With varying degrees of confidence, the three nodded.
Sarah led the way. Piles of rubble blocked her view of the crack, in turn obstructing Alex’s ability to see them. She picked her way over rocks as far as she dared before crouching behind a pile.
“She’ll be just past there.” Sarah pointed.
Paige tossed the medallion to Kai. “Make it count.”
“You too,” Kai replied. She glanced where she was headed then back at Sarah. The look that passed between them lasted only a second but contained multitudes. It held every I love you they’d ever said. Every squabble, each make-up…all that was to come.
Quinn crouched next to Kai, waiting to strike.
It was up to Sarah and Paige now. The pair clasped hands and linked. Alex would feel the magic coming, so Sarah had to be quick.
Into the breach.
Sarah crept forward, leading Paige. She needed to see Alex in order to—
“What the hell are you two doing here?”
Sarah jerked her head up. Alex wasn’t where Sarah had expected her to be. Perched high atop a pile of rocks and debris, Alex glowed with magic.
A green binding ribbon shot from Sarah’s hand and snaked around Alex, whose eyes widened in shock and fury. Cutting someone off from magic was harder if they were currently using it, but Eden had given Sarah her share of practice. The extra boost of power from Paige meant soon Alex was cut off, the binding wrapped tight.
“What have you done?” Alex glanced down in horror at the fissure.
Before Sarah could answer, Kai and Quinn were there. Quinn grabbed Alex while Kai pressed the medallion to her flesh.
A howl ripped from Alex and reverberated throughout the cavern.
Minutes stretched, but unlike Sarah, Alex didn’t pass out. Even as her screams subsided, the fury never left her eyes.
“It’s done,” Kai said. “The metal is cool again.”
She tossed the medallion to Sarah, and the heat unwound the knot that had formed in her stomach. With the Alex threat neutralized, Sarah released the binding spell.
Alex pushed Kai off her and leapt to her feet.
“What the hell was that?” Her eyes darted around the group.
“We had to stop you.” Sarah closed the distance between them. “We couldn’t let you open the crack wider.”
“Open it wider?” Alex looked agog. “Are you high? I was sealing it.”
“Sealing it? What?” Sarah stared down at the crack. Instead of being wider, it was partially covered, threads of magic crisscrossing the opening. “But you were affected like I was, or the metal wouldn’t have burned.”
“And you wouldn’t have lied about the Council helping Eden,” Quinn added.
Obvious guilt flashed on Alex’s face. “Oh, right. That.”
“Yes.” Quinn squared off in front of her. “That.”
“She couldn’t help it.” There wasn’t space for Sarah to step between them, but she pressed the medallion into Quinn’s hand, hoping it cooled his temper. She trained her eyes on Alex. “You were under the power of the energy emanating from that crack, but you were going to close it?”
“I had to. I knew using magic in here was dangerous, but demons could have come pouring out of there any second.”
“What?” Paige’s eyes widened with fear as she studied the opening.
“It’s not just some hole in the ground,” Alex said. “At least, I don’t think so. Based on what I’ve read, I think it leads to another world.”
Now Quinn’s eyes grew as big as saucers. He stepped closer to the crack and peered inside.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Sarah said, “I could have helped.”
“I couldn’t trust you. You were erratic, and… I don’t know. It made sense at the time.”
“And the Council?” Quinn asked, turning back.
“I was going to tell them. I was. But then… I knew I couldn’t trust any of them after the episode with Mikel. I felt it in my bones. It sounds crazy now, but…”
“Not to me,” Sarah said, remembering her own insane thoughts.
“I knew if I told you the Council was coming, you’d all lay off about Eden and let me focus on the most immediate threat—stopping a horde of demons from killing us all.”
“But you said you didn’t have enough power to close it,” Sarah said.
“I don’t, but I hit the books and found a temporary fix. A way to seal it and keep the demons out.”
“You were using a lot of magic.” Sarah still felt its residue. “From the vortex?”
“It was the only way,” Alex replied.
“Using that much power could have killed you,” Sarah said. “Or caused another cave-in, right on top of you.”
“I had to try. And I had to do it myself—I couldn’t risk anyone else getting hurt.”
“Well, that’s ironic.” A bitter laugh escaped Sarah’s lips.
“What is?”
“This thing brings out the shadow side of our natures.” Sarah gestured to the crack. “Apparently, your shadow side is Eden.”
“Shut the fu—”
“Trying to do the impossible by yourself in order to spare others from getting hurt? It’s about as Eden as you could get,” Sarah said.
“It does have the ring of a savior complex.” Paige’s mouth twitched, but she managed to smother the smirk.
“Hey, guys…” They turned to Kai, who had joined Quinn at to the edge of the crevice. The weave Alex had stretched across it was all but gone. “Do you hear that?”
It was faint. Sarah wouldn’t have noticed had Kai not pointed it out. A skittering sound, like a hundred sharp nails on bedrock, coming from deep inside the crack.
“Start sealing.” Sarah pointed to Alex. “Teach Paige the spell. I’ll join you in a minute.” She turned to Quinn. “Give me the medallion.”
