by Liv Brywood
“I will see you again,” I whisper into the soft folds of the jacket.
Nyx wasn’t the only one to give me a gift. Remus gave me pressed rose petals. The first rose he ever grew, I believe. There could be magic in the petals.
I go back to my desk and open the small compartment carved into the surface. There’s a velvet pouch containing rose petals that have turned deep purple with time. Examining the petals, I spot a tiny heart etched into one of them. Coincidence?
Torak gave me something as well. A song. The sheet music is hidden away in my bedside table. When I retrieve it, the heart drawn in the upper right-hand corner stands out clearly. Once I have all three items, magic hums through the air.
At first, I fear Lexus is returning to finish me off, but the sounds of her clicking heels never come.
I take a deep breath to focus my energy. The magical sensation is coming from the gifts. How is that possible? Wolf shifters don’t have magic.
I examine the little hearts on all of the gifts. Then it hits me.
I always believed these gifts to be symbols of friendship, but the hearts tell me otherwise. Even though these gifts were given long before I knew I loved any of them, love spells were woven into them.
Love magic is tricky. It has a mind of its own, and it’s very difficult to control. Witches learn about it, but no one teaches witches how to wield it. I know enough about love magic to know that the user has to fully understand what it means to love. If they don’t, whatever spell they cast will warp into something twisted and wrong. If the user is feeding off the love of someone else, it’s even more complicated. Not only does the user have to understand love, but they also have to be truly in love with the original caster and the caster has to truly love them in return.
It’s all very complicated.
I’ve heard horror stories about witches turning to dust instantly from casting a bad love spell. We were always cautioned against it. Love spells are only used by stupid, arrogant witches.
However, if it’s wielded correctly, there’s nothing more powerful than a love-based spell.
I understand love thanks to Remus, Nyx, and Torak. I love them with everything that I am, and I know they love me too.
I can wield this magic.
I put on the jacket, gather the rose petals in one hand and hold the sheet music with the other. There are many ways that this could go wrong, but it’s worth the risk. Lexus needs to be stopped, and I have to see my men again.
While I’m no musical genius, I manage to sing Torak’s song. Like everything he writes, it’s a work of beauty.
The rose petals grow warm in my hand. No doubt they were planted in magic soil.
Power builds inside me until I fear I’ll burst open. I almost lose control over it, which causes a small panic. I think of seeing Remus, Nyx, and Torak again and the magic falls back under control.
With a scream, I unleash the power of love magic upon the door, reducing it to a pile of smoldering splinters.
A pair of pale-faced students run by the door. I almost feel bad for scaring them.
When I step out in the hallway, one of them looks over their shoulder at me.
“You need to take cover,” she says.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Shifters are in the school. They’re here to kill us all.”
“Which way?”
She points a trembling hand toward the mouth of the grand staircase. I take off running. The sounds of battle reach my ears. The sensation of magic in the air is so strong that my hair floats in a static cloud around my face.
I reach the final landing and stop in my tracks. The ongoing battle is vicious. Bolts of magic fly across the room. Shifters of all species snap and slash at witches. Blood mars the once pristine marble floors. Some have already fallen on both sides.
Fear squeezes my throat as I look at the dead. Remus, Nyx, and Torak are blessedly not among them. I search for them, but everything is a blur punctuated by disorienting flashes of light.
A ball of fire explodes nearby. I leap down the remaining stairs to avoid it. Someone has spotted me. They must realize I’m not an ally.
I craft a protective aura around myself and move behind the staircase railing.
From my new vantage point, I finally glimpse my wolf shifters. My heart could burst as I see all three of them fighting in tandem in their wolf forms. Relief loosens the anxious knot in my belly. The battle is overwhelming in every way, but at least I know the men are taking care of each other.
I weave a protection spell around them for good measure. They’re all moving so wildly that it takes all of my concentration to hold it.
A writhing bear shifter catches my eye. I realize, with a horrified gasp, that he’s shifting against his will. Once in human form and much more vulnerable to magic, he’s run through with an ice spike that’s almost as large as he is. My heart wails as his body goes limp.
I can’t stand here any longer. I have to get in there and help. More than anything, I want to fight beside Remus, Nyx, and Torak, but I must go to where I’m most useful, not where I want to be.
Minerva and Azealia are near the center of the bloodied foyer. They stand back to back, blasting streams of magic outward to devastating effect. They’re more powerful than all of the witches in this room combined, with the exception of Lexus, but they’re unprotected.
Moving will shatter my protection spell. I don’t know that I can make it to where Minerva and Azealia stand without it.
“Iris!” A familiar voice grabs my attention. It’s Remus!
Wait, what? I can hear him in my head. He’s still in wolf form. How is this possible?
Remus, Nyx, and Torak dash up the stairs to where I am. I grab hold of each of them, letting the battle fade away for just a moment. When I pull away from Nyx, his fur is bloody.
“Don’t worry. It’s not mine.” His upper lip pulls back over his wolf-teeth in a way that resembles his well-known smirk.
I still can’t believe we can communicate while they’re shifted, but now is not the time to question it. I’ll figure out our sudden ability to be telepathic with each other later.
