Page 97 of Storm of Summer (Wild Haven 3)

I sense the intrusion immediately. I don’t even have to dig around in the magic to find it. It’s right there, a hitchhiker that doesn’t belong.

Words fall from my lips without any conscious thought from me. I don’t have a fucking clue where they're coming from, but I know they’re right.

“Eve of winter, dawn of spring, growth of summer, harvest of autumn. Together we are whole, together we are strength. Let our bonds protect, let our power defend.”

Magic explodes from me and Zara, blowing over our faces in a gust of wind that lashes and whips at us. Archer and Lena’s hands tighten on my shoulders, as if they’re afraid of being ripped away from me. Hell, the wind is so strong it might happen. Fat raindrops begin to fall, pelting my face and forcing me to tip my head down. I want to pull Zara into my body, but I don’t want to jostle anyone loose. It’s crucial we stay connected.

It takes me a second to recognize what happens next. But Archer’s shadows pour into the circle around us, throwing us into a darkness so thick I can’t see a damn thing. It’s only Zara’s hands clasping mine that keeps me grounded.

The air is heavy with magic, a collection of powers that swirl together in an eddy of abilities that represent each of us individually. And yet, somehow, they complement each other.

The sense of rightness, of pieces of a whole coming together, fills me. Only we’re not complete. I manage to turn my head into the pelting rain and see Ruby and Ezra through the shadows. They’re on the outskirts of our group when they should be in here with us. It’s not right. Not how it’s supposed to be, and we are weaker for it.

The clearing flickers around us, shifting from the muted colors cast off by our lamplights to gray. In the next instant, the area changes entirely to a rocky expanse, then the bluff next to the ocean. I breathe in and we’re in the middle of my fucking apartment.

“What the fuck,” I grit through clenched teeth.

The magic grows so powerful my fucking bones ache with the excess energy. Did I just see Lena’s powers? My own? Did Lena really just transport us all into the astral plane? And did I just glamor the entire fucking glen?

Flowers burst from the ground and bloom around us, their fragrance perfuming the air. Miri. That has to be her magic.

Behind me, I hear Lena and Archer’s rapid breathing, even through the downpour. The magic is tearing through all of us, ripping us apart, only to build us up that much stronger. The energy sucks in suddenly, collapsing in like a light being snuffed out. For a second, I think it’s over, that the magic has run its course.

Light flares back to life and explodes like a supernova. The magic bursts out from where Zara and I are holding hands. It blasts out in a circle, throwing us all apart and scattering us like we’re bowling pins.

I land hard on my back, outside of the burned ring, cushioned only by the bed of flowers. Someone hits one of the lanterns and we lose some of our light. It’s almost impossible to see now.

“Zara,” I roar. Rolling over, I get on my hands and knees and push myself up to standing.

“Rhys. I’m fine,” Zara calls out from across the circle, and I sprint toward her, the rain still pouring down on us.

“What the fuck happened in there?” Ruby demands, but I can’t answer her right now. I need to make sure Zara is okay. To see her with my own eyes and feel her with my hands.

“Davis, are you doing this? Can you stop it?” Miri says somewhere nearby. Is Davis the one making it rain?

“Fucking hell. I’m supercharged. I can’t get it to stop. It’s like the magic is pouring out of my goddamn pores,” Davis snarls.

Zara’s already on her feet when I reach her side, looking soaked but otherwise okay. I run my hands over her shoulders and down her arms.

“I’m fine. Really.” She grabs my hands and holds them tightly. A low hum of connected power runs from her palms into mine. She smiles up at me as I pull her in close to my body. “Are you okay? I think it worked.”

I don’t answer her but keep her hugged tight against me. My heart hammers in my chest.

“It worked. It fucking worked.” Miri laughs and Lena pipes in a few seconds later.

“Agreed. Anthony’s tie is gone from our bonds.”

“Indeed. It appears you’ve bumbled your way into breaking my bond.” Anthony steps into the clearing and everyone stares in shock.

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