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Despite my lips and tongue feeling heavy, I fought the effects of the tea to say, “Karin, Karin, I don’t understand. Why would you do this? Why couldn’t you just summon a familiar?”
She glared at me. “Because I have no power. Because it wouldn’t be as strong as you. But don’t worry. I’ve thought this through. If you do start to die before I can transfer your bond to me, I’ll drain your power and use that to summon a familiar.”
Charming.
“You haven’t thought this through. I’m connected to more than just Charlie. If you try to hurt him, Zaide and Baelen will stop you to protect me.”
“Taken care of.” She waved a hand and continued to pack her bag.
I blinked and tried not to let the panic surging inside me take over. I asked her, “What do you mean?” while I called,“Zaide. Zaide, can you hear me?”in my mind.
She sighed as she stood over me. “You ask a lot of questions. We’ll work on that.”
Anger suddenly overtook the fear, and I growled, “How did you imagine this would go? That I’d be glad you killed someone I love? That I’d just let you take my power without question or thought? I’m done with that. I’m not going to make this easy for you.”
She shrugged. “Nothing worthwhile is easy. I expect you to fight back, Clawdia, but I’ve been planning this for days now, and it’s faultless. I’m going to get everything I want.”
“Power. But no friends. No love,” I choked out as my eyes began to strain.
“That might seem like a tragedy to you, Clawdia, but my parents do love me, and they’d want me to choose power. They know what this means to me.”
“You think this is all going to go your way, but if you hurt him, even if you become my witch, I’ll never forgive you. And I’ll take my life to stop you from using me. From making me your slave!” I shouted and desperately struggled against the haze coming over me.
Please, please. I can’t lose him.
She scoffed. “No, you won’t. You’ve a soul mate and a soul pair. You’ll be attached to me, doing all I want you to, because if you don’t, I’ll hurt them.”
I would do anything for Zaide and Baelen if it saved them pain, and I couldn’t imagine them being so easily controlled by this powerless witch, but I’d already underestimated her so much.
“You have no real power of your own, so you’re going to take ours and use it against us? Why? What do you hope to accomplish?”
She picked up her bag and threw it over her shoulder. “Nothing. I have no plans for world domination. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to be able to use the power I have learned so much about. I want to spend my days researching and experimenting with my own power and limits. I want what everyone else has taken for granted. I want to be respected and needed.”
“All of which are admirable,” I coughed, “but doing this doesn’t help that. You’re going to hurt him. And me. Please, please reconsider.”
She shook her head slowly and walked toward the door. “I’m not going to let this opportunity slip through my hands.”
No.
And as I heard the door slam shut, the world went dark.
CHAPTER26
CHARLIE
Elizabeth was wide-eyed and bushy-tailed in the library, sipping on what smelled like coffee and scouring a book.
I called, “Good morning, woman that birthed me.”
She looked up as we walked in. “Good morning, Charlie. Zaide. How is everyone today?”
I shrugged as I sat next to her at the table. “Clawdia is in pain, and Baelen is himself again, but we don’t know how long that will last.”
“Has he told you anything?” she asked.
Zaide joined us, the chair creaking as he sat down. “Nothing. I think the shadow prevents him. He was able to more or less confirm that he’s currently in control and is happy to stay in the cage.”
“That’s a good start. Perhaps the shadow’s influence is weakening,” Elizabeth suggested.
