Chapter 25
Morgan Blackmoore sat on the edge of the oversized chair, her fingers tapping a restless rhythm on the armrest. The clock in the corner chimed twice, marking two hours since they had started their vigil in the sitting room. Her sky-blue eyes were glued to the expansive picture window that overlooked their wild herb garden and the ominous woods beyond.
Her heightened intuition thrummed with anticipation, a low hum of energy beneath her skin. Every shadow that danced in the moonlight sent her heart racing, and every rustle of leaves had her hoping it was either Maynard or Sofie. Yet neither of them had shown up. The anticipation was suffocating.
The silence was finally shattered by Luke”s worried voice. ”What if Maynard and Sofie decide not to pass by here? What if they take another route to the epicenter?”
His concern resonated in the room, causing a ripple of anxiety. It was a valid question. Their plan hinged on the two wizards passing through their yard as they made their way to the epicenter of the ley lines.
However, Celeste responded with an unwavering confidence that belied the tension in the room. ”They will pass through here,” she said, her blond curls bouncing as she nodded for emphasis. ”The spell I cast ensures it. Our paths are intertwined for tonight.”
Morgan looked at her sister and couldn”t help but admire her determination. Celeste had come a long way from being a novice spell caster, and now, they were depending on her.
Morgan couldn”t shake off an uneasy feeling, though. Her intuition wasn”t often wrong, and right now, it was signaling that something big was about to happen.
Her gaze returned to the window and the dark woods beyond. The wind whistled through the trees, the leaves rustling like whispered secrets. Her fingers unconsciously moved to the obsidian amulet around her neck to trace the smooth surface.
She mentally reviewed their plan again, preparing for every possible scenario. They had their herbs and crystals ready. Fiona had infused several rocks with energy, turning them into weapons. Jolene was primed to unleash her energy blasts. They”d covered themselves with agrimony, and Fiona had the burlap bag of stones secured to her belt.
They were as prepared as they could be, but Morgan knew that in their world, things rarely went according to plan. The element of surprise was often both their greatest weapon and their biggest threat.
The woods bordering the Blackmoore estate churned with inexplicable oddities. Morgan could only stare as a stag, impressive with its antler crown bearing an uncanny adornment of velvet-soft feathers, emerged from the forest”s ebony canvas.
”Darn,” she muttered, her pulse thundering in her ears. The buck, wild-eyed and trembling, cast a frantic glance toward the mansion before bolting back into the shadowy wilderness. ”What in the world?”
”The magic is getting stronger, spreading farther,” Jolene said.
”How much longer should we wait?” Luke asked. ”It”s getting late and?—”
He stopped abruptly when a figure appeared at the edge of the cliff overlooking their property. Maynard Dove. His movements were cautious, his eyes scanning the area as he walked toward the forest.
”One down, one to go,” Cal said.
Only a few more minutes passed before another figure emerged from a different part of their property. The unmistakable flutter of a green cloak gave away Sofie Dove”s presence even before they could see her face. Her expression was one of grim determination, a stark contrast to Maynard”s wary demeanor.
Jolene”s silhouette darkened the window, her gaze trained on the outside world. ”Showtime,” she declared, her words slicing through the room’s stillness. She pivoted, her eyes ablaze with resolve and an undercurrent of exhilaration.
Their plan was about to be tested.