You’ve looked at it a lot more often than I have. And I seriously doubt Zayne would have some non-magic copy of your grandmother’s ring hanging around. What good would that do?
I gritted my teeth and tried again, bringing the memory of Aspen’s house into my mind. That’s where I wanted to go.
Click. The sound came from the door, and on instinct, I sucked in a massive breath. I jumped off the bed and threw my hand behind my back to hide the ring. Nine released a high-pitched yowl and surged at least a foot in the air, then landed back on the comforter with his back arched high.
The same woman who had been in here with Nine when I arrived with my uncle was back with a tray of food in her hand.
Maybe she hadn’t seen the ring. But by the narrowing of her brow, I was positive that she had.
“How did you get that?” She dropped the tray and thrust out her hand. A white blast of magic shot through the air.
In an instant, my entire hand burned with heat, and I threw it up to protect Nine and me. The burst ripped through hers and slammed into the woman’s chest, throwing her back into the corridor wall with a tremendous crash. She lay there, unmoving in a heap. Her magic absorbed into me.
My heart nearly stopped. Was she dead? Had I killed the woman? There was no time to answer those questions, so I scooped up Nine, who dug his claws into my shoulder, and trained my eyes on the exit. That was my only way out unless the magic was going to suddenly whisk us off.
Shouts came from the hall and panic set into my chest. I was not getting out that way. The only other two possibilities were the tiny mousehole under the bed or through the one window, but it was locked tight.
Zayne skidded into the open doorway, his hands flaring with magic.
With my ring warming my hand again, I released another burst of magic that blocked him from entering. Then I balled my free hand into a fist, squared myself and did probably the stupidest thing I could do. Clutching Nine, I raced straight for the window and released my magic into the air. As if a Christmas miracle, the wall seemed to fade away and we launched from the room—free for that one moment.
My white magic encased us, and dizziness swept over me. “Please, take me back to Aspen,” I muttered.
But like a slingshot, reality and sweltering heat came full force, and instead of Tumbling Falls, I found myself still in Eylada, perched in the saddle of the very same war dog chained beneath my window.
What the—! Nine screeched. This was a terrible idea!
Chapter 15
“You’re the one that had that mouse bring me the ring!” I shouted at Nine. “What did you expect I was going to do with it?
But he was not wrong. What I just did was a terrible idea. I had no control over my magic and I knew it, but we were past the point of no return. Thankfully the dust storm must have passed, but the intense heat pressed on my body and moisture instantly formed under my collar. Why did I have to still be wearing a stupid sweater and jeans?
Trying to get my bearings, I whipped my head up, and the window I’d leaped from appeared as if nothing had happened. Had I jumped through the wall as if it were air and then the magic transported me? I didn’t understand it at all.
The war dog snarled and pulled at his chain, breaking me from my question.
I dug my legs into the beast’s sides, ripped Nine from my shoulder and plopped him down directly in front of me on the saddle. I’d ridden horses many times in Montana, but this thing was no horse.
“Hang on,” I shouted to Nine and grabbed the reins. “This is going to get bumpy.”
Are you seriously going through with this? Nine growled and wrapped his front legs, claws extended, into the leather of the saddle.
I thrust my free hand toward the chain securing the giant dog, all while mumbling a little prayer under my breath that this wouldn’t be the death of us both. I wasn’t ready to die yet. The magic had brought me here, and I was going to have to trust it.
White energy sparked around my hand and blasted at the metal, breaking apart two of the links with a snap. The dog growled and reared up partially on its hind legs, nearly throwing us to the ground.
Josy! Nine screamed in my mind and gripped tighter to the saddle.
I dug my legs in deeper and somehow Nine and I stayed on—maybe it was magic, maybe it was the prayer, but I didn’t care as long as we weren’t dead yet.
The dog snapped its teeth, still attempting to shake us off.
I inhaled deeply and focused my magic through the reins to the hound. We’re not trying to hurt you. We need your help. I pushed the thought into its mind, and in the blink of an eye, the dog dropped and planted itself onto its four paws, kicking up dust into the air and nearly giving me whiplash. Somehow the suggestion worked. “Get us out of here,” I panted, hoping the dog would know where to go since I had no clue.
The wooden pen had to be over eight feet tall, but I had the feeling the dog could jump it if not chained. Pounding boots and shouting sounded from outside the enclosure. If we were going to do this, it had to be sooner rather than later.
“Back up,” I ordered the dog.
What are you going to do? Nine asked, his face buried, but I didn’t bother to answer. Knowing was not going to make him feel any better about the situation.
Upon my order, the dog took several steps backward until he had butted us up to the fencing. Its shoulders tensed, and the powerful muscles in its legs quivered underneath us.
Nine twisted his head just enough to eye me. This just keeps getting worse!
“You don’t want to be stuck here either.” I barely got the words out before the war dog howled and charged. I lowered my head and brought my chest closer to its back, covering Nine in the process to help keep him in place. The hot air pounded against my face as the dog shot into the air and sailed over the fence. We slammed to the ground on the other side, and what I saw was most definitely not better than the view I had inside the pen.
