UNDER HIS SPELL by Rachel Carrington Page A

face again.
    “Did she tell you why?”   Jaxon’s voice held urgency.
    “No, but I can only imagine it’s because she wants me dead.”
    Rane came forward and rested his hands against the back of the chair
Skye occupied.   “Would it not be much
simpler to kill you herself?”
    Skye’s shoulders lifted and fell.   “I don’t understand everything about it.   I refused to kill you at first and then she,” she paused and drew in a
deep breath, “brought out my sister.   She’s fourteen.   Her name is Emily
and,” another breath, “she’s not familiar with a lot of magic.   Though I’ve tried to shelter her from that
side of our lives, I did teach her a few spells, one of which might enable her
to escape, but I’m not so sure she was listening.   Emily isn’t interested in magic, not that I can
blame her.”   She lifted a hand and ran it
over her hair.   “Look, I don’t think
Emily is going to be able to escape without my help which is why I’m going back
for her.   But there is one thing I do
know, Sabrina will kill Emily if I don’t bring her proof of Rane’s death.”
    Charlemaine clucked her tongue in disapproval.   “Nonsense.   Since we now know why you have attempted to harm Rane, we can certainly
assist you.   This witch is in for a
little surprise.”
    Skye jumped up.   “No!   I won’t risk Emily’s life!   I’ll go back, but I’ll go back alone.”
    Rane felt her shiver even before he reached her side.   He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.   “That is not possible.”
    Her head bumped against his chest.   “You have no control over this, Rane.   This is my decision.”
    His chin brushed her hair.   “In spite of all your knowledge, you do not really know much about
wizards, do you, Skye?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “There is very little we cannot control.”
     
    ***
     
    “We have looked everywhere, Sabrina.   The child is gone.”
    Even as Sabrina heard the words, she refused to believe them.   The little wench could not have escaped.   It was impossible.   She had cast the binding spell herself.   “Look again,” she snapped and one by one the
witches, her sisters of the Coven, slunk back into the darkness, eager to free
themselves from Sabrina’s wrath.
    Sabrina circled the fire, the ground sizzling beneath her feet at
each step.   “Where are you, my darling
little girl?   You simply cannot leave
before the festivities.”   With a grim
smile, she held out her palm.   “Don’t you
want to witness your sister’s execution?”   Cackling loudly, she stared into the center of her hand, but her vision
only revealed a swirl of gray mist.
    Cursing vilely, Sabrina closed her hand into a fist.   The child could not be smart enough to hide
her presence.   At just fourteen years of
age, Emily would be a novice if she knew anything of the arts.   Perhaps Skye had taught the girl more than
Sabrina had given her credit for.  
    Sabrina’s eyes narrowed and she floated across the charred
ground.   Emily had made a mistake.   Sabrina didn’t like to be crossed and her
enemies knew she was a resourceful witch when it came to battles.   And to Sabrina, Emily had just declared war.
     
    ***
     

Emily smacked away another branch before it could slap her in the
face and continued to run, toward where she had no idea.   She only knew she was running away from
Sabrina and the Coven and that was all she needed to know.   She just hoped she’d said the spell
right.   Skye had been adamant that she
learn it, but half the time Skye had been training her, Emily had tuned her
out.   She just wasn’t interested in
magic.   Now, she wished she’d listened
more.
    An owl hooted overhead and Emily took that as a good sign.   Skye always said the animals were her
friends.   Skye had also said to always
rely on her senses; they would never guide her wrong.   Since darkness had fallen, the path ahead lay
in threatening shadows and Emily’s vision