I went last.
“Please Samael,” I whispered. “Fight for us.”
I’d made sure everyone had the words to the spell. I nodded, and we began to chant.
The wind picked up, throwing my hair around my face. Our voices simply rose louder. I clutched at Kyla and Evie’s hands, and even those who weren’t here to represent their factions… their voices joined ours, rising louder and louder.
The air was charged, as if lightning was about to strike in this exact spot.
Tears burned the back of my eyes. All of these people, representing every faction, all of them fighting for Samael’s life.
Please.I begged whoever was listening.Please.
I’d asked everyone to think of Samael as they’d last seen him before this, strong and whole. And I did the same. I pictured him, burning with wrath as he found me, broken and chained by that portal.
His fury had been glorious, but the look in his eyes when he’d realized what was happening to him… it was pure, unwavering love.
At least we’d had that. If this didn’t work… at least we’d both had that.
Lightning struck and I jumped. Evie’s hand tightened around mine and she gathered her power, pouring more into the spell. I did the same, for once allowing my power to take over, to roar through me.
Thunder rumbled, although the day was still clear and sunny. Pain ripped into me, and I fell to my knees, conscious of everyone else doing the same. Gasps and screams sounded, but were quickly cut off as the chanting continued.
The pain shifted to agony, which crawled up my spine. Black dots danced in front of my eyes. I was on the edge of flaming out, and if that happened, I wouldn’t be able to help.
Something shifted. The wind died down. The thunder ended. The world grew still, the quiet broken only by our voices.
Evie’s hand tightened around mine to the point of pain, and I glanced at her. She’d given herself a nosebleed, but her gaze was fixed to the mattress, eyes wide and stunned.
Ash was drifting toward the mattress. It came slowly at first, just a little at a time, and then it was carried through a new breeze, a gentle breeze, which came from all directions.
A sob left my throat, but I managed to keep chanting. It was working. The ground trembled beneath my feet, but I barely noticed as Samael’s body slowly rebuilt, the rest of his torso first, followed by his ears, then his arms and legs. Within a few moments he was whole.
But he was still ash.
The chanting quieted. “Why isn’t it working?”
A voice came behind us, and everyone tensed. All these paranormals and none of us had heard her approaching.
“You were to includeallfactions, halfling. You forgot the black witch.”
Of course. How could I have been so stupid?
Hannah hobbled toward us, glowering at me. “My invitation must have been lost in the mail.”
Sitri grinned at me from behind her, his pretty face glowing with good humor. “She showed up at the edge of werewolf territory. Insisted I fly her here.”
“Enough chatter,” Hannah snapped. “Chant!”
I launched back into the chant, and voices slowly joined me as Hannah walked toward the mattress. She cut her hand, allowing the three drops to fall on Samael. Why wasn’t I surprised that she knew exactly how the counter spell worked?
Her voice joined ours as she took a step back, and a golden glow streamed from Samael’s body.
The glow shone brighter, brighter, brighter, until I had to slam my eyes closed or be blinded. And then the glow disappeared.
I opened my eyes, and they met exultant silver.
“Hello, little witch.”
