Blood witch phases of th.., p.1
Blood Witch (Phases of the Moon Book 2), page 1
BLOOD WITCH
PHASES OF THE MOON
BOOK TWO
M. SINCLAIR
LOST & BOUND PUBLISHING
Blood Witch - Phases of the Moon (Book #2)
Copyright © 2022 by M. Sinclair in USA
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced/transmitted/distributed in any form. No part of this publication shall be shared by any means including photocopying, recording, or any electronic/mechanical method, or the Internet, without prior written consent of the author. Cases of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law are the exception. The unauthorized reproduction/transmitting of this work is illegal. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are products of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Created with Vellum
The Union of Love & Madness
CONTENTS
Description
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Blitz
Prologue
Series Within The Universe
M. Sinclair
Published Works
DESCRIPTION
My heart beat only for these men.
Any defenses that I had against these men were falling now that they knew the truth about my past—about the darkness that resided under my very skin.
After a ritual gone wrong, I find myself even more connected to them than before and embracing the intensity of what was growing between us and the strength it provided me with. Something I was going to need because the academy was becoming a very dangerous place.
When suspicion falls on me for the danger infecting the sector, I start to realize that my time at the academy may be short-lived and that this ‘fresh’ start I was hoping for could be a failed experiment.
Blood Witch features characters that are all 18+. This is not a high school academy book, and the contents are intended for mature audiences. This book includes violence, mature content, PTSD, flashbacks of abuse, and sex. There is no bullying from the harem, just psychotic men trying to claim their girl.
Blood Witch is book two in the Phases of the Moon series, which is set within the shared universe of Dark Imaginarium Academy. All series can be read independently, but characters have crossovers and it is highly encouraged to read all within the universe to understand the world in its entirety.
Series within the universe:
Phases of the Moon by M. Sinclair
The Storm Dragons’ Mate by M. Sinclair
The Creatures We Crave by R.L. Caulder
Blood Oath by R.L. Caulder
PROLOGUE
LAZARO
“Lazaro.”
Ignoring the call of my name, I continued to walk the same pattern I had been for nearly twenty-four hours now. It wasn’t doing anything to help the situation at hand, probably the exact opposite since I could tell my behavior was stressing the others out even more…but I also couldn’t stop.
Instead, my gaze moved towards the set of iron-framed windows to my right, their reflective surface showcasing the dark, gloomy sky behind me—a sky that seemed on the brink of opening up.
Stormy weather was normal here, but considering I needed a bit of fresh air, I was hoping it would hold off for now.
Although what I desperately wanted to do was march back into our dorm and demand that the healer allow me back into the room to see Deva. But I’d already been kicked out four times now, and not even by the healer. No, it had been by my own brothers.
It made me question if I was too dangerous, too volatile, to be around Deva. Who was I kidding—I knew it was dangerous for her to be around me. It always had been…the only thing that had changed was that she didn’t seem to mind the danger.
Quite the opposite.
My body froze as I continued to stare at the window in quiet contemplation, wondering how damn long it would be until she opened her eyes and looked at me again. How long I would have to wait to hear her beautiful voice once more.
Only yesterday she’d been in that dreamscape with me, staring at me in confusion as I tried to sort through the fucked-up chaos in my head. It’d only been yesterday when I’d given up on my efforts to intimidate her because it’d never been so damn clear that she saw right through me. It’d only been yesterday when she’d called me out for saying she was broken. It’d only been yesterday when she’d wrapped her arms around me after I accused her of running…
Only yesterday when she demanded what I knew about love.
Nothing. I knew nothing about love.
I closed my eyes, trying to calm my beating heart. She hadn’t truly run; she’d gone to her room. She was still here at DIA—still within reach. Inhaling, I found myself wishing that instead of ozone from the approaching storm, I could smell her natural scent—night air and dark magic twisted together in a beautiful, perfect aroma.
I wanted to bury my nose against her neck and allow the perfume to seep into my senses until I had it memorized. I nearly shook my head at that—I’d already memorized it. I was obsessive and focused by nature, but Deva brought it out on a completely new level. Which is why it was impossible for me to focus on anything else but her right now.
One of the worst parts? I couldn’t even reach her through a dreamscape. When I tried I’d been met by a glass wall, as if she’d somehow warded herself off completely from me. Something that was no small feat to accomplish while unconscious—but I didn’t doubt her ability to do so, especially not after what I’d seen yesterday.
I still hated that I couldn’t reach her.
