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using only small amounts. Could it have something to do with her being close to ascension?
    Damn! I’ll have to make an effort to attend circles and start training in preparation for it. Over the weeks and days close to ascension, a witch’s powers would rapidly become stronger and grow until her magic reached its peak. It was a very painful and dangerous process; if a witch wasn’t prepared or trained enough, the ascension could kill her before she had the chance to gain her immortality.
    For the past few years, her powers had started growing rapidly stronger and manifesting into full abilities, so ascension was something she’d been longing for. Cate had yearned to finally be free of the confines of her mortal body and not having her goddess powers wreaking havoc on it. Once immortal, she would no longer be as vulnerable to death, disease or injury; she would heal much more quickly and require less energy.
    Although Cate wouldn’t be at the mercy of the power inside her, at the same time she was scared. Death at the time of ascension was rare but it did happen, especially to weaker witches, and occasionally the more powerful ones. A witch’s power grew to its full strength when she ascended; her mortal body could barely contain hers as it was – what would happen when she did finally ascend?
    Cate wasn’t just a Denai or the Goddess Marked. Part of an ancient prophecy said she would be the most powerful witch ever born, possessing all of their mother goddess’s gifts, but she was also half Ashrali. The Ashrali were a race of very powerful fey and one of the five elder races that had existed since the beginning of time. Whilst she didn’t really show signs of having any Ashrali abilities , she knew her fey side definitely made her witch powers stronger.
    Cate wiped the blood away and stared at her reflection in the mirror. At six foot she towered over most people, inheriting her height from her Ashrali side. She had dark smudges under her eyes and her skin was pale. I look like hell, she silently groaned, wiping away more blood.
    She heard the door leading into the toilets banging open. “Cate?”
    Cate looked around in surprise. “Jason? You’re not supposed to be in here.”
    “Are you alright? What happened?” he demanded. “Fuck, why are you bleeding again?”
    “I’m fine, now go away.” She pressed the tissue to her nose again.
    “I can’t believe this is happening again. This isn’t normal.”
    Tell me something I don’t know! “It’s nothing.”
    “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the bloody tissues in the bathroom at home.”
    “I’m fine and you shouldn’t be spying on me.” She dropped the tissue. “There, look. It’s stopped. Please go before someone sees you in here.”
    Jason held out his hand. “You should tell me when you need to feed, damn it.”
    “I don’t and I’m fine,” she insisted. “Go!”
    He gave her a hard look. “You’re not fine. I’ve known you long enough to recognise when you need energy. Just take what you need from me.”
    “What is with you? You’ve been on edge all morning and now you’re being a right pain in the arse!” she snapped. “Did something happen whilst you were away?”
    “No. Everything is fine, except you clearly need to take better care of yourself.”
    “I take care of myself just fine, thank you. Goddess, you’re the one with all the secrets and now you’re pissed at me for no good reason.” She grabbed his hand, feeling a warm rush of energy flood through her. “Happy now?”
    “What’s happening to your hair?”
    “What?” Cate turned to look at her reflection in the mirror and saw her hair sparkle faintly with silver orbs; as it turned a redder shade of auburn, its straight lines curved into thick spirals. “Oh hell, what’s happening to me?”
    “I hear that an Ashrali’s hair changes when they feel strong emotions.”
    “I’m only half Ashrali and this shouldn’t be happening. I’ve kept my hair under