Corey groaned. “Barnaby”
But Barnaby was already sprinting away, yelling down the hall, “Guys! Corey’s gone soft!”
Corey shut his eyes and muttered to himself, “It’s going to be a long day.”
Chapter 12
Mandy and Erin were already dressed and waiting by the door when Davina came down the stairs. Erin was holding Mandy’s hand, her curls bouncing as she hopped on one foot.
Mandy smiled faintly. “It’s time for you two to put your abilities to use. Since Erin’s still young, you’ll need to take the lead, Davina.”
Davina hesitated. “It’s been a long time since I used my powers like that,” she admitted.
“You’ll be fine,” Mandy said gently. “The forest will listen to you. It always does.”
They stepped out into the crisp morning air. The sky was pale with early light, the kind that still carried a chill. Together, they walked toward the forest that bordered the manor grounds.
Mandy stopped at the treeline and turned to them. “Be patient,” she said. “I’m placing wards as far out as I can. Once they’re up, you can take over.”
She closed her eyes. When they opened again, her left eye glowed a deep, solid Violet. Erin gasped softly. Davina stood still, watching as the energy around Mandy began to ripple it was faint at first, then stronger, a visible current that pulsed outward into the trees.
Mandy’s mind stretched far beyond what her body could see. Her energy threaded through the soil, climbed tree trunks, wove around roots and stones. She was riding the current, mapping every inch of the forest with her mind.
Inside the manor, Lucy’s mind split mid-spar with Byron. A sharp hum ran through her chest. She couldfeelMandy’senergy moving through the land. It pulled at her instincts like a magnetic thread.
Without thinking, Lucy extended her own power. and a wave of her energy surged outward, twining with Mandy’s wards. The strange thing was, she didn’t lose focus. She could feel her body still moving through the motions of training, blocking Byron’s next hit, shifting her weight while part of her mind soared alongside Mandy’s in the forest.
Two places at once,she thought.How beautiful.
Outside, Mandy felt the sudden influx. The wards blazed brighter than she’d ever seen. She laughed under her breath, exhilarated. “Oh, Lucy…” she murmured. “You clever girl.”
With Lucy’s energy added to hers, the process doubled in strength. She wove larger knots of power into the ground, anchoring them deep. The land shimmered faintly, pulsing with violet light before fading back into stillness.
When the last knot sealed, Mandy exhaled and whispered through the link,Thank you.
Lucy’s voice brushed softly across her mind in reply.You’re welcome.
Mandy smiled. The wards were complete.
“Right,” she said aloud, turning back to Davina and Erin. “My part’s done. Now it’s your turn. We need the forest dense and uninviting.”
Davina glanced down at Erin. “Step back, little one. Let me try first.”
Erin obediently took a few steps back, eyes wide with anticipation.
Davina took a deep breath. When she looked up again, her irises had turned pitch black, swallowing all colour. The air around her trembled.
“By the gods,” Mandy whispered.
Davina raised her hands slightly and began to speak low words in an ancient tongue, rough with power. The ground responded instantly. Roots twisted and surged from beneath the soil, snaking around the trees. Vines thick as ropes unfurled from the branches, knotting together. Thorns burst from the undergrowth, glinting wetly in the early light.
The forest wasmoving. Growing. Breathing.
Inside the manor, every person stopped what they were doing. Even Byron turned his head toward the window, brows lifting.
“What the hell…” he murmured.
Lucy moved to the window beside him and stared. Davina stood in the clearing like a storm in human form, her hair lifting slightly with the current of energy swirling around her. The forest bent to her will, transforming from peaceful woodland into an unwelcoming wall of green and shadow.
