She couldn’t allow this to happen.
But how could she stop him…
Her heartbeat raced. Heat rushed through her veins. She shook her head trying to clear her vision, as darkness threatened to overtake her. The view in front of her faded, but somehow she knew she wasn’t blacking out.
Her backyard had morphed into a forest she’d never seen before, as if she were drawn into a memory. A memory that didn’t belong to her, which was similar to the magic Haven produced to recreate murder scenes. Nexi realized, though, it had to be different, because for the oddest reason, she knew with certainty Lazarus couldn’t see what she did now.
A woman ran through the forest, weaving in and out of trees, while a baby cried in her arms. She tripped over stones and branches, but she continued to get up and run from the vampire hunting her—Lazarus.
“You can’t run from me,” Lazarus called, stalking forward with a speed slow and unafraid. “You’ve got no one to save you and nowhere to hide.”
The woman tripped again and this time, fell to her knees. Her warm blue eyes were filled with tears, her blonde hair curtaining her face. She lowered her lips to the baby’s face, and whispered against the screaming baby’s forehead. “Go, Nexi. Be safe, my love. Always remember, I love you.”
The baby vanished from her arms and she turned to face Lazarus. The witch looked drained and utterly exhausted, her movements slow and appearing forced. Her eyelids lowered as she panted while he closed in on her. She raised her hands to conjure magic, but none came.
Lazarus cackled. “Used all your strength to send the child away? Now you are mine.” With a speed that seemed to surprise the witch, since her eyes widened, he lunged toward her and sank his fangs deep into her neck. The witch’s eyes shut tight as she tried to fight him off, but her strength couldn’t match his.
Then…she screamed…
Nexi gasped, the present returning. Lazarus approached as if no time had passed and the sound of her birth mother’s screams echoed in Nexi’s mind. Her body shook from the inside out, torn up about what she’d witnessed. Tillie gave up her life to protect Nexi. Kyden was willing to do the same, and now he would die, too.
Tears rushed down her face for so many reasons it was impossible to pinpoint the cause, and raw emotion filled her. Heat and electric currents of rage burned within. Glancing down at her hands, she noted she didn’t only tremble on the inside, but on the outside, too. In fact, now aware, she realized her whole body quivered in absolute horror. The warmth coursing through her grew rapidly, filled her entirely, and sweat coated her skin.
Lazarus stopped his approach, regarding her with a cautious look. “What are you doing?”
His surprise made her take further notice of her body and she discovered she wasn’t experiencing emotionally charged reactions. This was a physical transformation. And it so happened, the moment she acknowledged the force swirling within her body, all that power concentrated into the center of her chest, when suddenly the energy burst wide open.
A surge so intense exploded within and the pain Lazarus had delivered was no comparison to the sheer brutal force ripping her apart. Her screams morphed together as flames flickered through her, building more intense as the seconds drew on.
Above her, Kyden moaned and on instinct, Nexi grabbed his ankle. Her fingers wrapped around his bloody skin, not caring if she hurt him now. She needed the connection. As her fingers tightened around his wet flesh, her only thoughts remained of him, and a sudden flash of power stormed through her body, which glued her hand to his ankle.
Terrified and confused, she shut her eyes and screamed against the force wrecking havoc on her body. Anything this painful should mean she was dead. Minutes—feeling like a lifetime—passed. The burn built to an intensity she doubted she could survive, when suddenly, a waft of power caressed over her, removing the heat and instead sending it outwards.
She experienced a relief so exquisite she wept anew, smiling as though the sun had kissed her face for the first time. With a gentle wash of energy sweeping over her like a warm bath, all sensations vanished, and she snapped her eyes open.
Lifting her head, she looked up, and her breath became trapped her in throat at the face staring down at her. Bewildered, she could only blink in wonderment, unsure if her trauma made her eyes play tricks on her. However, the sight in front of her remained.
Kyden arched an eyebrow, as ire burned in the depths of his eyes. He glanced to Lazarus, who stood statue-still, and then he scanned the area in haste before his fiery gaze returned to her. “Your reason for coming here alone better be good.”
