“Just let her go, Ruth,” I try, mind racing on how I can separate her from the girl. The dagger is pressed against Brooke’s skin. It wouldn’t take much for Ruth to flinch and cut into her throat. “You won’t accomplish anything by hurting her.”
“You won’t give me what I wanted,” she stammers. “Now I have to take it. I’ll drain every last witch in here.”
“You’ll still only be half the witch I am.” I take a slow step forward and feel a familiar energy. Binx. He’s in the Covenstead and is on his way here. Shadow between them, I mentally tell Binx. “No one gave me my power. I was born with it.”
“Bullshit,” Ruth says, shaking her head. “You have more power than all of us. It’s not natural.”
“Well there’s a plot twist,” I say. “I’ve been told my powers aren’t natural my whole life. Usually, it’s followed with being told I’m a freak or something cleaver like that.” I roll my eyes. “But this is a first. Being told my powers aren’t natural out of jealousy.”
I take another step forward, sensing Binx drawing near. “And I do have more power than all of you. Which is why you really should let her go.”
Binx bursts into the room, and I hold my hand up. I can feel the divinity rising inside me, stronger than ever before. Binx flashes forward, moving between Ruth and Brooke. I throw my hand out at the exact second Binx pushes Ruth back, pulling the dagger from her hand. Brooke tumbles forward. Ruth turns to run, but I stop her, shoving her against the wall with magic.
She fights against me and then starts to whisper a spell as I walk up the alter steps.
“Enough,” I tell her, sensing blue light glowing around me.
Ruth looks at me in horror. “W-who are you?”
“I am Callie, daughter of Michael the archangel, and I sentence you to death.” I twist my wrist, snapping her neck. Ruth’s body goes limp, and she collapses to the floor. I let out a breath and bring my hand to my side.
The gathering hall doors open, and the witches in the pews scream. I turn and see Lucas speeding toward me. Blood is splattered over his face and hands.
“Callie,” he says and takes me in his arms. I close my eyes and rest my hands on his chest. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah,” I nod, giving myself a few seconds to just be in Lucas’s arms. “She’s dead.”
“Good.” Lucas turns my face up to his, needing to look into my eyes and make sure I’m really okay.
“And the students?” I ask, almost afraid of the answer.
“A few were lost, and even more are in bad shape,” he answers softly. “I killed the demons and the vampires. It’s over, Callie. It’s finally over.”Chapter 44“I think I am going to take you up on that spa day,” I tell Abby, leaning back on the couch and extending my arm. Julian holds his hand over the cut. Yellow light pours from his fingers as he heals the wound. It’s against the rules for angels to heal humans like this, but I’m not quite human, and if anyone deserves an exception, it’s me.
“Yeah, I’d say so.” She’s sitting on the loveseat across from me. We’re back at my house in Thorne Hill, and I’m ready to pass out and sleep for a week. We lost five members of our coven tonight, and several students were injured. Two were in bad shape and had to be transported to the ER. Tabatha and Evander are still there, and Nicole, Naomi, and Kristy stayed to help.
I know I have a lot of explaining to do to the members of my former coven. But the next time I appear before them, I don’t think I have to worry about being sentenced to burn at the stake this time. Tabatha sent me home, knowing how exhausted I am.
“And maybe we can try dinner again and not have it get interrupted.” I take my arm back, looking at my skin. It’s perfectly healed as if Ruth didn’t cut me and steal my blood at all. “Thank you,” I tell Julian.
“Third time’s a charm.” Abby leans forward, mesmerized by how I was just healed. “When do you want to go to the spa?”
“The day after tomorrow,” I say. “Which is…Friday?”
“Saturday.”
“Oh, well, then Saturday, if you can go.”
“I’m off Saturday. I’ll see if they have an opening.” Abby gets up to get her phone, and Lucas comes back into the living room carrying a plate of pasta salad with a side of shredded cheese.
“Thank you.”
Julian gets up, letting Lucas sit next to me. I mix the cheese in with the pasta, still refusing to call this a “weird craving.” Cheese and pasta go hand in hand; ask anyone.