Page 113 of Wedded Witch
The thud echoes again, this time followed by a dark, twisted voice that slithers through the cracks in the door, oily and full of malice, but disembodied, like it’s being projected from some distance.
“I’ve come for what’s mine.”
Morfran.
I clench my jaw, my blood boiling.
Not tonight. Not while I’m breathing.
SWYN
The air crackleswith tension as I stand at the edge of the wards, staring out into the darkness beyond the house. My ancestral home—it feels more like a fortress now, the last stronghold against the storm that’s coming.
The wards are pulsing beneath my skin, vibrating with the strain of holding something terrible at bay. The night is unnaturally still, like the earth itself is holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus, to prepare. Everything feels off-balance, as if the world is shifting underfoot, and it’s hard to stay grounded.
My magic hums just beneath the surface, restless and eager, but I need to control it, to use it wisely. This is the calm before the storm, and I have to be ready.
The others are scattered around the room, each one preparing in their own way. I know Kel is reinforcing the wards, Sol and Ri are checking the perimeter, and Oland—he’s nearby, watching me, always.
His presence is tangible even when I don’t see him. It’s like he’s become my shadow, never far, his energy mixing with mine in ways I’m still getting used to.
But it’s Mavis who I’m focused on now. She stands beside me, her eyes sharp as she scans the horizon. She doesn’t say much, but the weight of her silence speaks volumes.
This is it. We’re out of time.
“Morfran’s here,” I say, my voice low, but steady. It’s not a question, just a fact. I can feel him, like a dark stain spreading across the land, pushing at the edges of the wards, testing them.
Mavis nods, her lips pressed into a thin line. “He’s been biding his time, gathering strength. But he’s getting impatient now. The bond cementing between you and Oland rattled him.”
She glances at me, her gaze softening for just a moment. “He knows you’re unlocking something ancient, something powerful. That’s why he’s coming.”
I swallow hard, my throat tight. “Aether magic.”
“Yes. Elias saw this coming, you know. The balance of power is shifting, and you’re at the centre of it, Swyn. The curse was never just about your family—it’s about controlling the flow of magic itself.”
My stomach clenches at the weight of her words. I’ve always known this curse was bigger than me, but hearing it laid out like that—it feels suffocating.
But there’s no room for fear now. I don’t have the luxury of running anymore.
“I don’t know if I can control it,” I admit, my voice barely a whisper. “It’s too much.”
“You can,” Mavis says firmly. “Youwill. You’ve already proven that you’re stronger than you think.”
I nod, but the doubt lingers. The power inside me is swirling like a storm, but controlling it? That’s another matter entirely.Every time I try to harness it, it’s like grabbing smoke, slipping through my fingers before I can shape it into anything useful.
A sudden gust of wind whips through the trees, and there’s a sharp tug at the wards. My heart skips a beat. He’s testing them again, stronger this time. The wards hold, but just barely.
“He’s getting through,” I murmur, panic rising in my chest.
“Not yet,” Mavis replies, but there’s an edge to her voice. She knows it too. It’s only a matter of time.
The ground beneath my feet trembles, and a low, ominous rumble echoes through the air. I look to the horizon, where the darkness seems to ripple and twist, like shadows coming to life.
Morfran is here.
I turn to Mavis, my pulse racing. “We need to?—”