Free Darkness Unleashed by Belinda Boring

witnessing something profound.
    This was Vivien at her finest.
    It gave strength to my hope, renewing my own silent offering of help as I continued my own mantra.
    Bring her back to me.
    Bring her home.
    Temptation to see what changes were occurring within Darcy became too hard to resist. I wanted to catch that first telltale sign that the spell was working. I wanted to see that moment when Amber faded away into nothingness and my mate took her rightful place in her own body.
    What I witnessed, instead, was gloating.
    Amber was unaffected as she stared at me unflinchingly. Nothing was happening and she knew it. While this was all impressive, she knew that no matter how much blood was spilt or how long Vivien chanted, she was still rooted deeply into Darcy’s body and wouldn’t be budging any time soon.
    This was all just for show.
    Darcy was still dying.
    “ Stop!” I cried out, breaking my promise to remain quiet. Devlin lunged to stop me as I stepped over the candles and into the pentagram, shattering the ritual.
    “ Mason!” Vivien gasped, the magic she’d been wielding snapped back, causing her to stagger when it released her. I could see the toll the spell had taken on her, and as much as it pained me to interrupt, time wasn’t on our side.
    “ No, wait!” Throwing my hand out to push Devlin back, I dropped to my knees beside Amber and ripped the gag from her mouth. “What do you know?” I thundered.
    “ About what?” she answered smugly. My fingers itched to wrap themselves around her neck and choke the truth from her. Her saving grace was it was Darcy’s face peering back at me. Had she been in her own body, I would’ve ended her life right there and then.
    “ Don’t mess with me, Amber. The spell isn’t working.”
    “ Oh, you finally noticed, huh?” She practically looked bored lying there with Vivien’s pooled blood inching slowly toward her.
    “ Mason, I just needed extra time. The magic was strong. We would’ve been successful.” Vivien’s voice barely hid her disappointment.
    “ Strong, but not enough to evict me. Sorry, dear, but you don’t have enough juice to do that. Guess you’re all stuck with me. No more Darcy.”
    Devlin lunged at the same time I did, holding me back from something I knew I’d later regret. Amber knew exactly what her taunts cost me, how each word riled up the burning fury just aching to be released. “Do we have anyone who can come assist you, Vivien? Someone from the coven, maybe, who can lend their magic to yours?” Devlin asked, still gripping my shoulders.
    “ The only one I know whose power matches my own is currently locked in one of the Council’s dungeons. I highly doubt she could be persuaded to abort her plans and help.”
    “ Morgan, what about Morgan?” I was clutching at straws, but my heart already knew the outcome. Morgan was a witch-for-hire, who dabbled in black magic. She was elusive, especially after her last run in with Devlin over a recent murder.
    Devlin’s response confirmed it. “She’ll be long gone by now, or lying low. Besides, we don’t have enough time to flush her out of her hidey hole.”
    “ You know, you guys are hurting my feelings. I’m beginning to suspect you don’t want me around,” Amber complained, pouting like she was the victim in all this.
    “ Shut up,” I ordered gruffly.
    “ Come on. Is that anyway to treat the love of your life? That is what you called me that night we made love, isn’t it?”
    My fists clenched so tightly, my knuckles popped under the pressure. Bending over, I jammed the gag back into her mouth, relishing the instant silence. “Okay, so Helena and Morgan are out, is there anyone else who can help?” When Vivien shook her head, the action almost broke me. “Please, we’re so close. I can’t lose her, Vivien. Think. There has to be someone.”
    She started to disagree, again, when a thought struck her. “There is one who I know is powerful and would help in a