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."Blood trickled down his leg; its sweet smell seemed to hang heavily in the air.The craving in Eleanor's inhuman gaze grew stronger."What spell?” he asked, watching her form shiver and darken, becoming more catlike with every passing heartbeat."The flames, Shapeshifter.They will take the essence of your soul.” Her sharp smile was little more than the snarl of a panther.“They will take your shapeshifting abilities from you.""No.” The denial escaped before he could stop it.He was a shapeshifter—it wasn't just a gift, like Maddie's fire starting, or a product of magic, as were Eleanor's shapeshifting abilities.It was an integral part of what he was.It couldn't be ripped away without killing him."It won't destroy you, Shapeshifter.” Her voice had become little more than a rough growl, her shape a breath away from the panther.She was retaining only enough humanity to speak.“That would be too easy.You must pay for the trouble you have caused me.Pay with pain."Her paws hit the ground, and with another snarl, she sprang.Not away from the flames, but into them—straight at Maddie."No!” He leapt forward, hitting the flames.Pain ripped through his body, tore the scream away from his throat.For a frightening heartbeat there was nothing but emptiness, then he hit the ground and darkness invaded his world.Chapter NineteenMaddie jerked awake.For several seconds she stared at the mist shrouded trees high above her and wondered where she was.She felt the damp ground pressing into her back, the caress of the cool breeze against her heat-fevered skin, and it only added to her confusion.Then memory returned with a thump.She was burning up, killing herself because Eleanor had somehow looped her firestarting abilities.And because she didn't understand how to fully control them, she couldn't stop the fires raging deep inside from consuming her.If she attacked Eleanor, she'd kill herself for sure.Something black flew over her head.White teeth flashed a second before a snarl cut through the silence.The ragged sound of a gasp cut through the air—Jon.She didn't question her sudden certainty.He was here and in trouble because of her.I have to help him.Somehow, I have to stop Eleanor.But her body refused to obey her need to move.Despite the heat flushing every pore, her limbs were locked in ice.She couldn't move, was barely able to breathe.The panther snarled again.A heartbeat later there was a guttural sound of pain.Dear God, what's happening to him?She struggled to shift her head.Sweat ran down her forehead and stung her eyes.She blinked the moisture away and gritted her teeth.Her breath became a hiss of pain as the ice tightened around her neck.I have to move.energy surged through her body, energy that burned with heat.Something splintered against her neck, and suddenly, her head and arms were free.She twisted around, trying to see what was going on.Jon and Eleanor were silhouetted against the brightness of the flames.Jon was on his back, struggling to hold the panther standing astride his prone body at arm's length.Blood soaked his jeans, and a bloody rent marred his left side.The panther was unharmed, toying with its prey.Fire surged, burning through her veins.Maddie bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.Attack me, and you will kill yourself, Eleanor had told her.But maybe, just maybe, she could turn her fires on something else instead of the witch, and give Jon the chance to run.She quickly scanned the trees above her until she found a branch that hung out far enough over the clearing.Half closing her eyes, she stared at the limb and reached down to the fires boiling through her body.The response was quick and deadly.The branch exploded into flame and, with a crack that ricocheted through the clearing, fell to the ground.The cat snarled in fright and leapt away from Jon.He scrambled awkwardly to his feet but didn't flee."Maddie, run!” he gasped.He stood between her and the panther, a bloodied warrior still ready for battle.She could barely move, let alone run.And even if she were able to, she wouldn't have.He was ready to die defending her.She had nothing left to offer him but the same willingness to trade her life for his.She glanced quickly at the trees and found another branch.The panther leapt again.Maddie aimed her fire at the branch, simultaneously croaking, “Jon, jump back!"He heard and obeyed.The branch landed in a heap at his feet, trailing flaming leaves like confetti.The smell of burning pine was sharp in the air.The panther twisted away awkwardly and landed to one side of the stump.Its form shivered and darkened, then became Eleanor once more."My bait is awake, I see.” Eleanor's voice was still a seductive drawl, despite the wisp of age beginning to take its toll on her features.Maddie met her dark gaze and felt as if she were falling deep into its malevolent depths.It surrounded her, sapping her strength, her will.Eleanor was the essence of evil—a woman who had feasted on the blood of innocents down through the ages simply to preserve her looks and her life.They were fools to think they could ever beat her.Once again, Jon moved until he stood between them.Maddie blinked, feeling like a sleeper coming out of a dream.Fear surged anew.Just for an instant, she'd been drawn into Eleanor's mind and had glimpsed the dark depths of her soul.It might well have been Hell's playground."Let her go, Eleanor."His voice was flat, devoid of any sort of emotion.Yet Maddie could see his fear as sharply as she could taste her own.It was evident in the tightening of his shoulders, in the play of muscles across his back.But he was frightened for her, not for himself.Eleanor smiled.“I know, I know.She means nothing to you."Jon didn't reply.His fingers flexed and Maddie suddenly wondered why he didn't change into a hawk.His attack on Hank had shown how deadly his other shape could be—why didn't he use it now that Eleanor was back in human guise?"I'm afraid you're missing the point, my boy.I don't want you dead.I want you suffering, then dead."Jon's back blocked most of Eleanor from Maddie's sight, but her evil reached out nevertheless, swirling ice around her.The cord whipped back around her throat, pulling tight.Pain eddied and hovered close, and darkness was suddenly only a heartbeat away."I've already taken your soul,” Eleanor continued, her voice venomous.“Next I'll take your heart, then finally, your life."I've taken your soul.Was it only last night that Jon had said his soul was a hawk? Was that why he didn't shift shape? But how could Eleanor rip such a vital part of his being away from him?The thought fled as the ice around her neck pulled tighter.Stars danced before her eyes, and every breath suddenly became a battle of survival."Do your worst, witch."His voice seemed to come from a million miles away, yet it contained a hint of callousness that shook her.Energy ripped through the air, as hot as the fires in her soul.She licked cracked lips and tried to concentrate on his back.His muscles flexed beneath his jacket as he crossed his arms and waited.Why didn't he do something? Couldn't he sense the energy building up around them, a trap ready to fall?Eleanor's laughter clawed at the air.Flames burst to life around him, bright and surreal.He didn't move, didn't fight.All too quickly he was lost to the consuming hunger of the fire.Panic surged through Maddie.Without thought, she gathered her fire and aimed it at Eleanor.The witch screeched in surprise and pain
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