Cassandra’s eyes were downcast as she fingered a silver ring on her right hand.“He was my betrothed and I loved him and thought he felt the same. I rejected him when I learned he intended to petition for more than one wife.”She lifted her eyes. “Although I can read his thoughts, he cannot read mine, an advantage that has proved most helpful.”
Morgan shook her head.“I am so sorry he broke your heart. The ability to read minds is the same with us, and a useful tool. Although of late a few of the male Wizards have found ways to block their thoughts. Please go on.”
Cassandra sighed as though the weight of the world rested on her shoulders.“I confronted him and broke off the engagement. Eventually, he did apologize and vowed that I was the only one for him, but by then the damage was done. I told him I could not trust him to keep his word. Trolls are hardheaded, and he said he would not give up until I agreed to marry him. When he learned I’d been captured by the president of the Talons, he followed me to the island. The infuriating man has allied himself with a Wizard…”
“For a Troll to try and form an alliance with a male Wizard takes courage. He sounds like an extraordinary man to risk so much to find you.”Morgan pulled the covers over one of the children’s shoulders as a plan took form.“Vlad’s hold over the magical community might be slipping. The proof is doubled—not only was your man able to ally himself with a male Wizard, but Zephra discovered the Air Wizards are not all as loyal to Vlad as he might hope. If we can prove that the president of the Talons and Vlad are abusing their powers for their own gain, others might join our cause.”
“What you suggest is dangerous.”
“So is doing nothing. We cannot hide the Wizardlings forever. Alert me the moment you know when the Troll and the Wizard arrive in Seattle.”
“Milady, there is a disturbance in the air.” A young woman stood in the doorway, dressed in black, her hair pulled into a tight knot at the base of her neck, her eyes steady and calm, and the lineage of a warrior evident in her stance. The farther Vlad’s yacht sped from the island, the stronger the female Wizards became, another indication the male Wizards’ hold over their female counterparts was loosening.
Morgan was encouraged but knew they needed more time to reach their full potential. An attack now could be disastrous. “Cassandra, if the children awake, please do your best to keep them from becoming afraid.”
Then Morgan motioned for the young woman to follow her into the hallway. She shut the door behind her, not wanting to wake the Wizardlings. “Una, how long do we have?”
“Not long. An Air Wizard was spotted moments ago.”
Morgan tied her own hair behind her neck, fastening it with one of her elastic bracelets. “I want you to stay here and help Cassandra guard the children.”
“Yes, milady. What are my orders if they get past you and the other female Wizards?”
“We are at war and the Wizardlings are our future. Defend the children at all cost. If necessary, protect them with your life.”
Morgan hurried to the upper deck, sending a message via her thoughts to her sister Wizards that an attack was imminent. Pushing the door to the outside open, she was met with an explosion of wind. The blast was as cold as an Air Wizard’s heart. She shoved against the gust and ran along the walkway, searching the sky.
Behind the mist rising from the sea, and the low-hanging cloud cover, she saw a dark outline of a ship heading straight for them. The cloud cover made it impossible to determine the number of Vlad’s men onboard. Zephra believed the Air Wizards would help them, but all indications so far suggested that their loyalty remained with Vlad.
She sent another message, this time for the female Wizards to meet her on the forward deck and prepare for battle.
A hurricane-force wind threw her against the side of the ship, while a series of gusts of air tossed the yacht like a toy ship in a bathtub. Scrambling to her feet, she grabbed the railing to keep from being blown overboard. Her hair came loose, whipping around her face in the gale-force winds. Gathering the strength of the ocean, she pulled her way to the forward deck. Many female Wizards were already waiting for her, struggling to keep their balance.
The ship that sped toward hers was also blown off course. The windstorm was Wizard-made, but it was difficult to ascertain if the Air Wizards were helping the female Wizards or Vlad’s men.
“Rhiannon, Etain, Sabrina, bring ropes,” Morgan shouted. “Sisters, tie yourselves down, but remember—keep your arms free. We have spell work to do.”
Etain slipped on the wet deck, crumbling in fear. Morgan helped her to her feet. She wiped the trail of tears from the young woman’s ashen face and secured her to the railing.
The woman lifted her hopeful gaze toward Morgan. “Can we defeat the Air Wizards?”
Morgan infused the strength of Caitlin into her voice. “We must.”
She then tied herself to the forward railing, tugging the rope securely around her waist. The bow of the ship where she stood received a punishing blast of freezing air. Sheshuddered, thoroughly grounded her resolve, raised her arms, and summoned the seas. Her sisters mirrored her actions.
Her voice rose to challenge the wind’s fury. “Danu, patroness of female Wizards, we beseech you! Please help summon Cliodna, the goddess of the sea, and daughter of the Sea God, Manannán, and Aine, goddess of mermaids, to our aid us in this desperate hour.”
Her sister Wizards repeated the words, and each time their voices gained in strength. Powerful water spells vibrated around the ship. The ocean began to awaken as though from a slumbering sleep and churned in response. Waves crashed against the ship, but instead of the action rocking it back and forth, they held it in place, as though in the protective palm of a mother’s hand.
Morgan’s voice grew louder, as female voices lifted with hers until the sound drowned out the storm raging around them. Spells rose in volume, matching the intensity of the gale-force winds.
The air, black as pitch, shimmered like mercury, as though trying to ward off the water-Wizard magic. Waves rose to join with the spells to form a solid wall of protection around the ship. Morgan sent words of encouragement to her sister Wizards to hold on and fight through their fears and the growing drain on their powers. She did not know how long they could hold on. Few would escape a full attack from an army of Air Wizards.
The sea churned and bubbled as it released an army of its own. Killer whales surfaced, circling the ship that was following them. A giant Kraken surfaced and grabbed the ship in its tentacles. Screams lifted on the air as Air Wizards dove overboard or took to the sky to flee the attacks.
Danu had answered their prayers. Morgan and her sister Wizards intensified their chants, their voices rising even higher.
Time lost its meaning. Each moment felt like a lifetime. Morgan said a silent prayer that her strength and the barriers created by their spells would hold. Then she felt a change in the air, a softening.
