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18

JAMES

Callie is magnificent. I'm aware that she doesn't have an exact plan or anything, but she's playing her role so perfectly. I didn't think I could feel more for her than I already did, but seeing her like this only makes her more in my mind. She's stunning, powerful, beautiful. And deadly. Ish. I'm not sure how permanent the tree situation is. I forgot to ask after the last time.

I stand behind her, ready to do anything she needs me to, just like the others are doing, too. Though we've never really talked about what we might need to do. This is a battle among rulers. The magic has to choose one of them. Only one catalyst can live at a time. It has always been the case. The magic chooses an heir, which was our intent at first. But things escalated far faster than we anticipated.

There's only one option left now. Callie has to convince the magic to choose her, take the throne, and become the Queen of the coven. It sounds simple, but with how things have been going for us lately, I can't help but think it's not going to happen the way we think it will.

Robert lunges forward with a snarl, and I feel the massive amount of power heading toward us. If he's right, and Callie has exhausted her power, we're all dead. But I don't think that will happen. It can't. Callie will always put other people first, but freeing them, only to die herself won't achieve that. Robert will kill us all if he gets past her. I'm sure there's a way for him to repopulate the town after we’re all gone. He's probably planning on recruiting more from the other covens.

His magic is unlike anything I've ever felt before. This level of power could flatten a neighborhood. I feel utterly defenseless in front of it. Actually, I don't only feel helpless. I am helpless. Magic like this doesn't exist for people who aren't royals.

It's hard to resist the urge to hit the floor and hope it passes over me. But right as I'm about to give in to it, Callie waves her arm, and a shield slams into place in front of us. King Robert's power slams into it with an enormous bang, and we all flinch, but Callie doesn't even look fazed.

Robert's eyes widen.

Callie steps forward. "Uncle Robert, you made a misstep so early that you didn't even know it." She continues to move forward, and we follow close behind. Her voice floats through my mind, and I'm not sure if it's a memory of her earlier warning or if she's actively speaking to me.

Get the baby.

"What is this supposed misstep?" Robert snarls and stalks forward. He knows now her power is more than he expected.

"When you woke my powers, the magic was alerted to my presence. My grandmother had hidden me from everyone. Even the Earth," Callie explains calmly. I'm proud of her. In her position, I'd be being a lot snarkier. I'm sure her way is much more infuriating to the king.

Robert continues moving forward, approaching the center of the circle.

Callie echoes his movements, readying herself for whenever he next attacks. She doesn't even look tired.

This is like nothing I've ever witnessed before. Up until now, I've only been around for amicable catalyst transfers. When someone dies naturally, the magic chooses an heir to replace the old catalyst. Normally, when the catalyst has a child, the magic will show the heir by enveloping the child in a glow.

But I've never been a part of someone trying to take the catalyst mantle from a live one. I'm not totally sure what will happen. I know if Callie doesn't do this here, today, now, she can never try again. Magic won't choose an heir over the age of twenty-two unless there is no other heir available at all. It's an odd universal truth.

Nobody knows why.

As they approach the center of the circle, the ground vibrates with energy.

"The magic knows you exist. What's that got to do with anything?" Robert snarls.

"If you hadn't given me my powers, the magic wouldn't have had time to get to know me." Callie lifts her hands and sighs. "And now it knows me. And it knows you."

They reach the center of the circle, and a bolt of lightning arcs across the sky.

"Who do you think it's going to pick?" she asks in a deadly voice.

Robert reaches out with a glowing hand. Callie doesn't make a single move to stop him. He touches her throat with his palm full of magic and squeezes.

But nothing happens. She doesn't even flinch.

I can't decide if I'm more proud or worried. The two emotions mix within me to the point where I can barely tell them apart.

Robert's breathing becomes more labored, and he focuses on his hand at her throat.

Still, nothing happens.

"It's the solstice," Callie says. Her voice drops to a whisper. "You are no more."

With a gasp, Robert drops to his knees. He puts his hands on his knees and breathes hard. "I'm still the catalyst. You will obey me," he growls.

Callie turns her head. "Get the baby now," she hisses.

I dart forward and snatch the infant from the old woman's arms, then back into the crowd, letting them close around me until I find Hank's mom. "Take him to safety," I urge her.

She looks confused. "Isn't he the enemy? I mean, I know he's a baby, but..."

I shrug. "Callie said..." I don't even have to finish the sentence before she starts taking Robbie from me.

She nods. "Then it shall be done." She turns, and Fran appears at her elbow.

"We'll take him to your sister," Fran says. "Come on." They turn and hurry toward the back of the crowd. With that task accomplished, I rush back to the front to find Callie glowing.

Robert is struggling to his feet.

"Attack!" he screams at his followers, one knee still on the ground. "Destroy her!"

The people on the opposite side of the circle to us look skeptical, but they're still loyal. They begin throwing magic toward the gathered crowd.

But all their efforts are deflected. None of the spells, power balls, fireballs, or bolts of lighting, none of them hit the crowd. They go wide, or high, or fizzle out. It must be Callie's shield still, because the rest of us aren't doing anything.

Callie hasn't moved an inch. She looks down at her Uncle, her face full of pity. "I think very soon, you'll have clarity. And then, you'll understand."

She bends over and puts her finger on his forehead.

And he dies. His eyes roll up in his head, and his breath hisses out of his lungs. It's both less and more dramatic than I expect it to be. But as simple as that, the king is no more.

Callie looks up at his followers, who have stopped using their magic to stare at us in shock. Well. Not us. Just Callie.

She straightens ever so slightly and cocks her head.

The people still standing there are thrown out of the circle, turning into more trees with a flurry of leaves.

"They need more time with nature," she says by way of explanation.

"Want me to burn them?" Will whispers.

Callie chuckles. "No. They'll learn."

Ah. I guess that answers the question I had about whether or not they'll turn back into people. Eventually.

A wizened voice erupts from the crowd behind us. "The King is dead. Long live the Queen!"

The crowd cheers, and at the top of their voice, they repeat. "Long live the Queen!" as one voice.

Callie turns and looks at them, and the glow around her intensifies. Her eyes widen and she gasps as she's lifted into the air.

The air inside the circle crackles with power and energy as her hair swirls around her head.

A blast of power erupts from Callie and washes over the crowd. This part I'm used to. When the new ruler is made catalyst, the entire coven is given a boost of magic.

It's different from when Robert took over, though. This magic is warm and nurturing. It promises everything the coven needs. Affection towards Callie rushes through me along with the magic. She's going to make a wonderful queen.

When it's done, she's set gently on her feet and looks at us.

"Long live the queen," she whispers as we rush to envelop her in our arms.