by Lila Kane
Chapter 20
“I’m coming with you,” Myra says, following me and Logan outside to his car. There’s a skip in her step and she flashes me a smile.
“You really feel better?” I narrow my eyes at her face. There aren’t shadows under her eyes‒she doesn’t look tired anymore. She looks…almost like a different person.
“I feel better. I feel like nothing was ever wrong in the first place. It really worked, Willow.”
I glance at Logan, whose eyes shine with love for his sister. “I don’t want to be pessimistic, but maybe you should still check in with a doctor.”
“I’m making her go tomorrow.” Logan smiles. “Just to be sure.”
Myra rolls her eyes. “I’m sure.”
“Please,” I say. “It would make me feel better.”
“Since you asked nicely,” she says, “no problem. But I feel good. And it’s because of you.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t really do anything.”
She wraps me in a hug. “Yes, you did.”
There’s strength in her grip, almost tight enough to make me wince. She has to feel better for her to change this much.
When she pulls away, I reach for the car door, but the earth starts trembling. It’s small, a slight rattle like a low-scale earthquake. But it’s big enough Myra grips my arm and looks at me with wide eyes.
I hold onto the car and wait for it to pass. A whip of wind shoots through me and then the shaking stops.
Logan hustles around the car. “Are you okay?”
I press a hand to my chest, feeling like something big happened. Feeling like something changed. I look around. I just don’t know what.
“Willow.” Logan steps in front of me, making me meet his eyes. “Are you okay?”
I nod.
“Just so I’m clear,” Myra says, “we all felt that, right? Little earthquake‒tiny tornado?”
I nod again.
Logan frowns, looking around just like I had. “What was that?”
Myra’s phone rings. She pulls it from her purse and answers. Her eyes travel to me. “It’s Cheyenne.”
I forgot my phone is still ruined. I take the phone from her and say, “Did you feel that?”
“Yep,” Cheyenne says. “I was calling to ask you the same thing. Ryan’s here, he felt it too, but no one else in the library did. It’s a supernatural thing.”
Logan’s eyes are locked on mine, full of questions.
“Why?” I ask her, turning away. Logan looks like he’s about to take the phone from me.
“It’s probably something we should discuss in person. But…I felt something else just after.”
My heart starts pounding. It doesn’t sound good‒especially because she’s not her usual upbeat self right now. “What was it?” I whisper.
“I think someone else is here‒another paranormal,” she says. “Can you meet us at the library?”
“Sure. I’ll come there now.”
I pass Myra her phone back.
“What’s going on?” Logan asks.
“I need to get my car so I can go to the library.”
“I can take you to the library. Willow,” he says, stopping me before I can get in the car. “What’s going on?”
I tuck my hair behind my ears. “Cheyenne and Ryan felt it, too‒but it’s just us. Descendants from the original four, I guess. She says…she thinks someone else might be here. Another paranormal.”
Logan shares a look with Myra and some of the energy fades from her eyes. He sighs and nods to the car. “We should stay together. Let’s go to the library first.”
“You don’t have to come with me,” I say. “Ryan’s there.”
“I don’t care. If someone else is out there, we have to be careful.”
I catch his arm. “Do you know who it is?”
He runs his free hand through his hair. “No. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be careful.”
“Are you keeping something from me?”
“No.”
I don’t believe him, but I let it go. If he knows who it is‒or knows something helpful‒he’ll tell me soon enough.
We ride in the sunshine to Main Street. People are out shopping and walking, pushing strollers with no idea that something more sinister might be going on in their small town.
“Well,” Myra says as we get out on the sidewalk next to the library, “I’m not going to let this ruin my day. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”
“We should celebrate.” I turn to her with a smile, trying for both our sakes to inject some normality into our day. “Go out tonight and do it right. Maybe do dinner or something.”
Logan lifts his eyebrows.
“What?” I playfully push his shoulder. “Would you rather head out to the cave and try to find the Book of Shadows?”
He snags me around the waist before I can go into the library. “Not happening.”
I lift my chin to meet his eyes. “It’s happening eventually. Have you forgotten what happened last night?”
His jaw shifts but I can’t see his eyes behind his dark glasses. “We should talk to your mom. Maybe she knows a way to stop Selena.”
“I already know a way.”
“Willow‒”
“No arguing.” Myra pulls me away from Logan and leads me into the library. “Let’s talk about celebrating first.”
“Celebrating what?” Cheyenne asks from her desk. She stands when she sees all of us and Ryan turns from the window.
Myra holds out her hands. “Willow healed me.”
Cheyenne’s mouth drops open and she comes around the desk. “Really?”
Myra nods.
“You’re not sick anymore?”
“No.” Myra’s so enthusiastic and cheerful, she goes in for a hug. And Cheyenne accepts it, looking genuinely happy for her. She laughs when Myra kisses her loudly on the cheek. Then Myra turns to Ryan and tosses her arms around him, too.
His eyes meet mine over her head and I smile. She gives him a kiss on the cheek, too, and it looks like he can’t decide whether to run or keep going with it.
