Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
He couldn’t complain, though. All their hard work was paying off. The damned dandy dogs were on their way.
Upon arriving at the field, about half of the earth witches had cast several “calling” spells that summoned all the deer, rabbits, and foxes in the area to the park. This constant parade of prey would lead the dogs to the park.
Once the poor animals arrived at the field, the witches sent them in various directions. They didn’t want to use them as bait. The trail was all that was required to get the dandy dogs there.
The other half of the witches had set about laying the framework for the cage that would trap the dogs once they stepped onto the field. Sky couldn’t snap his fingers and send the dogs straight to the underworld. They needed to be standing still so they could fall into the portal he created, or they needed to be pulled home. It was pretty apparent right now that they had no intention of strolling home on their own.
As the dogs bayed a second time, he turned to the picnic tables where he’d last seen Nolan. The sweet, wonderful man was already walking to his car. It was part of their agreement. Nolan would sit in his vehicle while they worked the last spells to trap the dogs.
Part of him hated excluding the man who so wanted to be included in his work. How could he not love all of Nolan’s support? His need to be there every step of the way?
But after his injuries in the first attempt, Sky knew he wouldn’t be able to concentrate if he was worried about Nolan’s safety.
Maybe next time when they weren’t up against something so big and dangerous. He’d make sure Nolan was right by his side the entire time.
“We ready to go, necromancer?” Audrey called out, jerking Sky’s gaze to the large circle of witches spread across the soccer field. His friends were mixed in among them. The only exception was Moon. The blood witch was hanging out near the picnic tables, prepared to offer Nolan extra protection if it was necessary. Sadly, his magic clashed with the earth witches and would negate all their hard work.
It was an odd assortment. Some of them were the image of the typical witch with long, breezy skirts, crazy hair, and lots of necklaces and bracelets bearing amulets and charms of protection. But there were others—like Carol—in their yoga pants and oversized sweat shirts, their hair pulled up into messy buns, and Solo cups at their feet. In the backs of their minds, they were probably calculating the minutes they’d have to sleep once they got home before they were forced to drag themselves out of bed to get the kids ready for school.
Kids…
Was that something he could have with his one-day fiancé in the car?
Magic and love and a family and all the chaos that came—
“Necromancer?” Audrey bellowed again, snapping him from his daydreams. Yeah, this was not the time.
“What? Yes! I’m here! I’m ready!” His cheeks burned. He wasn’t normally this flighty.
All that sexy man’s fault.
The leaves rattled and thrashed together as the two dogs bounded out of the thin line of woods that ran along one side of the park. Sky stepped forward, moving toward the center of the large circle. The witches closest to the dogs retreated, creating an opening for the pooches to approach.
One of the dandy dog’s long, pointed ears snapped back and its lip curled as it growled low and deep in its massive chest. Flickering firelight danced off its massive fangs.
“I think he remembers you,” Mad called out.
“Yeah, as the person who caught his friend. Why couldn’t he remember me as the person who gave him chicken?” Sky muttered under his breath while holding his position.
The second dog sniffed the air and his head whipped to face him as well, the same rumble rising from him. Lovely. He’d pissed off both canines.
“You know you’re not supposed to be here,” Sky shouted. “It’s time to go home.”
Sky reached inside of himself and called the dead energy that danced around his soul. His connection to the underworld and all the powers that flowed through that realm were right at his fingertips. As the energy saturated his pores and poured through his veins, the annoying itching that came with the earth magic evaporated. He was in his element.
In unison, the two dogs lunged at him, massive jaws snapping as if they intended to break him in half. As one, they slammed into a shimmering gold barrier. They yelped and tumbled, falling onto their butts and shaking their heads. Served them right for trying to bite him. Overgrown spoiled brats.
“Barriers are in place!” one witch yelled.
Sky nodded and threw out his right hand toward the ground, where the dogs were pouting. He preferred to draw the circles when he needed something this big, but he had no desire to get any closer to the dogs than necessary. This time, he’d have to wing it.