Free Her Wild Magic by Karen Benjamin Page B

pouring into her mind, demanding she wait for his arrival, seemed to have an effect on it. It listened to Caleb, seeming to defer to him. But when Michael lifted a hand toward Kayla, it severed the link with Caleb.
    Max’s arms snapped outward, and a stream of white light shot from her fingertips. It surged toward Michael, coalescing around his feet into a mass of writhing white flames that slowly crept up his legs.
    Michael waved his hands, calling on his magic to disperse the flames, but his actions seemed to have the reverse effect. The flames flared wildly, increasing in intensity. Michael moved his hands faster, franticly weaving one spell after another, but to no avail. He was burning alive, and the considerable magic at his disposal seemed to have no effect. In less than a minute, a living cocoon of white encased him.
    “Mage Slayer!” Michael called out from within the flames. “You have won this day, but this war is far from over. Before it is done, I will see you and your mate well rewarded for what you have done here today. Savor your victory here today. It will be your last.”
    A second later, he disappeared as if plucked from the flames by an invisible hand. And just as quickly, the white flames became wisps of smoke and drifted away as if they had never been.
    The power receded within Max, leaving her once again in control of her body and the recipient of Caleb’s fury. Her wolf man would be putting in an appearance any second, and he was beyond furious that she had put herself at risk. Max threw up a flimsy mind block, tuning his tirade down several notches. The big guy had it bad for her. He was almost drooling with rage, but he was also half out of his mind with worry. Max smiled. The make-up sex was going to be great.
    Kayla called out to her, pulling her thoughts back to the present, and Max turned to find her struggling to come to a sitting position on the ground. Max rushed to her and, wrapping an arm around her waist, helped her to stand.
    “He’s gone, Kayla,” Max whispered, needing to hear the words of assurance as much as Kayla.” You’re going to be all right.”
    Kayla nodded, and both women clung to each other as they made their way into the cabin. Once inside, Max helped Kayla into a chair at the kitchen table before heading to the tiny bathroom in search of a first aid kit.
    “The cut on your cheek isn’t bad,” Max called out, while inspecting the items in the medicine cabinet. “But we need to get it cleaned up.” She poked her head out of the bathroom. “No first aid kit in here. Do you know where Caleb keeps it?”
    “No,” Kayla said, using a paper napkin to wipe the blood from her cheek. “But it isn’t needed. Like the weres, my kind heals quickly.”
    Max opened her mouth to ask her exactly what my kind meant, when a man materialized out of thin air less than six feet away, and directly in front of her.
    Max screamed and stumbled backwards, but Kayla came to her feet bristling with anger.
    “Stefan! You nearly scared Max to death. And what are you doing here? I thought you were in Europe.”
    “No doubt,” the vampire snapped, his black eyes flashing. “Or you would not have risked my wrath by acting in such a foolish manner.”
    Max released the breath she had been holding and forced herself to relax. Stefan wasn’t a threat. Although, it was obvious he and Kayla had issues of the man/woman type.
    Suddenly exhausted, Max took a seat on the edge of the bed, quite happy to be a spectator in the battle of wills between the couple. Both of them looked mad enough to burst into flames, but Max put her money on Kayla. She was fighting mad, but he was out of his mind with worry, and Max didn’t need to read his aura to know it.
    “I was a fool to listen to you,” Stefan snarled, taking hold of Kayla’s shoulders to give her a little shake. “I should never have allowed you such freedom.”
    Kayla broke free of his hold, appearing not in the least intimidated by the