“Place the Disk as close to the roots as you can,” he said.
“I’m not sure I can with all this muck,” I muttered.
I crouched, trying to find a stable spot.Owen lowered himself beside me, the white beam holding steady on the place he wanted.
I stretched my arm out, but it was out of reach.
“I can’t reach it.”
“Here—hold this.”
I traded him the Sun Disk for the flashlight and aimed the beam where he’d had it.Owen leaned forward to place the Disk—
—and the light flickered.
My gut clenched.
“Hold it steady,” he said.
“That wasn’t me,” I said, voice turning cold.“We’re not alone.”
A twig snapped.
Owen’s head came up at the same time the darkness shifted at the edge of the clearing—taller, denser—like a shadow deciding to become a body.
Garrat stepped into the beam.This guy was wearing out his welcome in my town.
His smile was slow and knowing.
“I’ve been waiting for you, pretty,” he said.
I shot to my feet.So did Owen, the Sun Disk still in his hand.He moved between me and Garrat without thinking.
I tightened my fist around the potion vial until my fingers cramped.
“Your ward wasn’t going to keep me bound forever, druid,” he purred.
“I’m here to send you back to wherever you came from, Garrat,” I said.
I was proud of how steady my voice sounded.It didn’t waver.
He tilted his head, amused.“You think so?”
“I know so.”
The flashlight carved harsh angles across his face, turning beauty into something terrifying.He frowned—lines etching into shadow like a warning.
And the ooze at the base of the tree bubbled faster.
Garrat was using his magic on it—I felt it deep inside me.Not just on the ooze.On me.
A pull tightened behind my ribs and dragged forward.
Compelling.
My body started to obey before my mind caught up.I took a step, and Owen’s arm snapped out, blocking me.
“Piper.”My name—sharp as a warning.
