UNDER HIS SPELL (26 page)
Authors: Rachel Carrington
Skye tossed a look over her shoulder.
“And I will always love you, Mom, but you
have to let me live my own life.
I’ve
been doing fairly well, so far.”
Ingrid snorted.
“Fairly
well.
Right.
As much as I love you, dear, I never thought
you would fall in love with a wizard.
Even the newest novice knows that wizards and witches do not live
happily ever after.”
She blew a
kiss.
“Take care of yourself and you,”
she pointed at Rane, “take care of her.
No matter what she says.”
The
mirror faded to black.
Skye sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to decide whether to
laugh or cry.
Rane didn’t walk toward her.
Instead, he stuck his hands into the pockets of his khaki slacks and
watched her.
She didn’t look up.
She knew
whatever expression she saw on his face would be her undoing.
“We need to go get Emily.”
“I will go get her.”
She did lift her head then and the look she gave him was one of
complete and perfect irritation.
“Rane,
am I an invalid?”
He raised one eyebrow.
“I do
not believe so, no.”
“Then do not presume that I require your assistance each time I make
a statement.”
His lips twitched.
“Then do
not assume you can take Unger on and win.”
Fury shot down her spine and she stood up, her hands clenched at her
sides.
“I didn’t say that, Rane.
What I said was ‘we need to go get
Emily.’
Which
implies more than one.
Both of us.
Together.
Is that such a
difficult concept?”
Rane rubbed one finger over his upper lip and Skye got the distinct
impression he was making every effort not to laugh.
She swore she’d hit him if he did.
“I understand the concept.
What I do not understand is the reason you
would choose to put yourself in harm’s way when I can easily bring Emily to
safety.”
Skye walked forward until her nose could easily bump his chest.
“She’s my sister.
That should be explanation enough or don’t
wizards have feelings?”
He looked down into her upturned face and Skye realized at the last
moment she’d said the wrong thing.
She
watched his dark eyes grow almost iridescent and his nostrils flared.
“If you have to ask me that question, then
you know nothing about me.”
He took a
step back toward the door.
“Get
dressed.
We leave in five minutes.”
Skye resisted the urge to salute even as the door slammed behind his
departing figure.
Damn wizard.
What did he
expect from her?
Was she supposed to
read his mind?
Know each minute what he
was thinking?
The thought gave her
pause.
Could he read what she was
thinking?
Each time they were together,
did he know what was on her mind?
She
swallowed hard and looked toward the door.
She didn’t think so.
Surely, he
would have told her that before now.
Maybe.
More irritation climbed its way up her spine and she practically
ripped a fresh blouse from the hanger inside the armoire.
Well, if he could read her mind, then he
wouldn’t be very happy to learn what she was thinking now.
Especially the parts about his ancestors.
***
Branches snapped beneath his feet as Unger paced the forest
floor.
Long nails bit into his palms as
he glared up at the night sky.
He’d had
enough waiting and as the clock loomed closer to midnight, he knew the wizard
and the witch would arrive soon.
He’d
planned for this moment, had even made sure word of his intentions would seep
through to the celestial grapevine.
After all, it wouldn’t be fair if Ingrid didn’t get to watch her
daughter die.
landscape once more.
He frowned, paced
some more and whirled around to plant his hands on his bony hips.
When he was alone, he preferred to take his
own form.
Sabrina was far too womanly
for his tastes.
His leathery skin didn’t feel the bite of the wind and as he whirled
around faster and faster, his senses reached far into the deep recesses of the
forest, he heard a sound, a gentle whisper of a voice.
He ceased all movement, his beady eyes
glittering with malice.
They were on their way.
He
hadn’t mistaken the witch’s voice.
The
light, musical sound which tempted both men and wizards.
He could acknowledge she was a beautiful
woman, but he couldn’t allow himself to fall beneath her spell.
To do so would condemn him to the life he led
now for an eternity.
And the one goal Unger had in mind, his ultimate dream, was to
resume his normal identity.
Then he would destroy the world.