For once, Alex didn’t argue, just grabbed Paige and led her away.
This close to the opening, Sarah already felt herself sliding under its control. If demons were coming, they didn’t have time to get more protection medallions and return to the cave. They had to stay and seal the opening now, but without protection, any one of them could make the situation ten times worse.
Quinn handed her the medallion. Sarah opened herself to the magic of it, trying to sense the weaves around it that offered the wearer protection.
Yes, there.
Sarah saw the intricate net woven around the metal.
If I just pull here…
The net loosened but stayed intact.
“What are you doing?” Kai asked.
“Spreading the protection,” Sarah said, concentrating on the widening net. “That will dilute its power, but I think I can stretch it enough to give each of us some relief.”
“How much protection?” Alex didn’t take her eyes from her work.
Sarah watched the weaves forming over the fissure but not quickly enough. The sound grew louder.
“I don’t know.” Sarah was almost done. “Hopefully enough.”
The spell settled into place, covering each of them with gossamer strands of protection.
“Definitely better.” Beads of sweat dotted Paige’s brow.
Sarah joined Paige and Alex near the crack in the ground and opened herself to magic. She’d seen Eden harness the energy of the vortex before. The problem wasn’t accessing its power. The danger was in being overtaken by it. Sarah felt as though she were drinking from a firehouse. The power threatened to drown her; it was all she could do to hang on.
“Intense, right?” Paige cast Sarah a sidelong glance, her brow now drenched in sweat.
“Focus,” Alex commanded. “Sarah, can you see the weaves?”
“On it.” Sarah began adding threads to the tapestry stretched across the crack.
They’d started from the outer edges and were working their way in, the widest part of the opening still exposed. The earth shook, and debris crumbled from the ceiling.
“I don�
��t have to be a witch to know this place won’t hold much longer.” Kai dodged a rock as it tumbled to the ground.
“You should go,” Sarah said. “You and Quinn both. Get out of here.”
“We’re not leaving without you,” Quinn said.
A high-pitched screech ripped through the cavern, followed by another and another.
“We’re not going to be able to seal it in time.” Alex spared a glance for Quinn and Kai. “Be ready.”
Kai assumed a fighting stance, Quinn doing his best to mimic her. He pulled a switchblade from his pocket and flicked it open, eyes darting.
Sarah squinted and doubled her efforts, her insides feeling as though they were ripping apart at the seams. She struggled to hang on. They had to complete the seal before—
Small, furry creatures sprang from the opening. They were the size of monkeys and moved like them too. One landed on Kai, and she smashed it against a rock, its bones crunching. Quinn kicked one as he slashed his blade at another.
On and on, the demons continued to arrive. There were too many. Quinn and Kai would never kill them all and would likely die trying.
“Go,” Alex said. “I’ll finish.”
Sarah hesitated but exchanged a look with Paige. They both scrambled to their feet.
Sarah stayed on higher ground, the better to see the battle, while Paige raced into the fray.
Such a long way Paige had come since almost refusing to complete the final test that had taken them from pledges to initiates.
Sparks danced at Sarah’s fingers as she shot lasers into the throng of demons. She spared a glance at Alex, engrossed in trying to seal the crack, even as demons continued to pour through.
Kai screamed, and Sarah whipped around as one of the monkey-like demons sank its teeth into her shoulder. Quinn stabbed the creature and yanked it off her.
Too many had escaped. There was no way to win. No way to stop—
A blue lightning bolt ricocheted around the room, filling the air with electricity and striking down dozens of demons. The smell of burnt fur and flesh filled Sarah’s nostrils as her eyes found Paige. Another bolt flew from her hands, electrocuting even more of the creatures.
Paige stared down at her hands then up at Sarah in amazement. “I think I leveled up again.”
A final bolt zigzagged around the room, and the last of the creatures dropped to the ground, incinerated.
“That was incredible.” Sarah slid down the pile of debris. She pulled Paige into a hug. “Incredible.”
“Can we talk about how impressive it was later?” Alex called from above, eyes tight, still working on the seal.
Sarah wanted to go to Kai, but Quinn was tending to her wound, and Alex needed the help more.
She and Paige climbed back up to Alex, who was panting from the effort. She must have drawn every inch of power she could withstand.
Sarah and Paige began to weave. Alex had made impressive progress on the crevice. An area only four feet long remained open.
“Thank God, they were just monkey demons,” Paige said, her voice strained with effort.
“They weren’t monkeys, you simpleton.” Alex wiped her brow.
“Whatever,” Paige said. “I’m just saying it could have been worse.”
“Guys…” Sarah paused to make sure she wasn’t mistaken, but then there it was again. “Do you feel something…fighting our weaves?”
“Like something pushing back?” Alex licked her lips nervously but kept working. “Or maybe…absorbing them?”
Either option was terrifying.
“I feel it too.” Paige glanced at Sarah, her face twisted with fear.
Something rumbled loud and deep within the crack. Something with the power to fight their magic.
Terror gripped Sarah’s heart as her weaves began to fizzle. She glanced from Paige to Alex.
