Esmeralda flinched.
Didi moved. “Melody, you and the Ashgrove witches anchor the east and south lines. Mrs. Chen and I will take the north.” She cut her eyes to me as she andMrs. Chen got into position. “You sure you can do this?”
I had absolutely no idea. Still, my wolf thought we could.
“Yes.”
Samuel’s anxiety throbbed across our bond as he rose unsteadily to his feet. Barney took hold of his arm when he made to step toward me. My alpha clenched his jaw and stayed put.
I could see the effort it was costing him not to spring to my side.
“She’s lying!” Esmeralda sneered. “A wolf can’t channel ley line magic. It would tear her apart!”
“This wolf broke your bindings like they were wet paper,” Mrs. Chen said flatly.
Esmeralda’s face darkened.
I tensed when I sensed the magic building around her.
The ground shook again, harder this time.
Whatever she’s doing, she’s pouring everything into it!
“Now would be good!” I barked.
Didi and the other witches placed their hands on grass and dirt and reached for the ley lines. The ancient currents of power trembled before slowly shifting away from the Thornwick witch’s corrupt grasp and toward the pure, clean energy wielded by the six women.
Esmeralda’s expression contorted.
“No!” She slammed both palms into the earth.
It split before her.
My breath caught when a streamof vile energy erupted upward from the crack in a column of black fire that lit the sky.
Mrs. Chen cursed.
My heart drummed painfully against my ribs as my white wolf’s vision revealed something only the witches could see.
The stolen healing magic of the Lincoln sisters blazed within the dark pillar like trapped stars.
“This power is mine!” Esmeralda screamed, spit flying from her lips. “I earned it! I bled for?—!”
A fire extinguisher struck her in the side of the head and knocked her to the ground.
Gavin stood a short distance away, nostrils puffing and face pale.
Esmeralda groaned and stirred.
Movement in the sky made my mouth go dry.
The pillar of dark magic twisted and dipped toward the witches.
I heard Samuel shout my name as I stepped into its path and raised my hands. My skin, hair, and eyes flared with light.
My white wolf caught the blast squarely. The impact drove my boots six inches into the soft earth. Pain squeezed my arms. My chest. My skull. The sheer volume of corrupt power washing over me and my wolf battered our senses like a hurricane against a sea wall.
We growled and held our ground.
