Page 94 of Magic's Rise

“This is the source of the barrier’s sickness.” I motion around us. “Whatever poison killed these trees has spread rot through the barrier.”

“No, this isn’t possible.” She drops to the ground, sweeping away dry pine needles. “I would have noticed.”

Griffen relaxes and exchanges a nod with Levi, who had explained the plan when he called his Alpha and requested that he pick up Elana and meet us out here. Based on the coven leader’s reaction, she had no part in this.

Tears streak down Elana’s cheeks as she gazes at the poisoned forest. “This is…this is awful. How could I not sense this?”

“There’s a spell around this area that directs your attention away,” Aspen says, his tone gentle.

Her head turns toward him. “We have to stop this from spreading further.”

“We will.” Aspen eases back onto his log. “I’ve already started, but I need your assistance. The job is too big for me to do alone.”

“Of course, I’ll help,” she sniffles, wiping her tears away. “I can’t believe this happened right under my nose.”

“Just don’t push yourself too hard.” Levi crosses his arms as he stares down at Aspen’s leg. “We promised the doctor you’d take it easy. If he finds out about this, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“I promise not to reopen my wound.” Aspen sets his cane aside. “I don’t need to move around to work.”

“Phoebe can whip up more of that poultice for your injury, too,” Elana offers, her previous hostility forgotten for now. “It will help speed up your recovery.”

“I appreciate that.” He rubs his thigh and grimaces. “I might require an ice pack tonight. The walk into the forest pushed it a little too much.”

“All right.” Griffen glances at Haut, and some silent communication passes between them, because he says, “Haut and I will stay here to protect you two. We’ll get you back to the SUV and home when you’re ready.”

Elana hesitates for a moment before her shoulders sag, and she turns to Aspen. “What spells are you using? I assume it’s more than a simple root-rot cure?”

Conceding to Aspen’s superior strength as a witch must wound Elana’s pride, but Aspen doesn’t revel in the victory as he pats the log beside him. “Come, I will show you.”

Haut walks over to me and kisses my forehead. “Stay out of trouble.”

He looks at Tris. “Both of you.”

“Aww, you big softy.” I wrap my arms around Haut.

Tris joins the hug. “Such a good boy.”

Haut growls before he embraces us both and squeezes hard enough to make us squeak. “No shenanigans, and listen to Levi, you hear?”

“Yes, Daddy,” we chorus together.

Haut nuzzles the top of my head, releases us, and moves to join Griffen.

With a wave toward Aspen, Tris and I scamper over to Levi and stop in front of him with salutes. “What are your orders, Captain?”

Amusement twinkles in Levi’s eyes. “Hop to. We’re heading back to the Jeep.”

With a grin that doesn’t bode well for us, he spins on his heel and lopes forward, his long stride eating up the ground.

I stare after him in dismay. “Are we supposed to…”

“Move those feet!” Levi barks, not slowing. “Or the Jeep will leave without you!”

“Oh, no, he’s worse than Haut,” Tris groans as he starts running.

“At least offer us treats!” I yell as I follow, my shorter legs having to do twice the work.

Cold air cools my flushed face by the time we reach the Jeep, parked on the edge of the forest. Levi leans against the side, not at all out of breath from the run.

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