“What are you doing?” he squeezed between his teeth, his tone laced with agony.
“I can’t let you take me.” My voice was quiet as I dragged magic up from the ley line.
Looking up at me from where he was crouched on the ground, he snarled. The sound rose up his chest, growing in volume. The energy in the room intensified when he slowly pushed up from the ground, his eyes almost bulging with pain.
Shit. He was able to resist my spell. Which meant he would get me. No one was here to help me, even though in the past I wouldn’t have needed anyone. It was a stark realisation that now I did.
“You’ll never defeat me,” he hissed.
Reaching forward, Lucien flicked his arm violently. Flying to the left, I smashed into my wooden table and chairs. My arms and legs broke the furniture, sending it sprawling across the floor. Grunting as I landed in a heap, I stayed still.
This was it, this was going to be the moment that he finally got me. No matter how hard I tried to fight him, for some reason, he was able to access the ley line and use the magic against me. Even though I was its protector. The ancestors had a lot to answer for.
Keeping my eyes closed, I curled up into a ball, ready for his onslaught. His breathing was heavy, the sound of it echoing throughout the room. My arm stung where I’d sliced it, the squelch of blood on the floor alerting me to my injury.
He was about to reach me, his footsteps coming closer. Could I fight anymore?
The sound of claws scattering across the wooden lino floor made my eyes flip open. Lucien howled as Smudge jumped on his shoulder and sunk her teeth into his neck.
Batting her away, Lucien managed to get her off. She scattered back to her hiding place behind the couch. Slowly moving into a sit, I watched Lucien as he clasped his neck, his face screwed up in pain.
Glaring at me, he shook his head before he puffed into nothing. My heartbeat pounded in my head as I held my arm close to my chest. Why had he left? Surely, Smudge’s bite wasn’t that bad?
A banging on the door made me jump. Dave’s voice came through the letterbox as he shouted my name. Flicking my fingers, I allowed him to gain access to my house.
“What’s happening?” he shouted as he thundered into the room.
Not bothering to even get to my feet, I looked at him, unable to speak. There had been times in my life when I’d been afraid, but today had taken it out of me.
Coming over, Dave dropped to his knees. His eyes were wide as he surveyed the damage behind me before grabbing my arm and inspecting the wound. My skin grew warm where he held it, obviously stealing a bit of my magic. Waving his hand over the deep cut near my elbow, he smiled to himself when it healed instantly. The smile quickly left when he looked into my eyes.
“It was him, wasn’t it?”
Nodding, I swallowed hard. A lump came to my throat unbidden. Someone had penetrated my sanctuary, turning it into an unsafe place.
“He came to get me. I couldn’t beat him.” The shake of my voice made Dave drag me to my feet.
Folding his arms around me, he forced me to accept his hug. Warmth enveloped me as his breath tickled my ear. Every part of my body shivered as the adrenaline of fear faded away. Why couldn’t I beat the man who was supposed to be weaker than me?
“How did you get rid of him?” Pulling away from me, Dave looked down into my eyes.
Although his hair was dishevelled, it actually enhanced his attractiveness. Not that it was the appropriate time to be thinking about how good-looking Dave was, considering that my bizarre fiancé of sorts had just attacked me.
“Smudge,” I blurted, pushing away from him to go to the couch.
Bending down, I called her name and put my finger out. Her little meow was followed by the butting of her head against my hand. I stroked her, laughing to myself when she wound herself around my legs.
Coming over, Dave indicated that I should sit on the sofa. Following him, I allowed Smudge to settle on my lap. Meowing again, she put her paws on my chest and opened her mouth wide. I stared at her, unable to understand what she was doing. She had never done this before.
“Is that blood?” Dave asked, leaning forward to look closer.
Oh wow. My kitty was extremely clever. She was showing me that she had Lucien Harvey’s blood on her teeth.
“Magic up a sample tube,” Dave said. “Quickly.”
Clicking my fingers, I imagined the image of a cotton bud tube sample in my mind. The real thing appeared in my hand when I whispered a conjuring spell.
“I’ll do it.” Snatching the equipment, Dave ripped it open.
“Be good,” I told Smudge as Dave leant forward.
The cat stayed exactly as she was, her mouth wide open. I hadn’t given her enough credit in the past. Maybe I should include her more often in my everyday life. She had saved me. I had to repay her.
“She’s a good familiar.” Dave slowly extended the cotton bud stick and quickly wiped the blood from Smudge’s canine teeth.
When he was done, she crawled up my chest a little further and rubbed her head against my chin. I stroked her and held her close, feeling a little strange at the intimacy between myself and my familiar. It wasn’t something I’d allowed myself to do before.
“We’ve got him,” Dave said as he screwed on the lid of the sample. “Your clever girl will help us to capture him once and for all.”
He was right. Once we had his DNA, we would be able to do a location spell to track him. There was no way he could
