But Willow wasn’t taking any chances. She flicked her wrists, and several more dragons appeared behind her. To my eyes, they were transparent and glowing blue, but the Chimeras cried out like they were the real deal. Willow’s main dragon, the biggest one, stopped right in front of us and shot a translucent stream of fake fire out of its mouth.
The Chimera screamed and took off running out of sight.
Willow sighed and dropped her arms. Everyone spun, looking for another attack.
Just then, golden light shimmered at the far end of the flaming slates. It was our way out of this area. I couldn’t have said how I knew; I just knew.
“RUN!” Tennessee shouted then sprinted across the flaming slate den toward the door.
I turned to follow him, but the ground disappeared under our feet…and we fell into darkness.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Jackson
When we finally stopped moving, I rolled onto my back and opened my eyes. Except I saw nothing. Just utter blackness. My pulse quickened. Adrenaline rushed through my body. I’d seen darkness like this before.
The night we lost Warner.
I scrambled up onto my feet, then spun in a circle. There was nothing in front of us or behind us but a wall of black. My heart stopped. My bones turned to ice in my body. The Chimera and their slates were gone. It was just a black wall. No life, no energy, no monsters lurking in the shadows. Just…nothing.
I know this.
Then I spotted it. The single torch. My heart sank. Every muscle in my body tightened. My pulse pounded so hard it drowned out every other sound. My feet carried me toward the torch. In the back of my mind, I registered my group moving around and asking questions. I heard the concern in their voices—and then I heard their gasps.
They knew where we were.
I walked up to the torch and stopped. Fire exploded out of it, shooting through the darkness. A single, narrow tunnel emerged, stretching out in front of us. Around it, the flames surged and swayed. Little sparks flickered on the ground. Red glowing mist seeped out of nothingness all around us. It grew taller than a person, then swirled and shifted until it made shapes.
“The balefire.”
The Wild Witch
ACADEMY MAGIC BOOK THREE
Chapter One
WARNER
My heart pounded in my chest like a jackhammer on cement. I turned again then wobbled a few steps. My head spun. I braced my hands on my knees and sighed. The heat was swallowing me, drowning me in its infernal torture. Sweat dripped down my forehead then over the bridge of my nose. I watched it drip to the ground like raindrops—or tears. At this point, it could’ve been tears. My eyes burned from the heat.
I cursed and looked back up…yet still found only darkness and flames. The pillars of fire surrounded me; everywhere I looked, there they were. They swayed like dancers. I wanted to stop and lie down, to rest, but I feared if I did I might not ever get back up. Everything around me and the flames was utter darkness. A black so rich and pure there seemed to be no other pigment in it.
“JACKSON!” I screamed, but my voice was too hoarse to be loud.
I’d been screaming for him and Bettina for…shit, I had no idea how long. It felt like both five minutes and five decades. And in the Old Lands, there was no way to be sure. Still, I shouted their names over and over. I wasn’t giving up. They’d just been beside me. Then again, I couldn’t be sure they weren’t still beside me. I heard the voices of other people nearby; their pleas and cries for help broke my sanity piece by piece. They were there, but they weren’t. I couldn’t see them. No matter how far I ran…it was just me…and the voices.
Please, Goddess. Let me get out of here.
Chapter Two
JACKSON
This is it.
Time to save Warner.
My pulse skipped, and sweat pooled in my palms. This was a big moment, one I couldn’t mess up. My best friend was in there, lost between the darkness and flames. I’d only been in there a few moments last time, but it haunted my dreams. The voices calling out for help all around me but nowhere I could see. I shivered, then shook myself. I had to get it together. Warner needed me.
“Showtime,” Bettina whispered from right behind me.
I glanced back at her, and our eyes met. She’d been the only person there with me when we lost him, and I saw my own pain in her eyes. I wasn’t the only one beating myself up for this. She held my stare then nodded. Butterflies danced in my stomach. She and I weren’t leaving the Old Lands without Warner again.
