Let all I once was join all I shall be
Open this channel so that I may see
And come to embrace this destiny
By blood and by fire, I bind you to me
Above and below, so mote it be.”
The book heated at my words, its own energy warm and buzzing.
A grin stretched across my lips, butterflies rising in my chest. It was coming alive again. Waking up after its long nap.
“Thank you,” I breathed, wishing now that I’d brought an offering to leave behind—bread and wine, or maybe something sweet. I’d have to come back out later and give my proper thanks.
I sat back on my knees, clapping once to dispel the lingering earth magic. But instead of dissipating as it should have, the green light intensified, undulating across my skin in eerie waves.
I tried again, clapping harder this time.
The waves pulsed brighter. Faster. Deep inside me, my own magic began to swirl and spin.
High overhead, thick clouds skated in front of the moon, blanketing the woods in darkness. A stiff breeze blew into the circle and extinguished both candles.
Everything stilled. I cupped my hands in front of me, energy flaring into a blinding indigo flame between my palms. It didn’t burn.
Of its own accord, the opalescent shield I’d first seen in the alley and in Sophie’s bedroom the night of her murder appeared again, encasing me in its protective bubble.
Fear crept into my chest, spreading its icy fingers up and down my spine, but I took a deep breath and held my ground.
This was my magic, strengthened by that of the earth. There was nothing to fear. No harm would come to me.
The magic flared in my hands, and the book flipped open at my knees, pages shuffling so quickly all I saw was a blur.
It came to a dead stop at the first blank page.
By some invisible hand, words appeared across the top, glowing the same indigo blue as my magic.
The handwriting wasn’t mine.
What are the consequences of messing with a demon’s soul?
What are the consequences of messing with a demon’s soul?
What are the consequences of messing with a demon’s soul?
The line repeated a dozen times, faster and faster, then a dozen more, consuming the entire page before moving on to the next.
The dam inside me burst, my confidence crumbling beneath a wave of fear, unleashing a desperate scream.
I caught a flash of Asher’s red sweatshirt. He was moving toward me, but when I tried to call his name, something cut off my words. My head snapped backward, and my eyes opened wider, staring up at the bare branches as the world began to spin. I felt the ground beneath me come alive, sensing rather than seeing hundreds of nightcrawlers and centipedes churning through the dirt, wriggling toward me as if I’d compelled them.
“Gray!” Asher called, but I couldn’t respond. Couldn’t move my head. Couldn’t even shift my gaze to see him.
Calling on my meditation lessons from Liam, I took a deep breath, attempting to slow my heartbeat and stave off the adrenaline pumping through my veins. Focusing on the dark sky and the ground beneath my shins, I counted backward from a hundred, anchoring myself to this place. This time.
Above and below, so mote it be…
Slowly, the world stopped spinning. The force that had taken control of my body released me. Everything was still, just for a moment.
