My jaw dropped open as I watched this happen too quickly to realize what was going on. By the time I processed that she was enclosing us in, it was too late.
Everything was dark.
I heard muffled screams outside the gazebo and I knew Malcom was calling for me. My pulse raced and my senses went into overdrive. The air felt still and the fresh scent of the forest was lacking. Instead, I swore I could smell something spicy, like cinnamon. Without the breeze, it felt too warm. I resisted the urge to panic, forcing myself to take slow, steady breaths.
I couldn’t see anything in the pitch black of the gazebo. My eyes widened as if I could see better that way. Realizing what I was doing, I blinked a few times, then tried to let my vision adjust. It was still nothing.
“Star? What’s going on?” I asked.
“For the spell to work, we need to control the senses,” she said.
“You said we needed to be outside,” I reminded her.
“I needed you away from distractions. This spell is just as much your energy as it is mine.”
“I don’t understand,” I said.
“Blood magic is dark and dangerous. Too many ways it can go wrong. It’s forbidden for a reason,” she said.
“You are not making me feel better about this,” I said.
“Do you want to break this claim or not?” she asked.
I turned, trying to figure out which direction her voice was coming from. It felt like it was all around me. “I don’t think I have a choice.”
“You have to want this, or it won’t work,” she said.
I thought back to what Alec told me about alphas connecting with the king. If I was serious about taking Wolf Creek, I had to go through with this. “I want this.”
“Sit.” It was a command.
It was more unnerving than I thought it would be to lower myself to the ground without seeing the floor. Star didn’t use the typical vision to see things. She used her magic. “Can you see in here?”
“I see enough,” she said.
I wanted to ask her more questions to learn more about her and her magic, but now didn’t seem like the time. “I’m ready.”
“Hands on your knees, mind clear,” Star instructed.
I took a breath in and did as she asked. Thoughts of Alec and Tyler flooded my mind. Then, visions of Ace tumbled in. My mom showed up, taking a drag on her cigarette. I cursed under my breath, and tried harder to clear my mind. There was so much I couldn’t get out of my head.
“You’re not concentrating,” Star said. “Push those thoughts away.”
“I’m trying,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Breathe in, hold it for five seconds, then breathe out,” she suggested.
I felt ridiculous, but I tried the breathing pattern. After a few rounds, I actually did find it easier to concentrate.
“Don’t panic when you feel me touch your hand. Keep your mind clear,” she said.
I continued counting between breaths and when Star’s cold hand touched mine, I only flinched rather than freaking out. It felt like she was drawing something on my hand with her fingertip. I tried to ignore it and went back to the breathing.
Star began to chant under her breath. It wasn’t any language I was familiar with and it was very hard to keep my mind empty while she was speaking. My count was off, and I struggled to focus.
Suddenly, a flash of light exploded from the center of the gazebo, illuminating the entire structure. In that moment, a massive shadow lunged toward Star. I could see its teeth and claws coming for her.
Screaming, I leaped from my spot on the floor and I shoved Star aside. The creature made an ear-splitting high-pitched sound. I fell to the ground, wincing in pain. The cry from the creature felt like it was inside my head. I covered my ears and I think I might have screamed but it was too loud to know for sure.