Page 62 of Black and White, Twice the Might

And with that, we push our magic out, extending the protection around the whole site.

Sly’s magic adds to ours. Finally, the whole of the Haunted Farm is protected.

Ernest lets go of our hands. “We’ll not make that mistake again.”

“I didn’t even give boundaries a thought,” Elliot said, “as the address for the farm was in Cadenbury.”

“The house is literally on the border. If you draw a boundary line, it goes right through the house,” Adhan says. “But as Ernest says, we’ll not make that mistake again.”

“That would be why only certain rooms came alive,” Temp says.

Adhan nods. “Yep, that’s why. I can’t believe I didn’t notice.”

I turn to look at Sly, who looks to be concentrating, his eyes closed. I step close and touch his arm. “Sly?”

Sly holds his hand up in a ‘wait’ gesture.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who sees his dark magic going off somewhere. A moment later, he smiles, nods and opens his eyes. “Sorted.”

“What did you do, love?” I ask curiously.

“Connected to the dark magic, stripped it back, found the end user and threw their magic back at them.”

“You did all that in a few moments?” Temp asks, looking shocked. “It would have taken us ages to do that, and then I don’t think any of us would think of turning their magic on them.”

“It’s one of my superpowers, stripping magic back and finding the end user. I don’t know the name of the person who was sending it, though, but that’s why it was easy enough for me to destroy the dark magic on the walk and in the house.” He turns to Elliot. “All dark magic surrounding your fair is now gone. Nothing should be able to get through to this event now.”

“Thanks, Sly,” Elliot said.

“Yes, thank you. Now, hopefully, the only strange incidents will be made by the witchlings,” Adhan says.

“Totally,” Temp says happily.

After extending the wards,Sly and I walk around the fair on our own for a bit. I love bringing the boys, but it’s nice just walking around with Sly. We play some games, go on the ridesand just have fun, knowing we don’t have to be on guard for any dark magic. We skip the Hall of Mirrors. I’m not sure I want to experience that again, even knowing it’s dark magic free, the same with the Haunted House, but we do walk the Haunted Walk and dance at the disco.

After a few hours, we go back to the manor and collect the boys, thanking John for looking after them. John laughs and hugs both of them, and my brothers lap it all up.

CHAPTER 23

Morning seems to creep up on me too quickly. I hardly slept last night, thinking that when we got to the bank in the morning, all our money would have vanished and our perfect house would fall through. It’s weird, I don’t get anxious, but I am about the house. I think because we all want it so much.

I drag myself out of Sly’s arms and out of bed and rush through my shower. Like always, I put Sly’s coffee on as I dress. I hope he drinks it quickly, and the boys are up.

I finish dressing and take Sly over his coffee. Instead of wafting it under his nose, I prod his shoulder. “Come on, love, wake up,” I say, prodding his shoulder again.

Sly cracks an eye open and glares at me. “Are you seriously prodding me awake?”

“Yes, and I have your coffee, but you need to drink up and get washed and dressed. I’ll go and make sure the boys are up.” I put his coffee on the bedside table and go to stand up, but Sly catches my hand.

“Hold up, sweetheart. What’s going on?” he asks, sitting up, looking curious.

“Nothing, but it’s morning time,” I protest.

“And it would still be morning time in an hour, heck, in the next five hours. Try again.” He pulls me into his arms, and I fall against him.

“Ignore me. I’m just being silly.”

“If something’s bothering you, it’s not silly. Tell me what’s up, and if I can help you, you know I will.”