The Aether Witch (The Coven: Elemental Magic Book 6) Read online

  Why didn’t I kiss him when I had the chance?

  I deserve this pain.

  Tegan leapt over to Deacon’s body. “GET BACK!”

  Henley, Royce, and Cooper flew back like she’d thrown them. Tennessee tightened his grip on me, but it didn’t matter. I had no strength left in me. I sank into him and sobbed against his arm. He cursed in my ear and dropped us down to our knees, still holding me in place.

  The air around us pulsed with wild, hot electricity. Tegan held both her palms over Deacon’s chest, and rainbow magic swirled around her trembling fingers. Her long black hair whipped around her body. She closed her eyes, and her shoulders rose and fell…then she opened her eyes and pushed.

  White light shot out of her palms and slammed into Deacon’s chest. His back arched off the ground. Red bolts of lightning flashed from her hands into his body. Her lips moved as she whispered something over and over, like a spell or enchantment. Her eyes sparkled so bright they were almost entirely white. More magic than I’d ever seen poured out of her and into him.

  I stopped breathing. Everything inside me went completely numb as I hung there in Tennessee’s arms just watching my sister try to save my soulmate’s life. Please, Deacon. Please.

  Deacon gasped. His eyes flew open.

  Tegan yanked her hands away…and his soulmate glyph was blue.

  I scrambled to my feet, and this time Tennessee let me go. A gust of wind slammed into my back and slid me right up to Deacon’s face. Beautiful violet eyes looked up at me, and something clicked back together in my soul.

  I cried and cupped his face. “Don’t die on me, Buttercup.”

  His eyes fluttered closed. “As…you…wish,” he whispered, just barely loud enough for me to hear.

  A strangled half cry, half laugh ripped through my body. I dropped my face to his chest, ignoring the puddle of his blood. All I cared about was the heat in his skin and the beating of his heart. It was soft and weak, but it was there.

  Loud cheers erupted from all around us. I gasped and picked my head up…and my jaw dropped. I’d completely forgotten we had an audience. I had no idea where we were, but it appeared to be some type of Halloween party. Everyone was in costume and holding clear cups full of red liquid. The crowd whistled and hollered, applauding and high fiving the person next to them.

  Tennessee crouched down beside me and cursed. His mismatched eyes were narrowed on the still celebrating crowd. “Let’s get home.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  TEGAN

  “Amazing performance, guys!”

  “Those special effects were intense, bruh!”

  “Can I hire you for my Halloween party on Wednesday?”

  “Incredible! So realistic!”

  I blinked and licked my lips as the crowd enclosed us to congratulate a job well done. They assumed we were actors performing a Halloween-worthy scene. I pushed my hair back out of my face and tried to steady my racing heart. Deacon had just died in our arms, and somehow I’d managed to bring him back. That scared me. But I kept telling myself it was the same thing doctors did in hospitals.

  “Those costumes are on point, girl.” A girl dressed as Harley Quinn jumped out in front of me. “Where’d you get ‘em?”

  “1692. Excuse me,” I said and pushed by her.

  It wasn’t a lie, but I had no time for these Sapiens. I knew it wasn’t their fault. It was Salem’s annual Halloween Ball, so of course they’d assume that was theatrics and not real life. It didn’t matter. I couldn’t stick around. I wanted them all to disappear. I ran through a list of spells in my mind that might make them scatter, except I didn’t trust myself to try any. My emotions were too unstable. My magic was pumping too strong in my veins. I’d called upon a monster inside me to save Deacon, and now I didn’t know how to shut it off.

  Guys, we gotta get out of here, I said into my friends’ minds. Deacon needs help, and I can’t open a portal with all these damn humans around.

  “Part the way,” Tennessee said softly from right behind me. “Any way you can.”

  Say no more. I narrowed my eyes and felt the corners of my mouth curve into a grin. I felt like a caged tiger that had just been set free. My magic answered without me calling on it. By now, it was simply an extension of myself. It danced and sang, rushing to the surface like a broken dam.

  And I let it pour.