***
Skye picked up every sound of the forest, even the hurried breaths
of the squirrels overhead.
Even the
creatures took cover, sensing the battle to come.
She didn’t realize she was holding tightly to
Rane’s hand until he squeezed her fingers.
She looked over at him and through the light provided by the flame in
the center of his hand, she saw him wink.
“You don’t seem worried at all,” she whispered.
Rane lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug.
“This Unger and I have locked horns before.”
“And if I recall, neither of you won.”
“Now will not be the time to determine who wins.”
“You don’t think this is the final battle?”
Rane brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips.
“Now is the time to bring Emily to
safety.
Unger will have to wait for his
judgment.”
“How can you be so sure you will win against him in the next fight?”
She could have been mistaken, but Rane looked almost affronted.
“Wizards seldom lose, Skye.”
“But they have before.”
He acknowledged her words with a slight inclination of his head.
“Only those who choose to sacrifice
themselves.
I have made no such
decision.”
“So you don’t think this is a suicide mission, then?”
Rane sighed loudly.
“What I
think is Unger is going to hear our approach if we continue to talk.”
Skye waved a hand in dismissal.
“He’s already heard it.”
Rane looked down at her.
“I
am impressed by your use of the magic.”
“Why don’t you seem surprised that Unger knows we’re coming?”
Skye backtracked to the original subject.
Rane pointed ahead.
“Because
that is the welcoming committee.”
***
Unger had used some of the
best tools in his arsenal to prepare for Skye’s arrival.
He’d dragged Emily into the forest and using
thick vines, he’d secured her to the largest tree near him.
The ring of fire circling her feet added just
the right touch and with his arms folded, he stood back to await the arrival of
the calvary.
***
Skye’s eyes narrowed as they settled on Emily’s terrified face.
She tried to catch her sister’s gaze, but
Emily focused on the fire.
“You keep a watch on the creature.
I’m getting my sister out of there,” Skye instructed, taking off at a
slight run.
Unger stepped forward to intercede but Rane’s booted feet caught him
squarely in the center of his chest.
The
creature stumbled and skidded across the dirt floor, cursing in several
languages.
Emily sobbed her relief while Skye broke the vines and just as
they’d leapt to safety, the witches poured in.
They came from every corner of the forest, their eyes gleaming, evil
smiles on their faces.
Skye pushed Emily
behind her and faced the witches, knowing she was outnumbered.
She called upon the goddesses for assistance,
even throwing in a prayer to her mother.
The first attack came from the left and Skye rounded to meet it,
halting the witch in mid-air with just the palm of her hand.
The other witches joined in, racing forward
with united eerie screams.
“Skye!”
Rane shouted, taking hold of Unger’s spiky
tail.
“Take Emily and get out of here!”
“They will not allow her to leave!”
Unger responded in a guttural voice.
Rane shook him.
“You be
quiet.
Skye, do as I say.”
“I can’t leave you,” Skye parried another witch’s thrust and swooped
the legs out from under another one.
“I
can handle this.”
Emily pressed herself back against the base of a tree behind
her.
“She really can, Rane!”
Rane whipped Unger in the air and slammed him against a large oak
before spinning around and dropping to the ground.
In a split second, he’d cleared the playing
field, rendering all the witches unconscious.
Then, taking Skye’s hands in his, he met her gaze.
“I need you to take Emily and leave.
I need to know you are safe.”
Skye nodded her head slowly, seeing something indefinable
in his gaze.
“We’ll go.”
She reached back for
her sister just as Rane let her go and surged into the air to resume the battle
with Unger.
***
Skye burst through the main doors of the fortress, calling out for
Jaxon and any other wizard who would come.
“Rane is fighting Unger now.
You
have to help him.”
Jaxon came down the long corridor.
“What are you talking about?”
“Emily and I just left Rane.
He’s going up against Unger and I don’t know if he can win.”
Jaxon gave her a strange look.
“Skye, Rane is behind you.”
Skye whipped around just as Rane came through the double doors.
Though his hair was a little mussed and his
robe slightly torn, he looked in one piece.
