“I get it,” Kat whispered urgently. “I understand. Your magic. Wow.”

“I have the kind of magic that makes trees attack me?” Isaac sat up and began to pull the dead leaves from his hair.

“No, no,” Kat said. “Look.” She pointed. “Listen.”

The entire forest stirred, moving restlessly. From deep in the woods came wolf howls that made Isaac’s skin crawl.

“I think,” Kat said breathlessly, “you’re like a wireless.”

“A wireless?” Isaac echoed. “I don’t understand.” He struggled to his feet.

“I do,” said Amelie. “That’s it. That’s why magic responds so well when you’re around, Isaac. You’re an amplifier.”

“An . . . ?”

“An amplifier. Like, you make things clearer. More distinct. Remember the ghost cat? I’d never seen it before. You channeled it to appear.”

“Right,” said Colin, excited. “The first time I ever heard Josie’s voice was when you arrived.”

Kat added, “I had the feeling that not only was my warding spell stronger yesterday when you were there, but I think you’re making the magic that’s moving the forest through the wards stronger. Which is weird because you’ve got the trees breaking through the wards, but also helping me keep them out.” She folded her arms over her chest. “You’re an amplifier for magic, Isaac. Whatever magic. Good or not.”

Isaac looked from one to the other. “An amplifier,” he echoed. Whatever magic—good or not?

Baines called out, “Mr. Drake, call off your dogs.”

“Dogs?” Colin said. Then, quietly, “Oh, dear.”

From the depths of the forest, they could all see the eyes. Pairs of eyes staring out from the shadows, shining.

“Dire wolves,” said Colin.

“Baines thinks they’re dogs,” Kat whispered.

“Mr. Baines?” Leo said urgently. “We need to get back inside.”

“I don’t see why—” Baines’s words were interrupted by a howl. Very close.

The hum inside Isaac had become a steady, pulsing beat, louder and louder. “They are coming,” Isaac said.

“Don’t run,” said Colin as the children began to move toward the castle. “I don’t think they can cross Kat’s boundary, but we still shouldn’t run.”

One of the wolves stepped out of the woods, and Isaac realized just how monstrously huge they were.

“Isaac. You can amplify not only good magic. You can amplify all magic. Bad magic, too.” Kat reached into her pocket and muttered under her breath.

He could feel it then.

A war raged inside him, a painful clash between the magic from the forest, grim, evil, and the magic that Kat clutched in her fist, shiny, sharp, bright.

He threw his hands to his head. He stumbled, and Amelie turned.

“No.” She grabbed him by the shoulders. “Try to control it.” She shook him, and he stared into her serious, wide blue eyes. “Try to focus.”