“Excellent.” Matthis wipes at a spot of blood on his white sleeve. “You’re coming more and more into your power thanks to me.”

“Stay away from David.” I lift my hands, prepared to blast Matthis out of the magic circle he’s crafted around David’s unconscious body.

Under any other circumstance, I’d be jumping for joy that my power worked, but Matthis came here with the threat to kill David, and I’m too petrified to cross the bloody circle. Doing so might have Matthis’ dark magic lash out and harm others.

What am I going to do if David’s dead? My chest tightens and I feel like I can’t breathe as...