Page 71 of Magic's Rise

I cradle it in my hand. “Are you sure?”

“Of course.” Her eyes twinkle. “I can always make more. And I can give you the spell, so your friends back home can have it.”

Eager not to lose it, I pull my wand from my sleeve and thread the charm through a clip I had attached to the bottom. I had originally done it to link a chain to the arm sheath so I absolutely wouldn’t drop my super-special magic stick, but then it got caught on a doorknob and damn near broke my arm.

Charms are a much better use for it.

“Your wand is lovely.” Aris leans closer. “What kind of crystal is that at the top?”

“Lightning glass, actually.” I hold it out for her to see. “Aspen put metal rods on the beach?—”

A throat clearing cuts me off, and I glance toward the head of the table, where Elana wedged herself in next to Aspen.

She smiles at me, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “We will have time later to get acquainted. But first, we have business to discuss.”

She turns to Levi. “Why has the Alpha of Silver Hollow brought new witches to our town? Do you doubt our skills?”

Wow, this lady gets straight to the point.

The amiability that has graced Levi’s face since the day we met slips away. “Your coven has been working for months to repair the barrier. It’s not that I question your abilities, just that the solution may arrive too late. We felt it was time to ask for outside help, from a sister city who understands such things.”

Tension crackles in the air as Elana’s focus shifts to me and Tris, pinning us with a contemptuous glare. “And you thought these children could do what we cannot?”

“Watch your words,” Levi growls, fire flashing in his eyes. “That is the Wendall witch and her eternal spark you are speaking to, and their mentor is a witch of the second circle, who has led dozens of covens already in his few years. Show some respect.”

Damn, the dude did his homework before coming to Hartford Cove to ask for help.

Elana flinches back from his sharp tone, uncertainty flickering across her features. “My apologies, Levi. I spoke without full knowledge of whom we sat with.”

“Even if they were hedge witches, you should have shown them respect.” Shadows bubble up from his skin. “Griffen does not bring outsiders in with no reason. And it is not your place to question him.”

She forces a smile. “How may we be of assistance?”

When Levi turns to Aspen, he clears his throat into the awkward silence. “First off, how did you realize that the barrier was failing?”

Elana sits with her back ramrod straight. “We started hearing reports from people who had left Silver Hollow. They were starting to remember the town.”

“Which shouldn’t be possible.” Lyra twirls a blond lock around her finger. “The barrier’s supposed to keep all memories of this place locked up tight.”

“Exactly.” Elana folds her hands on the table. “Though it was not the appointed time, we attempted to cast the renewing spell, but it didn’t work as it usually does. It was like throwing spun sugar into a pond. It dissipated.”

“Because your barrier is nothing but straight lines.” I prop my chin on my hand. “With all the holes, the only direction the magic has to go is down.”

The coven exchanges puzzled glances, their brows knitting together.

Finally, Aris touches my arm. “None of us can actually see the barrier outside of the casting, dear.”

“Really?” When they all nod, I get up to grab two pieces of paper and a stubby pencil. “So, our barrier looks like this.”

I sketch a half dome and cover it in fractal patterns. “It keeps the energy circling back into itself, with anchors that hold it in place.” I draw a couple of lines leading to some stick trees as an example.

“But your barrier spell looks like this.” On a fresh sheet, I sketch another half dome with stripes leading down from the top to the ground. Then I add a bunch of scribbles moving away from the dome. “Right now, it’s spilling magic everywhere. Honestly, I’m not sure that’s a new thing. It might have always been leaky, and it’s just leaking faster now.”

Aspen turns to Elana. “How often do you cast the renewing spell?”

“Every solstice and equinox.” She stares at my drawings. “You?”

“Once a year,” Haut supplies. “Though it can last for nearly two years on its own.”

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