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SELENE UNLOCKED THE door to one of the back rooms the coven used for classes. She motioned with the blade for Paige to enter. The overhead lights were already on, and an array of lit black candles lined the wooden instructor’s desk at the front of the room. The student chairs had been pushed over to one side, clearing a large space in the center of the floor. Several ceiling panels had been removed. A rope had been slung through the opening over a support beam, and a large slip knot formed a circle on the dangling end.
Selene guided her toward the rope. “Put your hands together.”
Paige tried to control her movements, but the command was too strong, and her wrists pressed together against her will. She helplessly watched Selene loop the rope over her hands, then yank the end roughly against her flesh. The thick braid bit into Paige’s flesh. She clamped her mouth shut, biting back a cry of pain.
Selene laid the knife on the desk and tugged on the other end of the rope. She heaved until Paige’s arms were high above her head and her feet barely touched the ground. “Perfect,” she said and knelt to secure it to the leg of the desk.
“Why are you doing this?” Paige asked.
Selene stood and straightened her dress. She picked up the knife and pointed it at Paige. “You don’t even realize how powerful you are right now, do you? You’ve always preferred to waste your magic on doing good for others.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The demon powers, of course.”
“How did you...”
“By using Harker. He was weak, very pliable, especially in bed. A little enchantment during sex and he was willing to do anything for me, which included sharing confidential information from the high council. Finding out about your new powers was a bonus.”
“But he was searching for a way to expel the powers.”
“Silly girl. He lied. For me.” Selene tucked her hair behind her ear. “He didn’t need to expel anything. The magic is temporary. It would have faded on its own within another week or two. Which is why I need to take it now.”
Paige shuddered. She knew she was staring at a killer. “You murdered Harker, didn’t you?”
“Murdered sounds so harsh, but yes, I helped him down the stairs.”
“But why?” Maybe if she kept her talking, it would delay whatever Selene was going to do to her.
“I don’t know how, but Harker found out what I’d planned to do to you. Stupid man threatened to report me. He would have ruined everything, so I had to stop him.”
“Did you have to kill him? Couldn’t you have used your powers to change his mind?”
“Yes, but the spells eventually wear off.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Once I saw Aidan, I realized I didn’t need to be bothered with Harker anymore.”
How can she be so callous about another person’s life? If Paige despised her before, she truly hated her now.
“Once I have the demon energy, I’ll be more powerful. The council will have to make me an elder. And with you out of the way, Aidan will take me back.”
Paige loved Aidan, always had and always would. The thought of this vile woman using witchcraft to control him, to use him, really pissed her off. “Even with me gone, he still wouldn’t have anything to do with a sick bitch like you.”
“Oh, but he will...with a little magical persuasion.” She flashed her a sneer.
Paige had always wondered what Aidan saw in the other woman. Now everything made sense. “You used witchcraft on him before.” Using witchery to manipulate others was against the coven laws. If they ever found out, Selene would be forced to wear suppression bracelets and never use her powers for the rest of her life. But if she possessed the dark powers, she’d be unstoppable, able to control even the strongest coven elder.
“Of course. The man doesn’t understand I know what’s best for him. He was a lot harder to manage years ago and actually shattered my spell. But not this time, not with the demon power. And he’ll have you to thank for it.”
Paige’s heart raced, and she swallowed back the bile crawling up her throat. She swore when and if she got out of this predicament, she was going to make Selene pay for what she’d done to him.
“You think I’m going to hand over that kind of magic to a demented psychopath like you?” She wanted to snatch back the heated words the minute she said them.
“I never said anything about asking for it.” She tapped the blade against her palm. “I would tell you this isn’t going to be hurt, but I plan to make it as painful as possible.”
#
AIDAN SPOTTED EMBER standing alone next to the wall in the deserted hallway. “Where’s Paige?” He rushed toward her.
He couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t answering him, not until he reached her and saw her blank expression. He waved a hand in front of her face. Fuck, she’s been spelled.
The dwindling scent of amyris and sage—Selene’s handiwork—still hung in the air. Where is Paige, and what has Selene done with her?
He shook her shoulders. “Ember, I need you to snap out of it.”
Her head bobbed back and forth. She blinked twice. “What are you...”
“Where’s Paige?” he asked again.
“I don’t know.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “Selene, she’s...she’s crazy. She made me do things.” Her lower lip quivered. “And she forced Paige to go with her.” She clutched his arm. “You have to help her,” she squeaked.
She was close to hysterics and ’wouldn’t be much help. He softened his tone. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Yes. I think so.” She sniffled and swiped the back of her hand across her cheeks.
“I need you to find Cassie and Chance. Tell them about Selene and bring them back here.” He gently squeezed her hands. “Do you think you can do that for me?”
She nodded. “What are you going to do?”
“Go after them.” He wouldn’t stop until he found Paige and knew she was safe. He prayed the bad weather outside had prevented Selene from going outside. The only rooms at this end of the building were used for classes. If they were still inside, he had a better chance of finding them. By the time he reached the last corridor and hadn’t found any signs of Paige, Aidan wanted to punch something. He turned the corner to the last corridor and glimpsed a sliver of light peeking through a partially opened door. Moving quickly, he pressed against the wall and edged toward the room. Selene’s voice came from inside, speaking in a language he didn’t understand, but her one-sided conversation sounded a lot like chanting.
He slowly pushed the door open, angling his head to get a clear view. Paige’s slender form hung from the ceiling strung up by her wrists. Her eyes locked with his, and hope dashed across her features. She’s still alive.
Selene stood in the middle of the room, facing away from him. To their left was a desk covered with black candles, flames dancing around the wicks. Fuck. She had to be performing the extraction spell Chance found in Harker’s files.
She held a small blade close to Paige’s neck. He had to act fast or watch the woman he loved die. He also needed to be careful. If he miscalculated and attacked too soon, he risked Selene intentionally slashing Paige’s throat.
He clenched his fists, and tamped down the urge to strangle Selene. He cautiously walked into the room. “Selene, please stop.”
Her shoulders tensed, and she jerked her head toward him.
“You don’t need to do this.” He kept his voice low and soothing, almost to the point of pleading.
“Yes, I do.” She lowered the knife to the base of Paige’s throat, the blade pressing into her skin. “You don’t think I knew you always cared about her? Your feelings for her helped you break the spell the first time. I won’t let it happen again. The demon energies will bind you to me this time, make you love me like I love you.”
“Break what spell?” The meaning behind her words slowly sank in, finally made sense. “You spelled me so I’d stay with you?”
“It was the only way to keep you. To convince you how powerful we could be together.”
A thin drop of blood trickled down Paige’s chest. He needed to get the psychotic woman away from her.
