Jason’s mind reeled as the kiss hit him like an electric shock. The moment their lips met, a surge of magic rippled through him, overwhelming his senses in a way he’d never experienced before. It was like being doused in a torrent of pure, intoxicating energy that made his heart race and his thoughts scatter. The world around him seemed to dissolve, leaving only the heady essence of magic, vibrant and alive.
He staggered, gripped by the rush of sensations—his skin tingling, his nerves alight with a symphony of blissful confusion. For a moment, Jason felt as if he was swimming in a sea of magic, each wave crashing over him with exhilarating intensity.
But the euphoria was short-lived.
-----
In a grimy, neon-lit bathroom, Conner’s breaths came in ragged gasps as he doubled over in pain. The scorching water of the shower pounded against his back, mingling with his sweat and making his agony seem almost unbearable. He clutched his stomach, feeling as though his insides were being twisted by invisible hands.
His phone lay on the floor, its screen dark. Every attempt to reach Howard or Jason had been met with silence. Panic was setting in as he glanced at the time, knowing the Witch-Hunters had made their move in Tybee Harbor. One of Casandra Blake’s coven members had been snatched, and to make things worse, the head Witch-Hunter was now possessed by a powerful demon. The local coven was on high alert, bracing for an impending storm.
Otis and Mandy had defied orders to stay put and headed to the coven’s remote meeting spot in a secluded shack in the woods. They’d told Conner to keep trying to reach Howard and Jason and to let them know that whatever James had planned was about to unfold.
Frustration gnawed at him as he dialed and redialed, his anxiety mounting with each unanswered call. Seeking relief, he’d decided a hot bath might help, but the inexplicable, all-consuming pain that had overwhelmed him felt like a cruel joke. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Another wave of agony crashed over him, and he slammed his palm against the shower wall. “What the hell is happening?” Conner muttered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the water.
-----
Back at the club, Maya’s kiss with the masked man was worlds apart from the earlier, drunken encounter. This time, she was in control. Her mind, instead of being a whirlwind of confusion, was swept up in a flood of ecstatic pleasure. Her hands traced a path up from his face to his neck, and she deepened the kiss, her fingers tangling in his hair as he pulled her closer. The kiss was intense, demanding, and all-consuming.
“Fun’s over, Romeo,” a booming voice cut through the haze of their embrace.
Maya’s eyes flew open in shock. The large fairy she had hoped to avoid now loomed before them, its wings casting a menacing shadow. Her dance partner moved with startling speed, delivering a punch that sent the fairy sprawling into the crowd. Chaos erupted around them as people screamed and scrambled for cover.
Maya staggered back, her mind spinning. But what made her gasp was not the sight of the fallen fairy, but the pink mist that slithered into her savior’s mouth, just like it had with the man who’d attacked her in the Chronicle.
Instinctive magic... addictive magic...
Jason’s and Austen’s warnings echoed in her mind. She had dismissed their concerns as paranoia, but now the evidence was undeniable. The two men she had kissed both showed signs of violent behavior and were tainted by the same trail of mist.
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“Run,” the man hissed urgently, his eyes narrowing as he cracked his knuckles. He turned to face the fairy, who was slowly rising with a snarl. “I’ll handle this.”
Maya’s heart raced as she took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to flee. The man’s fists glowed with a dark, crackling purple aura, and she knew she had to escape. Her mind raced as she pushed through the crowd, the dizzying lights and pulsating bass echoing her frantic heartbeat. She barreled toward the exit, her thoughts a blur of confusion and fear.
With her back to the tumult, Maya had no idea of the full-blown brawl that had erupted behind her. The distraction offered her a narrow window of escape. She pressed through the crowd, her breath coming in ragged bursts, until she reached the dimly lit hallway that led to the hidden entrance.
“With this crappy little rhyme, I leave Thomasville far behind,” Maya recited, her voice trembling with both urgency and exhaustion.
The concealed wall slid open, revealing the alleyway beyond. Maya burst through, stumbling into the cold night air. The weight of the package pressing against her side seemed almost tangible, but she didn’t slow down. Every step was a desperate dash toward her car, her heartbeat a frantic drum in her chest.
-----
Meanwhile, Austen was deeply engrossed in a whirlwind of preparations. The package Maya had texted about had arrived, but his focus was divided among various tasks. The plans he had been working on for over two decades were coming to fruition.
Conner’s voice crackled through the phone, snapping Austen back to the present. “How sure are you that it’s the Firstborn?”
Austen glanced at Maya’s brief but urgent message confirming that she had the package and was en route. “We both felt her magic,” he replied, striving for composure. “Howard and I, we both experienced it.”
“What do you mean ‘felt her magic’?” Conner pressed, his voice tinged with frustration. “And how can you be certain she’s the Firstborn and not Casandra Blake? He’s with her right now.”
Austen sighed, struggling to offer clarity. “Howard’s reaction was clear. He sensed her magic, though he admitted it was less intense than Jason’s reaction.”
Conner’s confusion was palpable. “Less intense? What did Jason do?”
Howard’s voice came through, laced with irritation. “Jason got caught up in it. He started a riot in Thomasville and nearly killed Max’s top bouncer. I barely managed to pull him away before things got really out of hand.”
Conner’s eyes widened as he connected the dots. “So he kissed her. When did this happen?”
A moment of silence stretched. “You felt it, didn’t you?” Howard’s tone was resigned.
Conner glanced at the clock, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. “I did feel something.”
“That confirms it,” Howard’s voice was sharp with frustration. “We’ve let the Firstborn slip through our fingers. Damn it! I should have kept a closer watch.”
The sound of something breaking echoed through the phone. “I’ve had to lock Jason up until her influence wears off, but it’s still ongoing. She’s got him under her control with just a kiss.” Howard’s anger was evident. “Do you understand now why our training was crucial? Why we had to prepare for such scenarios? A Firstborn with that kind of power—she can’t be allowed to roam free.”
Conner was silent, absorbing the gravity of Howard’s words. “Why isn’t Austen James with her directly? Why the delay with his plans?”
Howard’s voice was strained. “That’s something you’ll have to figure out. I have other matters to attend to.”
The line went dead, leaving Conner staring at his phone, a wave of unease washing over him. The James Firstborn was awakened, and her presence had triggered an alarm in his own magic, connecting her to Jason in a way that was deeply unsettling.
Before he could gather his thoughts, Otis and Mandy burst into the room, their faces grim.
“Whatever they’re planning, it’s happening tomorrow,” Mandy declared firmly, slamming the door behind her.
Otis nodded in agreement. “We need to inform His Royal Baldness immediately. He’ll need to know this.”
Mandy’s gaze turned to Conner, her expression sharp. “Conner, what’s going on?”
Conner looked up, struggling to process the gravity of the situation. “A while ago, did you, um, sense anything unusual?”
Otis raised an eyebrow, his tone casual but curious. “If the answer isn’t ‘hunger,’ then no, I didn’t.”
Conner nodded, a grim determination settling over him. “You’re not going to believe this, but... The Firstborn is a girl. She’s awakened, and her magic has affected Jason. It’s all connected.”