Page 61 of The Witch’s Daughter

“Just stop!” I screamed, slamming my palms against his chest.

My eyes went wide as I felt his power course through me. Like old times. Before, when my magic worked and I could sense the magic in others, using it as my own.

It’d been so long since I had this sensation. Now I could feel Jaxon’s power. His deep well of earth-based magic that welled up in him, moments before he went flying backwards, thrown by the shift in the ground that rocked the world beneath our feet.

Oh gods, it’s back.

As if time froze, I watched the pulse of my power spread out, sending everyone who’d gathered around us stumbling to their knees while the earth groaned and quaked. But it was Jaxon’s shocked expression as he landed on the dirt and the rapidly reforming cracks in the ground that stole my breath away.

I’d done it. My magic was back.

I… I hurt Jaxon.

I’d screwed up everything.

Time raced to catch up as everyone broke out talking at once and climbed to their feet.

The only person who’d stayed standing in the pulse of that power started to slow clap.

I turned to face Vincent.

The warlock held out his hand. “Cerberus, isn’t it? Come take a walk with me. I’ve been hoping to meet you.”

22

Jaxon

He took her! We have to stop him! My wolf raged within my human skin. Black fur sprouted on my arms, and I yanked him back by the scruff of his metaphorical neck, fighting to maintain control.

She left. Freely. Because of you, I growled, clenching my jaw to stop my teeth from elongating into fangs.

If you would’ve listened to me, none of this would be happening. He’d been riding me hard since I’d stopped Tisiphone from leaving. He wanted to let her go back to the tents.

But I’d seen the defeat in her eyes and I couldn’t stomach it. So I told her the truth despite my wolf’s outrage. She belonged here. With us. Her magic was strong. I’d always known that. It seemed everyone else knew it now too.

And Vincent had taken her because of it.

Let me out! He roared as my spine started to break.

I dropped to my knees in the dirt, fighting against the shift. If I gave in now, my wolf would tear through the training field and chase Tisiphone down, no doubt killing the warlock in the process.

You already pushed her too far, I tried to make him see reason. It’d been my voice, but his anger that fueled me to lay it all bare for Tisiphone to see.

And I’d terrified her. Probably messed everything up beyond repair.

She needed to hear it. He snarled, surging forward again.

Shakily, I climbed to my feet.

I had to get out of here.

“Are you okay, Alpha?” Calla and her wolves rushed to my side. I growled at her. To the witch’s credit, she didn’t flinch. But she did stare me down like I’d gotten a case of moon-sickness and lost my mind.

“Did you see that?” Amir gushed as he and Ahmad came running. “Trish is back. She’s got her powers again.”

Keep her name out of your mouth.

“Her powers never left,” I growled, pushing past the twins. If I didn’t leave, my beast would do something we’d both regret.