Gwen, Isabella, Lady Elizabeth—help me.
Ella…you can do this. You can. Fight back.
Gwen spoke and she felt a shift inside. Sparks of energy tickled in her fingers, and getting used to the sensation, the feeling flowed throughout her veins. A surge in confidence made her stand taller, straighter. The power grew inside, warming her, until she couldn’t contain the explosive mix any longer. A seething fury ruptured from the pit of her belly, spreading out through her fingertips to seek its target. Gabriel wouldn’t hurt her again. No one would.
Don’t let him win. You can do this.
The voice of Lady Elizabeth pleaded with her. Ella roared, her body shaking with the force of power flowing out from her. A shaft of bright light split open and she lifted her right hand toward it. In an instant, her gleaming silver sword dropped into the palm of her hand and she clasped it. The vampire flew to the edge of the kitchen. She wanted him dead and approached, unafraid.
But he pretended to examine his nails as if disinterested and she paused.
“That’s an interesting trick, but you’re not really dressed for a fight, and you’re going to need more than that to beat the Morrigan.”
Staring down at her robe, she tightened the ties before swinging the heavy sword, aiming it toward his head. She lunged at him but missed by several inches as he sprang away, and she cursed. Raising the sword again, she ran at him, weaving her way around the armchair, but he vanished to the other side of the living room.
“You’re not the same as Lady Elizabeth, but you have her soul. I saw that fire and determination centuries ago. But what good did it do you then, mon ami?”
Remembering the burn of the whip as it lashed across her skin, and the humiliation he subjected her to, she swung again. But Gabriel moved faster, and she knocked into the side table, tipping it over and smashing a glass vase.
“But you still haven’t learned who you truly are, my dear—or what you’re capable of.”
Pushing the chair aside, Ella made one last effort at slicing the vampire in half. She charged at him as he threw books from the shelves at her, which she hit out of the way. She advanced, until she had him cornered. Lifting the blade, she thrust it with all her power, running at him, but he slid past with his heightened speed. The tip of the steel blade hit the wall, lodging itself in the plaster. Holding the hilt with both hands, she pulled, desperate to free the weapon.
“You should always watch your back, Ella,” the vampire whispered at her ear.
She yanked one last time, freeing the sword from the wall, pulling out a chunk of the plaster. Stumbling back, she knocked over another side table. The room was a mess. And the vampire gone.
It was at this point Marcus strolled in, holding a brown paper bag. He stared at the sword in her hand. He flicked his gaze around the room before glancing back at her. “An early morning workout? I didn’t think your awful tea would get you this riled up,” Marcus said in a deep rumble.
“You should give it a try,” she said, heaving, ready to collapse. The sword clattered to the floor, and a pair of strong arms gathered her up. She clung to him, soaking in his fresh ocean scent and pulling at his sweater, feeling safe and not wanting to let go. Lifting her head, she stared into his worry-filled dark eyes that ran over her as he cradled her head. She always felt safe with him, always.
“I brought doughnuts, your favorite kind.”
Ella didn’t speak, shaking from head to foot until he lifted her chin. “What happened? If you wanted to remodel, you only had to say.” Seeing him smile and taking in his good mood, despite what had taken place between them, shifted hers.
“Gabriel was here.” Instantly, she felt his demeanor change and his back stiffened. Clutching her tighter, he stroked her back and once again she molded herself into his raw strength, absorbing his energy. “The vampire terrifies me, but I didn’t back down. I called for the sword and it fell into my hand…out of thin air…I still possess magic.”
Marcus let go and sauntered over to where the blade lay, picking it up. He twisted it in his hand as the swirling calligraphy glinted in the sunlight shining from the window.
“Did you use a spell? I ask because we found a message recorded on Elizabeth’s phone when we were going through her personal belongings after she died. I recorded it to play to you at some point. I have to warn you, it’s not easy to listen to.” He pulled out his cell.
“It’s a full moon tonight, and I want the ritual performed for full immersion. Once it’s complete, I’ll be in control. All her magic will be mine, along with her body and soul. Then, I will truly get to enjoy myself.”
“That bitch, she’s taking over my life, my magic…but it hasn’t worked. She doesn’t know about the women from my previous lives who help me from time to time. She’s underestimated who I am. I felt their energy pulsing inside me. The Morrigan may look like me, but I’m still here. I wanted to fight back, and the sword materialized. Her bloody ritual didn’t work, at least not completely,” she shouted as he wandered around, setting the room back into order. She followed, helping him pick up the books and placing them back on the shelf.
“Let’s talk to Zephra,” he said as he reached the kitchen. He lay the sword down on the farmhouse table, along with the bag of doughnuts. He reached inside the brown paper bag, pulled out a Boston cream, and handed one to her. “I
