The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 6 by Bella Forrest (books for men to read .TXT) 📕

magic and the older boy, not wanting to aggravate his situation, as none of them knew what might happen if he really got hurt. The three girls were holding their own, however, forming a powerful trifecta, their magic mingling into one jet of supreme energy, before it was sent surging toward Ceres. The one-eyed royal managed to dodge most of their attacks, and the shield she had set up around herself was proving pretty much impenetrable, the golden glow of it glittering around her body like a shroud. Wave after wave of magic rushed from her palms, whizzing across the grass.

With a cry of pain, Ellabell crumpled to the ground, only to stand up again a moment later, her face contorted in agony but her resilience undamaged. Natalie got hit in the arm, but she simply continued to conjure with just the one hand. Helena was the most impressive, her hands moving almost as fast as Ceres’s, dispensing attacks just as quickly, the bronze bristle of them crackling through the air like fireworks. Still, nothing seemed to affect Ceres. Being a royal, she was already infinitely more talented and able than Alex and his friends, with the slight exception of Helena, but she had experience on her side too—real, battle-hardened experience.

In truth, Alex wasn’t sure how they were going to win this, and they were running out of time. If he was late in meeting Julius, he knew he may as well not bother going. It would signal almost certain death.

A spinning javelin of raw, golden energy sliced through the top of Helena’s chest, just by her collarbone, cutting straight through her into the grass behind. It pierced through the shield Ellabell had put up as if it wasn’t even there. Helena gasped, her eyes going wide, her body frozen. Natalie and Ellabell both grasped for her as she began to topple over, and it was precisely the moment Ceres had been waiting for. With their guard down, she raised her hands to strike, building a twisting orb in the center of her palms.

Alex rushed forward, forging a sword of anti-magic in his hands, only to catch sight of Demeter. The auburn-haired man had slid from the back of his Kelpie and was walking up to his beloved, his movements slow and silent. Ceres was so engrossed in her fight with the group that she didn’t even see him until it was too late. Breaking apart her shield with his own powerful magic, he rested his hands gently on the sides of her head, and wove silvery strands through the skin of her temples, into her mind. Her one good eye went blank as she fell limp in his arms. Demeter caught her, sinking to the ground and holding her tenderly to him, while he continued to weave the mind-control magic into her brain, halting her fighting spirit.

“Go,” he whispered, looking up at Alex and the others, his expression glum. “And make sure it’s worth it.”

They didn’t need telling twice, with the sands of time slipping away at an alarming rate. Natalie and Ellabell gathered up a recovering Helena, and they all sprinted for the portal. There was a familiar-looking, lotus-shaped gem on this side of it, which Alex hadn’t noticed before. Pressing it in, they watched as the false rock face slid back, allowing them through to the cave beyond. They hurried in, not wasting a moment more.

Alex wished he had a way to check the time. Through the thick canopy of trees, he could see that the sun was a little higher in the sky, but he didn’t know what that meant—were they already too late?

Knowing they’d have to chance it, they continued through the forest, running as fast as they could, avoiding any traps that sprang up along the way. Even so, Alex knew it was taking them far longer than he’d like. They came to the edge of the forest, the pagoda rising in front of them. Koi carp swam lazily in the pools of the water gardens, the petals of the pink and white lotus flowers swaying gently in the breeze that rippled the surface of the ponds. The calm scenery did little to slow Alex’s racing pulse, however, especially once he caught sight of the soldiers.

There were more military personnel than usual, due to the celebrity staying within the walls of the pagoda, but Alex knew they would be expecting him. The others, however, were not exactly welcome guests.

“You’re going to have to hide yourselves outside, in the trees, but close enough that you can help if I get into trouble. A few of you can maybe hide up on the walkway of the top floor, if you’re careful—the guards don’t patrol the walkways, so if you keep low and climb fast, you should be okay,” he whispered, pointing toward the open wooden balconies that surrounded each floor. They were only accessible from the pagoda windows, or if someone was a very good climber, so Alex knew the guards had little reason to patrol there. “If anything happens, I’ll send a spear of anti-magic out through one of the windows. That’ll be your signal to help, and for us to get the hell out of dodge, okay?” he added rapidly, knowing he was really cutting it close.

“We’ve got this,” said Aamir confidently. “Go on, before you really are late.”

Alex nodded, waiting a moment until his friends had gone a little farther up the tree-line before emerging into the bright sunlight, where everyone could see him. To his right, he saw Jari and Helena dart across the gap between the trees and the cellar, without incident. The sight gave him some degree of comfort, and he steeled himself as he continued his walk forward.

“Halt! Who goes there?” A soldier came forward, pointing a nasty-looking saber in his direction.

Alex cleared his throat. “I am Alex Webber. I have an audience with the king.”

The soldier gave him a cruel smile. “Ah, so you’re the one we’ve been