The first of the shadowy figures reached the barrier, slamming against it with a force that made the ground tremble. The protective spell held, but I could feel the strain as the dark magic pressed against it, trying to find a weakness. Gabriel and I continued to chant, our voices growing louder as we poured more power into the barrier.
Contra mala nos defende, a malis defense.
We repeated the spell repeatedly, but the shadows were relentless. They clawed at the barrier, their eyes glowing with hatred as they tried to break through. The air was thick with the stench of decay and burning wood, and the temperature continued to drop, the cold seeping into my bones.
The girl who had come out stood frozen, and because we needed to focus, we couldn't tell her to return to her coven. What I di
