Page 60 of Midnight Rules
Cass came to and shifted, going straight to Riley and gathering him in his arms. Their embrace was short-lived, though.
Riley took control of the situation, even when Kinnison and Iven stood at the dome, waiting for it to come down.
“Griff, let us in,” Riley demanded.
The dome disappeared.
Iven’s heart lodged in his throat when he saw Marric. He knew he made a sound because Griffin glanced at him with no small amount of surprise. He wasn’t sure what noise he made. Maybe it was a cry. He could have screamed for all he was aware. All he knew was he must have said or done something, because everyone around him gave him a wide berth. Even Griffin moved away.
Marric lay in the fetal position, shivering as if he were in an artic blast. Sweat covered his body, soaking his clothing. Otherwise, he was as still as stone. He didn’t make a sound.
Iven fell to his knees and gathered Marric into his arms. “Please, honey. Please don’t leave me.”
Marie drew closer. Iven saw her move out of the corner of his eyes.
A dome came around them. He wasn’t even sure if he conjured it. When Riley spoke, he realized he hadn’t. Riley had. His dome trapped Griffin with Iven and Marric. “Keep them safe, Griff.”
Griffin nodded and stood as though he were a sentry, guarding them with his life.
Iven rocked Marric as he watched Riley outside the dome.
“If I kill you, does the curse disappear?” He addressed Marie, as if her age gave her more insight. But Iven would bet the witch knew way more about curses.
Each word Riley spoke created more shards of glass. Riley met Cass’s gaze, as if seeking his advice. “Should I just do it and take our chances?”
The witch tried to make a run for it. He learned just how sharp the shards surrounding him were and who wielded them.
Riley sent a shard into his wound.
The witch doubled over, gripping his side.
Riley stepped closer to him. “Is killing you what I need to do?”
The witch shook his head. “I’ll end it! I’ll end it. Just no more glass.”
“No! He’s an abomination. Let him die.” Marie ran toward them with her claws out. She didn’t get far before glass pierced her in a dozen places. She fell to the ground. Her last breath was a gasp.
When the glass left the witch’s body, he cried out. He fell to the ground, but he pulled something out of his pants pocket and handed it to Riley.
Riley called for Zinnie. When she came to him, he handed her the pouch. She looked inside and sniffed it before chanting some sort of spell.
“Let the dome down, Riley.” Iven knew he had to use his dad voice, to penetrate through Riley’s fearful determination. Riley had a hard time listening when he was hyper-focused and scared. But Riley listened to Iven most of the time.
“Not with the witch so close.” Riley shook his head.
“You have control of the witch, son.” Iven could feel Marric slipping away. “He won’t make it if you don’t.”
Cass slid next to Riley. “I’ve got you, baby. I’m here.”
The dome coming down was almost a relief.
Zinnie kneeled in front of them. She chanted a different spell and whatever was in the pouch turned to powder. She blew it on Marric. Some of it hit Iven, but it must not have been dangerous because it didn’t do anything to him.
For Marric, his fever went down almost immediately. He turned his face into Iven’s chest and breathed in his scent. “Hey there, Sheriff.”
Iven hadn’t cried in a long time. Not until the moment Marric stirred to life. He hugged him. “Thank the gods.”
Marric wrapped his arms around Iven. “I’m tired.”
