Chapter 21

This was it. This was what she'd been preparing for since she arrived here.

Ellie glared at the dark magic demon that had escaped from the cellar of her grandmother's home. All the work and sacrifice of her ancestors was for nothing. But her grandmother had worried the imprisonment was temporary. She was right.

"Who are you and what do you want?" she asked.

The demon's face sneered. Ellie assumed it was his version of a smile. "You don't think I'm ignorant enough to give you my name, do you, witch?"

Ellie shrugged. Knowing a demon's name gave a witch power over it. "Well, you did get yourself locked in a basement for a few decades. Doesn't take much smarts for that."

Snake eyes narrowed on her. "You are powerful, little one. I will enjoy taking your power then your fellow witches' magic as well."

She remembered how her power reacted the first time she and Reed fought the cult. How seductive and intoxicating the dark pull had been on her. This time, she would be ready.

Quickly, she cast a barrier spell around the others still gathered from the battle to keep them safe. That was what she was meant to do. Protect. Then she turned her attention back to Hairy Feet. But she wasn't fast enough to save herself.

The demon snapped his arm out to grab her around the neck to pull her close. But just as he reached her, a jolt of electricity zapped through her and into the beast. They were both launched backward, crashing to the ground.

Hairy Feet cradled his hand as if he'd been burned, then pointed a claw at her. "Remove that talisman," it demanded.

Ellie looked down to see the locket she found in the crypt. When she had touched it the first time, she had a vision of others battling darkness and her grandmother's warning: Ellie, you must be ready. The darkness rises once more. Trust your power, trust your heart. Maybe her grandmother did know what she was doing by leading Ellie to the enchanted necklace.

She placed her hand over the charm, pressing it to her skin. "Not on your life, demon. You don't think I'm that ignorant, do you?" She snarked at him, throwing his words back at him.

Movement off to the side caught her attention. Reed had picked himself up from where the demon had thrown him and was coming toward her.

The demon raised a brow. "If I can't have you, I'm sure you won't mind if I choose someone else."

Before Ellie could put a barrier around Reed, the demon evaporated into a cloud and shot toward Reed's body. The townsfolk scattered as her mate stood helplessly alone.

"Stop," Ellie yelled. Neither Reed nor his animal could overpower the demon's magic.

There was only one thing Ellie could do and she'd gladly do it because she loved Reed more than herself.

She yanked the locket from around her neck and dropped it to the ground.