“Bring her in and let’s get this over with.”

Not Gloria. This had to be the other turned witch. He was stronger, not as far gone as his partner.

She walked forward and through the doors but they remained opened, though two humans at her back tried in vain to close them.

“Just close them for her!” Gloria’s shrill voice sounded as she stomped into view.

Meriel took a long look and was not impressed. She turned to the male who’d had her brought in to start with. “Let me guess, that shot-out bitch over there with the big bags under her eyes and three inches of roots must be Gloria. I feel as if I should say something witty. But I’m too pissed off.”

Someone tried to drain her; she felt the tendrils of that dark sludge getting closer, but she reflected it back. “You have really bad manners. Now, time’s a-tickin’. You all need to be scurrying away.”

“Says who? The woman who actually showed up alone to a meeting with someone like Gloria?” One of the mages sneered.

She raised her hand and the human who’d been running at her was blown backward against the wall. “And just so you know, I get to defend myself against humans who try to harm me.” He got up, limping a little. “Now we don’t have to worry about any misunderstandings.”

“She said you were strong. I can see that. I hope the knowledge that you’re going to be feeding me, and her, for some time will be of a comfort.”

She’d been so focused on the magickal attacks she hadn’t been ready for the physical one. The crack sounded and then she listed sideways a little and fell to her knees.

Meriel just looked at him for long moments. “Ouch! You shot me!”

And then a roar behind her as Dominic stormed in and the human who’d shot her crumpled to the ground.

“You all right?” Dominic called to her as he avoided a magical attack. Mages, any non-witch in general, could build up and use magic. Magic did not come from the person wielding it. It was often stolen or dark rites were used to gain more. It was easily used and spent just as quickly.

Witches had magick, an energy that was part of their compostion. It was power that came to the holder naturally through years of practice and time as well as natural gifts and talent level.

Blood, sticky and warm, flowed with each beat of her heart against the spot on her side where she pressed her hand. She realized he didn’t know she’d been shot, hadn’t heard what she’d said to the jackwagon who’d shot her. “I’ll be fine.” She felt her side and found the exit wound. Straight through.

A nearby mage went on the offensive and she grabbed hold of his spell and yanked. He fell to his knees as she bent it and turned it back on him using the spell Edwina had shown Dominic and that he’d further enhanced to create the feedback loop. Already unstable because it wasn’t his magic to use to start with, it broke easily, conforming to Meriel’s intent.

Nell stalked in and dragged him away by the back of his collar. She didn’t ask where. Didn’t want to know.

Fighting broke out in earnest. Dominic had told her to stay back and safe and she did it. Her vision was a little spotty as she continued to work her magick from where she’d leaned against a far wall, sheltered by an old metal desk.

ALSO, Nell told her that if she got into the middle of things she’d kick Meriel’s ass. She was the leader now, she had responsibilities to stay safe and let the others do their job.

That and she was bleeding. A lot. She remembered her first-aid training and focused inward. She found the wound, a bright, red spot of pain in her othersight. Best as she could, she knit what she could back together and built a sphere of protection around it. It wouldn’t cure her, but it would hopefully slow the bleeding.

What normally would have taken a great deal of her time and a lot of magick was done easily and quickly. The magick from the font had amped her power up considerably. She had no compunction about siphoning all the excess energy from those in the room who meant to cause harm. And weakening them was just another benefit.

Meriel kept the mages from draining anyone as Nell’s team cleaned up.

Dominic walked back into view, the power arcing off him. Meriel widened her eyes. Her man was fierce and beautiful and he’d had enough of this nonsense.

He turned to where she’d crouched and narrowed his gaze. The magick still flowed strong between them. But she was hurt and sooner or later he’d figure out just how hurt.

One of the mages took a run at him and Dominic turned. As if in slow motion, he cocked his fist and rammed it into the other man’s face so hard he stiffened like a board and keeled straight over. Another jumped on Dominic’s back, knocking him down. Meriel couldn’t risk the spell hitting Dominic and not his attacker so she made ready to run over there and cast the spell up close.

Only like some sort of scene from a movie, Dominic stood and actually threw the guy off his back and against a nearby wall.

Dominic straightened and turned again, this time to face Meriel. Something wasn’t right. When he used his othersight on her, he saw the bloom of red on her side and nearly lost his mind.

“Meriel Owen!” he boomed, stalking over. Something or someone made to stop him and automatically, he shot out a spell, knocking whoever it was away.

“You said you were all right.” He crouched, shielding her with his body.

Sweaty and pale, but fully conscious.

“Hey, I am all right. I’ll heal. Now go! Your back is to the room.”

Alarm raced through his system. “You’ve been shot. I’m getting you out of here.”

“No, you aren’t. They need us. The other turned witch is powerful. I’m not leaving and you’re not either. I’m going to be fine. The bleeding stopped. The bullet passed through. Just hurry up and stomp this shit down so I can take a nap.”

His hands shook as he touched her face. He fought with himself. She was right of course, things were hot just then and they were needed. But she was hurt.

“Look at me with your othersight. My magick is flowing, our bond is strong. I’m going to be fine and you can wait on me hand and foot when this is over. I promise. Go! We’re here. Let’s win. Go, team, go.”

He groaned and kissed her hard, felt the sting of magic against his shields.

“I’m going to take care of this. You don’t move.”

He got up and scanned the room, not moving far from Meriel. He’d get this done and get her out of there.

Ah, there she was, her signature a slight echo of his. Enough to make his stomach turn to think on it.

“Gloria Ochoa, show yourself. You are in the presence of The Owen. You are in violation of our laws.”

She stumbled forward and he saw how bad off she truly was. “Son! How I’ve worried about you.” She turned big cow eyes and a trembling bottom lip in his direction as if they’d work. “They took you from me.”

She moved closer and he put a hand out to stay her, not wanting her anywhere near Meriel.

At his left Gage hustled a mage out and Nell dragged a human that didn’t look so good.

Dominic curled his lip.

“So worried you let a dark energy into my magick? I’ve had more than enough of your version of care, thanks, but no.”

“Don’t let her fool you! It was her.” She pointed and … damn it, Meriel moved to his side and took his hand. He gave her a narrow-eyed glare that she chose to ignore, stubborn woman.

“I had to get you away from the clan witches. The possession spell was for your own good. Don’t you see that?”

Dark, sticky magic pulsed from Gloria. Dominic blocked it.

“Give yourself over to my people and we can end it quietly.” Nell stood nearby. “You’ll be ours one way or another.”

“So you’ll just kill me? No way. I can tell you things. Things that will help you find other mages. There’s a whole movement. They want to expose you.”