Logan groans and looks away. “Myra, really? A werewolf and a shifter. This shifter.”
I smack Logan’s arm. And maybe just to make Ryan mad, Logan takes my hand in his. Ryan’s eyes drop to our linked hands and then flick up to my face again. His expression is completely blank and I have no idea what he’s thinking or not thinking.
“I think we should talk about what happened,” Logan says. “Willow says you felt that, too. The earth shaking and the wind.”
“Have any of you ever felt something like that before?” Myra asks.
Everyone shakes their heads. Cheyenne slides on her glasses and perches on the edge of the desk. “I think it’s because we’re all here. Because the first part of the spell has been reversed.”
“But something triggered it,” I say.
Cheyenne nods. “I think someone crossed the border into Shadow Hill.”
“How do you know?” Logan asks.
Cheyenne rolls her eyes. “Because I can feel him. Like I can feel all of you. Vampire, vampire, shapeshifter, witch. And I could sense a werewolf if that’s what came through the border.”
“But that’s not what came through the border,” Ryan says, folding his arms.
He meets my eyes and a ball of dread forms in my stomach. “A vampire,” I whisper.
Cheyenne nods. “It was a vampire.”
Logan’s hand tightens on mine. “Are you sure?”
“I can tell,” Cheyenne says. “I could feel it just for a minute. But it was enough to tell.”
“Can you feel it now?” Myra asks. I glance over. Her face looks hard, but there’s concern in her voice.
Cheyenne shakes her head. “No.”
“Would you know it if you felt it again? Could you tell where this person is?” Logan asks.
“Maybe.” Cheyenne frowns. “Do you know who it is?”
His jaw shifts and he
shrugs.
“Maybe it’s just some random vampire who happened to come here,” I say. “Maybe he has no idea he’s a vampire‒or the significance of Shadow Hill.”
“It’s possible.” Myra meets my eyes. I can tell she wants to feel just as optimistic as me.
“Let’s not assume anything,” I say. “We already have too much else to deal with.”
“Like what?” Cheyenne asks. “You healed Myra‒that was our biggest thing. I think we deserve a break. I’m totally in for celebrating, by the way. I just got a new dress and‒”
“I tried to kill Logan last night,” I blurt out.
Everyone freezes and looks at me. Logan rubs a hand over his eyes and paces away, mumbling something to myself.
“Nice job?” Ryan offers when no one else says anything.
Myra shoots him a glare, but Cheyenne chuckles. “O-kay,” she says, hopping off the desk. “Since you clearly didn’t and you’re still alive as well, I take it this wasn’t your fault.”
“It was Selena,” Logan growls, turning back. He stares at me with barely veiled anger. “And I wish you’d stop acting like this is your fault.”
“It is because I shouldn’t be near you. I can’t hurt you if I’m not around you‒”
“Why were you around him then?” Ryan asks.
My cheeks heat and I don’t say anything, but I think he gets the idea pretty quick.
“It doesn’t matter,” Myra says. “It wasn’t her fault.”
I wish I could believe her, but I still feel guilty. And I wish Logan would listen to me and keep his distance. It would make not killing him a lot easier.
“See?” Logan says. “It’s not your fault, Willow.”
“You’re not the one who walked down to the kitchen and grabbed that knife.” My voice is thick and I cross my arms. “I attacked you‒don’t you get that? Don’t you see‒”
I stop talking. I can’t keep going like this. Logan doesn’t understand what it feels like to literally try to end someone’s life.
“I need some air,” I whisper.
Logan reaches for me, but I shake my head. “Please, don’t.”
“But‒”
“Come on,” Myra says, “give her some space.”
I don’t wait to hear what else they say because I’m already halfway out the door. When I’m full in the sunshine, I close my eyes and tilt my face to the sky. The flames of Selena’s power are buried deep inside. I think she keeps retreating because she’s using so much power. She needs to rest just like I do. But it feels like her power is getting stronger and stronger.
My eyes stay closed when I hear footsteps. I’m not surprised when Ryan speaks.
“It’s a nice day,” he says.
I nod. “Too bad we’re spending it in there arguing.”
“Everyone’s tense.”
I open my eyes. He looks tense, too, with his hands tucked in his pockets, eyes searching the street.
“Logan told me his brother wants to end the curse. Do you think he’s here?”
Ryan’s jaw shifts. “His brother? I seriously don’t want to deal with any more of this guy’s family. Shit.” He scuffs his foot on the sidewalk. “Do you think that’s who it is?”
I nod. “He’s a vampire. And it seems like too much of a coincidence for it to be someone else.”
His eyes search the street again. “Maybe we should go back in.”
“And make a plan,” I say.
He smiles. “Why doesn’t it surprise me that you said that?”
I smile back. “Maybe because Selena’s a lunatic and I want to get her out of my head?”
“Did you really try to stab Logan?”
I wince and lean against the brick of the building. “I couldn’t stop it. It was like…like she was possessing my body or something. I was aware of all of it, but I couldn’t do anything about it.”
Ryan runs a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. That sucks.”
I blow out a breath. “It does. I want it to stop.”
“And I’m willing to bet you have an idea.”
