and thrashed but the hold was stronger. Tegan was stronger. The demons were pinned frozen in the air.
“TEGAN?” I screamed, relief rushing through me. I spun around with wide eyes and too much hope in my heart. “Tegan? Tegan, are you here?”
“I’m not there, Saffie, but I’m here.”
I gasped. “I hear you!”
It wasn’t out loud but inside my head. But I heard it nonetheless.
“Run, Saffie. I can’t hold it for long. I’m tracking you but you have to get back in the tunnel,” Tegan shouted, though her voice was strained and I knew she was growing weak.
Wait. “You’re tracking me?” I frowned and glanced around but then it hit me and I gasped. “Keltie’s jewelry!”
“YES!” Tegan shouted excitedly in my head. “Keep it on and I WILL find you. Just get back in the tunnel!”
The demons thrashed and dropped to the ground. They kicked their legs to try and run but Tegan still had them in her grip. For now. She was wildly powerful but any second and the time difference would be too much for the connection to hold.
I looked over my shoulder and spotted the opening for the tunnel sparkling like the North Star. I charged forward. I’m coming, Tegan. I’m coming!
A shadow moved off to my left and then a Seelie Knight popped up out of nowhere. I cursed and dug my heels in harder. My legs screamed and burned but I pushed faster. His golden body armor glistened in the sunlight. In my peripheral vision I saw the tip of his sword blade as he charged right for me. He pushed off the ground and lunged.
I cursed. I couldn’t fight off a Knight on my own. I wasn’t good enough of a fighter, I was too rusty. My magic was too weak. I threw my hand out to try again to summon spirits but again blue light just fizzled and cracked.
But then a bright white light flashed in front of me. TEGAN! I gasped and dove forward, then slid right for the light just as the Knight swung his sword. His blade crashed against the white light and black smoke erupted out of him. He shrieked and burst into flames. The orange flames turned bright white and then the Knight was gone.
What the hell? What was – I frowned as the smell of fresh rain wrapped around me. Raw power pulsed through the air and I recognized it in an instant. I looked up over my head and saw the faint glowing outline of a six-foot-tall sword. “Tennessee?”
“Yes, he’s here—” Tegan coughed in my mind and her magic flickered.
Behind me the demons snarled and lunged for me as her hold vanished. They dove ten feet closer before Tegan’s rainbow magic caught them again, pinning them back in place.
“Saffie, run. Now. I can’t hold them. RUN! Get in the tunnel, Saffie! NOW! GO!”
“I’m coming!” I scrambled to my feet, then charged for the tunnel opening. As I jumped through, I pushed out with my magic. Bring me home.
Chapter Eleven
Saffie
My feet slid over the vine floor of the tunnel but gravity and Tegan’s magic had me flying. I looked up and my gaze landed right on Riah. His eyes widened. I heard him call out my name but I was already slammed through the other side of the tunnel wall. Over his shoulder I spotted a squadron of Knights racing off in the other direction, jumping through a different opening — and then I crashed into a mound of fluffy white snow.
I squealed and groaned as the snow touched the bare skin on my arms and chest. Right as I jumped to my feet a wall of ice-cold air slammed into me. I hissed and wrapped my arms around myself. Snow fell from the sky. It was gorgeous but I was still sleeveless and barefoot, I was not dressed for winter. I shivered and my teeth rattled together. Goosebumps spread across my skin. My feet burned from the cold. I rubbed my palms together and summoned my magic, then flicked golden glitter mist down toward my toes…and black fuzzy Ugg boots appeared on my feet. The warmth made me sigh with relief but when I tried to change my outfit my magic fizzled and faded.
I’d been using too much too quick.
Witch’s Shock was dangerous. I needed to stop using my magic so it could rest.
Which meant I needed to either get back in the tunnel somehow or find warmth. I wrapped my arms around myself and glanced around.