Page 138 of Magical Mayhem

He smirked, even through the blood running down his temple. “Didn’t plan to.”

We fell into rhythm. His fists and snarls, my flames and vines. Together, we pushed the tide back an inch at a time. Shadows shrieked and cracked, smoke burning away in bursts of fire and light. But for every one we broke, two more clawed their way through the tear.

The floor shook under another impact. This time it wasn’t the door. It was the very walls of the Academy. Cracks spidered up the stone, glowing faintly as the Wards strained.

“Maeve!” Nova’s voice carried from the hall, but she couldn’t reach us, not through the storm of shadows. I saw her green eyes flashing from behind a barricade of students, her staff raised high, her mouth shaping words I couldn’t hear.

And then, through the chaos, I caught sight of the students again.

Lines of them, spilling down the corridor toward us, wands raised, faces pale but determined. They had followed the call, leaving the banquet hall behind to join us at the breach. Illusions shimmered above their heads—fox-fire, fae-light, runes glowing like stars. They didn’t hesitate. They braced themselves shoulder to shoulder, raising their magic in a wall of light that joined mine, slamming into the shadows.

For a heartbeat, I forgot how to breathe.

Pride and terror warred inside me. They shouldn’t have to deal with this. They should be safe, tucked behind walls, guarded by their instructors. But here they were. Strong. Steady. Refusing to let the Academy fall without them.

The shadows hit their line and broke like waves crashing against a rock.

Keegan snarled beside me, his voice shaking the air. I struck with light until my arms trembled, jolts pulsing until my fingers bled. And still the shadows came.

But so did the students.

Fae magic tangled with the Hedge. Shifter claws flashed in sync with witchfire. Runes scorched the floor while herbs burned in the air. And slowly, the tide began to slow.

But I knew this wasn’t the end. Malore wasn’t through with us. He was only testing, waiting, laughing from somewhere just beyond our sight.

But for now, we held.

I drew a shuddering breath, sweat stinging my eyes, and glanced at Keegan. He was pale, his body shaking, but his hazel eyes still burned. He gave me the smallest nod, and for that heartbeat, the world steadied.

We were still standing.

Stonewick was still standing.

For now.

But we had to move this fight outside, or there would be nothing left of the Academy.

The corridor shook so hard it felt like the Academy itself was trying to throw me off balance. My boots slid on broken stone, and I jammed my shoulder into the wall to steady myself. Shadows poured through the tear in the air, snarling, their claws scraping sparks against the stone.

I yanked my wand from my belt, the polished wood humming as it met my palm. Heat surged up my arm, and I raised it high. “Incendio!”

Flames burst from the tip, shooting straight into the horde. For a breath, the corridor blazed bright. The creatures screamed, a sound that rattled my skull, but when the light sputtered, they reformed, smoke lacing back into claws and jaws.

I tried again with another blast, another flare. The shadows staggered, but they did not fall. My arms shook with the strain, my chest heaving. The wand quivered as if it too doubted me.

“Not enough,” I whispered.

The beast closest lunged. Its teeth snapped an inch from my face. I thrust the wand point-blank into its gaping maw and let loose every spark I had left. Fire ripped outward, scattering it into smoke that stung my lungs.

But five more shoved forward to take its place.

Behind me, Keegan roared.

He had one hand braced on the wall, his body shaking with exhaustion, but he raised the other, and the air itself bent around him. Dark curls of power coiled from his fingertips, blue-black lightning that spat like live wires.

I hadn’t seen his mage power quite like that before.

He hurled it forward, and the corridor exploded with sound. Shadow after shadow crumpled, their forms burning away into ash.