Gideon’s brows lifted in surprise. “You want me to change your father back to a…dog.”
“That was our deal. Trade me my father as he was, not as you made him.”
Gideon’s gaze narrowed on me as my heart hammered in my chest.
“As you wish,” Gideon said, smiling wryly.
My father’s form shimmered suddenly, and in the middle of the snow-dusted square, I watched him revert to the stout bulldog I’d grown to love.
It happened in a flash of light. One breath he was shackled in his human shape, and the next he was sprawled on the cobblestones with those familiar jowls and short legs.
My heart squeezed to see him that way again, but the relief was fleeting.
Gideon was still here, still looming, his cold eyes locked on both of us.
This was my chance. I focused on the beginning of my spell, letting it blossom out from the circle. Shimmering waves of midnight-blue magic spun from my chest to the ground.
Gideon’s eyes flicked downward in alarm as the streets rumbled.
“What are you—” he stopped short as I twisted free of his grip.
A circle of shimmering light shot up around us, cutting Gideon off from the rest of the square and from me.
My dad lurched back, stumbling from the circle. My spell parted for him, allowing my dad an escape route.
Gideon snarled as the silver in his eyes overtook the blue.
“You think you can twist illusions against me?”
“I learned from the best,” I spat back, forcing more power from the Wards.
The circle glowed around my ankles, arcs of golden light sprayed in the air.
“Impressive,” he conceded, voice taut with grudging respect. “But spells can be undone.” He flicked a hand, sending a black wave of shadow that slammed into my conjured barrier.
Sparks flew.
I clenched my jaw, pushing more of my magic into the weave.
My arms felt like they were on fire, every nerve alight with adrenaline.
Outside the circle, I glimpsed movement. Shadows of Stella, Nova, Bella, and maybe Twobble skittering between corners, preparing to intervene or strike if needed.
The gargoyles overhead shifted. Their stone claws scraped the edge as they readied to swoop if called. I steadied my focus, refusing to let Gideon slip away or tear open a path.
“You can’t free yourself alone.” He laughed. “And I certainly won’t leave empty-handed.”
“I’m not alone.”
I let the light shift just enough to reveal the silhouettes of my allies around us.
For a flash, I saw Stella’s face contorted with dark glee, eager to wipe the memories of any meddlesome onlookers.
Nova’s calm determination flickered from an alley corner.
Bella, sly and silent, prowled behind Gideon’s silhouette. Keegan stared down from the second floor. The gargoyles poised overhead, but Twobble remained a surprise.
Gideon’s lips curled into a vicious grin. “You think your ragtag magic can best me?”