One solid, delectable piece.
Forgetting about decorum and their audience, Skye raced toward him
and wrapped her arms around him.
“I
thought . . .”
Rane rubbed her back.
“He ran
away when he saw the witches fall.
I
sensed he was growing weaker.
He needs
to recharge.”
“Where does he get his strength now?”
Jaxon asked from behind Skye.
Skye pulled out of Rane’s arms.
“The Coven.
Those witches who
attacked me are only half of the Coven Sabrina once led.
Unger is draining them one by one.
He needs their strength to survive.”
Jaxon rubbed his chin.
“Was
Unger in Sabrina’s body?”
Emily piped in, “He was all day and then he just peeled it off just
like he was wearing a costume.”
She
shivered.
“He’s horrible looking.”
Skye rubbed the top of her hair.
“Why don’t you go get something to eat?
You must be hungry and tired.”
Emily gave her a studious look.
“Trying to get rid of me?”
Skye touched the tip of her sister’s nose with her finger.
“You’re very astute.”
Emily trudged off down the hallway to the main galley.
Skye waited until she was gone to resume speaking.
“We didn’t see Sabrina anywhere.”
Jaxon gave a grunt.
“We
should find her.”
He paused.
“Even if it is only her body.”
Rane wrapped his arm around Skye’s waist.
“Would she not disintegrate?”
Jaxon gave his brother a strange look.
“You know, I do not know.
A wizard who dies while in good stead with
his guild will, but a disenfranchised wizard, I have no idea.”
“Wizards disintegrate?”
Skye
jabbed Rane in the side.
He grinned slightly.
“Much
easier than a burial.
Cleaner, too.”
Skye harumphed and moved out of his arms.
“This Unger is going to come back.”
She saw Jaxon and Rane exchange glances.
“What are you thinking?”
Rane steepled his fingers.
“That we should go home.”
She blinked at him, trying to follow his train of thought.
“I thought you were home.
Emily and I should go home.”
Rane gave her a patronizing smile, which caused her to glare at
him.
“Not your home.
My home.
We shall return.”
“You don’t think Unger can follow us there?
At least up here we have the benefit of the
other wizards.”
Rane laughed.
“I have the
benefit of the other wizards wherever I go, my sweet.
I have only to reach out to them.”
“What’s your idea then?
Why
should we go back to
Skye shouldn’t be considering the idea, but
the thought of returning to some semblance of normalcy was enticing.
Rane drew her close to his side again.
“Because it is something Unger will be
expecting and we would not want to disappoint him, would we?”
***
Unger clapped his hands with delight.
They were leaving.
The witch and the wizard were attempting to
escape his reach.
He almost crowed out
loud.
How marvelous.
Without the Assembly to contend with, Unger’s
job just became as easy as plucking a nail from a tire.
He’d suspected this would be the next move the wizard would
make.
He’d want to escape to his home
territory, where he felt most comfortable and though Rane Hansen was a wizard,
he clearly did not belong with the Assembly.
He’d known Rane from the day of his birth.
He’d watched him grow to be the wizard he was
now, a most formidable enemy, with enough magic and power to overcome the
strongest of enemies.
But now, the
wizard had a weak spot.
And her name was
.Skye
As they’d battled, Unger had seen it in the
wizard’s eyes.
He’d given his heart to a
witch.
And that love would be his downfall.
***
Jaxon, Nexon, and Jensen flanked Rane as he circled the grounds
surrounding the fortress.
Each wizard
wore matching solemn expressions.
Rane finally broke the ten-minute long silence.
“Tell me you think leaving is a bad idea.”
Jaxon lifted an eyebrow.
“You
do not need me to tell you that.”
“Tell me I am taking chances with Skye’s life as well as Emily’s.”
“I am more concerned about your own life,” Jaxon pointed out with a
bite in his voice.
Rane gave him a long, considering look before turning his attention
back toward the
breezeway ahead.
“I will do
what I think is best for my…” he broke off.
Nexon pounced on the abrupt stop like a starving dog on discarded
meat.
“Your what?
Your family?”