Caged in Darkness (Caged #1)(21)

Someone stood against the dark section of the woods behind clustered groups of teens. I couldn’t see his face, but he was watching Savannah. When she walked his head turned to follow. I didn’t like that his eyes were stalking her. My territorial instincts were kicking into high gear, and Savannah was definitely mine.





Liam





I hadn’t seen the Cross girl before, but my mother gave me a sock she owned as an infant. It allowed me to sense her when she was near. She had a distinct aura that was nearly as tempting as her appearance.

I came to the bonfire expecting to be bored, feigning interest in a teenage girl, who possessed gifts she didn’t understand. Instead, I saw a natural beauty whose power bent around her as she moved. It was doubtful she was aware of using her gift, but I could see it.

Her gift met mine in a dance of wills. My power spun around her curling through the air. It was a game of seduction I would dominate.

Savannah’s head twitched to the side and looked around. It seemed that she could sense me when I felt her push back. She did not even flinch at the use of power. It was as though her power had a mind of its own. Mine embraced her’s in a waltz. I was strong and possessive. Her dance was one of grace and sensuality.

She walked towards her friends, but her body began to sway. She could feel it too, but didn’t yet understand what it was.





Savannah





The feeling I experienced earlier in the kitchen was back, and making me dizzy. Did other witches feel this when they approached their ascension?

It began as a fluttering in my stomach, tingled down my spine, then warmth that built in my chest and spread to the rest of my body.

The feeling was slightly different that it had been earlier. It came in waves like the flowing of the sea over sand. If I was the sand, what was the sea?

I noticed him. He was hidden behind people and trees. His eyes were invasive and didn’t flinch at my gaze. Willow and Izzy misted from my mind as I walked towards him. He had blond hair and dark eyes. He was taller than me and toned.

I walked and stopped in confusion. The feeling was stronger now and my body began to answer its call. Lips parted and my body swayed in a secret rhythm. He moved away from the trees, planting himself directly in front of me. He had met me halfway, but looked confused by his actions.

He didn’t seem in control, as his hand reached out to trail along my neck towards the neckline of my dress. I didn’t stop him; couldn’t stop him. I yearned for him and when he touched me I craved him. My eyes felt weighted, while my body was magnetized.

“Who are you?” I whispered, softly. Energy pulsed between us, but halted at my voice.

The energy pulled away. Silently, I called to it. I begged it to stay and when it refused, I tried to capture it. It was an internal match that I lost.

His eyes were wide and somewhat frightened. Why was he afraid?

The expression disappeared. “Liam.”

“Huh?” I couldn’t process what he was saying, but I was fairly sure I just made an idiot of myself.

Smiling, he repeated his name. Then cleared his voice and said “You’re from the Meadow Falls coven, right?”

He knew about witches? “How?”

His eyes lit upon the area behind me and a domineering smile gained ground on his face.

Air movement halted, sound stopped, and time stood still. A low growl filled the air behind me and I spun to see Ash’s teeth barred. He took an offensive stance and pulled me behind him. His fangs showed, but I didn’t think anyone besides us could see.

Liam stood straight. He didn’t give ground or attempt to take it. He stared Ash in the eyes without a single flinch, but when he looked at me something exploded from Ash.

To the naked eye, they looked like two guys fighting over a girl. However, as a witch I saw something different. Ash’s aura heightened to red flames and consumed Liam. In response, Liam threw up a shield of gold. While their gifts silently battled their bodies clashed.

Ash snapped his fangs at Liam, and Liam landed a blow to Ash’s gut. I cried out at the sight of blood splattering to the ground. Punches flew at such a fast pace that I lost track of who threw them. Liam moved backwards and crouched defensively. I don’t think they were aware of my presence any longer. Eventually, the battle moved towards the woods; away from the others.

“What’s going on?” Willow whispered in my ear.

I had been so focused on the fight between Ash and Liam that I wasn’t aware of Izzy and Willow’s approach.

“I don’t know. One minute I am talking to Liam and the next Ash is here attacking him. What should I do?” My worried stare reached for Willow’s.

Izzy tugged on my arm to pull me into the woods. “One thing I know for certain, you don’t get between two dogs fighting over the same piece of meat.”

“Huh? First off, that comparison is unfair; they are not dogs. Secondly, they’re not fighting over a piece of meat!”

I could see the fight taking place deeper in the woods, but couldn’t tell if either of them was badly injured. Panic started to build in my chest and I ran forward with Izzy and Willow following. We stopped at the edge of the clearing where the battle continued.

“You’re the meat.” Izzy said, out of the corner of her mouth.

I turned to face Izzy’s assessing stare and turned to look at Willow. Her hand covered her mouth in horror, but the look in her eyes told me that she agreed with Izzy.