“I do. I need to find her Book of Shadows. And I think it’s in the cave behind the hotel.”
“That’s what you were trying to get when she pushed you in the well?”
“Yes. I think she was trying to keep me away from the cave so I couldn’t find her book.”
He leans next to me and flashes a smile. “Maybe she was just being an ass.”
I laugh and it feels so good, I let it keep going. I’m tired of trying to figure it all out. But that’s what I got myself into when I came here. But when my breath catches in a soft sob, I cover my face with my hands. Ryan puts his arms around me.
“You need a break,” he whispers. “I don’t think it’s smart to go to the cave today.”
“Maybe it’s the perfect day to go to the cave. When her energy is low and she’s not as strong. Then maybe she can’t stop us.”
He rubs my back. “She pushed you in a well and tried to make you kill Logan in the same day. I think if she wants to stop us, she’ll probably find a way.”
He makes a good point. I grumble out a response that makes him lean back some.
“What was that?”
“I said you’re probably right.”
He smiles. “Never thought I’d hear you say that.”
I smack his arm. “Don’t get used to it.”
We hear a screech over the street and my eyes shoot to the sky. There’s a giant blackbird circling the buildings. It swoops low over the road and then heads straight for us.
Ryan curls his body around mine and tosses out his arm to swat the bird away. It claws at his shirt, squawks again and takes off.
“Ryan,” I breathe, reaching for his arm.
He narrows his eyes at the rip in his shirt. “It’s just a scratch.” He scans the street again. “What the hell was that?”
“That bird’s been following me around all week.”
Ryan returns his gaze to mine. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it’s a bird. It’s‒why are you looking at me like that?”
“Might not be a bird,” he says. “We should get back in.”
“Wait, what are you saying? It might be a…shapeshifter?”
He nods. “Maybe.”
“But wouldn’t we have felt it if another paranormal came into Shadow Hill?”
“Not if he was here before the full moon. Come on, let’s go in.”
I follow him but glance over my shoulder one more time to search for the bird. No wonder I felt uneasy about it since the beginning. It might not be a bird at all.
Chapter 21
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Cheyenne says, clipping earrings in her ears.
“Celebrating?” Myra steps in front of the mirror in my room to adjust her dress. “I’m not. I’m going to drink a lot and find some cute guy to kiss.”
“Good luck with that in this town,” Cheyenne says. “What’s up with your mirror, Willow?”
I roll my eyes. “Selena.”
“Stalker,” Myra mutters, which makes me smile.
“We’d better get out there,” Cheyenne says. “Ryan refused to wait with Logan in the living room so he’s out back.”
“They’ll get over it eventually.” Myra nods. “They have to. We still have to deal with Selena and the spell. We have to work together.”
She’s right. We have to. But Ryan didn’t relish the fact I’d invited two vampires into the house‒especially Logan. And he didn’t look too encouraged about celebrating with them tonight either.
When we return to the living room, Ryan’s in the kitchen getting a glass of water. He sees all of us and stops. His eyes skim my dress and then my face. He smiles, but turns his attention to Myra.
“You look…different,” he says.
Myra lifts her eyebrows.
Ryan clears his throat. “I mean, you look healthy. Whatever you did, Willow, I think it worked.”
Logan’s on the other side of the living room, hands in the pockets of his dress slacks. His eyes lock on mine and my throat dries. There’s so much heat in his gaze, I feel his need all the way across the room.
The doorbell rings and I yank away from his stare. I walk to answer it while Myra keeps talking. I don’t see a figure outside the door and frown. When I open it, no one’s there.
But there are flowers lying on the welcome mat.
My heart jumps in instant alarm. The only people I know who would leave flowers at the door are already inside the house.
“Willow?”
I bend to pick up the flowers and turn to Logan. “Please tell me these are from you.”
“I wish I could.” He examines the roses. “Who are they from?”
“They were lying on the ground out here. I didn’t see anyone.”
I start outside to look around, but Logan is faster. He shoots down the stairs, turning each direction to search the lawn and the neighbor’s yards.
“What’s up?” Ryan asks, appearing at the door. Cheyenne and Myra follow.
“Nice flowers,” Cheyenne says.
Myra folds her arms, jaw set. “Who are they from?”
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Who are they from?” she repeats.
“I don’t know, they were left on the porch.”
Ryan joins Logan on the lawn and it’s the first time I’ve seen them willing work together on anything‒anything besides rescuing me from the well.
Cheyenne points. “There’s a card.”
I pull the card from the side of the flowers and read it out loud. “‘Looking forward to meeting you.’”
“That asshole,” Myra says.
She starts for the lawn as well and I set the flowers aside to follow her. “What’s going on?”
“Go inside, Willow,” she says.
Ryan turns to her. “What’s going on?”
“Kane sent those flowers.” When he just stares at her, she adds, “My brother.”
Logan moves to stand close to me as he keeps watch. “Are you sure?”
Myra nods. “He sent me yellow roses when I was in the hospital. Look at the note.”
I pass it to Logan. His jaw clenches when he reads it, and he passes it to Ryan.