Gen walked up beside her and frowned. “Is this the balefire?” she whispered.
Bettina and I both nodded. The torch beside me flickered and shined brighter, as if to mock us.
Genevieve’s eyes widened. She swallowed nervously then tucked her swords into their holsters.
“I don’t understand,” Harlan grumbled and walked around until he stood right in front of us, watching the dark tunnel between the flames. His long, shaggy blond hair was damp and tangled. He looked from left to right, then back again. “If this is the balefire…then where is Warner?”
“Yeah, I don’t get it.” Trey moved to stand on my left, his dark brows furrowed low over his eyes. “Where is—”
“STOP,” Tennessee shouted from behind us.
We all froze, even those of us who weren’t moving. The power in his voice rolled over me like a wave. My pulse quickened. I turned around to face him and the rest of our group.
“No one move,” Tenn ordered in his deep, gravelly voice. He still held an unconscious Tegan clutched close to his chest, so close that it was almost hard to tell where her black clothing ended and his began. He narrowed his mismatched eyes at the flames in front of us. “One wrong step and you join the lost. Everyone grab onto each other, and do not let go.”
Cooper leapt forward and immediately wrapped his hand around Tenn’s bicep, and his grip was so tight his knuckles were white and the muscles in his arm flexed. Not that Tennessee noticed or seemed to care. Then Cooper reached out and took Bettina’s hand in his…and she let him, with a small smile even.
Of course she let him. We’re trying not to get lost and die here, brain. Ignore the smile. You’re not allowed to care who she smiles at anymore. I clenched my teeth to stop myself from speaking.
But I couldn’t stop my feet from stepping closer to her, nor could I stop my hand from reaching out to her. I didn’t make direct eye contact—I couldn’t, for my own sanity—but out of the corner of my eye, I could’ve sworn I saw her cheeks flush. Then again, it might’ve been the balefire.
Bloody hell, focus. I forced myself to watch our Leader, and only pay attention to him. I told myself that heat and tingling sensation in my arm was the balefire and not Bettina.
Willow slid over and held out her hand to me. I took it without hesitation.
Tennessee’s gaze traveled over the group and he nodded. “Do not let go. I cannot stress this enough.”
Everyone nodded.
He cleared his throat. “All right, now…as a group, let’s take three steps into the tunnel.”
I was facing backwards, but it didn’t matter. My friends wouldn’t lead me astray. We all took a collective deep breath then took three steps past the flaming torch and into the tunnel of darkness. I watched Tennessee’s feet and moved when he did. When he stopped, I stopped. I may have joined The Coven, but I wasn’t foolish enough to think myself equally qualified or trained.
The second we all stopped moving, the torch vanished from sight. The flames moved…and suddenly, the tunnel of darkness stretched out behind us in a thin line. Panic surged inside me, and my pulse went nuts. Blue flames coiled around my fingers.
“Tenn…” Cooper whispered. Then he cleared his throat and spoke louder. “Tenn, how did you get us out last time?”
Us? Who else got lost here?
Tennessee hugged Tegan flush against his chest. Her long black and purple hair fell over his shoulder and into Chutney’s face. So
mething flashed, and when I looked down, I saw his forearms glowing bright like a full moon.
“Tennessee?” Cooper growled and shook his arm.
Tenn grimaced. “Our soulmate glyphs. She ran until the burning got unbearable, and then she somehow broke through. Granted, I’m not sure anyone else would’ve been able to.”
Chutney’s eyes were laced with fear. “But then how did you get us out? Em, Cooper, Royce, and me?”
“Tegan had Deacon use his soulmate glyph to track down Emersyn’s location…” Tenn sighed. “Then D used his gift to force the balefire to let them go.”
I cursed.
“If only Warner was your soulmate,” Trey said with a chuckle.
My soulmate. I didn’t need another reminder.
Chutney groaned and leaned her forehead on Tenn’s arm. “We don’t have Deacon or Tegan!”