  For the first time since we’d entered those damn Seelie tunnels, my magic was back…and it wanted its vengeance. Bright orange fire shot out of my palms and wrapped around my wrists. Flames covered my fingers and ran up my arms. Sapiens shouted in alarm and jumped out of my way. We weren’t supposed to use magic in front of Sapiens. We weren’t supposed to risk our kind being known and hunted.

  I didn’t care.

  No measly Sapien was going to stand in my way of saving my twin’s soulmate.

  No one.

  I raised my hands in front of me and curled my fingers. Two glowing green orbs filled my palms, and a nasty little spell ran through my mind. If they tried to block us from getting out, I’d drop my incantation and they’d all plunge to the ground in a deep sleep.

  Althea had written the spell in the Book of Shadows.

  I didn’t know what it said about me that I was so drawn to her magic, but also I didn’t care. If it would save any of my Coven-members, then I’d use it however I needed to.

  “Move,” I growled.

  In the blink of an eye, the pathway to the door was clear. I arched one eyebrow and smirked. Good little humans. I stepped aside and gestured ahead. “Go.”

  Emersyn nodded and moved forward. Her platinum blonde hair was knotted and spotted with dirt. Tracks of tears stained her pretty face under her bloodshot, puffy eyes. Deacon’s blood covered her hands and forearms. It was splattered all over her chest, neck, and face. There was even some in her hair. She didn’t seem to notice. Or care. She flicked her wrists, and two raging flames engulfed her hands and arms.

  She stomped past the sea of people toward the front doors. Tennessee, Cooper, Royce, and Henley hurried along after her carrying Deacon. I followed, walking backwards to keep my eyes on the Sapien crowd. They were innocently, naively curious, but if they tried to follow us, I had a nasty little surprise for them. Coven Headquarters was a good ten-minute walk, maybe more with the crowded holiday streets. We needed to find a spot to portal from.

  The doors flew open behind me, and cold autumn air swept in, whipping my hair around my hips. My long puritan-style skirt rustled by my feet. I walked backward until the doors were in front of me. The Sapien crowd still watched me, riveted in awed silence. I pushed a gust of wind and slammed the doors closed. The wooden panels rattled on their hinges in the most satisfying way.

  “TEGAN!” Tennessee shouted, his voice sounding far away.

  I spun around and scanned the streets for him. At first all I saw were dozens of tourists bundled up in wool coats, laughing and chatting with their friends. I frowned and pushed my magic out. Tennessee’s powerful aura tingled against mine from around the corner of the building. I sprinted toward his energy…then slid to a stop.

  Blocking our path to headquarters were at least a dozen demons.

  And their beady red eyes were locked on Emersyn.

  Chapter Eighteen

  TEGAN

  “Tegan, go,” Tennessee yelled over his shoulder as he shot his green lightning into a wolf-looking demon.

  They’d laid Deacon on the cobblestone path. Henley and Royce crouched by his side but kept their eyes locked on the demons, each with a dagger in their hands. Emersyn stood in front of them with arms covered in flames and her aura dark as midnight. She flicked fire balls one after another at each demon that came at her. They hissed and writhed in pain.

  Cooper’s orange lightning zapped two flying demons right out of the sky. But it wasn’t enough. We were outnumbered.

  Tennessee crouched and pressed one palm to the cobblestones. The ground rumbled and shook like an earthquake. Demons shri
eked and fell over. He raised his dagger in the air, and hurricane-force winds slammed into the demons, keeping them down.

  We were still surrounded, though, like we’d been dropped into a trap.

  Damn, Cronos.

  Another handful of oozing creatures from hell dropped out of the sky. I ran over to where Deacon lay on the ground. The fire hydrant on the corner burst open. Water crashed onto our enemies in a tidal wave of Tennessee’s making. I cursed and threw glowing green orbs into the huddle of demons. Half of them collapsed to the street as my sleeping spell soaked in. But it wouldn’t hold since it was designed for witches.

  “Tegan!” Tennessee shouted again. When I looked over at him, he nodded his head. “Take them and go. I can only hold them for so long.”

  I frowned and shook my head. “Are you nuts? I’m not leaving you!”

  “Your portal won’t close fast enough!” he snapped and slammed another tidal wave into the demons. “I’ll cover you.”

