cleared your mind and gave you focus.
 
It’s one of his abilities.
 
No other mortal has gotten the opportunity to
experience what he can give them.
 
With
his help, you’ll remain calm under pressure and focus on what you need to learn
to save Emily.”

Rane helped her to her feet.
 
“Although, I have been thinking and things would be a lot easier if you
would just let me handle Unger.”

Skye dusted off the back of her pants.
 
“No way, Mr. Wizard.
 
This guy is all mine.”

***

Emily didn’t like the look on Sabrina’s face when the witch came to
her again.
 
This time, she bore a tray
laden with hot chocolate and marshmallow cookies.
 

“I thought you might be hungry.”

Emily watched the witch set the tray on the table next to the twin
bed and she followed every move Sabrina made.
 
“I’m not.”
    

Sabrina swept a hand toward the tray.
 
“No matter.
 
It’s there if you change your mind.
 
Get some sleep.
 
You’re going to
need to be rested tomorrow.”

“Sabrina,” Emily called out before the witch could leave her.
 
“What happens tomorrow?”

Long talons curled
around the door handle.
 
“You don’t
really want to know.”
  

“Why do you hate my sister so much?”

“Because your sister wants to change who I am and how I live.
 
That should not be your sister’s choice.”

Emily gnawed on her lower lip.
 
“Maybe someone else thought she should be in charge.”

Sabrina turned to look at her and Emily had to fight to keep from
recoiling.
 
In the witch’s eyes she saw
something she’d never seen before, a dark undercurrent of evil, red pupils rimmed
with black.
 
Then the image faded and
Emily saw Sabrina’s face again, but it was too late.
 
Emily knew the truth.

“You’re not really Sabrina, are you?”