It was clear, though, that Deva wasn’t dreaming. In fact, she wasn’t doing anything. It was like everything inside of her was shut off, except for her heartbeat. But I knew now that was from being close to one of us at all times. Which was good, because if that had been absent, I had no fucking idea how we would’ve explained that to a healer. In fact, I wanted to avoid explaining anything to anyone outside of our group. Deva’s magic needed to be a closely guarded secret.
The power that Deva had was something of myth.
Watching her perform a locator spell using pure lunar magic was something I would never forget. Not only because it was clear how skilled and practiced she was in the craft—something I assumed had been forged under the threat of her very life—but because the power radiating off of her was something that shouldn’t have existed. I swear to fuck, I’d been damn near hard as I watched her create lunar globes to connect all of our magics. And when her power had risen up? I had been all too fucking happy to let it roll over my skin, to let it explore my own.
Honestly, I was envious of how much freedom she had in her use of magic—mine had been weighed down and anchored by chains, drowning in a dark abyss, for years now. Chains that had been rattled and weakened from the moment our little thief had first arrived. I didn’t know how long those shackles would remain a force to be reckoned with…but if I had to guess, up against the intensity Deva inspired, not very long.
Despite my concern over my own control, it had been exhilarating to experience her pure moonlit power—which is why I’d been so damn distracted.
I hadn’t felt when everything went wrong.
Well, I couldn't say it went ‘wrong,’ exactly… In fact, we had no idea what, if anything, Deva had learned about Astaroth’s location. Something, though, had caused her power to rebound. Deva’s magic had been overpowered, the energy pulsing through our circle and leaving its mark on all of us before knocking us unconscious.
I could still feel the unadulterated panic of waking up to find not only Deva unconscious, but all of my brothers as well. Luckily, they had woken up shortly after, but Deva still hadn’t, and it was making me anxious as fuck.
I rubbed my hand over the ache in my chest, feeling the new shard of moonstone buried there. I would’ve thought that Deva’s moonstone had shattered since each of my brothers had a shard of their own to match, but somehow hers was still whole and intact. I didn’t know what to make of the phenomenon, but my magic loved it.
That wasn’t a good thing by any stretch of the imagination.
While my magic was thrilled with the physical representation of our connection to Deva—something I agreed with, as long as it didn’t hurt her—my body wasn’t as comfortable with it. If I was experiencing negative effects, though, it was nothing compared to Grimshaw. None of us had felt ‘right’ since we woke in the middle of the forest clearing, but he was still actively sick.
At least he was conscious, though. Unlike Deva.
After twenty-four hours, I was starting to wonder if something was even more wrong than we knew or could tell, which is why I had stepped out onto our rooftop garden to get some fresh air.
Before we took over, the space had housed only utility equipment, but Oz had suggested the garden, a greenhouse of sorts, when the building was undergoing renovations. Now the rooftop was lined with small pots containing plants Oz could use for potions, and it served as a common space for us. I didn’t feel bad about stretching the rules of our sector of the academy—if they weren’t going to fight us on it, then we would take full advantage.
Then again, the Nyx last name brought a lot of terrifying power with it.
Still, there were things they wouldn’t completely overlook, which is why we hadn’t gone to the healing center. Four juniors and two freshmen doing a locator ritual in the middle of the harvest near a full moon that resulted in all of us being knocked unconscious? Yeah, that wasn’t going to work.
We instead called in a favor from Noah—Elijah, William, and Ben’s older brother—who worked there. I’d only been half surprised when Odessa had come with him, making it clear that she was as close with him as the other three. Not that it really mattered to me unless it was somehow affecting Deva.
I didn’t know much about Deva’s friends, but the loyalty they displayed was admirable and had gained a modicum of respect from me. I was just glad that Odessa had been the only one to come with—I didn’t want Deva overwhelmed when she woke up. And considering the questions that Odessa had about how her friend had gotten hurt, I knew that was possible.
I shook my head, thinking about the initial conversation that had gotten me kicked out of Deva’s room.
“What do you mean she has a moonstone in her chest?” Odessa demanded, Noah offering her a concerned look at how worked up she was getting.
It didn’t surprise me, but it also made me feel on edge. Almost defensive.
Odessa continued, “She’s practically in a magic-induced coma! How the hell did this happen? What did you do?”
Ah, that would be why I felt defensive.
“We didn’t do anything,” I gritted out, running a hand over my face.
“Clearly that’s not true!” Odessa growled.
“Lazaro.” Cage put a hand on my shoulder, warning me to rein in my temper.
Oz was seated next to Deva, Grimshaw was sitting on a chair with a bucket nearby—considering he had been sick for hours, it was probably a good call—and Alek was standing near the door looking extremely concerned.