At least a dozen Morelli soldiers charged our position, sparkling white magic emanating from each of them.
“Go!” I shouted to the dog and instantly it shot forward, pounding the dirt with its powerful paws.
Quickly I summoned my magic. I twisted back, pulled their magic into my center, and shot the energy back their way before they could use it against me.
Several giant hawks swooped in from above, and I snapped the reins to urge the dog on faster. The problem was I didn’t even know where I was going.
“Don’t use magic against her!” came Zayne’s voice from above as he shouted to his soldiers. “Common weapons only!”
I gazed up to my uncle riding a brown hawk, his eyes trained on me. The bird dove and swooped in with its talons extended, ready to snatch me from the dog’s back. But on instinct, the dog shifted to the left and hurtled us down the street.
My breath came in furious pants as the high temperature bore down on me. My clothing was already almost completely drenched in sweat, but I still clung to the war dog.
Do you actually have a plan to get us out of here? Nine asked. Because right now it’s not looking that good!
Instead of answering, I pulled at the reins to guide the dog to the right and down a side street. I shot a quick glance back at the hawks that carried my uncle and the other Morelli. They were keeping some distance instead of attacking. But why?
I snapped the reins to speed up the panting animal, but the second I did something flicked from the ground directly in front of us, and the dog lost its footing and tumbled into the air. Zayne had used some kind of force to stop us. The beast yelped and threw Nine and me from its back. My magic automatically lassoed Nine, and I pulled the flailing cat to my chest and covered him to protect him. I slammed into the dirt and pain raked up my side, but I shook it off, dropping my gaze to Nine to make sure he was okay.
Ugh, he moaned and spat dirt from his mouth.
He was still with me.
I tucked him under my arm like a football and scrambled to my feet
. The war dog was also upright and snarling at the horde of Morelli closing on us.
I spun in a three-sixty to assess my surroundings. We were flanked by plain one- and two-story buildings, several of which had Morelli gawking at the excitement through their windows.
Around thirty male and female white-haired soldiers dressed in dark uniforms now held positions ahead of us.
On the opposite side, my uncle had landed his hawk about twenty feet from me and dismounted. Sans any type of visible weapon, he was holding out his hands at chest height, as if to disarm me.
My pulse raced in my ears, and Nine dug his face into my side. The war dog growled from behind me, and I twisted to look, fearing it had turned on me, but its attentions were fixed on Zayne.
“Josy. This was completely unnecessary.” My uncle halted and kept his eyes on the giant dog. “I’m only trying to do what’s best for you . . . keeping you safe.”
The warmth of magic spread from my ring, and I held my hand out to him. “I wanted to come here to speak to you about making peace, but you have no intention of doing that. You haven’t seen what I have. There is a darkness spreading over The Side of Magic.”
He tipped his head in interest and turned his attention briefly to the soldiers behind me. He held out his hand as if to stay them.
“You’ve seen the wraiths, then?” he asked, keeping his voice calm.
My mouth fell open and my sweaty hands nearly lost their grip on Nine, but I caught him back up. “You know about the wraiths?”
“Why would you assume that you and your mother were the only people who had visions of such things? The difficulty is that you view the wraiths and their masters as a problem, whereas I see them as a solution to get the Directorate out of our way. Right now we have two adversaries, but if the Directorate are destroyed, we only have one enemy left.”
“It’s not going to be that simple. I’ve seen it, and the only option is to join our forces, or we will all die.”
Zayne wrinkled his brow. “There are multiple possible options for the future. When I make my choices, I try to find the option where the most Morelli live and take that path. Why would I care about the witches and wizards of magic society? They’ve scorned us for centuries. I care about our people! And you can be a part of the solution for saving them.”
My head spun from a mixture of his words and the heat.
Zayne flickered his attention behind me, and I spun to see soldiers racing toward our way. They were going to take me down in my weakness.
The war dog lunged at them, and a bolt of magic shot from Zayne toward the hound. Inhaling deeply as the world slowed and twisted, I stretched out my hand and funneled the white power to me.
Like a snap, my mind wandered to snow and pine trees, and as soon as it did, I found myself collapsing into a large, soft snowdrift.
I released Nine from my grasp as a figure raced from what might have been a house.
Aspen! Nine’s panicked, muffled voice entered my mind. Josy needs help.
Chapter 16
Familiar voices played in the background, and consciousness came and went as Aspen carried me into the house. He laid me on what I thought might be the couch in the living room. My head flopped to the side toward blurry flames blazing in the fireplace, and the little bit of focus I had left remained transfixed on their dance.
“You’re burning up.” He placed his hand to my forehead and called. “Mom!”
Dawn’s voice came from a very faraway place. “I’ve got it. What do you need me to do?”
I blinked several times, attempting to clear my vision, but it didn’t help much, although I could make out Dawn holding what I thought was Aspen’s wizard travel kit.
“I’m pretty sure I have some Boneset for her fever in there,” Aspen said. “Follow the dosage on the label and make a tea. Tastes awful, so make sure to add a bunch of honey.”
Dawn bobbed her head and headed out of the room.
“Is this real?” I mumbled.
