Page 81 of Magic's Rise

“This is pretty cool.” Tris joins me at the top, his sandy blond hair ruffling in the breeze.

“It reminds me of home,” I say, enjoying this moment of peace.

My cheeks tingle from the chilly air, and a sense of calm washes over me as my heartbeat slows and my breaths deepen.

“Come on.” Tris turns back toward the hatch. “Let’s head back down and see if Aris has found those spells.”

“Good idea.” I start to turn away when a shimmer catches my eye.

I spin back to the railing and squint as the barrier comes to life, the lines of silver magic almost invisible against the steely gray clouds. From this view, it looks like a moth-eaten tapestry with all those little black holes speckling its surface.

“Damn, it’s worse than this morning,” I mutter as the cold air slips away, leaving a floaty sensation in its place.

I drift around the turret, the whole world fading into nothingness, the barrier coming closer until the lines snap into sharp relief, as if I’m standing nose-to-nose with it.

At the western side, my feet freeze, my focus drawn to where the black specks multiply like a plague, casting a dark shadow.

I squint harder, something inside me whispering that if I stare long enough, I’ll unravel the mystery behind the rot.

“Rowe?” Tris’s voice snaps me back to reality, his hand on my elbow grounding me. “What are you staring at?”

I look back to the west, but all I see are gray clouds. “We need to go to the western forest. That’s where the poison is coming from. We need to go there.”

“You sensed that?” he asks.

Not sure myself, I shrug. “It’s like the barrier was calling out to me, showing me where it hurts the most. Trust me, we need to check it out.”

“I believe you.” He rubs my arm. “We’ll go first thing tomorrow morning.”

Nodding, I let Tris draw me off the turret.

The rhythmic beat of music echoes through the forest, mingling with wolf howls and filling the air with an infectious energy that sets my pulse pounding and my feet tapping.

Moonlight mixes with the yellow glow cast by porch lights, illuminating the tables that form a circle. A bonfire blazes at the center, chasing back the chill of the evening and sending sparks dancing into the night sky. Around it, people dance, laughter and conversation creating a buzz of joy.

My stomach bulges slightly from too much good meat and cornbread, and I sit on the sidelines, watching Tris spin Mina in circles, the young witch laughing and flushed. Beside them, Kaela twirls in the arms of a werewolf who hasn’t left her side since she arrived.

The wolf shifters should take some notes on welcome parties from the werewolves. They really know how to party.

Next to me, Aspen lounges back on the long bench, his elbows propped on the table at our backs, a red plastic cup dangling from his fingers. “This reminds me of the parties Mel and I used to sneak off to.”

Startled, I glance at him. “I can’t picture you partying.”

A soft smile curves his lips. “I was rebellious, and every young witch gets curious at some point about sex magic.”

My mouth drops open in shock before I reach out to take the cup from him. “You’ve had enough of the jungle juice, young man.”

“The energy that can be generated…” His gaze cuts to me. “You’ve felt it.”

“No, I’ve never taken part in a witch orgy.” I sniff his drink, wondering what’s in it to loosen my stuffy mentor’s tongue.

“You should. But sex isn’t really required. It’s just an excuse to give in to desire.” He leans his head back and closes his eyes. “Can’t you feel it now?”

“Feel what?” I scrunch my nose. “You’re talking nonsense.”

“The magic, Rowe.” His uninjured leg bumps mine. “Open your senses. With this many paranormal people letting down their guard… There’s so much of it floating around.”

I set Aspen’s drink down and lean closer to him. “Are you high on magic right now?”

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