Her reason for showing up to face Lazarus was only half of her concern right now. “Holy shit,” she whispered in shock. “I healed you.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Experiencing her magic lacing her veins, indicating she was a Spirit Witch because of her healing powers, stunned her. What also horrified her was that her magic did lace her veins. Now Lazarus would kill her instead of simply keep her. Fear consumed her in a horrible heat wave of panic. However, once she pushed past the swell of hot emotions, Nexi realized a new sensation brought a sense of immediate comfort.
Strength that hadn’t been there before rested in the center of her chest, almost like a pulsating glow fueling a confidence she’d never known. The release of her witch powers had given her something new, and to her pleasure, something powerful.
A low, evil chuckle dragged her attention from the incredibly angry guardian above her to Lazarus. He grinned at her, practically salivating for her magic. Now, though, she was no longer defeated. No longer afraid. No longer a victim.
Truth was, Lazarus hadn’t been wrong either—the magic in her blood was rich with power. He should crave it, because it would make him nearly invincible. It gave her that same sense of haughtiness, too.
Pushing off the ground, she didn’t take her eyes off the leech. The release of her magic hadn’t only healed Kyden, but healed her wounds as well. A cracked rib didn’t hinder her any longer, and she watched the vampire’s every move as he paced in front of her. She drew in a deep breath, then she mirrored him.
Lazarus’s grin slowly faded. “We’re going back to this, are we?”
“Do not even think about it,” Kyden practically growled behind her. “Do you hear me, Nexi?”
Ignoring him, Nexi remained fixated on the vampire who had destroyed lives without a second thought. He might want this heady power she had, but it wasn’t his for the taking. This magic, the power, it belonged to her. “You’ve taken everyone from me. My mother, my adoptive parents, and even if you weren’t directly responsible for Drake’s death, your actions were.”
“Drake?” Kyden shook the chains at his wrists to break free and the sound echoed through the night sky. “Nexi, let me help you.”
“No,” she yelled, never taking her eyes off Lazarus, as the evil bastard continued to pace in front of her. Rage burned wicked in her blood. He was all hers to kill and he’d pay for all the despair he caused her…for every single life he took.
Waiting and watching, she noticed he slowed to turn, and she didn’t hesitate. With a brutal and fierce attack, she landed a hard punch to his gut, sending him soaring a good twenty feet away.
“Nexi,” Kyden hollered. “Fuck.”
Loud clangs of the chains against the branches filled her ears, as she knew Kyden tried to break himself free. Her attention held strong on Lazarus as he lurched to his feet. This fight belonged to her. His death needed to be by her hand.
That, she deserved.
Lazarus eyed her as she circled him, almost incredulous. “Two ways this can end: painful or quick.”
She ignored his weak threat, narrowing her eyes. “You prey on the innocent.” Continuing to circle him, she patiently waited for her opportunity to attack. “You take lives of the defenseless. You steal power that’s not yours to take. Now it’s time to face your equal.”
His dark, menacing stare held intent on her, the side of his mouth curving slowly. “You think that’s you?”
Instead of answering him, she dove forward and used all of her strength to deliver a right hook to his jaw. The moment of contact, he went skidding along the grass and before he could stop, she threw another hit.
He pounced again, this time increasing his speed. She dodged his blow with her left arm and used her right to pummel him across the jaw. All of her rage and hatred for this vampire gave fuel to her muscles. Her hits were hard, and his body became her outlet, a way to ease the raw pain inside.
“Cut me free.” Kyden’s roar soared through the yard around her.
Nexi stayed focused and continued with her attack. Lazarus would die tonight. This would end. Here. Now.
Lazarus came at her again, but she held her ground. Kyden had trained her well, gave her the skill to deliver injury, but her magic provided the extra strength behind it. He couldn’t get past her and she was faster. Almost as if she had a shield protecting her, one he couldn’t get through.
Within mere minutes of the fight, Lazarus resembled Kyden’s beaten and bloody face when Nexi first entered the backyard. Loving that look on him, she delivered another blow to the side of his face. He recovered, his head snapping up, and he drew his lip back exposing his fangs.