She started to sketch a pentacle on Kellan’s chest in charcoal, and then arranged white and purple candles around the five-point star. Within the circle she placed a bundle of herbs and a few tiny bones, which would most likely be from a small bird or rodent. The candles were joined by a dark, shimmering string, and while I had no idea what the material was, it was threaded with gold. When this string was secured, and joined all five points of the pentacle, that gold brightened until it hurt to look directly upon.
The candles lit with a snap of her fingers; the scent of sulfur, lavender, and frankincense filled the room, almost overwhelming in its intensity. A cool breeze drifted through the open door, and I expected it to wash away the scent of the candles, but it only grew stronger.And hotter. Until we were bathed in a magical sauna.
With the next breeze, three witches drifted into the room. A male and two females. They varied in size and skin tone, but all of them exuded that same bitter, unearthly scent of magic. The scent of those who dabbled in energy that wasn’t freely available to all of us.
“Hurry,” Jewels snapped, the heat picking up as she swirled her hand over the top of the pentacle. “I need you to join in and reinforce the spell now.”
The witches’ hands joined with a snap, as if they’d practiced that move until it was perfect and in sync. They started to chant in another language, low and murmured. If my limitedknowledge of the magical community was correct, most spells required an ancient dialect of Latin.
The heat picked up as their chanting grew louder, and if Hunter hadn’t been a solid weight at my back, I’d have been buffeted around by the winds. There was a heaviness to this magic, pressing against us, reminding us that we were mere mortalsallowedto exist in this world. Magic was eternal, and we were blips in life.
The chanting reached its pinnacle, and as the final note died off, they wrenched their hands apart, and Jewels palmed a large, ornate dagger. Instinct had me lurching forward, disturbed by her holding a weapon so close to Kellan, but he wasn’t the one to come under the sharp blade.
The dagger bit into Jewels’ palm, which she held over the top of the pentacle and Kellan’s chest. Exactly eight drops fell, and when they sizzled against his skin, I held my breath.
This was it. The moment the spell took.
This was when we’d know if he was strong enough to embrace the counterspell and destroy the magic holding him hostage. The witches remained silent, eyes closed for many tense seconds, and I was forced to suck in the hot, scented air... Passing out wouldn’t help Kellan.
Jewels waved her hand over the candles and the flames died out. “The next hour is crucial,” she said, meeting Hunter’s gaze. There was a fine sheen of sweat on her brow, and she panted slightly. “I’ll see the others out and then return to help you keep watch.”
The witches turned to leave, as silently as they’d arrived, and I hurriedly added, “Thank you for offering your energy and magic to save our pack mate. We appreciate it.”
Hunter’s chest moved against my back, and I heard his wolf growl in response.Whoops.Had I just unintentionally overstepped and undermined the entitled alpha?
“Yes, you have our gratitude,” he finally said, and I relaxed once more. “I will have our accountants send the usual fees for this type of work today.”
I’d never heard any mention of money, but Hunter knew how this shit worked. All three nodded their heads respectfully and exited the room.
The oppressive magic and rotten eggs scent left with the witches, and I was glad they were gone. I didn’t love strangers or magic, and they were the worst of both.
“Can you feel any changes with Kel?” I asked, unsure if we were allowed to approach him now.
Slade moved to the side of the bed and dropped his hand right on his brother’s chest, smudging through the pentacle. “There’s a battle within him. The two magics war, and I can’t tell which side is stronger.”
“Kellan will be stronger,” Hunter said without an ounce of doubt in his tone.
I stumbled into Kellan’s side and reached out to grasp his hand. It was hot to touch again, but not in the same way as before. This heat was moderate, warming my hand without burning. “Come on, Golden,” I breathed, squeezing his fingers. “You’ve got this.”
“I’m going to grab us some food,” Hunter said, heading for the door. “Don’t go anywhere until I return.”
Finley sat on the other side of Kellan, and grabbed the hand I wasn’t holding. “I don’t think food is that important,” he said, glancing up at Hunter. “The witch said this first hour was critical.”
“A few minutes to ensure all of us are fed won’t hurt,” Hunter shot back quickly, and while I couldn’t see Hunter’s expression—he was behind me—I noticed Finley look at him and then at me.
Should have known that it wasn’tall of ushe was intent on feeding. “I’m absolutely fine,” I huffed, tilting my head back tomeet his dark gaze. “I can wait an hour or longer. We all need to be here with him.”
Hunter pressed his hand against my shoulder, the firm touch grounding. “I can hear your stomach rumbling. With Florence’s help, I’ll only be a few minutes.”
I honestly didn’t have the energy to argue with him, so I just shrugged, and when he left the room, I tried to ignore how much I missed both his presence and his touch.
Slade took the chair while Finley and I remained on the bed, clutching Kellan’s hands, the three of us silently staring at our pack mate. It was astonishing that despite the internal battle he fought, Kellan looked perfect. His skin was healthy and tanned, hair thick and shiny, muscles and frame still broad and defined. Except for the growth of dark blond hair on his cheeks, and the off scent in his caramel and cinnamon tones, you’d never know anything was wrong with him.
He couldn’t be dying. How could anyone this strong and healthy fade from existence?
Silently, I urged him to fight, sending my own energy into him. If we’d bonded, I would have figured out how to literally transfer my essence and strength into him. I’d seen my mom do it more than once, sometimes by choice, often by force. There’d be no need for force today.
“The magic grows stronger,” Slade said, jerking forward in his chair. “He’s weakening as he fights.”