“Azealia and Minerva need help,” I explain. “The protection spell surrounding you will weaken if I move away.”
“There’s a protection spell around us?” Torak’s wolf form snarls.
“Of course. I’m not here to admire the view.” I give him a nudge.
“Don’t worry about us,” Remus says. “Protect the witches. If we lose them, this will be much harder.”
“Okay.” I set my jaw. “Be careful.”
“We’ll cover you,” Nyx says.
I transfer the protection spell to Minerva and Azealia. It’s easier to hold it over them since they aren’t moving very much. I bolt into the fray with my three wolves at my side. We tear through everyone who tries to stop us.
Minerva sends out spirals of crackling fire while Azealia unleashes torrents of ice. They nod to me as I stand beside them.
Remus, Nyx, and Torak circle us and keep anyone from getting too close. I whip up swirling air and suck up both Minerva’s fire and Azealia’s ice, making the tornado from hell. I whip it at our enemies. No one attempts to block our combined magic. They all flee the moment they see what we’ve unleashed.
All except Lexus.
Her hair is disheveled. Her eyes are wild, gleaming with madness.
“I’ll turn you all to dust!” She shrieks and charges us.
Remus snarls and swings around to pounce on her.
“Wait.” I call him off. I look to Azealia. “Bind her.”
She nods and sends out ropes of energy similar to the ones that Lexus used to bind me, only they’re much stronger and, from the look on Lexus’ face, very painful.
Azealia brings Lexus closer and forces her to her knees.
“It’s over Lexus.” I’ve dreamed of this moment for weeks. I expected to feel more emotion. I thought I might cry. Instead, there’s just n
umbness and ice in my heart. “You’ve tormented enough people. It’s time for you to stop.”
“Tormented? I’m your savior!” She smirks.
“Tell that to them.” I point to three fallen witches bearing the mark of the school.
“They were weak.” Lexus shrugs.
“So are you,” Minerva says. “I expected more.”
This elicits a thrash from Lexus, though it has no effect on the magical binds.
“What are we going to do with her?” I ask.
“Kill her,” Azealia suggests. “She’s too dangerous for this world.” Azealia’s right, but something about her words don’t sit well with me.
“No.” I hang my head. “I don’t want her death to stain our souls. We’ll banish her to the shadow realm where she can’t do harm.”
“You aren’t strong enough to send me to the shadow realm.” Lexus holds her head high, and a smirk smears across her lips.
“Poor Lexus.” Azealia gives her a pitying look. “You have a knack for underestimating your opponents.” She turns to me. “I’ll lend some of my power.”
“I’ll lend mind as well,” Minerva says.
We join hands. Azealia keeps one hand up to power the magical binds around Lexus. Their power enters me. I begin the incantation.
Black smoke pours in through the shattered windows. Lexus’ eyes go wide. She finally understands she’s been beaten.
“Wait. You don’t have to do this. I’ll go to prison. I’ll leave the coven. Whatever you want. Just don’t send me to the shadow realm.”
“Your heart is a wasteland of ice and darkness. You should live in a place that matches it,” I snap.
“Think about your father,” Lexus begs. “This will destroy him.”
“Don’t you dare,” I shout. “If anything is going to destroy my father, it’s you.”
Lexus begs and blubbers until the black smoke surrounds her completely. Faint laughter signals that the shadow realm creatures are prepared to welcome a new resident. Lexus’ pleas turn to screams.
The black smoke swirls up and dissipates.
She’s gone.
We’re finally safe.
20
Iris
Now that I’ve had more than a few seconds to stand still, I realize how much every inch of my body aches. Using that much magic has physical side effects. I’ve also been tied up and yanked around today. It’s all starting to wear on me.
With Lexus gone, her army falls apart. Witches and warlocks from the Academy walk around with foggy eyes like they’ve been asleep for one hundred years.
“You don’t think Lexus put some kind of mind control spell on them, do you?” I ask Azealia.
“I think that’s exactly what happened. Look at them.” She gestures to the zombie-like academy students.
“Isn’t there a spell or two that will bring them clarity?” Minerva asks.
“There are hundreds, but do you want to make them remember everything Lexus made them do?” Azealia makes a good point.
“Let’s get them healed up first,” I decide. “Give them a chance to remember on their own. If they don’t, we’ll give them a nudge. They deserve to know what Lexus made them do. They need to know so that they don’t fall victim to another evil witch.”
“Are you sure that’s the right choice?” Azealia arches a brow.
“No,” I admit with a hollow laugh.
“Fair enough.” Minerva nods. “We’ll start the healing spells.”
As Azealia and Minerva cast healing spells over the remaining witches and shifters, I look around the room. It seems less populated than it was several minutes ago. There seem to be fewer witches and warlocks bearing the emblem of the school than before.
“Did some witches leave?”
“It looks like it,” Azealia says.
Maybe Lexus didn’t have to brainwash all of them. I bet there were some that were all too willing to join her cause. They would’ve escaped by now. We’ll have to deal with them later.
“Iris.” Remus’ voice rings through the cavernous space.
