For a moment, the shadows stopped mattering.
“You—” She stopped herself.
Stella followed her gaze, and the skillet in her hand lowered slowly.
“Well,” she said after a moment. “That’s unexpected.”
Rendel didn’t react.
He stood exactly where he had been, calm in a way that felt almost stubborn now that chaos was circling above us.
Nova recovered first.
“You have a lot of nerve showing your face,” she said coldly.
Stella glanced up at the sky again.
“Nova,” she said quietly. “Not the moment.”
She gestured overhead as the shadows started diving again.
Any reunion, hostile or otherwise, would have to wait.
The first wave dropped straight toward us, and Ardetia stepped forward before anyone else could react. Her hands rose, elegant and precise, and a ribbon of pale blue magic swept outward in a wide arc.
Three shadows hit it and shattered.
Vivienne clapped her hands once. A burst of bright sparks shot upward like a firework, cutting through the swarm and sending several shapes scattering.
Opal and Mara joined her, their magic weaving together quickly, instinctively.
Bella didn’t bother with spells other than the one she cast to protect herself.
She launched herself into the air and collided with one of the diving shadows hard enough to break it apart like smoke caught in a strong wind. It was as if it had bounced off some imaginary bubble she’d managed to conjure.
“Well,” she said. “That seems effective.”
Skonk swung the broom again, knocking another shadow sideways.
“I’m having a very bad afternoon!” he shouted.
Twobble darted between everyone’s legs and drew a circle in the soil. The edges glowed, and the interior flared brighter.
“Everyone, please remain inside the goblin safety perimeter!”
“Is it safe?” Stella asked.
“Absolutely not!” Skonk answered. “Not against this.”
The shadows screamed again, and the sound rippled through the forest like something tearing apart.
Nova’s eyes dropped to my shoulder, and her expression tightened.
“Maeve.”
“I know.” I nodded.
“That’s a mark.” She eyed me.
