To Catch a Witch [Spells of Seduction 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Jessica Frost Page B

sorceress with powers to deflect the spell. He realized now that they were dealing with a different type of magic and most probably all of their spells would be inert against Serona, including perhaps the one that Merlin wanted to cast during the eclipse. Jacob looked up at the sky and saw that the eclipse would be happening soon. They had mere minutes before it transpired.
    Not knowing what to do, he just stood there dumbfounded, racking his brain with ways to save them all. His brain felt like quicksand, and his every thought kept sinking.
    Merlin walked over to the other side and chanted the same spell, shooting lightning at Serona. Once again, she deflected the energy to the ground. Merlin continued an endless, futile attack on her. Jacob couldn’t understand why he wasted precious time on a spell that obviously wasn’t working.
    “Enough, you meddling fool!” Serona shouted, having deflected a fourth attack. She fisted her hand, which turned bright blue, then green, then yellow, then orange, then bright red, and thrust her hand out at him. A round ball of light radiating all the colors her hand had emitted formed and grew as big as four feet in diameter and flew upon Merlin. He fell to the ground.
    Jacob couldn’t believe what he saw. He ran to him and knelt by his side. “Merlin! Merlin!”
    But his brother didn’t open his eyes, nor did he move. He shouted at Serona with all his anger spewing forth. “You killed him!”
    She laughed. “No, not yet, but that is coming next.”
    Her hand fisted again and began to change colors when he heard Pondora say, “Enough, Serona. Please don’t kill him. I’ll do anything you ask.”
    Serona lifted a brow and looked at her, though her fisted hand continued to change colors. “Are you willing to come back?”
    Pondora looked at Merlin’s still body then at Jacob and gave him a sorry look. She lifted her head and replied, “Yes, if you promise not to hurt them anymore, I will come back with you.”
    “Agreed.” She opened her hand and it returned to normal. She looked at the fallen Merlin and said, “But we must get your powers back. I saw the orb through the dream connection last night. Find it.”
    “I’ll get it,” Pondora said as she walked over to Jacob, who clung to the bag with both hands. She knelt beside him and mouthed low, “Please, Jacob, give me the orb.”
    “No, I will not! I thought you wanted to fix all the wrongs you did in your past?”
    She lowered her gaze. “I do, or rather I did. But I cannot bear losing you both. I’d rather go back to my past than have you both die. I love you too much and cannot bear that.”
    His heart warmed with her proclamation. He sighed. “I love you, too. So does Merlin. Even though he has never told me in so many words, I see it in his eyes when he looks at you. That is why you cannot go with her, but stay with us.”
    “We cannot defeat her, Jacob. She is too powerful.”
    “We can at least try.”
    “This isn’t a time for farewells, Velona. Hurry and get the orb,” Serona shouted to her.
    “Yes,” Pondora answered back and then returned her gaze to Jacob and with pleading eyes, said, “Please.”
    He took a deep breath and slipped his hand into the bag. He found the parchment with the spell Merlin had shown him, and he remembered what his brother had told him. He gazed in the air, and the moon had completely aligned with the sun. The lunar eclipse was happening right now. He also noted that they were in the center of the stone circle formation, exactly where Merlin had said the spell must be recited.
    He whispered to Pondora, “Please let me try.”
    Pondora gazed at him and the parchment and gave him a slight nod so Serona couldn’t see.
    Jacob looked at Serona. “Merlin and I cast the spell stripping her of her powers, so only one of us can reverse it.”
    “Fine, well then do it and make it quick. My patience is running thin.” She huffed.
    Jacob picked up the orb and the parchment.