  “But, Tenn—”

  “Deacon will die again, Tegan! GO!”

  “Damn it.” He was right. I hated it, but he was right. But I wasn’t leaving him alone. “Cooper—”

  My brother was already on his feet and running over to my soulmate with a dagger in his hand. “We got this, Tegan. Get him out of here!”

  I hesitated. My soulmate was asking me to leave him to fight off dozens of demons with only my brother for backup. I looked down to Deacon, at the blood gushing out of his wound and the sickly greenish shade his skin was turning. A demon did that. Would Tennessee face the same fate if I left him?

  My stomach turned and my heart skipped beats like a disc jockey on ecstasy. I glanced up at my soulmate. He’d moved closer to the demons and shot magic in rapid fire. The demons I’d knocked out were starting to get up. My window was closing.

  What are you doing, Tegan? This is Tennessee here. Deacon had only begun his demon fighting a couple months ago. He was pretty good, but Tennessee was better than anyone.

  And his magic was back to full power.

  He could handle this.

  Deacon could not.

  I peeled my eyes off my soulmate and dropped to my knees beside Deacon. “Everyone hang on to Deacon. Emersyn!”

  With one hand on Deacon’s arm, I used my free one to pull Emersyn over to us. She dropped her flames a second before I released her right on Deacon’s chest. I summoned my magic from deep down and let it pour out of me until all five of us were covered in rainbow mist. I closed my eyes and concentrated. Coven Headquarters.

  There was a flash and a pop, then we were drenched in bright light. A wooden coffee table smashed to pieces under all of our weight. People shouted in alarm. Lights flickered. Glass shattered from nearby. All five of us were in a pile on top of Deacon. I scrambled to push off Royce’s back. We had to get off of D because he wasn’t strong enough.

  “Thank the Goddess,” Bentley’s soft voice mumbled from nearby.

  “Tegan!”

  I heard my father’s voice, and my mother’s, but I couldn’t turn to look at them. Deacon was in trouble. “Get off, get off!”

  “Too much weight!” Royce cried and hauled Henley off of his cousin.

  Henley coughed and fell back onto her brother. “He’s breathing,” she whispered.

  “Deacon!” Emersyn screamed, fresh tears pouring down her face. “Deacon, can you hear me? Open your eyes!”

  “He needs help!” My heart was in my throat. Whatever my magic had done back at that party was wearing off fast. I dove for his chest and pushed on his wound. Fresh blood bubbled over my fingers. “Please, he’s dying!”

  “Save him, save him,” Emersyn cried over and over. She clutched his hand against her chest and dropped her forehead to his. Her tears rained down on his face. Her voice was hoarse and barely more than a whisper. “Please, please, please.”

  Panicked auras and magic tingled along my spine. I kept my focus on our Devil since his pulse was fading too fast. “HURRY, damn it!”

  “What happened to him?” Easton dropped down and pressed his hands on top of mine. He pushed with his magic. “What got him?”

  “Spider demon stinger.” Royce groaned and dropped his head to the ground.

  Footsteps clamored up the stairs and rumbled overhead. I heard a bunch of hurried words and short prayers to the Goddess. I recognized voices, but I couldn’t pay any attention to who was saying what. I would not relax until Deacon was being healed.

  A door off to the side flew open and slammed into the wall. Two picture frames crashed to the floor and smashed into pieces. Bright white light swept over us, casting whoever was running toward us in shadow.

  “MOVE!” a familiar female voice said.

  I listened without hesitation.

  Dark mocha-colored hands shot into my view. The black letters XVI were Marked on her skin. The Tower?

  I gasped and looked up—and my breath left me in a rush. “LARISSA!”

  She was alive…and pouring a neon yellow potion onto Deacon’s chest. She shook her head and growled. “Where the hell were you that this hasn’t healed?”

  “He died!” Emersyn cried and fell into Easton’s shoulder. “He died.”

  “What do you mean he died?” Uncle Kessler said in a rush. “When?”

  “At the ball a few minutes ago,” Royce answered as he held on tight to his sister.

  Henley grimaced then closed her eyes. “He came back though. He came back.”

