A Kiss of Shadow (Court of Starlight and Darkness #2)(52)

I looked up at the clouds, cursing them for their existence.

“Where are you?” I growled. “Why do you haunt me?”

I’d rather fight the witch in person than whatever was happening to me right now. If this was her magic drawing me out here, it was awful.

Power began to thrum in the air. I frowned, staring up at the clouds. They swirled overhead, moving faster and faster.

My heart raced, fear chilling my skin.

What was happening?

I wanted the witch to arrive so I could fight her, but now that the moment might be here…

I was scared out of my wits. The clouds continued to swirl, a vortex of power that pulsed in the sky. They moved lower, attracted to me like a magnet.

Heart pounding, I staggered to my feet. I had to get out of here. Had to run. Had to break free of whatever enchantment had clouded my mind.

But there was nowhere to go. The clouds were everywhere, as far as the eye could see. But they were densest right over me, and I couldn’t look away from them. It was like I stared into my future, and it entranced me.

The magic grew so powerful that it stole my breath and froze my muscles. When the clouds rushed into me, the power blew me onto my back. I landed with a thud, magic rushing through me. It was cold and hot all at once, sparkling and dull. It was everything and nothing.

An explosion.

When it was over, I lay on the ground, gasping.

Stunned, I stared at the sky overhead and saw the stars.

The stars.

The dark clouds were gone. All of them.

Because they went into me.

Holy shit. I had no idea what to think. My mind and body were fried. All I could do was lay still and remember.

This was what had happened last night. The clouds had flowed through me like they had tonight, but it had been too much magic for me. My body had freaked out, and the power had exploded.

Oh, shit.

I had caused the explosion.

And that had been just the start.

I raised my hands, still shaking. They looked the same, but I felt different. More powerful. More complete.

Trembling, I pushed to my feet. When I checked the sky again, there were still no clouds overhead.

“Sia?” Meria’s voice sounded from nearby. “What was that?”

I looked at her, my heart stuttering. She and Eve had entered the clearing and had seen the whole thing. Their faces were pale with fear.

I drew in a deep breath, then forced the words out. “I think I’m the witch with the deathly magic.”

Just saying the words made me want to scream.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

“No.” Meria shook her head, but the truth was in her eyes. She thought I might be too.

Eve blew out a breath. “I think you’re right. All of the clouds went right into you, and now your magic is different.”

“Evil?” Fear twisted my heart.

Eve gave a shuddery breath. “I…don’t think so?”

Meria walked toward me, her steps hesitant but her face determined. “Did you know this would happen?”

“Not a clue.” I met her gaze, desperate for her to believe me. “I just remembered blowing up the greenhouse, but I didn’t mean to do it.” Maybe I should have held that info close to the vest, but I was freaking out. And Meria and Eve were my friends. I could trust them.

I hoped.

“I believe you, Sia.” Meria’s tone was firm. “I promise.” She laid her hand on my chest, her brow creasing. “I don’t think you feel evil.”

“But my magic?”

She grimaced slightly, then tried to hide it behind a bland expression. “It does feel strange.”

Eve joined us, her face still pale as she looked at me. “The magic might be evil, but that doesn’t mean you have to be. You can choose.”

“But what the hell does this mean? I thought I was supposed to fight the witch with the deathly magic and defeat her. How do I do that if it’s me? Couldn’t I just choose not to be an asshole?”

“If that was the case, there wouldn’t be a whole prophecy about it,” Meria said. “There’s something here we don’t understand.”

“I think there’s a lot we don’t understand,” Eve said.

“But what if you get caught knowing about me?” I said. “This is too dangerous for you.”

“Oh, shut up,” Meria said. “We’re your friends. We’re not going to turn you in. We’re going to help you get to the bottom of this.”

Gratitude welled inside me, fierce and overwhelming.

I looked back at the statue of my parents. I might not have them at my side, but I had Meria and Eve.

“Can we go to the Truth Teller and ask her?” I said.

Meria frowned. “Not if we want to get back here. There are no portals, just the train.”

“And she probably doesn’t know anything,” Eve said. “She already told you everything she knows.”

“That’s what we think, but maybe not.” I was probably grasping at straws, but I desperately wanted answers, and she had seemed all-knowing.

“We can ask the historian,” Meria said. “She would know if there’s someone here who can help.”

“I like that plan.” At this point, I’d like any plan. I wanted to have something to do to solve this. I rubbed at my chest, feeling twitchy with the strange magic inside me. “I want it out of me.”