Page 17 of Magical Mischief

The malevolence in his gaze nearly took my breath away, but I forced myself to speak.

“You won’t keep him forever. I’m coming for him.”

Gideon’s laughter reverberated through me like a thousand knife points.

“Brave words, Maeve. But do you really think you can step into my world and take him back? You forget… time is on my side here. The deeper you wade into illusions, the more lost you become.”

Fear lanced through me, but my magic surged in defiance.

I will not yield.

The thought of Alex’s cunning smile slipped into my mind, and I recognized the same arrogance in Gideon. That feeling they could both get away with something when quite the opposite was true.

I was persistent. I knew how to wear people down.

Summoning every ounce of nerve, I lunged forward, but Gideon raised a hand. A shockwave of dark magic radiated outward and slammed into me.

A jolt of agony cut through me as I stumbled.

But I wouldn’t lose the thread to my dad.

The building’s heavy darkness, the thickened fog, Gideon’s face…everything blurred. My dad’s essence flickered like a candle about to be snuffed out, and I screamed in desperation.

“NO!”

The simple word pushed back Gideon’s looming shadow for a heartbeat. I dove toward the glimmer of light. I couldn’t see my dad physically, but it was enough to anchor me.

The next moment, the entire realm shook, as if splitting at the seams.

My breath seized in my throat.

Through the veil, I heard muffled voices calling my name.

Nova’s?

Keegan’s?

Stella’s?

With dawning clarity, I realized that my physical body must still be in the cottage circle, the others fighting to keep the incantation stable.

A wave of darkness closed in again.

Gideon’s laughter twisted my insides.

“Your father is mine,” he hissed. “Fight me all you like, but you will never reach him in time. Unless you give me what I want. Unless you embrace that I have what you need.”

Rage flared through me, banishing some of the pain.

“Watch me,” I breathed.

I’m not helpless, not anymore.

I called toward the feeble magic that coursed in my veins and focused on the bond between my dad and me.

Summoning the last of my strength, I poured my intentions into the spell we cast and brought my gaze to Gideon’s.

He recoiled, and I smiled.