He, Nyx, and Torak have shifted back into their human forms and are now wearing fresh clothes. I break into a run. My legs are wobbly after using so much magic to open the shadow realm. They open their arms for me as I stumble into them. I’m enveloped on all sides in a warm, safe embrace.
“Are you all okay?” I ask.
My head rests between Nyx and Torak’s shoulders. I feel Remus’ cheek on the back of my head. Now that they’re literally supporting me, I realize how exhausted I am. The men sense it and do what they can to hold me up.
“We’re fine,” Nyx says.
“Not even a scratch on us,” Torak adds proudly.
“I can see a scratch on your arm now.” I run my finger along the angry red line in his arm.
“That’s a graze, not a scratch.”
“Oh, silly me.” I chuckle.
“We should get you home,” Remus says softly.
“Not yet. There’s still work to be done.”
“Argus can handle the rest,” Nyx says.
“I want to stay here until the job is done,” I say. “She was my stepmother. I feel responsible for bringing her into the community.”
“You didn’t bring her into the community. Your father did that. You know it’s not your fault at all, don’t you?” Torak’s voice wavers with concern.
I bite my lip and look down.
“Sometimes I feel like I didn’t try hard enough to stop my mother from driving the night she died.” It’s the first time I’ve said as much out loud. Usually, I don’t even allow the thought to fully form, but it’s always there, lingering at the back of my mind. “If I’d tried harder, she never would’ve died, and Lexus would’ve never come here.”
“That’s utter bullshit,” Remus insists. “You’re a gifted witch, but you don’t have the powers of clairvoyance. You can’t be held responsible for not predicting the future.”
“None of this is on you,” Torak echoes.
“I guess not. And about clairvoyance, did you guys notice I could talk to you while you were shifted?”
“Yeah, it was super weird, but good,” Nyx says. “I just hope you can’t get into our heads all the time.”
I smile and lean on my men until the sharp edges of guilt soften. The grief I feel over the loss of my mother will never fully leave me—I know that—but the burden is easier to bear with them near me.
“There’s Argus.” Nyx jerks his chin in the direction of the foyer. The towering shifter briefly surveys the group before calling everyone over. “Let’s go.”
The men pull away from our shared embrace. Each lays a hand on my back to guide me over to Argus. A crowd of witches and shifters gather around us.
“Well done.” Argus greets me with a firm nod. I suspect that’s high praise from him.
“What’s our next step?” Torak asks.
“The school,” Argus replies. “It’s time to remove it from the landscape of Bonfire Falls.”
“Must we?” a witch asks. Her brow is furrowed and blood smears her cheek. “I know Lexus turned it into a symbol of hatred, but before that, it was a respected school. There’s deep history running through this building. Does all of it deserve to be erased because Lexus went insane?”
A bear shifter growls. “As long as this school stands, it will be a symbol of hatred against shifters.”
“That’s not true,” the witch says. “This school has been a home to many. It was a safe place once.”
“I understand that some of you have ties to this structure,” Argus speaks over the rising din. “Shifters have lost many monuments to war before and believe me, I understand the grief it causes. I don’t wish to remove history. I only wish to remove evil. Lexus’ evil has seeped into the very foundation. She will always be linked to this realm as long as her power has a resting place.”
“We must destroy it,” Azealia says. Her reputation has earned her the respect of every
witch and shifter in the room. The opposers fall silent. “However, evil can be cleansed. The school should be dismantled, but perhaps we can purify the stones and reuse them.” She looks to Argus for his thoughts.
“An excellent idea.” He smiles.
My men and I share a look.
“That’s a lot of stone to get through.” Nyx claps his hands. “We should get started.”
“Agreed.” Argus nods. “We’ll start at the top and work our way down. Work with the greatest of care. Don’t break any building materials unnecessarily.”
“There’s a loose stone in the tower,” I say. “It’s a good starting point for dismantling. The stones are enchanted into place, but the spell isn’t complicated. Most of the students are capable of it.”
“Excellent. Let’s get to work.”
Argus’ army breaks off into groups to begin the laborious task ahead of us.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Remus gently takes me by the forearm.
“I’m a little wobbly,” I say. “I can still do the spell to loosen the stones. It’s simple. It won’t take too much out of me.”
“We’ll handle the heavy lifting.” Nyx winks.
“Everyone’s going up to the towers,” Torak says. “Why don’t we work on the outside structures? The ones that won’t collapse if we move them.”
“Like the garden,” Remus chimes in. “I bet Lexus was growing all kinds of exotic herbs. Maybe we’ll find something to use in the shop.”
It takes hours to collect a decent amount of stone for purification. The top half of the structure looks like a gnarled skeleton.
With the assistance of some promising students, Azealia casts purification spells.
“Many of these stones are beyond saving.” She sighs. “Lexus’ evil ran deeper than we thought.”
“What should we do?” Argus asks.
“After everything we’ve taken down, only five stones have been successfully purified,” Azealia says. “I think it’s best if we destroy the rest. We can’t leave evil like this to putrefy for long. It’ll seep into the earth if we aren’t careful.”