Page 114 of Wind Whisperer

Pippa’s voice, choked with effort, sounded in my mind.Well, don’t just stand there.Help.

I couldn’t see her, but I could feel the boost in resistance. It was as if my sister had jumped in beside me, slapped a hand over the vortex, and pushed with me.

Except she wasn’t beside me. I stared through the swirling storm. Where was Pippa?

Then I focused on repelling Harlon’s lightning. Thehowdidn’t matter now, only that we succeeded in holding him back…somehow.

In my mind, I was leaning against a stone wall and pushing. Harder…harder…

It’s working!Pippa panted into my mind.Keep going!

The lightning hissed and sputtered, angrier than ever. But it was scorching a new patch of ground now, a few inches closer to Harlon.

It was working! We were pushing Harlon back!

His face contorted in anger and exertion, and we stopped making headway.

If only Abby could chip in too. We three sisters had always made a formidable team. Surely, as a trio, we could overcome Harlon.

But Abby had to keep Claire safe, so that wasn’t an option.

Dragon roars filtered down through the clouds, making me despair.

Dammit…Pippa cursed as Harlon clawed back some of our hard-earned headway.

Somewhere overhead, a dragon screamed, and another roared in triumph. Was Nash the winner or the loser?

My arms burned with effort. My whole body ached. But letting up now meant losing everything. Everything.

Well, not today,someone growled in my mind.

I nearly cheered. Abby?

Never count me out of a good fight,she barked.Just tell me how the hell this works, and I’m all in.

That was the hard part, because I had no idea.

You need to get to the vortex,Pippa told her, still straining against Harlon.

I am at the vortex,Abby insisted.

No,I’mat the vortex,Pippa retorted.

No, I am,I nearly said.And you two are nowhere in sight.

Then it hit me. My great-aunt had warned us all about the vortex, but she’d never brought us there at the same time. Wasthere more than one vortex — or more than one place to tap into its power?

Touch it,I barked.One hand on the vortex. Point your other hand at the—

The lightning bolt jolted before I finished my sentence. That Abby. Always a quick learner.

Holy smokes,she muttered.

Yes, that about summed it up.

A prickly pear burst into flames as our combined power pushed Harlon’s lightning backward. The ground charred. A jackrabbit emerged and sprinted for new cover.

Keep going!Pippa urged as we kept up our combined efforts.