Page 25 of A Second Roar for Love

Minutes later, she arrived at the forest’s edge, the scent of pine and damp earth filling her lungs. Reed emerged from the shadows, his amber eyes glinting in the dim light. He immediately pulled her in for a tight hug. The scent of his body calmed her nerves and she melted into his body. “I missed you.”

He pulled back and lowered his head to hers. The kiss was hard, fast, and urgent. As if he thought they might run out of time. Her heart clenched. They wouldn’t run out of time. Not now that they finally got a second chance.

“Ready?” he asked, handing her a flashlight.

Ellie nodded, electricity sparked at the graze of his hand over hers. Even in the midst of the chaos, his touch sent a thrill through her, a reminder of the bond they shared.

Together, they slipped into the woods, the darkness swallowing them like a living thing. Ellie reached out with her magic, cloaking their presence, allowing them to move unseen and unheard.

As they drew closer to the suspected location, Ellie felt it—a pulsing, malevolent energy that set her teeth on edge. It was the same darkness she’d felt in the crypt, the same evil that had haunted her dreams.

They crested a rise, and the sight below stole the breath from Ellie’s lungs. A group of cultists stood in a clearing, their black robes bleak against the muted greens and browns of the forest. They were arranged in a circle, hands linked, chanting in a language that made Ellie’s skin crawl.

In the center of the circle, a dark energy swirled, growing with each guttural syllable. It reached out, wisps of blackness probing, searching. But for what… or who?

As Ellie watched, she felt a tug, a pull deep within her chest. Her magic, the power that flowed through her veins, resonated with the darkness, drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

“Ellie?” Reed’s voice was a hoarse whisper, his hand gripping her arm. “Are you okay?”

Ellie blinked, tearing her gaze away from the mesmerizing swirl of energy. “I... I’m fine. We have to stop them.”

She focused inward, drawing on the knowledge gleaned from her grandmother’s journals, the secrets whispered in the pages of ancient tomes. With a deep breath, Ellie raised her hands, her lips forming words of power.

The air crackled, the taste of ozone sharp on her tongue. A bolt of blinding white light shot from her palms, striking the center of the cultists’ circle. The dark energy exploded, a concussive blast that sent robed figures flying, their chants cut off in startled screams.

Chaos erupted, cultists scrambling to their feet, shouting in confusion and anger. Reed sprang into action, his shifter speed and strength making him a blur of motion as he tackled the nearest robed human.

Ellie focused her magic, using it to disorient and disarm the cultists. But even as she worked, the dark energy clung to her, seeping into her pores like an oil slick. It was intoxicating, a siren song that whispered of power and control.

She gritted her teeth, pushing against the seductive pull. She couldn’t give in, couldn’t let the darkness win.

In the midst of the fray, Reed managed to subdue one of the cult leaders, pinning him to the ground with a snarl. Ellie hurried over, her heart pounding in her chest.

“When is the final ritual?” Reed demanded, his voice a low growl. “Tell us, and we might go easy on you.”

The cultist spat, his eyes smiling at Ellie. “The guardian has returned. The sacrifice is prepared. The dark one will rise again, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. History will not repeat itself this time.”

Ellie’s blood ran cold. They were running out of time.

Reed hauled the cultist to his feet, his grip unyielding. “We’ll see about that.”

Ellie sagged, the magic draining from her in a rush. Reed was at her side in an instant, his strong arms encircling her waist, holding her steady.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.

FIFTEEN

Ellie and Reed made their way back to her home, the weight of what they’d learned heavy on their shoulders. Once inside, Ellie set about preparing a calming ritual, her hands shaking as she arranged the candles and herbs. Reed lit a fire and they set up in front of it for Ellie to do her ritual.

Reed watched her, his amber eyes soft with concern. “Ellie, talk to me. What’s going on?”

Ellie paused, her shoulders slumping. She turned to face him, tears welling in her eyes.

“I think I’m in over my head, Reed,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “The power I felt out there, the darkness... it was like it was calling to me. It wanted to consume me. Take me over.”

Reed crossed the room in two strides, gathering her into his arms. “Hey, hey. You’re stronger than the darkness, El. You proved that today.”

Ellie clung to him, burying her face in his chest. “But what if I’m not? My magic started to really manifest when I came back to town. It hasn’t been that long. I haven’t mastered it yet. What if I can’t stop the cult, can’t protect the town?”

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