Page 24 of A Second Roar for Love

As the sun began to set, they found themselves walking hand in hand through a park, ice cream cones in their free hands. Ellie had opted for a daring flavor - lavender honey - while Reed had stuck with his tried and true chocolate.

“I have to admit,” Reed said, licking a drip from his cone, “when you said you had surprises planned, I wasn’t expecting all this. Target practice, skydiving, questionable pizza toppings...”

Ellie stopped, turning to face him. Her hazel eyes were soft, serious in a way that made Reed’s heart skip a beat.

“Reed, I... I know I hurt you when I left. I didn’t try to explain myself. I didn’t fight for us.” She shook her head. “I was young, naïve, and overwhelmed by what was going on at the time. But I love you. I always have.”

Reed stopped and turned to her. “I’m not always the best at expressing my feelings. At letting you in. You are everything to me.”

“Reed-”

“You are everything to me, Ellie. I love you. I’ve never stopped. Not for a second. You’ve been my constant and no one has ever taken your place.”

“I never want to do life without you again. Ever.”

Reed felt his throat tighten, his eyes stinging with the force of his emotions. He pulled her close, his forehead resting against hers.

“I love you, my beautiful witch.”

FOURTEEN

Ellie stood in the center of her living room, a figure of stillness amid the chaos of the world. The curtains were drawn, the room lit only by the flickering glow of candles, their dancing flames casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of sage and rosemary, the herbs burning in a small brass bowl at her feet.

Eyes closed, hands outstretched, Ellie looked like a conductor poised before an invisible orchestra. The ancient artifacts were arranged in a circle around her, each saturated with power. There was a weathered, leather-bound tome, its pages yellowed with age and crackling with secrets; a crystal sphere, its depths swirling with mist and memory; and a gold chalice, etched with runes that seemed to shift and dance in the candlelight.

Ellie drew in a deep breath, feeling the power of the ley lines surging through her veins. It was like standing in the midst of a thunderstorm, the energy crackling and snapping around her, making her hair stand on end. She could feel the earth beneath her feet, the heartbeat of Whispering Pines pulsing in time with her own.

With a whispered incantation, the words rolling off her tongue like honey, Ellie wove the energy outward. It was like spinning a tapestry of light and shadow, each thread a different hue, a different texture. She could see it in her mind’s eye, the glowing strands twisting and twining, forming a shield around her home.

The house shuddered, the floorboards creaking and the windows rattling in their frames. The candle flames danced wildly, casting fractured shadows on the walls. It was as if the very bones of the building were shifting, accommodating the surge of magic.

Ellie’s brow furrowed, sweat beading on her forehead as she poured more of herself into the spell. The wards were like a second skin, an invisible barrier that would repel any darkness that dared to approach. She could feel them settling into place, a tingling sensation that raced along her nerve endings. But would they be strong enough for what was coming?

As the last tendrils of power dissipated, Ellie’s eyes snapped open. The hazel irises were glowing, lit from within by an otherworldly light. She staggered slightly, the sudden absence of energy leaving her lightheaded.

But even as she steadied herself, a frown creased her face. Something was wrong. The town’s magical field, usually a gentle, pulsing presence at the edge of her senses, felt distorted.

Ellie closed her eyes again, reaching out with her mind. Just beyond the wards that had protected Whispering Pines for generations, an angry, hateful force grew stronger by the moment. It wasn’t the same power as the dark mages that had attacked Celeste and the town before. This wasn’t dark magic itself. This was different.

A chill raced down Ellie’s spine, a sense of foreboding settling in the pit of her stomach. She knew with certainty that went bone-deep, the cultists were behind this. But what were they doing? They weren’t trying to take down the protective wards. It felt to her that they didn’t even care about that. They were attempting to…what?

Ellie’s hands clenched into fists, determination hardening her features. She would not let anything happen. Whispering Pines was her home, her heart. She would defend it with every ounce of power she possessed.

Striding to the window, Ellie yanked back the curtain. The night sky was stark black, the stars obscured by roiling clouds. In the distance, she could see the dark smudge of the forest, the trees swaying in an unseen wind.

“I know you’re out there,” she whispered, her breath fogging the glass. “But you won’t win. Not this time. Not ever.”

The shrill ring of her phone shattered the silence. Ellie grabbed it, her heart leaping at the sight of Reed’s name on the screen.

“Reed? What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice tight with worry.

“We’ve got reports of suspicious activity near the forest’s edge,” Reed said, his tone grim. “Figures in dark robes, chanting. It sounds like our cultist friends might be getting an early start on their ritual.”

Ellie’s grip tightened on the phone, her mind racing. “I felt a disturbance but I’m not sure what it is exactly.”

“I’m heading out there now. Meet me at the trailhead?”

“I’ll be there.” Ellie hung up, her jaw set with resolve. She couldn’t let the cultists succeed, couldn’t let the darkness consume her town.

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