Page 103 of Tricky Magic
He’d been worried that she wouldn’t enjoy the ride to the top of the valley, but she did, and the time spent up there was unbelievable, so simple and quiet. They spent the morning reading, and once he heard her stomach growl for the third time, they’d taken the bike into town for lunch. Pumpkins and Samhain decorations filled the town, and most people waved as they rode by. Some even wished Ellea a happy birthday. She blushed each time, and he couldn’t get enough of it.
Ros rode with one hand on her arms that were wrapped tightly around him.
They slowed as they neared the edge of the wolven farm. Tonight would be spent at the far edge of the property. There was an old hunting cabin and a spot for a decent bonfire. It would be nothing compared to the Mabon one, but big enough to keep them warm in the cool autumn evening.
The sun hung low in the sky and the fire was already lit. Laughter could be heard as he and Ellea walked hand in hand to the edge of the clearing. She stopped him and stood there.
“Thank you for today,” she said, looking up at him. “It was the perfect day.”
She sounded almost sad. Before he could answer, Sam came bounding up to them and picked her up. He spun her until she was breathless and laughing.
“Put her down, you beast,” Devon called, walking toward them. He grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a kiss on each cheek. “Happy Birthday, Ellea.”
Garm and Billy followed Devon, and aHappy birthdayrang in Ros’ head from the two beasts. She smiled at all of them and reached for Ros’ hand. He saw the glint in her eyes, but he wouldn’t dare point it out. They walked toward the fire, and each one of the wolven in their human forms greeted Ellea with birthday wishes. A few howls came from the woods where some were patrolling. Ellea blushed for the hundredth time that day, and Ros felt as if his dark heart would explode.
Someone handed out drinks and music played from the cabin. Ros watched the evening play out full of laughter and dancing. He joined in on the laughter, but kept far away from any dancing. As the sun set and the evening turned colder, Ros realized he had never felt so settled. It shook him, and he suddenly felt the need to hunt down more firewood. He found a large pile settled at the edge of the forest. Before he could grab any of it, a shiver crept up his spine.
Belias stepped out of the shadows, and Ros let out a brutal snarl. His cousin only regarded him with a bored look. Ros could hear the patrolling wolven creep closer, aware of the threat and ready to step in. Ros gave one glance toward Devika, and it was enough to tell her to stand down.
“You are really turning into those wolven you love so much,” Belias said.
“What are you doing here, Bel?”
“Came to give my wishes to the birthday girl.”
Ros blocked his way to the crowd. He wasn’t allowed near her. He wanted to rip out his eyes to stop him from even thinking about her.
“No.”
“I’m only here to say hello.” He lifted his shoulder nonchalantly.
“I don’t know why you bother lying. Come out and say it.”
But Belias said nothing. He only grinned as another creeping feeling ran down Ros’ back. His heart picked up as it sensed the danger lurking in the shadows. He heard a fearful gasp leave Ellea’s lips in the distance and he rushed to stand by her side. Billy and Garm stood next to her as she stared into the forest, her hand covering her mouth. Two people stepped out of the shadows near the edge of the property, and Ros snarled. He knew who they were because of the way Ellea shook beside him. The older woman smiled at Ellea. The man almost flinched, but seemed to steady himself.
The wolven in both forms stepped up to protect Ellea, but as soon as they came close, they hunched in pain. Whining and screaming filled the air, and Ros threw his hand up to stop them from stepping in any further.
“Daughter,” the woman said, looking Ellea up and down. “You’ve gotten...thicker since the last time I saw you.”
“Cerce,” Ellea said, raising her chin to her mother. “The last time you saw me, I was eight and you locked me in the basement.”
“Don’t you dare talk to me like that,” she said with pure venom on her tongue. She snapped her fingers once, and Ellea flinched. Nothing seemed to happen until Ellea crashed to the ground. A sound Ros had only heard once, the one he had never wanted to hear again, bellowed from Ellea.
She lay there with her hands clutched to her face.
“Not real, not real,” she moaned to herself between the screams of agony. Billy snarled next to her as she tried to shield her from her mother.
Cerce stepped closer, and Ros shot up a wall of shadows that was blown away instantly. The block had to have come from the man; the woman wouldn’t have such magic. Ros tried to step in again, but was instantly blinded. No, not blinded—he was somewhere else. Everything was burning, and the cries of the injured sounded from all around.
He looked up at where Cerce stood, hissing horrible words to her daughter who was writhing on the ground.
“The vision you have always feared, dear daughter…” She bent over Ellea with a menacing sneer spread across her face. “You will never outrun us. We will always stand at the top of the hill with our destruction laid before us.”
Ros looked around again. He felt he had been here before. He didn’t have enough time to place it before the vision disappeared.
“That’s enough.” Ellea’s father stepped forward, forcing his wife to stand down.
Snarls sounded around them, and Sam, in his wolven form, stepped up to protect Ellea. He nudged her with his nose and let out a whine as Ellea lay there, panting. Her hand still covered her eyes as she clung to the ground, helpless and hurt. Ros’ vision began to shadow as anger clawed at his chest. His powers splintered under his skin, and he lunged for her father.
