Matilda's pov

I felt the moonlight pressing down on me like a big hand that I couldn't shake.

Somewhere behind me I heard Maya's voice. "Matilda, you should calm down your breathing."

I rasped, "I'm trying." As I pushed the energy through my palms and into the rune-marked dirt, my knees shook. Our barrier was supposed to be strengthened by the ceremony, but something wasn't right tonight.

The world whirled. The borders of my eyesight turned white.

"Matilda, stop!" Just as the ground ...