  A million questions fired at us at once. I tried to answer, but it was sensory overload. The bright lights, the chaotic energy, the smell of food cooking in the other room. I heard television commercials and the local radio station. I wobbled and swayed then steadied myself on the warm sofa beside me.

  “You’re alive?” I heard myself whisper. “We did a ceremony for you. You’re alive. You’re here? How?”

  Larissa had fallen in the Seelie tunnels. It didn’t make any sense. I frowned and looked around the room for real. My father was crouched right beside me— Oh, that’s not a sofa. It’s Dad. A warm, golden glow spread through my hand holding on to his shoulder, then crept all the way up my arm. I sighed as the first bit of peace slid into place. Behind him, my little brother Bentley smiled at me like I’d just single-handedly won the World Series. Kenneth was beside him, with a book still open in his hands, though he stared at us wide-eyed.

  “Breathe, Tegan. It’s okay,” my father whispered. “Wherever you were, you’re home now. It’s okay.”

  I frowned and shook my head. It wasn’t okay. Deacon was barely clinging to life. When I glanced back, I found my sister wrapped in our mother’s arms with Easton holding them upright. Over by the stairs Chutney and Willow— I gasped.

  “WILLOW!” I covered my mouth with my hand. “You’re alive, too?”

  She grinned and nodded. “Yeah, we all are.”

  All? I spun on my knees to look behind me and almost cried at the sight. The rest of my Coven was huddled close by, all perfectly healthy and alive. Timothy and Uncle Kessler were right behind me. Paulina clung to Braison’s arm, next to an openly crying Lily. Tears pooled in my eyes. I couldn’t believe it. This whole time they were all alive.

  Uncle Kessler frowned and looked around the room. “Where’s Tennessee?”

  I sighed and shook my head. “He didn’t…” I pushed my hair back out of my face and tried to breathe through the heavy pounding of my heart. My emotions were too thin and worn out after the day we’d had.

  “Tegan?” Uncle Kessler’s face paled. “Tegan, where is Tennessee? And Cooper? Where are they, Tegan?”

  They’re coming, I tried to say, but my mouth wasn’t working. I needed a minute. I’d never imagined relief could be so paralyzing.

  “Tegan?” my father whispered in my ear. “Where’s your brother?”

  Timothy leaned down until his brown eyes were level with mine. His face was ashy, like he was going to faint. “Where is Tennessee? Did he fall?”

  Fall? What does he
mean? A raging wildfire filled my chest. I frowned and pointed toward the stairs just as the front door flew open and crashed against the wall. The wooden house rattled.

  Tennessee charged through the doorway with Cooper right on his heels. Their clothes were ripped to pieces so bad I almost couldn’t tell they were three hundred years old. Tennessee had black, sludgy demon blood all over him, from his face right down to his ankles. His hair was slicked back and wet. Cooper didn’t look much better.

  Uncle Kessler sighed so hard Timothy had to hold him upright.

  What— OH. He thought… I shivered and didn’t even let myself finish the thought.

  Tennessee hurried into the room. His beautiful mismatched eyes looked down to Deacon then met mine. “Is he alive?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  TEGAN

  “Is he stable?” a familiar female voice shouted down the stairs.

  Larissa jerked her head up. “Yes!”

  Soft footsteps rushed down the stairs then stopped halfway. A woman with long auburn hair and chocolate brown eyes peered over the handrail. “Get him upstairs NOW.”

  “Katherine?” I heard myself say.

  “Yeah, she’s been here a few days,” Bentley answered. “I called her for Deacon.”

  “Come on, boys.” Larissa jumped to her feet and ran to the stairs. “Katherine and Evaline are ready for him. Get him up there.”

  Uncle Kessler leapt forward then bent over and scooped Deacon into his arms like he was a two-pound little kitten. “I’ve got him, Larissa. I’ll follow you up.”

  Emersyn pushed away from our mother and scrambled to her feet. “I’m coming, Deacon!” By the time she got up and over to the staircase, Uncle Kessler was already upstairs. She disappeared from sight.

  “Where the hell have you guys been?” Easton asked and ran his hand over his short blond hair. “It’s been days.”