Page 92 of Wedded Witch

“Get away from here!” I roar, drawing on every ounce of power I have left. The air crackles with energy as I channel my magic, feeling the storm itself respond to my call.

I stagger forward, heart racing, ready to confront whatever darkness lies ahead, determined to protect the one person who has come to mean everything to me.

I take a step forward, adrenaline coursing through me, but as I do, a bolt of energy lashes out from the figure, striking me hard in the chest.

Stumbling back as pain blossoms, searing and hot, I hit the ground, my world spinning. The dark magic grips me, wrapping around my limbs like chains.

I can’t give in. I have to fight.

With effort, I push myself up, vision blurring. I focus on the pain, harnessing it, turning it into strength.

I won’t let it win.

I will protect my wife at all costs, even if she doesn’t know it.

SWYN

Exhaustedafter yet another round of losing myself with Ri, I finally drift into sleep, the weight of everything pulling me under, wrapped in a cocoon of darkness.

I’m vaguely conscious of the storm outside raging on, a symphony of wind and rain that can’t touch me in Ri’s protective embrace. My dreams are usually a chaotic blend of memories and shadows, but tonight, something feels different—charged, electric.

I know it now. I’m theirs.

I’m standing in a misty landscape, the air thick with a familiar scent of damp earth and wildflowers. At least this time I recognise the landscape for what it is: Spells Hollow.

Only this time, I’m not standing in a ruin. The town is whole, healed, and thriving.

Before me, the figure of Elias, my Gramps, materialises, his presence warm yet tinged with an urgency I can’t quite place. His silhouette is familiar, a beacon in the swirling fog.

“Swyn,” he says, his voice a soothing balm against the storm’s wrath. “Can’t you feel it? The curse is weakening—almost broken.”

His words reverberate in my chest, a flicker of hope igniting within me. I want to reach for that hope, to grasp it tightly and never let go. But even as I do, a shadow flits at the edges of my vision, reminding me of the danger that lurks just beyond the light.

“What more do you need, child?” Elias presses, stepping closer, his face earnest and wise. “You have the strength within you. You always have.”

I swallow hard, the fear curling in my stomach. “I don’t know, Gramps. I feel it, but it’s so… fragile. Too new. Like a fledgling bird or the first spring bud. What if I fail? What if it’s not enough?”

He shakes his head gently, his silver hair catching the dim light of the dreamscape. “You won’t fail. You’re stronger than you think. But you must act quickly. The evil is growing, and Morfran… he wants to use you.”

My heart stutters at the name. Morfran—the dark shadow that’s haunted my every waking moment, a malevolent force lurking just out of sight, waiting for the right moment to strike.

“What does he want with me?”

Elias’s expression darkens, the warmth in his eyes replaced by a storm of concern. “He seeks your power, Swyn. He believes he can bend you to his will, control you enough to finally break free and reap his final revenge. But you cannot let that happen. You must stand firm, and you must believe in yourself.”

I nod, feeling the weight of his words settle heavily on my shoulders. “But how? How do I fight him?”

“Trust in your magic,” he urges. “Remember the light within you. It’s not just about breaking the curse—it’s about harnessingyour true potential. The storm outside is a reflection of the chaos within. Embrace it. Use it.”

As he speaks, the mist around us thickens, swirling with a force that feels almost alive. I can sense the pull of darkness, a palpable energy that creeps closer, hungry and relentless.

The shadows flicker, and Morfran’s face flashes in my mind—a sneer, a promise of power that feels both tempting and terrifying.

“Gramps,” I whisper, fear tightening my throat. “What if I can’t do it? What if I become what he wants?”

“Then you will fight,” he replies, his voice resolute. “You must remember who you are, Swyn. You are not defined by your fears. You are more than a pawn in anyone’s game.”

A crack of thunder reverberates through the dreamscape, jolting me. The ground beneath my feet trembles, and for a moment, I’m unsure if I’m still dreaming or if the storm has broken into my mind.

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