Aspen had pulled a chair up next to me and sat in it. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “As far as I can tell.” As he pushed the hair from the side of my face, his hand glowed blue, and coolness traveled from my temples all the way down my body. “That should help, and the tea will take care of the rest.”
I took in a long draw of air, and my eyes began to clear slightly. Beside me, Nine popped up and planted his front paws on the side of the couch. She’s going to be okay, right? He wavered his attention between Aspen and me.
“I think she’ll live another day to make sure you have your supper.” Aspen patted Nine on the head.
Nine laid his ears back. That’s not why I was asking.
“I know, buddy,” Aspen said. “I’m worried about her, too.”
Nine jumped on top of me and settled in between my body and the couch cushions. Immediately he began kneading my side, not a typical cat behavior he made much use of.
I sat up partially and turned to Aspen.
His blue eyes swam with uncertainty. “Nine told me that you went to The Middle and it didn’t go so well.”
I shook my head and whispered, “I didn’t mean to go, and I think my uncle is too hardened to help us. He can only see what he wants.”
Clinking sounds came from the kitchen, and I turned my attention that way. Dawn stood alone, pouring the prepared tea into a cup. Memories of the events right before I traveled to The Middle came flooding back to me, and my chest tightened. “Where are your brother and dad?”
Aspen bit his lip. “Even with you disappearing, I didn’t think it was right to wait to tell them. So in true Rivers fashion, we all sat down to a meeting. Mom admitted everything, and Dad said he needed to get some air for a few days. Clay went with him.”
My head swam again, and I dropped back onto the throw pillow behind me. Not that it was my fault, but Christmas had been ruined. “Do you know where they are?”
“Staying with some relatives, but they’ll be back.”
I took his hand and refrained asking anything further. Aspen knew his family and culture infinitely better than I did.
Footsteps came from the kitchen and Dawn appeared behind Aspen. She gave me a soft smile. “I’m glad you’re back. I thought Aspen was going to go crazy searching for you. But I told him that this was the most likely place you’d return to and waiting here was his best option.” She eyed Aspen and handed him the tea. “Luckily, he listened to me this time.”
Aspen took the mug from her and slipped his free hand under my back to help me up. His other hand glowed with magic again and the steam coming off the tea turned iridescent blue. “This should completely get rid of your fever.”
Dawn patted Aspen on the shoulder. “I’ll be in my room if you need me.”
He nodded to her and returned his attention to me.
For a brief moment I fixed on him and let my relief that I was here settle in, then I took the mug and brought it to my lips for a sip. Bitter liquid mixed with the sweetness of honey flowed over my tongue. The corners of my lips turned down in displeasure, and I held the cup away from me slightly.
“You need to drink it all for it to work.” Aspen pushed it closer to me.
I furrowed my brow but did as he said. By the last drop, my body tingled as if thousands of little effervescent bubbles danced under my skin. Then as fast as they came, the tingling was gone, and so was the heat from my fever. Quickly I sat up all the way, and Nine backed off me and settled at the other end of the couch. I threw my arms around Aspen, every bit of the terror I’d experienced in Eylada hitting me again.
Tears gushed from my eyes and flowed down my cheeks. “My uncle is not going to stop until he has me back.”
Aspen wrapped his strong arms around me more tightly, and I just wanted to melt into him—to make everything else go away. But I knew that avoiding my fate was impossible. He slipped his hand up into the back of my hair and then gently released and eased me from him. Before he spoke, he studied me in
tently.
“If Nine wasn’t exaggerating when he told me what happened—”
Hey! Nine complained.
Aspen eyed him and continued, “And I don’t think he was, you took pretty good care of yourself. If you learn to control your magic at will, I don’t think that anyone is going to be able to stop you.”
“What if Zayne finds me before that?”
Aspen grazed my cheek with his thumb and dried the tears. “If he could follow you, he’d be here by now.”
I took a long, settling breath and wiped my hands over my eyes. The memory of my uncle’s words about training me to understand my magic came to the forefront of my mind and I let them settle for a moment before I finally said, “I need a tutor.”
Aspen lifted his right brow. “I know a tutor, but I don’t know anything about Morelli magic.”
I stared intently into his eyes. “How long do we have before the end of the holiday?” My uncle said I’d been asleep for a day, but I had no way of confirming that while I was in Eylada.
He pinched his lips in thought. “Two weeks before we should head back.”
“Then we have two weeks to study the Spells of the Ancients book. When we return, I need to visit Professor Magnolis. She has to know something about this underground society on campus for reuniting the Morelli with The Side of Magic.”
Aspen set his jaw. “I’ll do everything I can to help.”
Determined, I stood—and then looked down at my filthy sweater and jeans. “But first I really need to take a shower and change my clothes.”
I didn’t want to mention it when I thought that you might die, Nine groaned from the couch and twisted around to lick at his back. But that’s over, so I’d recommend it.
I turned back to Aspen and widened my eyes in offense at the cat’s words.
Aspen gave me a soft smile and raised his hands in surrender.
“You wouldn’t have made it out of there if it weren’t for me, Nine,” I said.
The cat stopped his bathing and eyed me. I could say the same for you.
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