Enchanted Chaos (Enchanted Chaos 1)

“Elemental enchanters are made to absorb powers,” Max reminds him, resting back on the sofa.

“Is that what you guys were doing to Foster in the woods?” I ask as the memory of them all blasting their powers into him flashes through my mind.

Holden nods. “Because elemental enchanters have so much power, my family and I go into the woods at least once a week so he can practice using them without being seen.”

“Why did you even go into the woods anyway?” Hunter asks me with curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

I shrug. “Because I saw you and Holden go in there, and you didn’t look like you were going to play baseball.”

“So, you thought we were doing what?” he asks, unzipping his hoodie.

I shrug again. “I wasn’t sure, but between the weird conversations I overheard, the strange screaming from last night, seeing Max in the backyard with his eyes glowing, and the eyeballs in the fridge, I had a feeling something was … off about you guys. And then I saw you and Holden walk through that rippling, clear wall and into the trees …” I pause. “Wha

t are the eyeballs for anyway?”

“Holden and Hunter’s science experiments.” Porter tells me the same thing he did last night. “I wasn’t lying about that.”

“Oh.” I open my mouth to ask what sort of experiments, but Holden speaks first.

“We should probably get this spell started,” he says. “The sooner we can get that wall down, the sooner we can find out what Sky really knows and maybe even why the wall was put up to begin with.”

They all nod in agreement.

“Are you sure this is safe?” I question.

Holden nods. “It’ll be similar to what I just did to you earlier, only it’ll be all of us. And like I said before, if at any time you feel too hot or too cold or too anything, just say so and we’ll stop.”

“You were nervous before when you first put your hands on me,” I remind him.

“I know, but you handled my powers just fine.” He offers me what appears to be a genuine smile. “I promise we won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Our parents would kick our asses if we did,” Easton adds, standing up and tossing the book onto the coffee table. “So, how exactly are we going to do this?” he asks Holden. “Just stand in a circle around her?”

“I think that’d be best, but maybe …” Reluctance creeps across Holden’s face. “Maybe have Foster stand in the circle with her.”

I grind my teeth, wanting to protest, but since I have no clue what they’re about to do, I decide not to.

Holden glances over his shoulder at Foster. “Is that okay with you?”

Foster lifts a shoulder. “I guess.” He stands in the same place for a flicker of a second then walks up to me and sticks out his hand.

I should be cooperative—I usually am—but this guy has gotten under my skin. So, instead of taking his hand, I scoot to the side of the sofa, stand up, and wind around him.

“Where should I stand?” I direct my question at Holden.

Holden’s gaze shifts between Foster and me, then he sighs and points at a wide area on the other side of the room. “Over there works.”

I walk over to the spot he pointed at, and the rest of them join me, creating a circle around me. All except for Foster who moves in front of me, standing so he’s facing me.

“You’re going to have to touch me if this is going to work,” Foster says, pushing up the sleeves of his hoodie.

I glance at Holden for confirmation.

He gives me a nod. “He’s telling the truth.”

Blowing out a breath, I return my attention to Foster, who has his hand out. I make no move to take it, though.

“Stop looking at me like I have cooties,” he gripes.