Free Black Moon (The Moonlight Trilogy) by Teri Harman Page B

someone or something is blocking us.”
    “What do you mean? For someone to block us, they would have to know about us.” Willa asked.
    “Exactly.” Rowan frowned.
    “Another reason to suspect Rachel,” Simon said.
    Rowan nodded, “Yes.”
    Rain moved to the window that looked out onto the driveway on the side of the house. She was dressed in ripped black skinny jeans, combat boots, and an obscure punk band t-shirt. She asked, “Are we sure Archard is dead?”
    Everyone turned, a weighted silence answering her.
    Elliot said quietly, “We all saw him burn.” Simon flinched at the memories of Archard’s smoking, burning body. He groaned slightly and Willa looked over. He shook his head, gave her an I’m okay look.
    Rain nodded, still looking out the window between the blind slats. “I know, but . . . it’s Archard. And since Rachel was his lackey, I just can’t help wondering. Are we absolutely sure?”
    Rowan cleared his throat. “I checked into it.” Eyes moved back to him. Simon held his breath. There could be nothing worse than finding out Archard lived. Just the thought made his skin grow cold and his head ache. Rowan continued, “A group of hikers discovered the body about a week after the battle. It was identified as Archard and is now buried in his family’s mausoleum in Denver.”
    Simon sighed and relaxed his shoulders. Willa squeezed his hand.
    Rain stepped away from the window and nodded. “Good to know.” She smiled and then frowned, folded her inked arms. “But I guess that means this is a new threat. Or Rachel seeking revenge.”
    Simon exhaled. “So what now? How do we stop it or fix it? Did the . . . trees give you any clue?”
    Rowan shook his head. “No, only that there is Darkness nearby.”
    Willa stiffened next to him.
    “So there’s nothing we can do?” Simon said.
    “No, there is something. There is a spell in Ruby’s grimoire that allows us to . . . check up, if you will, on the Powers. Wynter and I have prepared everything.”
    “Form a circle,” Wynter instructed as she stood. The kitchen filled with the sound of chairs pushing back from the table and feet shuffling. The covens gathered in a tight circle behind the table.
    Wynter held Ruby’s large, rust-colored grimoire in her arms. “Rowan . . .” At her word, Rowan pulled over a large clay basin filled with rich, black dirt and set it in the center of the circle. He reached into his pocket and produced a golf ball-sized green-yellow peridot. After pushing the stone halfway into the dirt, he sprinkled a handful of kosher salt over it.
    Then the Luminary stood, stepped into his place in the circle. “Join hands,” he said quietly.
    Simon took Willa and Rain’s hands. Whether it was Rachel or a new threat, Simon worried what it would mean for them, for him. Are we facing another fight? The memory of the three Dark witches sailing through the air filled his mind. His heart picked up speed. No. Not again. When he agreed to join the Covenant, he hadn’t considered that other Dark witches might rise against them, that there might be frequent fights. With Archard dead, the evil seemed at an end. I was wrong. I should have thought this through more carefully.
    Rowan cleared his throat. “Focus your energy on the stone and draw power from the earth. Repeat the spell after me.” He took a breath and closed his eyes.
    Simon tried to push his thoughts aside as he squeezed his eyes shut, and called to the magic, focusing his mind. His hands grew hot, energy swirling inside him and on the air. The strength of the Covenant magic still surprised him. Each time they circled, it was like being connected to every plant, tree, rock, creature, and drop of water nearby, the sensations almost overwhelming, tingling along his nerves, threatening to awaken that stranger power inside him.
    “Energy of the Earth, grant us this night, the magic to see, to know, give us the sight.” Rowan’s voiced boomed in the sudden quiet, and when