Page 76 of Chosen Destiny

“Not necessarily, son.” Michael tapped his foot against the floor. “The more people we lose, the less powerful Callie and you are.”

“We need to hold off the witches until the pack arrives.” Samuel swallowed and looked at Dina. “Is there anything else you can try?”

The gas is moving toward the houses,a female wolf linked to Samuel, Bodey, Michael, and me.We’re trying to clear the area and reach the neighborhood before—Her link cooled.

Bodey snarled. “The witches are on the move. They just took down several of our shifters.”

“Chelsea, gather the other witches and bring them here.” Dina’s face paled. “I’ll stay here in case someone slips through.”

Not hesitating, Chelsea ran out the back door, her blonde hair and gown flying behind her. She raced into the woods just as Dina’s face twisted in agony.

My heart caught. “What’s wrong?”

“The coven. We’re already using a ton of magic.” Dina blinked, her face strained. “The magic the other witches are using is enhanced by charms.”

“Charms?” Destiny whimpered.

Dina reached the door. “They’re carrying magic from other covens to make themselves stronger. I didn’t realize it until our coven began fighting against them.”

I had no clue what any of this meant, but it was bad. Bodey raced to me and tugged me toward the garage. “I’m getting her out of here.”

“No, the witches watching the road will have charms too.” Dina bit her bottom lip so hard that blood welled and trickled down her chin.

My heart raced. Kel had thought of everything again, and we were on the losing side. I didn’t know what to do, but running wasn’t an option.

The thought of her capturing any of us, especially Bodey, made me want to claw the flesh from my bones.

“Fuck!” Jack heaved. “What do we do?”

“There is something I can try.” Dina looked at me, face set in determination, and blew out a breath. “Stay right here.” She raced to the door Destiny had exited through and stepped outside. The wind was blowing more powerfully than seemed natural for a clear night.

“Death goddess!” Dina called out as she ran down the stairs and into the yard. “I’m calling on you to help me eliminate the enemy!”

Death goddess?I parroted back to Bodey. I’d never heard anyone call out to the goddess of death before. It didn’t sound safe.

I don’t know what she’s doing.Bodey tensed beside me.

“Dina!” Chelsea shouted from wherever she’d wound up. “No!”

“Take your chosen sacrifice from me and block our enemy’s magic,” Dina chanted, her hands glowing white like when she healed someone. She removed a dagger from a pocket and cut into her palm. “The witches came to harm us when we’ve never hurt them. I ask you to turn them to ash and to earth as nature intended.”

Static filled the air, and a sandpaper-like sensation brushed over my skin again and again. Dina lifted her hands toward the sky, her magic like white lightning streaking into the atmosphere. Her auburn hair lifted as a jolt shook her body and reverberated into the air.

Something wasn’t right. I could feel it in my soul.

When I tried to race to the witch, Bodey held me tight, but that wasn’t what prevented me from going. Something invisible blocked me from moving more than two feet from where I stood.

I watched helplessly as Dina’s body jerked and shuddered, and Chelsea ran out of the trees, her eyes wide and bloodshot.

As abruptly as the chaos had started, it ended.

Dina crumpled to the ground.

“No!” Chelsea screamed, barreling toward the fallen priestess.

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

The lookon Chelsea’s face as she dropped to her knees beside Dina shocked me back into motion.

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