Page 112 of Spellbound & Speechless
It’s too late. He lunges at the witch, fast enough to dodge the fireball. The flame lights up our mother’s favorite rocking chair, burning it to a crisp.
“Oh, you evil thing,” I say.
The witch no longer pays me any mind. She lunges at Mac with strength that easily rivals his.
“Is this what you want, wolf?” She pants rapidly. “You’ll make me use your father’s magic against you?”
I freeze in place. She snaps and cracks, transforming into a wolf. The wolf is not as large as Mac and his mother, but it appears just as ferocious. I look around with wild eyes, willing Ozan to hurry.
Please, please hurry.
The wolves are at each other’s necks. They’re all teethand claws, but I can tell Mac is holding back. Why wouldn’t he? It must feel as though he’s fighting his long-lost father.
She pins Mac to the ground. He’s going to die. I’m going to lose him.
Erie coos, flapping her wings and ruffling her feathers as she perches on the bannister of the stairway. My little white dove. A message from my goddess.
I can’t be afraid anymore. I can’t hold myself back.
New magic tingles through me, threatening to burst from my chest. It’s a nameless and unforgettable energy, appearing to float around me without permission. Power. Strength.
What is this?
“Hey!” I call.
It shouldn’t work, but it does. The smaller wolf turns to me with red eyes, as if something is pulling her in my direction.
For the first time since she arrived in our home, my heart slows. I step forward, eyes narrowing, fixing her with a commanding stare. “Come.”
This shouldn’t work… she’s not a dog… she’s not…
The witch wolf follows me. Mac’s wolf tilts his head to the side, and I ignore him, holding my head higher. Magic swells again, pink energy flowing from my chest to the witch wolf.
My magic, I realize—a charm. I’ve charmed the witch.
A smile spreads across my lips, and my eyes sparkle with power. “Now… sit.”
She listens. The others burst in just in time.
With the witchunder my charm, it’s easy to get her back in her human form, to put some clothes on—thank heavens—and tie her up in the attic with magic rope. We outnumber her, and for now, she’s stable.
But the charm wears off, and I don’t know how to activate it again. The confidence I carried leaves along with the magic. That’s fine. I don’t need to be brave now that the others are here.
I cower in the corner with Mac’s arm around me. The others shuffle around the attic, preparing for the spell.
It’s strange to see Ozan at the head of the scene, peering into our family’s grimoire like he’s one of us. We have the ingredients for the spell, and between all of us, we have more than enough energy.
The problem now is that the corrupt one won’t stop yapping.
“Free me!” The corrupt witch squirms in her ropes, but she’s incapable of doing anything more.
Rowan stands above her with a charmed dagger. It may not be enough to banish her, but it would be foolish to risk the stab.
“You know why we can’t do that.” Maple gives her the same warm smile she would give anyone else. “Just hang tight. This will be over soon!”
“Hold the crystals in the air,” Ozan says.
I look at Mac, hesitating.
