Page 93 of Magic's Rise

“Locked up tight,” Levi confirms, though his expression remains wary. “At least, they should be.”

“Are you positive?” Aspen raises an eyebrow. “Because if one of those is missing?—”

“We’ll make damn sure they’re all accounted for when we get home,” Levi cuts in, his tone final.

A CHARM TO PICK

The sun rises high in the sky by the time I feel the effects of prolonged magic use. I sway on my feet as my arm drops to my side, my muscles protesting. Pride fills me at how much brighter the barrier now shines, and I wish I could have reached higher to help better stabilize the dome.

“Good job.” Tris squeezes my shoulders, a tremor in his hands.

The repairs took an equal toll on him.

“Yes, well done, both of you,” Aspen says from where he sits on a log that Levi and Haut had dragged from the healthier part of the forest.

His injured leg sticks straight out, and his makeshift cane rests beside him. While Tris and I worked, he had begun the spell to halt the spread of poison, and a fine sheen of sweat glistens on his brow.

I lean against Tris, though not too much, or he might fall over. “It’s not going to be enough.”

Aspen nods, his features tight. “Text Mel and have her email over the recipe for the Hartford Cove barrier. We need to start working on that.”

“You know what would make things easier right now?” I stifle a yawn. “An online database of spells at our fingertips.”

Aspen sighs, and I half-expect him to argue as he always does when I bring up my pet project of digitizing my grimoires, but instead, he dips his chin in acknowledgment. “I had the same thought while waiting for Aris to flag all of her unlocking spells.”

A surge of renewed energy shoots through me. “Really?”

“It’s still dangerous, though.” He gives me a stern stare. “It would need safeguards so that young witches aren’t able to access spells they’re not ready for.”

“Like a test or something?” I think about that as I pull out my phone and shoot Mel a text for the barrier spell. “Or some kind of proof-of-power level?”

“If only we had tests in place for that sort of thing.” He mock-gasps. “Oh, wait, we do.”

I lift my head from my screen so he can see me rolling my eyes. “Fine, maybe your circle tests are worth something, after all.”

Tris glances between us. “Did you guys actually agree on something?”

Aspen’s lips quirk. “So it would seem.”

“Don’t get too used to it.” I finish my text to Mel and receive a thumbs up in response.

An angry voice breaks through the moment, and I spot Griffen approaching with Elana practically dragged along by him.

“How dare you force me out of my home and into the woods!” she fumes, her face bright red. “I am a respected member of the town council and leader of Silver Hollow’s coven! You will show me respect.”

Griffen ignores her and continues toward us.

Haut and Levi appear behind him, the two men returning after running a perimeter patrol to make sure we weren’t attacked by the monster while we worked.

“And I demand you release my disciples!” Elana shakes with rage. “How dare you confine them at the pack compound without even alerting me to what happened!”

“Disciples?” Aspen grabs his cane and pushes to his feet, irritation in every line of his body. “They are not your followers. They are apprentices to the craft!”

Elana, who until now was entirely focused on her tirade against Griffen, finally notices the rest of us.

Then she takes in the dead woods that surround us and pales as if seeing a ghost. Or maybe a ghost would be less frightening than the death of a forest to an earth witch.

“What…?” She stares at the brittle, brown trees. “What happened here?”

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