“Christine?” one of the others asked.
She looked up to see Lord Berith nearly upon them. His maul arcing back, ready to swipe down across them.
“No!” she screamed and poured her magic into the spell.
Power surged through her veins and out through her staff in a blazing display of golden light. The beam hit Berith’s maul dead center, adding considerable force to the back swing.
Not expecting it, Berith was spun around by the sudden acceleration of his weapon, losing his balance and falling backward.
“He must not reach the portal!” she shouted, gesturing at the swirling plate-sized shape in the air behind them. “No matter the cost!”
The others were staring at her, still awed by the power she’d displayed in her attack on Berith. Christine didn’t care though; she only had one mission, one objective.
Prevent him from opening the portal.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Christine
HER MAGIC CAME WITH an ease she’d never experienced before.
Christine wasn’t sure what was powering her, but she felt strong. Purple light bathed the darkened battlefield as she stood defiantly against Lord Berith, her magic against his demonic strength.
One clawed demon hand pressed down on her wall of energy. She grunted and was driven to one knee. He was so strong. So powerful. How could she hope to stop him? It seemed inevitable that, even with her newfound strength, she would succumb to him.
Part of her mind knew that what she was feeling was the demon’s projection, his presence on the mortal plane instilling in her a sense of despair that wasn’t her own. But part of it was the knowledge that he was stronger than her. She couldn’t hold him.
Footsteps crunched on the crispy, blackened ground next to her.
Out of the corner of her right eye, she saw another witch come and stand on the line. The woman shouted and lifted her wand. Green magic threaded its way through the purple shield, strengthening it, slowing the downward progression. But not stopping it.
Turning her head slightly, she saw Madison’s green eyes flash with anger as she poured her magic into the shield.
“Sorry I’m late,” Jessie said as she came up on Christine’s left, raising her wand, adding her own yellow light.
Berith snarled and pushed harder. The wall of energy continued to descend toward them.
Red magic blossomed from several spots, infusing the wall with yet another color.
The wall slowed.
More footsteps on the ground as more witches came forward, overcoming their fear of Berith, adding their magic.
Christine snarled savagely as her entire team took the line, reinforcing the wall, weaving their magic through it, strengthening it, turning it solid. Stopping it.
“You lose,” she whispered, locking eyes with the maniacal demon.
As one, the witches heaved against the shield.
The magic wall flung upward and slapped Berith across the face, hurling the demon backward. He retreated several steps but came on hard.
The witches were ready, and against their shield, burst into light, colored by their individual magic, strengthened by their unity.
“Mess with the Witches of Winterspell, will you?” she spat. “Not on my watch.”
Berith laughed. “Oh, you mortals are so cute. Now, witness my true power!”
She waited, the wall crackling with energy as the demon lord walked right up to it. He wasn’t getting through.
But he didn’t try to push the wall this time. Her eyes went wide as he pulled back a fist and punched it. Hard.
The witches slid backward several feet, a few of them tripping on the uneven ground and falling.
Spikes of black metal sprouted from Berith’s fist, and he stepped forward, and punched again.
The wall shattered under the impact, his demonic strength simply overpowering the mortal witches.
“Mine!” he howled and leapt at the portal.
A blur of sapphire blue shot in from the side, intercepting the demon just short of his object. Berith howled with fury as Altair knocked him aside. The dragon sank its claws in deep, puncturing the demon’s armor as the mighty wings flapped and hauled the creature up into the air.
Then the storm dragon released its grip, before the demon could recover.
The creature plunged fifty feet or more to the ground, hitting with an impact that tossed Christine and the witches to the ground.
Lightning slashed down from the sky, searing its way across Berith. Black armor cracked and fell away even as the demon lord got to his feet.
Christine watched her man attack, snarling with anger. They needed to hit Berith, and hard. Together.
Raising her staff, she unleashed her power. All of her power, in a wave of pure magic.
It struck Lord Berith, making the demon flinch. He raised one hand to ward off the attack, while the other sent fireballs into the sky, driving Altair back. The dragon retreated, landing near Christine, where he once again resumed his human form.
She ignored him, pouring everything she had into her attack.
Altair came up to her to stand at her side. She smiled at him out of the corner of her mouth.
“I love you,” he said.
Berith came on, one step at a time.
“I love you too,” she repeated, putting feeling into every word. Because she did. She loved him, no matter what anyone else might say or care!
Again, the power in her hummed and the attack on Berith grew stronger. Altair raised one hand and energy began to pool in his palm. He reached out with the other to take her free hand.
The instant they touched, Christine screamed.
Energy surged through her, stretching her skin, filling her to near bursting. She couldn’t contain it. Couldn’t hold it in.
You must let it out.
Opening herself up, she poured the newfound energy into her staff, and through it to impact upon the demon. Berith’s progress toward her slowed.
Beside her, Altair was just staring at her in shock. He hadn’t launched an attack of his own.
“How?” he gasped. “How is this possible? You...you’re absorbing my power.”
“I don’t know,” she howled as energy swirled around her, nearly deafening her as it shot across the battlefield. “But I am!”
“Ready?” a new voice asked.
It was a struggle, but she managed to turn her head to