Tennessee scowled and looked down at his soulmate lying unconscious in his arms. He shook her gently and whispered, “Come on, babe. Come back to us. Please.”
I felt his magic pulse through the air like an electric current…but still nothing.
Bettina gnawed on her bottom lip. Then she closed her eyes and sighed. “I have a crazy idea…”
Chapter Three
BETTINA
When I opened my eyes, I found everyone else’s on me. My stomach dropped.
I shrugged. “It’s completely bonkers, but it might work.”
Everyone turned toward Tennessee.
Tenn narrowed his eyes at me. With the flames dancing all around us, he looked absolutely menacing. “I’m listening.”
I chewed on my lip and tried to choose my words carefully. “Okay, so when I was trying to help Henley, I kind of…made up my own spell to pull her own power out. So, I thought, what if we try to pull some of Tegan’s power and write our own spell? One to try and force the balefire to give Warner back.”
Chutney’s eyes widened, and her mouth made the shape of an O.
Jackson opened his mouth…then shut it. He frowned and stared at the ground—or the blackness that was under us, since we couldn’t really call it ground.
Cooper cocked his head to the side. “You made up your own spell? On the spot?”
I nodded. My nerves were frazzled and shot. I hadn’t really thought my idea through before I suggested it. But I knew the others had been relying on Tegan for this, and since she was unconscious, we were on our own. It was terrifying. Tennessee was clearly rattled, and that wasn’t helping. I glanced over to Jackson, but he was still staring at the darkness under our feet, lost in thought.
Willow sighed and shook her head. “I like the way you’re thinking, but it doesn’t quite work like that for us. But especially not for Tegan. Her power is so ancient and strong. We’d need a special spell just to allow us to tap into her…and I can’t remember it. Something like…like…” She said a few words in the ancient language, but I still hadn’t learned it.
Trey gasped. “I know that one.”
“What? You do? How?” Willow blinked and shook her head. “Are you sure?”
He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, Lennox is crazy obsessed with old magic and the Aether Witch and—long story short—Lennox found this spell that would allow someone to try and access it. She’s been dying to ask Tegan if she could try.”
My breath left me in a rush. “Holy shit, for real?”
“What are the consequences?” Cooper asked. We must’ve all made faces because he shrugged. “Those kinds of spells always have negative side effects and consequences.”
Trey cringed. “It’s dangerous, for us—not her. It might drain us of our own power temporarily. Also, it’ll only give us two minutes tops.”
“But it might be our only shot at getting Warner back, right?” Gen asked while eyeing the group. “What’s the spell?”
Trey opened his mouth…and a whole string of gibberish came pouring out. It was the ancient language. I knew that much. I didn’t understand how everyone else seemed to be born speaking it. It’d been months, and I barely strung together basic sentences. I sighed.
Harlan pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know that one, but Lennox knows a whole hell of a lot more than me—and if you tell anyone I said that, I’ll deny it till my lips turn blue.”
There were a few chuckles, but then the group fell silent. I knew what everyone was thinking, which part of his statement we lingered on. It might drain us of our own power temporarily. Normally, I knew we’d all jump on it if it meant saving our friend. But we were in the Old Lands, where our magic and power could be the only thing to get us back out. It was a dangerous risk.
I looked over at Tenn, and my heart sank. He was a mess. Normally the guy was the picture of confidence, but right now he was shattered glass taped together. One deep breath and he’d fall apart.
“Tenn?” Cooper shook his arm. “It’s your call.”
Tennessee cursed violently, then groaned. “I don’t remember that one, but I can’t think straight right now.”
Cooper nodded. “What do you want to do?”
“We don’t have a choice. We’ve been standing still too long already.” Tenn adjusted his hold on Tegan, and it pulled the collar of his shirt down. His soulmate glyph shimmered a soft pink. “Let’s try the spell, but not all of us. Harlan, Bettina, Trey, and Gen—you four will try it. The rest of us need to conserve our power.”
