I planted my hands on the barrier, which heated my hands even as my purple magic spilled into the spell, mingling with the soft yellow light.
I could tell I was doing a better job than the first time I had tried this, during the summer.
My magic came much faster, and now that I knew ward spells like the back of my hand, I knew exactly how to channel magic through my prism.
The barrier flickered, the glowing symbols on it alternating between scorching with magic and dying to a dim flicker.
No. I’m not giving up any more land.
I set my shoulders and dragged more magic through my prism.
My purple magic now liberally coated the section of wall in front of me.
But it was a drop in the bucket.
The ward enclosed the entire Night Realm. My bits of magic were swirling down the length of the barrier, but I couldn’t pour magic in fast enough. I might be able to fortify a small section of the ward, but it was too big. I’d never be able to fortify the whole thing.
I peered up and down the length of the wall, my heart squeezing painfully when I saw the yellow magic shake and tremble.
This is impossible. There’s no way I could ever pour enough magic into it to power the whole barrier.
“No!” I screamed.
I leaned into my palms, as if I could pour more magic in through sheer will, but my powers were starting to falter.
Just like it had in the parking lot at the market, magic flowed through my prism at a slower and slower rate.
“Come on—I need more magic!” I shouted.
The barrier shook under my hands, and the rumbling grew louder and louder as the black smog on the other side of the barrier pushed.
The magic wall shoved me back about a horse length, almost pushing me off my feet when I locked my knees.
“No! Not again! I’ve practiced so much—Iwon’tlet it happen again!” I shouted, my voice hoarse.
The barrier vibrated, and it hurt my hands to touch it. Pressing my shoulder into it, I ignored the pain. I tried yanking on more magic, but it barely trickled through my prism now.
My purple magic had spread farther down the barrier, but it was a pathetic distance compared to what it needed to be.
No—no! I vowed I wouldn’t let this happen again! I can’t!
“Leila!”
Someone grabbed me by the arm and yanked me backwards. “We have to run!” It was Lord Linus. He dragged me off, pulling me away from the barrier.
“I can’t!” I shouted. “I can’t let us lose any more land! I have to support the ward!”
“You aren’t strong enough!” His callous but true words ripped my heart open.
“I have to try!” I argued.
“Not if it’s going to get you killed! Ready, Chase?”
I tried to yank my arms from Lord Linus’s grip, and even managed to elbow him in the throat, but he somehow managed to throw me up to Chase—who was mounted on Fax.
“Chase, put me down—now!” I snarled.
“Forgive me, Queen Leila, but youhaveto leave. It’s not safe.” Chase wheeled Fax around.
