The Iron Flower (The Black Witch Chronicles, #2)

by Laurie Forest

But this time, the power doesn’t meet with resistance, and the pain doesn’t come in its wake. Instead, the power rushes out into every part of me, through every affinity line, flying straight toward the branch. As the power reaches my arm, it coalesces like lightning and explodes out from my wand hand and through the branch in a violent blast toward the trees.

“But they tested me,” I stammer out. “Nothing happened. They told me I was powerless.”

“Commander Vin’s.” Yvan turns to me, a look of fear on his face. “Are you sure?” His hand tightens on my shoulder. “Are you sure it wasn’t the Gardnerian military’s?” “Yes,” I insist as the flames in front of us engulf another tree, the sound of the destruction deafening. He turns back to the fire, eyes widening with deepening realization. “She gave you a rune-blocked wand.” “I don’t understand,” I say, scared of what this could mean.

Yvan’s eyes meet mine, full of utter certainty. “Elloren, you’re the Black Witch.”

Finally

“So,” I finally venture in a slow, horrified whisper, “you’re the Icaral who’s supposed to destroy Gardneria, and I’m the Black Witch who’s supposed to kill you. We’re the two points of the Prophecy.”

I knew it i knew it

“And I wasn’t even using a real wand.” “I know.” “So, if I use a real wand...” I think back to Ni Vin’s stories about the fireballs my grandmother created, the ones she used to destroy entire villages, to terrorize entire countries.

I take a deep, shuddering breath. “I was raised to believe that you’re the most evil monster on all of Erthia.” “I was raised to believe the same thing about you.” An involuntary laugh escapes me. “At least we have that in common.” I pause, growing serious and remembering Uncle Edwin’s final words to me. “My uncle knew. I think he was hoping I’d live my entire life not knowing. And I probably would have, if I’d never come here.”

“So, we’re potentially the two most powerful beings on Erthia.”

“Who have no clear idea of how to use our powers,” he adds.

“he told me I should fight the Gardnerians. That he was wrong to think otherwise. He tried to tell me everything. And then he was gone, before he could finish what he was trying to say.”

“And I can’t believe I’ve fallen in love with the Black Witch.”

“I’ll bet no one imagined this when they wrote that Prophecy,” I whisper as he brushes his mouth along the edge of my lips. “I imagine not,” he breathes. Then he brings his lips back to mine and kisses me ravenously.

“A dragon’s kiss binds him to his mate.” I pull back to meet his molten gaze. “So...now we’re bound?” He shakes his head, a ruddy flush on his cheeks. “No. You’re not a dragon. In our case...it only goes one way. I’m bound to you.”

“This is a particularly interesting turn of events. The two points of the Great Prophecy are allies. Lovers, by the look of things.”

“The two most powerful beings on Erthia, ignorant of how to harness or use their full powers. Incredible.”

They want to make it harder for the Gardnerians to kill us both. But they also want to protect Yvan, the blessed point of the Prophecy, from me. In case I turn into the Black Witch of their nightmares.