I almost jumped as something brushed up against my arm.

I whirled around, but saw nobody.

Then Patricia spoke.

“Kiev, is that you?” “Yes.

How did you—?” I looked down at my hands to check they were still invisible, wondering for a moment if the spell had worn off.

“Your footprints in the sand,” she murmured.

“What’s happening?” “I’m going to try to distract the warlock, send him over toward the other side of the rocks, and then come back for the witch.

The moment you see the warlock leave, stand as close as you can to her without being noticed.

Instruct Abby and Erik to do the same.” Before I could respond, she let go of me and I no longer felt her proximity.

I started to climb closer toward the rocks again, trying to hide how heavy my breathing was becoming due to the pain the sun was inflicting on me.

Perched on the rocks as close as I dared, I was expecting Patricia to cause another explosion of some sort any second now.

But my focus was suddenly distracted by footsteps hammering over wet sand behind me.

I looked back and was stunned to see another warlock running along the beach toward us.

He was tall, wore fine clothes—an embroidered leather waistcoat and dark silk pants—and his hair was slicked back.

His face was contorted with fury.

His chest heaved as he raced toward the rocks.

Swerving dangerously close to the amorous couple, I tucked myself in a narrow corner to avoid this man bumping into me as he approached.

Leaping up the rocks, he stood, casting a towering shadow over Phinneas and Riona.

They were so absorbed in each other, they didn’t even notice his presence until his hand clamped around Riona’s throat and he tore her away.

Well, this has just gotten a whole lot more complicated.

I wasn’t sure where Patricia was now, but clearly we had to wait for this scene to unfold before we could do anything.

“Zylen,” she gasped, clutching the man’s hands around her neck.

Lowering his head to her, he spat on her face.

“Whore,” he growled.

“How long did you think you would get away with this?” He slammed her head against the side of the wall.

“A visit to your sister’s? Is that what this is?” Phinneas leapt up and a curse blasted from his palms, separating Zylen from Riona.

He glowered at Zylen.

“Don’t you dare touch her.” Zylen jumped to his feet and hurled a curse back at Phinneas, hitting him square in the chest.

Phinneas shot backward, falling down into the ocean below.

Zylen leapt into the ocean after him and the two warlocks began battling in the waves.

“No!” Riona screamed, scrambling to her feet and clutching her dress against her.

“Don’t hurt him.” As Riona motioned to hurl a curse at Zylen, a beam of light shot from his palm and hit her stomach.

Her legs folded beneath her and she fell on the ground, her whole body rigid.

Her screams assured me that she was not dead, just paralyzed.

The battle in the waves became more and more furious by the second as the waves carried the two men further away from the rocks.

Riona’s body then began to levitate—or so it seemed until Patricia hissed, “Now.

Kiev! Abby! Erik! Come over here!” I walked over to Riona and reached out into thin air until I was touching what felt like Patricia’s shoulder.

I glanced up toward the direction I’d heard Erik and Abby scramble away toward.

They might have been in the sun this whole time.

I hoped they’d be all right.

“Erik?” I called.

“Abby?” “Here,” my brother called behind me.

“We’re here.” The two of them brushed against me as they gripped Patricia.

A few seconds later, all five of us had vanished and reappeared outside the boundary bordering the forest lining the beach.

“Now,” Patricia said, “Hold on to some part of this witch as we walk through.” I did as she’d requested, touching the girl’s arm, and I assumed the other two did the same as we hurried through what had previously been as solid as a brick wall.

This time, as I walked through, it was with ease—as though there was no boundary there at all.

We hurried further into the trees, out of direct view of the beach, where Riona’s body lowered to the ground.

“What is happening? Who are you?” she gasped, tears still streaming down her face as she looked around wildly.

Patricia finally came into view, standing directly next to her, although my, Erik’s and Abby’s forms remained invisible.

Patricia bent down over Riona and looked at her kindly.

“Don’t worry, dear,” she whispered, running a palm over her forehead.

“When you wake up, you won’t remember what just happened.

It will all seem like a bad dream…” As Patricia’s palm caressed her forehead, Riona stopped whimpering and her eyelids began drooping until they dropped shut.

A few moments later, the woman was snoring.

Taking in a deep breath, Patricia stood up and looked toward our direction.

Her form disappeared from sight again as she muttered, “Now the real work begins.”

Chapter 18: Mona

Although my quarters were spacious, and my maid’s rooms were situated so far from my own that I barely noticed her presence, I was beginning to feel claustrophobic remaining inside.

I considered putting an invisibility spell over myself, but instead just grabbed a cloak in hopes of trying to remain at least somewhat inconspicuous.