None of it was making me feel better.
“Can you just make sure she’s okay?” Oz demanded of Noah. The guy owed us more than a few favors. He wasn’t exactly the most ‘straight-laced’ healer at the school, and Oz had made him potions again and again that he wasn’t allowed to prepare for himself. So checking to see if Deva was okay was the least he could do.
“I want to know what’s going on.” Odessa’s tone finally had me snapping.
“It is her story to tell. Hers. We can’t and won’t tell you anything—if you want to know, ask her.”
Noah’s expression instantaneously morphed from clinical to something darker. “Do not talk to her like that. If you can’t keep your shit together, get out.”
Of course I’d apologized for yelling at her, and she’d brushed past it…but I felt like a piece of shit. Mainly because I knew Deva would be upset at how I treated her friend. Her friend, who was not only worried about Deva’s well-being but hurt that Deva hadn’t told her about the moonstone.
“Lazaro.” Clearly the first time I ignored him hadn’t been enough.
“What?” I hissed, turning to face Grimshaw.
The shadow witch still looked pale, and his eyes were completely black—no whites to them—which most likely meant he was using all of his magic to keep the moonstone from burning a hole through his shadows.
Despite that, he did seem like he was on the mend. The worst of the effects were fading, allowing him to move about without being violently sick.
Which was good because I couldn’t help but think that the moment had felt significant. Well, obviously it had been significant, but I’d never heard of anything like that happening before. Then again, the same could be said about the moonstone in her chest and our connection with her heartbeat. Now there was just another element to it.
I just didn’t understand why it happened and what it meant.
“You need some damn sleep.”
That was the last thing I needed right now, and he was far from one to talk—none of us had slept yet.
“What I need is for her to get up.”
Grimshaw exhaled before nodding in understanding. “Noah and Odessa just left.”
“Why?” I growled, wanting a healer next to her the entire fucking time until she woke up, even if I wasn’t allowed in the room. In fact, I would rather not be in the room if it ensured that she had proper medical care.
“I was trying to explain that,” Grimshaw snapped. “Her vitals are back up. Not just her heart, but everything. She’s breathing easier and seems on her way back to some state of ‘normal.’ Of course, both of them wanted to know why her heart rate was so slow and how she had basically turned off her normal bodily functions…but they’re moving past it for now. Essentially, Noah said that she should wake up soon. She looks far better than before.”
That was all I needed to hear.
Rushing inside, I flew down the hall and rounded a corner to the entrance of her bedroom. Technically it had been built as a spare for Alek, but I liked the idea of her having her own space here. I liked the idea of seeing her things spread throughout the house.
As I stood in the doorway, I breathed out in relief at the sight of Deva surrounded by blankets and sleeping peacefully. Already I could tell she was improving, her skin regaining some of its color and her breaths slow and even.
I heard someone say my name as I grabbed a chair and moved it to the edge of her bed, but I didn’t have any attention to spare. Instead of responding, I intertwined my hand with her limp one and stared into her gorgeous face.
Her long, dark lashes brushed her cheeks, and her silvery skin seemed to be glowing once more. Even in bed, injured and unconscious, the woman had this power to her—this magic—that was so damn alluring it was hard to look away.
It was that pull that had made me so damn angry when I first met her.
I didn’t lose control—ever—because that was how people died. It was why I consciously felt the urge to control my little thief, even though it was twisted and wrong to want to lock up such a beautiful force of nature.
Deva naturally broke my chains, and not by using some key to unlock them. She disintegrated them with her touch. She wanted to see all my magic, I could tell, and I wasn’t sure that was something that either of us were truly ready for.
Closing my eyes, I tightened my grip on her hand, not ready to delve further into that line of thought. Instead, I tried to see if she was dreaming now that she seemed to be a bit more back to normal.
I immediately knew that the dreamscape I was pulled into belonged to Deva because unlike my dreams, where I couldn’t escape the darkness, I stood on a cliffside that looked over a massive body of water and midnight, star-filled sky. Behind me lay an endless sea of moonlit grass that extended far into the distance, with no horizon in sight. It was beautiful and eerie at the same time in its expansiveness.
There was something that stood out, though—Deva.
Sprinting forward, I knelt down beside her frame, which was cradled by the ground. As always when we were in a dreamscape, I didn’t hesitate to lift her against me, pressing my lips against her forehead. I let out a low hum as she grabbed my shirt and murmured my name. How I wanted to hear her say my fucking name a million other ways.
“Little thief.”
