Page 135 of Magical Melee

Karvey turned to look at me with a proud nod.

Keegan was still watching me, his smirk softening into something warmer. “You’re getting the hang of it,” he said, his voice low.

“Don’t act so surprised,” I replied, though my cheeks were flushing again.

Before I could say more, another loudcrackshook the cottage.

“Brace yourselves!” Stella shouted as another wave of dark shadows slammed through the forest.

“All of this is a distraction,” I said bitterly. “I want Gideon.”

I gripped the wand tightly, feeling the energy within it pulse in time with my heartbeat. Despite the chaos, the danger, and the very real possibility of failure, I felt a strange sense of clarity.

I could do this.

The fight wasn’t over, but I was ready.

The battle raged on. The cottage trembled under the assault from Shadowick’s forces. The gryphons shrieked as they clashed with dark creatures in the sky, their wings slicing through the air like blades.

Gargoyles roared and dove from the roof, slamming into shadowy figures that tried to breach the cottage. The air was thick with tension and the crackling energy of defensive spells.

I ducked as a bolt of darkness shattered a wooden beam near my head. Splinters flew in all directions, and I stumbled back, raising my wand instinctively.

A pulse of blue energy shot out, striking a shadowy figure creeping through a shattered window. The creature let out a high-pitched screech before disintegrating into a puff of black smoke. I didn’t even need to think of a spell or chant.

The wand just knew.

“Nice shot!” Stella called. Her hands glowed with golden light as she sent another blast of energy.

But even as I fought with my friends, my mind drifted to Twobble.

Where was he?

He’d been so confident when he led me to the tunnel. I couldn’t shake the nagging fear that something had happened to him.

A sudden movement caught my eye. Energy crackled through the woods as a robed figure floated toward us.

A Shadowick wizard? Warlock?

Without thinking, I raised my wand and aimed.

“No, don’t,” Keegan shouted.

Keegan’s beautiful eyes locked on mine.

But it was too late.

A bolt of energy streaked toward the wizard or warlock from my wand. He turned just in time to deflect it with a hastily conjured shield, but the force of the blast knocked the wave of energy back toward me.

The air turned frenetic with electricity as Keegan dove toward me, blocking the charge with his own body as he tackled me.

His body crumpled on top of me as my heart raced with worry. The ache of what had just happened filled every cell of my body with a burning sensation.

“No, Keegan. No…” I muttered, holding back tears. “You can’t. You’re my…” I hit his back. “Get up. Get up now.”

His still body lay on top of me as I ran my hands over his back.

“You’re stronger than Gideon and his foolish army,” I whispered. “Come on, Keegan. I need you.”