Amethyst Flame (Flame 2)

Vaughn tried to rebuild the blocking spell, but couldn’t. The pain intensified.

Vaughn, he’s too powerful, and nothing I’m doing is working.

>

Suddenly, however, the spell broke, though Vaughn had no idea why.

He lifted up on his elbows and saw to his surprise that Beth had leaped on Loghry’s back, her fangs sunk deep into his neck. She was drinking, which helped to solidify the thrall. But at the same time, blood poured from the wound as she continued to savage him. She’d sliced through his vein. Held in this state, Loghry would soon bleed to death.

A vampire could always enthrall a spellcaster, even a powerful wizard.

Loghry slumped to his knees, his leather coat flaring around him, but Beth held on tight. She kept him upright as blood ran down his coat and began pooling in the dirt. The wizard couldn’t move a muscle, and he couldn’t stop Beth.

Vaughn contacted her. Do you need me to do anything, Beth?

No. And if you try to interfere, you could break the thrall. Besides, he’s mine. For what he did to me and all those girls, he’s mine.

Vaughn turned his attention to Emma who moaned, but didn’t open her eyes. He put his hand on top of her head and using her witch power, let the healing flow. Her whole body relaxed and after a minute, she was able to sit up.

She recoiled, however, at the horrible sight of Beth draining the life out of Loghry. “What should we do?”

“Beth said if we do anything we’ll disrupt the thrall. And she wants this.”

With both of them sitting in the dirt, Emma slipped her arm through his. “This is the least she deserves, isn’t it? Yet for what she had to endure, it doesn’t seem like enough.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

A few minutes later, Beth released Loghry, and he fell forward in the dirt, his eyes open. He wasn’t breathing, and the dirt all around him was stained with his blood.

At the same time, the triplets appeared nearby, staring down at the man who had tortured them and taken their lives.

“Look at the girls,” Emma whispered. “I’ve never seen them so somber before.”

“They’re waiting for their killer.”

“They must be.”

Vaughn rose to his feet and lifted her with him. Beth was sitting against the opposite wall, shaking with exhaustion. The recent intake of more of Loghry’s corrupt blood had caused some of the mottled flames to reappear on her neck and face. Together, they crossed to stand near Beth.

“Are you okay?” Emma asked.

Beth nodded. “I will be, once the drug leaves my system. Please, don’t worry about me.”

She then shifted to look up at Vaughn. “Is Loghry dead? You have to make sure. It’s very important.” She glanced at Emma. “If the ghosts are here, ask them. They’ll know.”

Vaughn watched Emma turn toward the ghosts. She seemed to be communicating with them. Her resulting expression of horror told Vaughn what he needed to know.

Loghry had faked his death before. Why not now? “He’s not dead, is he?”

She shook her head. “Becca says he isn’t, but how is that possible?”

Vaughn opened himself up to the future, which showed him two things, the location of a weapon and Loghry rising as if from the dead.

He told Emma he’d be right back and headed down the opposite path. One of Dagen’s men had died nearby, his sword beside him. He took the man’s half-sword and returned quickly.

The women were holding each other as Loghry staggered to his feet, already recovering. Unbelievable.

Vaughn followed the snapshots, levitated and came up behind the wizard. Holding his sword with both hands, he drew his arms back and swung hard. He struck the base of Loghry’s neck and decapitated him. Both parts of the wizard fell to the dirt.