I quickly start saying the words again, trying to match my coven and the spirits. All of our gazes stay on Renata, who is writhing in pain, but hasn’t stopped the incantation.
Her muscles begin to loosen and she slowly rolls her head forward. When she opens her eyes, loud gasps rip out of us. Clementine even squeals in fright. We don’t pause.
Not even when Renata looks forward, eyes rolled back and glowing white like she’s possessed.
A surge of magic runs through me and around the circle. From his spot on Archer’s stomach, Whisper starts to howl loudly. All of our familiars begin making a cacophony of noises, and electricity starts to spark in my veins. It’s created a circuit through our connection and grows stronger from our familiars.
Hexate injected Renata with magic, fueling her depleting store of it.
I’ve never seen anything like this type of power.
A small orb of light floats above Archer’s chest, growing brighter quickly now.
“Don’t stop,” Renata gasps out as her spirit floats out of her mouth and takes all the air with her.
There’s a soft tug on my chest pulling me toward Archer’s soul. It’s not as strong. Still, a faint small wisp leaves my body. Same for the rest of the coven.
When the air thins and we’re gasping for breath, all of our ancestors keep the chant going for us again.
We’ve never truly been alone.
The force grows stronger, constricting my lungs and pulling out every breath of air until I begin to worry that the magic will take my entire soul—all of ours. Leaving nothing but husks of ourselves for Archer to find.
The panic only makes it harder to breathe, and right as I truly believe I’m about to die, the hold on my chest releases at the same time we all take a collective breath.
Except for Renata.
Her spirit leaves her body and tangles with Archer’s, dancing in the space above his chest. Each of our souls flutter over Archer’s body before sinking into his skin.
Color slowly starts to rush across his skin. It isn’t until their souls split and return to their own bodies that he takes a deep, gasping breath.
“Oh, thank the Gods,” Sybil cries when his chest slows to a stable, but shallow, rhythm.
At the same moment, the chanting around us stops, and the room warms up.
Renata gasps right before she faints, falling in her and Archer’s blood.
Chapter 51
Archer
Standing in the eastern field, I watch Petra’s rage and heartbreak take over.
“This is your fault,” she tells him and points a finger at Nestor’s chest. “All of it! You bastard.” She shoves him, and he almost trips over his own feet. “Everything that has happened is because of you!”
He reaches for her, but she pulls away. A loud crack breaks through the air at the same second a portal opens a few meters away.
Petra falls to her knees as she lets out a guttural scream, and Nestor stands in front of her, protecting her from someone.
Calista.
She steps through the tree line and I catch the shimmer of her portal only a few feet behind her.
“Nestor, my love,” she croons, “I have been looking for you. You were smart to never disclose the exact location of this inn.”
He spits on the ground between them, putting his body in front of Petra’s crumpled form. “You compelled me, youwhore!”
Her mouth twists into a sneer. “You wish for yourbelovedPetra to believe that. We both know that is not the truth, pet. You chose to leave your wife and the ill witch. You left her here, pregnant and alone,practically pushing her into the arms of the man you were already so envious of. Do not lie to her,” she demands in a booming voice.
