Page 94 of Christmas Magic

Chapter Sixteen

“You did it, Molly!” Daisy cried.

“Well done,” Rose said.

The magic in her palms dissipating, Molly lowered her arms to her sides. Lucian lay with his head listing sideways. Motionless. How long he would stay knocked out, she didn’t know. But her immediate priority must be Galahad—

The squire, sitting back on his haunches, was washing his blackened side.

She blinked. “Galahad?”

The feline purred. “How was my acting?”

Wide-eyed Tim’s mouth gaped. “Are you reawwy okay?”

“Yep, I’m fine. I promise.”

Tim meowed, a sound of relief. “I was vewwy scared.”

“So was I.” Molly gestured to Galahad’s fur. “How—?”

“One of the blasts singed the step stool. I rubbed against the scorched bit. Looked pretty convincing, huh?”

She dropped down beside the squire and stroked his fuzzy head. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

His golden eyes gleamed. “I’m sure. If you want to keep petting me, though, maybe even kiss me—”

“Stop flirting,” Rose yowled. “There are more important things to take care of than you.”

“Yeah? I’d say I’m kind of a hero right now.”

“Here we go,” the gray tabby muttered.

“If I hadn’t pretended to be hurt, Molly might still be trying to defeat Lucian.” The feline met Molly’s gaze again. “Sorry, not trying to diss your abilities, but Lucian is kinda powerful.”

“I know, and you’re right.” Molly smiled. “You did an excellent job.”

Galahad purred loudly. “So. What’s next for Lucian?”

Molly stood. “We all need to leave this room, so I can put a spell on the doorway.”

“Come on, Tim,” Daisy said.

The kitten sat down beside the squire. “I’m a boy. I want to weave with Gawahad, since he’s a boy too.”

“Oh, great,” Rose meowed. “Now it’s the boy cats doing one thing and girl cats another?”

“I’m heading out anyway.” Galahad strolled for the door. “Since I’m a hero, you can all follow me.”

As the room emptied, Molly glanced at Lucian. She hated seeing him lying on the floor. Maybe she could at least give him a pillow?

Get the spell on the doorway. Quickly.

Hurrying across the room, she grabbed a length of bubble wrap from a box and put it under his head before leaving. Raising her hands again, she called up her powers.

Thankfully, she’d cast spells on doorways before. Lucian had taught her, over and over, until she’d gotten it right. He’d insisted that one day, she might have to trap a Dealer. Never had she thought she’d be using her abilities to contain Lucian.

Shimmering light filled the rectangular space of the doorway and then vanished. The containment spell had been set. She’d added a silencing spell as well, in case her fiancé woke up furious.