“That won’t be enough, and you know it,” Willow said with a defeated sigh. “One Coven member needs to be involved, or her power will drown them out in seconds—”
“I’ll do it,” Jackson said without lifting his eyes. “You four are the veterans here. We need you more.”
“All right.” Tennessee dropped to one knee, then sank back on his heel. “Let’s do this. But no one lets go. Bettina, your lead.”
My lead? Right. Of course. Duh. It was my idea.
I licked my lips then dropped down to mimic Tennessee’s pose. My hands trembled and my breaths were shaky, but I couldn’t back down now. “Okay, Cooper, Willow, and Chutney, y’all hang on to Tennessee. The rest of us, place your palms on Tegan’s arms.”
I waited until we were all situated. It was a tad awkward being that close to everyone, but that couldn’t matter in a time like this. To my relief, I was sandwiched between Harlan and Trey. Jackson was on the other side of Harlan, with Gen between them. The farther away from me the better. I needed to focus. Tegan’s magic was nothing to mess with, and the fact that Tennessee didn’t recall the spell made my stomach tighten into knots.
Focus. I tried to recite Trey’s spell in my head, but it wasn’t flowing right on my tongue. We couldn’t chance me screwing it up.
“Trey, I’m going to have you recite the spell. When y’all feel the rush of her magic, I want you to try and pull it into you. I’ll do the rest. Just keep pulling. Okay?” I looked around at my group of friends and waited until they all nodded. Then I took a deep breath. “All right, Trey, ready when you are.”
He closed his eyes and exhaled. Then he recited the same spell he’d just told us, except this time, he pushed his magic into it. The words were still foreign, but I felt Tegan’s magic tingle under my fingertips. I looked down, and my eyes widened. Rainbow mist swirled around my hands, tickling my bare skin like a feather. I glanced over and spotted Tegan’s magic coiling around Trey, Jackson, Harlan, and Gen’s hands.
It’s working.
I stared at the pillar of flames over Tenn’s shoulder and pulled with my magic. Every nerve ending in my body tingled with energy. It was like I hadn’t had a drink in weeks, and this was my first glass of water.
I counted to five…then pushed both my magic and Tegan’s into the ground under me.
TEGAN, I screamed with my mind. Tegan, I need you to hear me!
Honestly, I had absolutely no idea how I managed to communicate with her like this before, but I was just hoping it was still going to work in the Old Lands. Because I had no idea what kind of spell to use or say t
o get Warner back…but Tegan would.
Tegan, hear me. HEAR ME.
We need you. I know you’re still in there.
We’re at the balefire now.
Show me a spell to get Warner out.
PLEASE, TEGAN. HEAR ME.
TEGAN.
And then my vision went black. There was a flash of white in front of me, right where Tegan should have been. It was in the shape of a person, but vaguely.
Tegan?
The white light moved…and then runes appeared in the darkness. The same runes hidden in my magic—the angelic runes. They were shining neon pink in the sea of black. My heart skipped a beat. She wanted me to use the angelic runes…but how?
I heard a woman’s voice in my head. It didn’t sound quite like Tegan’s, but I couldn’t place it. She whispered a spell over and over. I nodded. Yes. I hear you.
I gasped—and then my vision returned. I was exactly where I had been, kneeled in front of Tennessee with everyone else. The towers of fire swayed around us, hissing and flickering like demons in the shadows.
Without hesitating or overthinking it another second, I pulled one hand off of Tegan’s arm and slammed my palm into the black ground beneath me. I pushed mine and Tegan’s magic into the darkness and pictured those angelic runes with my mind. In an instant, they appeared within the darkness in glowing pink shapes just like I’d seen in my vision.
Tennessee’s eyes widened, but I didn’t let that stop me.
I opened my mouth and chanted the spell the woman in my head had given me.
My pink magic shot out from under my hand. It billowed around us like a meteor had crashed into the earth. The balefire flames hissed and erupted into golden dust. Everything turned bright white…and then I saw shapes.
The Coven - Academy Magic Complete Series Page 52
