Cresent Prophecy by Axelle Chandler (great reads TXT) 📕

about messing up a lovely night at home in front of the heater.

Like any of that mattered now. If this was my eternal resting place, it totally sucked balls!

“So, this is who all the fuss is about.”

The silky voice oozed over my skin, and I shivered in revulsion. It felt like I’d been dipped into a vat of slime like a tea bag. Gross.

Turning, my gaze locked with a woman who’d appeared at the other end of the room. Where she’d come from, I didn’t know, but my mind clamored with an odd sensation of déjà vu.

Giving her the once-over, I took a step back. She was as tall as me, her frame willowy and lithe. Her brilliant green eyes were framed by long lashes and cascading auburn hair. Freckles dusted over her cheeks, giving her an ethereal look, but her mouth let her down. It was hard and spiteful, twisted into a sneer that sent a bolt of dread into my heart.

She took a step forward, her emerald-green dress flowing in soft waves, and I took another step back.

“Do you know who I am, Crescent?”

There could only be one person who wanted to drag me down with her poisonous claws and be present for my last breath.

“You’re Carman?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. “You’re not much to look at.”

“Arrogant, insolent…” She narrowed her eyes and regarded me with a disdain that was palpable. “I see a thousand years has not dampened your wit, Crescent.”

“I’m twenty-eight,” I replied, not caring if I peed her off or not. “Which is so much more youthful than a withered thousand-year-old husk. Nice glamour spell, by the way.” I held up my hand and gave her the thumbs up. “Impeccable. No one likes to go down to the shops and see a walking mummy wheeling around a shopping trolley. They have museums for that these days. Hey, do you know what an iPhone is?”

“Silence!” Carman screeched, the force behind her voice knocking me on my ass. Literally.

Luckily, it didn’t hurt since we were in a magical vision-esque plane of existence. A mirror reflecting a mirror, etcetera, etcetera.

“Wow,” I said. “You call me arrogant? You’re the one who’s standing there waiting for the moment I die. You could’ve been happy with just knowing Lucy had done her job, but no, you had to come and gloat.”

“I did miss the barbecue,” Carman said. “I hear the flames rose higher than the forest canopy.”

“Bitch,” I said with a snarl, pushing to my feet.

“I’ve been called worse. Much worse.”

Her smile was sweet, and it made me want to vomit. This might be the end for me, but Boone would never let her win. Never.

“You may get back into Ireland after I’m gone,” I said, “but you’ll never open the doorways. Never.”

Standing beside me, she caressed my face, regarding me with an icy glare. “For the last Crescent, you are quite disappointing. The culmination of your coven’s power has let you down, child. I sense her in you, but she hasn’t come forth.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“It’s a shame,” Carman said, ignoring my question. “I would’ve liked to, how did you say it? Gloat to her one last time.”

“Gloat to who?” I demanded. “What are you talking about?”

Carman smiled, her green eyes sparkling in triumph.

“Skye Williams, the last Crescent Witch. It has not been a pleasure.” She waved her hand through the air. “May you forever lie restless, knowing you failed everyone you love.”

The room began to shimmer, and I lunged toward her with a roar. “Don’t count on it, you bitch!”

My fingernails scraped against her cheek, and then I was falling through darkness. Plummeting and tumbling…until I wasn’t anymore.

Chapter 19

Gasping for air, I raised my head.

Firelight shone around me, the air icy and full of the scent of wood smoke and damp earth.

“Does she know?” Lucy asked. “Does she know about you?”

I was back in the clearing, alive and… Ow, my arms sting like a motherf—

“Let her go, and we might spare you,” a familiar voice boomed.

“I can’t do that, Boone. It’s too late.”

Boone! I struggled against my restraints, searching for my magic, but it was still locked inside. I wasn’t dead! There was still a chance to stop the curse from being broken. I just had to get out of here.

I kicked and wriggled, trying to ignore the burning pain in my arms. My strength was waning, my attempts at escape making me look like a fish out of water, flopping around uselessly on a riverbank. Yep, that was me. Skye Williams, sucker.

“This is your last warnin’,” Boone said, his voice taking on the quality of an angry animal.

“And you’ve already had yours!” Lucy said, roaring in frustration and twisting toward Boone.

I sensed the build up of magic inside her, and my eyes widened.

“Look out!” I screamed.

He’d anticipated it as well but didn’t react fast enough. A blast of magic struck him square in the chest, and he flew across the clearing. He collided with a tree, his head whacking against the trunk with a thud.

“I don’t have time for this!” Lucy said, her fists shaking with rage. “Stay out of me way!”

She turned back toward me and raised her hands, focusing her magic on the ritual. A purple shimmer erupted around the clearing, and my gaze met Boone’s. She’d invoked a barrier, locking him out.

I pulled against my restraints, desperately trying to break free. I called on my magic, but the golden ball sputtered and died, only reaching the size of a pea before it was squashed.

No! It couldn’t end like this.

“Skye!” Boone howled in agony, his fists beating on the barrier, sending purple flares rippling through the air.

“It’s okay,” I said, longing for one last kiss. “Boone, it’s okay…”

“No!” he bellowed, beginning to shake. “No!”

His entire body erupted, his change overcoming him so fast he’d turned in a blink of an eye, but when I saw the shape he’d formed, my mouth fell open.

A large, gray wolf stood outside the barrier, his chest and