“I think it’s about to get worse.”
Chapter 47
The chill remained in Eden’s bones and left her feeling brittle, as though the slightest pressure would snap her in two.
The first thing Ash had done when they’d made it back to the cottage was place fresh logs on the fire, but even the heat it radiated wasn’t enough.
She pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
Morning light streaked the sky. How long had she been sitting before this fire?
“How are you feeling?” Ash sat on the cushion next to her.
“Cold.” She meant it more than physically. “How about you?”
“The same.” He turned his gaze to the fire.
“I’m sorry.” Eden wanted to reach out, wanted to touch him, but knew she’d lost the right.
“You did what had to be done.” He met her gaze. “You have nothing to feel guilty about.”
“Then I’m sorry for your loss,” she said.
Ash shook his head. “I lost Olivia a year ago. That ghost was…an echo—a distortion of the woman she once was. It wore Olivia’s face, but it wasn’t her.”
“You were going to spend eternity with that echo,” Eden said. “To spare my life.”
“I was hoping I’d be able to give her the slip once we crossed over.” The trace of a smile played at his lips. “But even if I couldn’t, it would have been a fair trade.”
Ash laid a hand on her cheek. He opened his mouth to say more, and Eden felt the words before he said them. She pressed an urgent hand to his chest.
“Don’t.”
The softness of his face disappeared, and he pulled back, away from her hand. “Okay.”
He began to rise, but Eden held onto his arm.
“No, I don’t want you to go. I…I just don’t want you to say that yet. I’m not ready to hear it.”
“Sure.” Ash settled back onto the cushion. “Whatever you want.”
“It’s just… I’m not sure what this is yet. Or what it can be. And the moment you say that, it’s been decided. I care about you—so much—I’m just…”
“Not ready.” His expression said it pained him, but he understood.
He’d been willing to wipe his former lover from existence for her, and together they’d survived enough danger for a lifetime, but all of that had happened in the space of a week.
What she felt for him was real, but something told her defining it now might ruin it forever.
“Is that okay?” She leaned close, so they were only inches apart.
“For now.” His lips formed the tiniest grin, and he reached up to caress her cheek.
“Good thing it will always be now.”
Her smirk had him shaking his head. He seemed amused but dropped his hand.
Eden eased closer. “Our future now might come. But in this now, all I want…”
She pressed her lips to his, and the warmth she’d been needing flooded her body.
What started soft became urgent, and soon she was stripping off his shirt, allowing him to unwrap the blanket around her. They didn’t need to put words to this, because it was beyond words.
Her hands traced the scars that crisscrossed the skin of his back. His hands roamed her body.
Loud knocking broke the moment, and they sprang apart, breathless.
“Time to get up.” Magda’s voice came through the closed door.
She knocked on Ash’s door across the hall.
“You too, Pasha.”
“I-I’m awake,” Eden called, tossing Ash his shirt.
He slipped it over his head.
“I’m awake too,” Ash said. Eden’s eyes bulged, but Ash pitched his voice low. “It’s Magda. She knows.”
The door opened, and Magda swept in, arching an eyebrow when she found them flushed and sitting together in front of the fire.
“We were talking.” Ash stood.
“I see that.”
Magda’s tone implied she might have seen other things as well, but Eden suspected it might be a front. What better way to keep people honest than make them believe they’d be caught in a lie?
“What is it?” Ash asked. “Why are you here so early?”
“I’ve been sent to fetch you.” She turned from Ash to Eden, her eyes bright with an anticipation that bordered on predatory. “The conclave will see you now.”
Epilogue
Agamon stretched, the walls of his prison flexing around him. A rare smile played at his lips.
The seals were in one place, and they grew weaker by the day.
The ghost had failed, but he’d managed to make use of her all the same. It was the mark of a good leader to never let a resource go to waste.
Every tool can be used if given the correct job.
If Olivia had somehow managed to convince the besotted boy to sacrifice his love and come back to her, he would have honored their bargain and sent the couple to live out their pathetically human days in whatever peace they could find.
Instead, Olivia had underestimated the boy’s true feelings, and it had cost her.
But Agamon always had a backup plan.
He’d known Bes’tal would need to be expelled before his witch would be ready for her true purpose. That hadn’t stopped Agamon from using the Av Rek’s presence in her mind to his own ends.
Bes’tal had been powerful—powerful enough he’d almost made himself a god.
Almost.
Agamon hadn’t tried to influence him directly, but the souls he’d housed were singular beings, not nearly as powerful as Bes’tal himself.
Implanting knowledge of the spells had been easy—tiny mines poised to go off when the need arose. Each requiring magic so dark, they would dim even the brightest light.
Bes’tal had been forced out, but those spells remained.
Left to her own devices, his witch would never have seared the ghost from existence, but in defense of another? She hadn’t been able to help herself.
And now the residue of that choice would settle deep into her bones.
And when it did, she would be a shadow of herself.
The shadow I need her to be.
End book 4 in the witches of coventry house
Thanks for reading Shadow
I hope you’ve enjoyed Shadow as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing it with you.
Shadow Page 19