Chapter 12

JASLYNN

Since I last saw Malcolm, his military-style black hair, lean build, and piercing green eyes that stared into people's souls had not altered in the slightest.

Many witches thought Malcolm beautiful back when the two of us were apprentices, despite his less than great disposition. Because he couldn't care less about all the shattered hearts he left behind, he was known as the Coven's "hump and dump man."

He sighed, "Jaslynn, you look just as gorgeous as you did when we were working together. I regret that you have been stolen. According to rumours among witches, the Moon Goddess chose a mutt as your soul mate.

Alrik growled behind me, sending shivers down my spine. I choked and grabbed the bottom of his shirt.

When he leant down to murmur, "Can we not just kill him?," his breath tickled my ear. We could avoid a lot of hassle that way.

Malcolm was focused on examining our team, so I quietly shook my head so he wouldn't notice, "You see how the tree is glowing? Nothing can reach him as long as he is tied to that tree, which he made into a shield. Everything hurled at him will bounce back and hit us.

I could see the tree's faint silver glimmer, though it was difficult to discern from some angles. Malcolm would have to be coaxed away before we could assault him.

  That explains why he is nearly grinding into the poor tree, Alrik sighed and murmured.

And who is this lovely woman?

My gaze briefly returned to Malcolm, who was scanning Reece's figure with his eyes. She growled at him and took a sizable hunting knife from her bag, calling him "the woman who will skin you alive."

tenacious she-wolf. I enjoy it. Why don't you come with me, baby? he said with a sneer. We can enjoy ourselves greatly.

Oh, we'll have fun anyway while you scream and bleed in pain and I laugh at your suffering, she growled.

Alrik and Reece appeared to be more similar than I initially imagined. Being his commander, I imagine she was accustomed to blood and gore.

I pursed my lips and carefully took my wand out of my pocket, being cautious not to draw Reece's attention to it while he continued to rant at Malcolm, who was finding it hilarious.

I muttered "Salutem creaturae," which caused a silver, glittering strand to create a small circle in front of me and out of Malcolm's line of sight.

Magical waves encircled the end of my wand in rapid up-and-down motions, crackling as they went. I expanded the circle by rotating my wand in the same direction as the waves.

Once I was satisfied with its size, I pointed my wand towards myself, Alrik, and everyone else who was on our side. It was similar to using a magic string to play connect the dots.

Jassy, you didn't need to create a safety nett, I assure you. Malcolm looked at the nett and remarked, "I'm not here to hurt you.

"If you're not here to hurt us, why did you make a shield?" I asked, giving him a blank stare.

"Because I was worried you would assault me before I could explain why I was here. I wanted to let you know that you may end your silly little search for the Book of Demonic Magic now that I had your attention. It's already mine.

  Through his teeth he was lying. His jaw was quivering, his hands were twitching frantically, and his stance was too stiff.

Is that true? I questioned while participating in his little game.

"I just discovered it a few days ago. I will open the portal to the underworld when the full moon appears, and none of you will be able to stop me," he screamed at the conclusion.

I pretended to listen to what he had to say, but I was really only watching his hand. I was anticipating the moment he would let it fall because it was the only part of his body that was in contact with the tree.

I muttered, "Alrik, divert him, keep him talking."

"If you have the book, why don't you show us?" I demanded as I stepped to the front of the gathering, feeling Alrik's gaze pierce the back of my head. He obeyed.

And as I anticipated, when Malcolm responded to Alrik's query, he released his hold on the tree.

I say, "Mortemous alegerda!"

Malcolm was standing there peacefully when a flash of light shot out of my wand and in his direction. It struck him hard, sending him flying backwards and into a tree before he crashed to the ground in a heap.

I was speechless as I simply regarded his body.

It was far too simple.

He didn't even stir, Alrik said as he appeared by my side and scowled at the dead. He nearly seemed to want you to kill him.

I approached Malcolm's body, knelt down next to it, and then began digging through his clothing for his wand. I pulled it out and looked at it when I discovered it in his coat's interior pocket.

I said, "This isn't his wand," as I turned to face the entire gang, who were all standing close by.

If that isn't his wand, then it isn't, he said. When Miles realised what that meant, he trailed off and swallowed.

  With a faint murmur of a spell to restore Malcolm's body to its original form, I discreetly breathed and laid the tip of my wand on his brow.

His body began to glow and to get thinner and smaller. His cheekbones got fuller, and the colour of his hair changed to a murky brown. His entire face altered to resemble a much younger guy.

He had transformed the boy's looks to resemble him while using a young wizard as a host.

"He's still alive then," I said, "and he doesn't have the book. He fought to keep us from leaving.

We bury the youngster and finish loading the boat, I said as I straightened up and turned to face the others. We need to act swiftly.

Alrik, Reece, and I remained where we were, and there was a simultaneous hum of agreement. Two of Alrik's warriors picked up the boy's body and carried him away, while the rest of the crew returned to the dock where we had dumped the bag.

Reece was fixated on the bloodstain on the tree trunk as Alrik was looking at him.

Is there a problem, Commander? Alrik scowls.

She forced a deep swallow before saying, "I think he was my mate," as her eyes began to water.