Page 54 of Magic's Rise

The world wobbles on its axis when he stands, his arms hooked behind my knees. “Hold on tight, but try not to strangle me.”

“Not sure I can do both at the same time.” My head spins as I wrap my arms around his neck. “Don’t drop me.”

“Here, Tris.” Levi turns away from him and kneels. “I can carry you.”

“Don’t think I’m going to protest that I can make it on my own.” Tris hops onto his back. “What about Aspen?”

“I can see in the dark.” Aspen taps his wand against the corners of his eyes. “Lead the way, and I’ll follow.”

With a nod toward my mentor, Haut gestures for Levi to go ahead of us.

He takes off, vanishing into the darkness within a dozen steps. Pain shoots through my head when Haut follows, and I cling tighter, trying to stop my head from exploding. My face feels like it stopped the van instead of the tree.

On either side of us, the world rushes by in a blur of shadows. The more distance we put between us and the van’s headlights, the more my eyes adjust to the limited light, and I pick out the outline of trees in the moonlight.

I bury my face against Haut’s shoulder. “I hate forests. Everything bad happens in forests.”

“Shh.” He squeezes my legs. “I need to listen for pursuit.”

With the noise Aspen makes behind us, I don’t know how he can hear anything, but I zip my lips. Which is for the best, because with all the jostling, my stomach is threatening to rebel all over Haut.

A loud crash breaks through the forest, followed by Aspen’s shout. “Watch out!”

Light blazes through the darkness, and I look back to see Aspen’s wand in hand, glowing like a star as he fires into the woods on his right.

Haut curses, and Levi stumbles, their night vision ruined.

“Keep going!” Aspen whips off another spell. “I’ll hold them off!”

Fear grips my chest, and I squeeze Haut’s shoulder. “We should help him!”

Ignoring me, Haut and Levi continue running, carrying Tris and me deeper into the woods.

I cast a frantic look back and see another blur whip past Aspen, sending him flying to one side, his wand spinning from his grip.

My stomach clenches. “Haut, he’s going to die!”

“The monster isn’t after him.” Haut’s pace doesn’t slow. “We’ll send someone back once we reach Silver Hollow.”

Tears sting my eyes as I cling to Haut, my heart racing. If I hadn’t agreed to come here, Aspen wouldn’t have been put in this position. If he dies, I’ll never be able to face Mel again.

A crash comes from behind us, and Tris whips out his wand, twisting to point backward. A blaze of fire streams from him, lighting the forest in red and revealing a creature of nightmares. A blood-curdling scream splits the air before the monster rolls to the side, into the brush.

In the next moment, a stampede of breaking branches sounds from up ahead.

“Change of plan!” Haut skids to a halt and lowers me gently to the ground.

Levi does the same with Tris, and we put our backs together, while Haut and Levi guard us in a protective circle.

My hand trembles as I pull my wand from its arm sheath. I’ve used offensive magic, but only on instinct, when backed into a corner with no other choice. Doubt fills me that I’ll be able to summon it on command.

Haut’s head swivels from left to right. “Where is it coming from? I can’t tell.”

“Neither can I.” Levi drags in deep breaths before growling in frustration. “I’ve never encountered a monster like this.”

With a nightmarish howl, darkness rushes toward us, and Haut swings, his fingers lengthening into claws. He misses, though, and Tris yanks me to the side.

A chill brushes past me, passing through the space where I stood. That was too close. Another attack like that will see one of us injured.

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