air with various hues of purple and lavender, revealing the spells that warded the cabin. There were a lot.
“I see a physical ward,” Penny said, her voice tinny over the speakers. “And illusions.”
I nodded, spotting those dotting the ground. “The illusions are covering something. Maybe pits.” One was right before the entrance.
“Yeah,” Penny added. “And on the door. It looks like a fire spell. It'll explode if the door's opened.”
“Windows, too,” I confirmed. “And there's one other spell. Look at it covering the cabin, almost like vines. It's Life magic.”
“Flesh control.”
I shuddered. Christian had tried to use flesh control on me. It was one of the most vile magics. Life spirits allowed you to control plants and animals. With them, you could turn someone into your puppet. It was among the foulest forms of magic.
“He must have it triggered to seize anyone that enters the cabin.”
“Yep,” Penny confirmed. “I think your father is an Imbuement witch. I can't imagine enchanting an entire cabin unless it was your affinity.”
“Well, that should make him poorer at combat,” I realized. Something worried at the back of my mind. It was important that my father was an Imbuement witch.
“Can you dispel the magic?” Forrest asked, knocking me out of my thoughts. “I don't want to be flesh controlled ever again.”
When Christian kidnapped me, he had tried to flesh control Forrest. It had half-worked, but my mate's willpower had been strong enough that he could still move, if barely. Luckily, I managed to break the spell.
“It'll be a piece of cake,” Penny answered. “Your fiancee's a Love witch. Dispelling is Love magic.”
I nodded my head. “I'll still need your help, Penny.”
“Let's start with the simple stuff. I think I can handle the fire and illusion spells on this side of the cabin. You take the other side. Once we have them down, we'll both throw dispelling magic at the protection and flesh control enchantments.”
“Okay.”
I peered around the SUV again. There were several patches of illusionary grass scattered about, created by Light spirits. Since Love magic was my affinity, I didn't need to cast a spell. My mental will was more than strong enough.
“Spirits of dispelling, disrupt the Light spells and break their enchantment!” Penny chanted, her voice distant.
My tattoo burst with energy as I channeled the Love spirits. The golden hearts that always loved to dance around Forrest and me, shot towards the purple-painted patches of grass, and the enchanted windows and front door. Golden light burst, bringing gasps from a few of the deputies. The Light spells winked out, revealing deep holes torn into the ground, probably created with Earth magics. Then the hearts crashed into the windows and doors. The fiery spells snuffed out in a shower of golden sparks.
“Spirits of dispelling, disrupt the Fire spells and break their enchantment!” Penny cast. Sparks flashed bright on the side of the cabin as my friend cast her spells. “Okay, Kotie. I'm done on this side. Ready for the big stuff?”
“Yes, I am,” I nodded.
“Get ready to breach,” Forrest ordered into his radio. “Once the witches break the last two spells, we're in.”
“Okay, Kotie. We need to be in sync,” Penny said. “We'll go for the flesh control, first. That's a nasty spell.”
“I'm ready. On three?”
“Sure. One, two, three!”
Together, we chanted: “Spirits of dispelling, disrupt the Life spell and break its enchantment!”
The force of this dispelling spell was so much more powerful than the first ones I cast. By chanting the words, I put more of my will into it. Only a Love witch could cast a dispelling spell with such force. Golden hearts streaked towards the cabin. There were hundreds of the Love spirits, answering my spell's call. I gripped the back of the SUV as I swayed. The energy poured out of me.
The Love spirits crashed into the purple-painted vines
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