Possession (The Mate Games 3)

“Come to dole out a punishment, Priest?” Kingston taunted. “We all know you enjoy that a little too much.”

“Only if punishment is warranted. Miss Fallon, have you and your compatriots been up to something you shouldn’t?”

This was the first he’d spoken directly to me since ordering me to leave him and not to come back. I didn’t know what to say. Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I pulled up my big girl panties. “That depends on what you think I shouldn’t do.”

Challenge sparked in his eyes. “There are many things that fit the bill.”

“Does bringing back a lost student count?”

His brows lifted. “That would depend on whether it was against his will, I suppose.”

“Well, last I checked, witchcraft was encouraged at Ravenscroft, so regardless of the particulars, I’m confident we haven’t broken any rules.”

“Yet.”

“Come on, Daddy Gallagher, let her be. We’re going to bring back her Viking and set the world on fire. What could possibly go wrong?”

Caleb shot Kingston a death glare that could have turned him to stone if my priest had been a warlock. “No. It’s Father Gallagher to you.”

Kingston smirked.

“Just get on with it, but the moment things get out of hand, I’ll be putting a stop to it. Do you understand?” Caleb set his firm gaze on me.

I nodded, saved from having to say anything else by Moira’s announcement.

“Okay, we’re ready. We should start as soon as the eclipse is at its peak, which will be any minute now. Sunday, take your place in the center of the circle.”

Caleb snatched my wrist. “You’re not setting foot in that circle.”

I may not be able to shift, but my wolf was close to the surface as I snarled and tugged my arm free. “Try and stop me.”

“God, it makes me hard when she goes all Alpha like that,” Kingston said to Noah, making no effort to hide the fact that he was adjusting himself.

I couldn’t lie; the sight sent a zing of arousal through me, but I didn’t say a word as I stepped into the circle, Caleb seething as he watched.

Moira and Ash were wearing matching T-shirts that said ‘Witch, please.’ The sight made me smile just like it had the first time I’d noticed. Those two were adorable. Moira might pretend to be prickly, but seeing her with the person she loved proved how much of a softy she was.

“Is this going to hurt?” I asked, unable to keep the fear from my voice.

Ash shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe.” Moira’s forehead had that little worry line she worked so hard to glamour away all the time.

Shit.

“Just make sure not to cross the boundary once we start the spell,” Ash warned. “You’re the anchor. Everything hinges on you.”

“Why am I the anchor again?”

Moira tickled me, running her fingers along the runes proclaiming Alek’s name. “Because of this, sweet cheeks. You’re magically tied to him. It’s the strongest connection we have between our two realms.”

“I thought his hair was?”

“His hair was the conduit. You are the thing that will pull him back.”

It all sounded like a bunch of witchy nonsense to me, but they were the experts. “Okay then.”

“Sunday, I don’t think this is—” Caleb began, coming toward me, but Noah stopped him with a palm across his chest.