Page 114 of Wedded Witch
Before I can finish, the wards crackle, a sharp burst of energy rippling through the air. I feel it in my bones, the power stretching, bending under the strain. It’s like the very fabric of the magic is being torn apart.
“He’s here,” Mavis says grimly. “It’s time.”
I nod, swallowing back the fear threatening to choke me. I’m not ready for this. None of us are. But we don’t have a choice. Morfran isn’t going to wait. He’s coming for us, for the magic, and if we don’t stop him—ifIdon’t stop him—everything will be lost.
I take one last look at the house, at the place that’s been my refuge for so long. My family’s legacy. My future. And then I turn to face the darkness, to face the storm that’s coming for me.
This is it. The final battle. My heart is pounding, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. The calm before the storm has ended.
The battle has begun.
The ground shakes again, harder this time, and the wards give, just for a second, just enough to let something slip through.My heart pounds as a dark figure bursts through the door, tall and twisted, eyes glowing with a malevolent light.
Morfran.
He steps forward, a sneer twisting his features as his gaze locks onto mine.
“It’s time, little witch,” he says, his voice a low, menacing growl. “Time to see if you’re as strong as they say.”
I swallow, my magic surging in response, but before I can move, before I can react, Oland is there, stepping in front of me, his stance ready.
“Not today,” Oland growls back, his voice steady, unwavering.
Oland’s presence in front of me is a wall, solid and unwavering, but the tension in the air is thickening, wrapping around us like a vice. Morfran’s sneer widens, his gaze flicking between us, amused, as if he’s enjoying watching us brace for the inevitable.
The ground beneath us trembles again, cracks spider webbing across the floor as his dark energy pulses, probing for weak spots.
The wards are still holding, but just barely. They’re straining, fraying at the edges, the magic inside me vibrating in sync with the breaking seams. I have to act—now—before it’s too late.
I step up beside Oland, my pulse racing, magic sparking in the tips of my fingers.
“Oland, step back,” I say, my voice firmer than I feel. “I need space to cast.”
He glances at me, hesitation flickering in his eyes. Protective as ever. “Swyn?—”
“I can’t do this if you’re in the way,” I cut in. “Trust me.”
For a heartbeat, the only sound is the low rumble of the earth and the faint crackle of the wards above us. Then, with a sharp nod, Oland steps aside, giving me room.
Morfran’s laughter cuts through the tension like a blade. “So brave, little witch. But we both know you can’t stop what’s coming. You’re outmatched, outpowered.”
I grit my teeth, pushing past the fear trying to crawl up my throat. “We’ll see about that.”
I reach deep inside myself, drawing on the well of magic that’s been stirring since the bond cemented with Oland. It’s overwhelming, an ancient, wild force and I’m still not entirely sure how to control it. But I don’t have a choice now.
The magic responds to my call, swirling up through me, sharp and electric, ready to be unleashed.
I extend my hands, letting the power flow through me and into the wards. They flicker, then blaze brighter, steadier. The cracks stop widening, the ground beneath us stabilising as my magic knits the fraying edges back together. But Morfran is relentless.
His dark energy slams against the barrier again, harder this time, testing my strength.
“Hold on,” I whisper to myself, forcing my magic to stretch further, weave tighter, locking the wards in place.
“Clever,” Morfran says, stepping closer, his voice dripping with mockery. “But this won’t be enough. You’re fighting against the inevitable, little witch.”
His power surges again, slamming into the wards like a battering ram. I stagger, the force of it rippling through me, but I hold my ground. I won’t let him break through. Not here. Not now.
“Keep pushing, Swyn. You’ve got this,” I hear Sol’s voice, calm and steady, from behind me. I don’t turn, but his presence is a lifeline, grounding me. I know Ri and Kel are close too, watching, waiting for the moment they’ll be needed.