After dinner, Rowan went to check the barrier again, while Lyra was in the kitchen, washing dishes, deep in thought.
Just as she stepped out of the kitchen, a splitting headache struck her
"Ahhh…" she groaned, struggling to stay upright. She caught herself against the wall, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She collapsed onto the couch, panting.
What is going on?
"Lyra..."
Someone was calling her.
"Lyra, come to me."
Her heart pounded in her chest. Fear gripped her. She wanted to call for Rowan, but no sound left her lips. She gritted her teeth and tried again, but the headache only worsened.
She knew something was happening. And then she saw a golden light surged toward her, pulsing with an eerie glow.
She struggled to keep her eyes open, but it was in vain.
Her vision blurred, and darkness swallowed her.
************
Outside, Rowan was checking the barrier when he sensed movement behind him.
"You sure took your time, Ashford."
Rowan turned, hesitating. "How is Wren?' He hated asking, but he had to know."
Ashford sighed. "Well, she's alive. But this barrier shouldn't be here anymore. It's draining Wren's life force."
"Yeah, I thought as much." Rowan turned back to the barrier.
"So that's it…. Wren put this barrier here for a reason. It was sealing Lyra's powers, wasn't it?"
"Rowan, you know it was necessary to seal it. She couldn't handle it. You know what happened before she almost lost her life."
Rowan's jaw tightened. "I know. No need to remind me. Just tell me how to remove this barrier."
Before he could touch it, a golden light suddenly burst from the house.
Alarmed, Rowan sprinted toward it, Ashford right behind him.
And then they saw her...Lyra, unconscious, suspended in the air.
It was pure chaos blinding light, pulsing energy, a storm unraveling before them.
"What is going on?"
Rowan squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to steady his racing thoughts.
"The seal has been broken, hasn't it?" He looked toward Ashford.
Ashford's eyes were fixed on Lyra, his expression grim. "Yes, the seal is broken."
Rowan clenched his fists. The air around them crackled with energy, a force both familiar and overwhelming.
"We need to bring her down," he said, stepping forward. But just as he reached out, a surge of golden light pulsed from Lyra's body, forcing him back.
Ashford steadied himself. "Her powers are awakening. If we don't contain them, they'll spiral out of control."
Rowan gritted his teeth. "Then tell me how to stop it!" he shouted, his voice ragged. His chest heaved, fingers trembling at his sides. "I've seen her die once I don't want her to die again!" He tried once more, but the result was the same.
"Rowan, look at me!" Ashford's voice was sharp. "You were a hunter once, remember? You've hunted witches before. You must be familiar with barrier-breaking. This is important both Wren and Lyra are in danger."
Rowan almost growled. "This isn't the time for memories, Kael!" In his agitation, he called him by his first name.
And then, Kael snapped. "Then what do you want me to do? "Damn it, you know my limits I'm a healer, not some all-powerful sorcerer!"
Rowan clenched his hands. "Wait… let me think."
"Come with me," Rowan told Kael, and without another word, they stepped out of the house.
The night was eerily silent, there was crackling energy pulsing from the barrier. Rowan studied it, his sharp gaze tracing the intricate symbols that shimmered faintly in the darkness. His jaw tightened.
Rowan exhaled sharply, his mind racing. "This isn't just a barrier," he said, his voice tense. "It's a summoning array."
Kael's expression darkened. "A summoning array?"
Rowan nodded. "Wren was trying to suppress Lyra's power, but this array it's meant to call something. Or someone." His fists clenched. "The darker part of Lyra."
Kael swallowed hard. "Then we need to stop it. Tell me the spell."
Rowan hesitated for only a moment before reciting the incantation, his voice steady, each word laced with power. As the final syllable left his lips, the air around them grew heavier. Kael took a step back, shaking his head.
"This… this is beyond me," Kael admitted. "I don't have the power to perform this spell."
"You have to," Rowan insisted. "I can't use my own magic. If I do, the dark forces will know" His voice dropped to a whisper. "that Rowan Blackwood is back."
Kael's breath hitched. "Then what do you expect me to do?"
"Listen to me, Kael. We don't have much time," Rowan said, his voice urgent. "I spent these years living as a human because I didn't want anyone to know about me. Hell, even in my own subconscious, I've referred to myself as human. But if I suddenly reveal myself now, how will I protect Lyra? They'll come after both of us."
Kael exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He knew Rowan was right, but the weight of the situation pressed down on him.
"Fine," Kael said at last, resigned. "Then lend me some of your power."
Rowan met his gaze, then gave a firm nod. "Brace yourself."
Rowan took a deep breath, extending his hand toward Kael. A faint glow pulsed from his fingertips, swirling with raw energy. "This won't be easy," he warned. "I can't give you too much, or they'll sense it."
Kael gritted his teeth and grasped Rowan's hand. The moment their palms connected, a surge of power rushed through him like fire in his veins. His breath hitched, his knees almost buckling under the sheer force of it.
"It's Okay," Rowan murmured, tightening his grip. "Let it flow, don't resist."
Kael exhaled slowly, his body adjusting to the borrowed strength. "Damn," he muttered. "This feels… different."
Rowan pulled his hand away, his gaze sharp. "Because it's mine," he said. "Don't waste it."
Kael clenched his fists, feeling the magic humming beneath his skin. He turned toward the array, his confidence growing. "Alright," he said, his voice stronger. "Tell me what to do."
"Destroy the core of this array," Rowan instructed, his voice firm. "And once you start, don't stop if you do, the recoil will hit you."
Kael swallowed hard, his fingers twitching. "Great. No pressure at all," he muttered.
Rowan shot him a sharp look. "I mean it, Kael. The backlash from an unfinished break could kill you."
Kael exhaled through his nose, shaking off the doubt creeping into his mind. "Alright. Where's the core?"