Witch Fall(119)

Jolin stepped back and joined the circle. Lilette was surrounded by witches and wastrels. She wasn’t sure the circle would be strong enough to launch her into the air, but she pushed her doubts aside and followed her own advice.

She nodded to them and they gripped hands. Their voices rising together, they sang. Lilette knew the listeners would hear this. But it had to be done. Their voices moved through her, their thoughts in her head. The wastrels were elated and terrified. They’d never been allowed to practice their magic—small as it might be.

More than one keeper was disgusted with the off-key singing. To them, it was tramping on something sacred. Lilette didn’t care. It didn’t work as well, but it was working. And that was all that mattered.

The first stirrings of wind thickened beneath her feet, but it wasn’t strong enough to take her up. Concentrate, Lilette commanded them silently. We need each other.

Follow my lead, Nassa said. She held herself rigid, her mouth open wide, the song coming from deep inside her. The wastrels copied her. And the notes might not have gotten any better, but their power certainly did.

The wind lifted Lilette’s robes, tugged at her hair. She felt light—light as a cherry blossom spinning on the wind. And then she was airborne, twisting and twirling up. Closer to the stars far above. She wanted to keep going, until she could finally touch the shadows between the stars. But she forced herself to concentrate, to find that hum beneath her breastbone where her power resided. As their songs filled her with more power, she stretched her witch senses out, grasping onto each island.

When she opened her mouth, she sang, and it seemed even the moon in the sky stopped spinning so it might listen.



Harshen, raise thy stakes.

Winds, a path to make.

Earth, compact thy soil.

Plants, thy roots uncoil.

Waters, thy waves divide.

Islands line up, side by side.



Even with the power humming through her, filling her with light until it looked like day, it took her singing until her voice was hoarse before the other islands of Harshen began to appear. All of them flashed into sight, all of them close enough to reach by a good swimmer. It would have to be enough.

The circle slowly sang her down and then it broke apart.

“You did it,” Jolin said in awe as she handed Lilette a cup of tea.

She rubbed her scratchy throat. Not wanting to risk speaking, she nodded. Boats were immediately dispatched with the powder, which was to be spread along all their shores. They had until morning to see it done. If they failed, all they’d accomplished was making themselves easier targets for the witches.





Chapter 41



Sometimes I hate her for choosing Han over me. It’s selfish. It’s weak. But knowing that doesn’t stop the anger from flaring up so strongly I choke on it. ~Jolin



“Ships!” someone shouted. “On the horizon!”

No sooner had the cry gone out than clouds rolled across the sky. Lilette glanced up, at the lightning flashing beneath them.

“They’re here!” Jolin echoed the words ringing through Lilette’s head.

“Run for cover!” Guardians and elite cried out, ushering people off the shore and deeper into the jungle.

“Is the powder in place?” Lilette asked. Not all of the men had checked in yet.

Jolin shoved a pot of it into her hands. “We’re about to find out!”

Witches and wastrels ran toward them, grasping hands, fear and hope mingling on their faces.

Once again they sang, and once again Lilette twirled into the sky. At the apex, she tugged the lid off the last of the powder. The witches sang again, and Lilette spun so fast she was certain she was going to be sick. But it worked. The powder swirled around her, shimmering a poisonous purple as it plumed out over the sky. The other witches shifted their song, adding their strength to Lilette’s.

The power built inside her, slowly filling her up. The other ship was just offshore now—close enough Lilette could make out the witches from the guardians. The clouds billowed in, thicker and heavier.

The other witches sang their barrier into place. Lilette could see a witch in the center, rising toward the sky. When the two of them were level, Lilette recognized her. It was Merlay. Even from this distance, Lilette could see her shake her head, pity in her gaze. “I have the most powerful witches in all of Grove City with me,” Merlay called out. “What chance do you stand against us?”

Lilette ignored the fear scrambling for purchase inside her. “I am meant to stop you.”

Merlay tipped back her head and laughed. “Time to teach you about real power.” She opened her mouth and a chant beat out.

Lilette ached to stop her, but the song she must sing required so much—she couldn’t risk lessening her reservoirs to fight Merlay. Lilette could do nothing as the clouds turned black, as lightning slammed down again, and again, and again.