“And what are you wearing?” Chutney asked with her nose scrunched up.
Tennessee frowned and looked around. “What’s today? What’s the date?”
“October 27,” Timothy answered. “It’s been a few days.”
Again, a million questions fired at us at once. I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t know how to explain that we’d been sent back in time and found Myrtle, Leyka, and Saffie— Saffie!
I gasped and sat up straight. “Give me a phone!”
“What?” my father asked. It was clear by the sharp look on his face I’d interrupted him without even realizing he was talking. “What do you need?”
“A phone. Cell phone. House phone. Rotary phone for all I care. I just need a calling device!” I climbed to my knees and fumbled for the leather satchel tied around my waist. All of our modern-day belongings were inside, but my emotions were too frayed to calm myself enough to remove the knotting spell. “Someone give me a damn phone right now!”
Timothy held his iPhone out toward me. “Okay, okay, here you go. What’s wrong?”
I should’ve answered him—that would’ve been the decent thing to do. But my brain was simply incapable of multitasking. I had one thing on my mind, and everything else faded to the back. I opened his contacts and scrolled down until I found Atley’s name, then I hit the button to call him. He wasn’t a Coven member, though there was a time not too long ago we all thought he might’ve been. I knew I was about to confuse the shit out of him, but he was the only one I trusted to do the job I needed.
Come on, come on. Answer, Atley.
“Hello?” Atley’s voice was scratchy and low, like I’d woken him up. “Timothy?”
“Atley, it’s Tegan. I need you to do me a huge, massive favor. Like right now.”
I felt everyone’s eyes on me. Their curiosity tickled against my aura, but their questions had to wait.
“Right now?” Atley’s voice grew a little sharper. Something creaked, like maybe he was sitting up in bed. “Sure, yeah. Of course, Tegan. What do you need?”
“I need you to go to Hidden Kingdom. Right now. As fast as you can, okay?”
Atley coughed. “Hidden Kingdom? Uh…what am I doing there?”
“Find Saffie.”
Tennessee cursed behind me. Henley, Royce, and Cooper all groaned.
They hadn’t had to hear Saffie’s last request of me. For me, it felt like mere minutes ago…but for her, it was more than three centuries ago. I knew she’d said to go to her once the Gap was closed, but I couldn’t leave her guessing until then.
“Saffie?”
“Yes, Atley. Find Saffie. She should be in Lookout Tower, but if not, she likes to sleep in the Forbidden Forest.” Because it reminds her of home, I bet. My heart sank and my eyes burned with tears I didn’t want to cry. “Okay? If you’re worried about demons, take Peabo with you. But don’t go near the fountain, though it should be okay now. Just go to Saffie as fast as you can.”
“Um, okay. Of course…but…what am I saying to her when I get there?”
There were so many things I wanted to tell her, but they’d have to wait until I saw her in person. I closed my eyes and pictured her face as I’d left Leyka’s house for the last time as she’d made her request.
I licked my lips. “Tell her…tell her we made it home, okay? Tell her it worked, and we made it home. We’re in Salem now. And we’re coming for her as soon as we get this damn Gap closed. Can you tell her that for me?”
“Of course, Tegan. Promise.” Atley cleared his throat. “I’ll text you once I do.”
I sighed and sank down to my butt. “Thank you, Atley. I owe you one.”
He chuckled. “No, you don’t. You guys be careful up there, and good luck.”
“Thanks.” I exhaled and handed Timothy his phone back. The room was silent and tense, waiting for my explanation, but I wasn’t ready for that. Instead, I dug into my shirt and pulled out the green Earth Stone I’d stashed in my bra. I held it up for everyone to see. “Four down. One to go.”
Chapter Twenty
TENNESSEE
“I’ll hold on to that, please.” Bentley held his small hand out toward his sister and waited with big golden eyes. “I have a safe place I’m keeping them to try and hide them from the demons.”
“You mean my bra doesn’t count?” Tegan smirked and dropped the glowing green Stone into his palm.
“Yeah, what the hell is up with that?” Cooper walked farther into the room and went straight to his mother. He pulled her to her feet then hugged her tight. As he stepped back, he frowned and said, “Are the demons always this intense in Salem?”
Hunter strolled over to his son and gripped both shoulders. His golden eyes scanned Cooper up and down, then he yanked him in for a hug. “No. No, it’s been getting worse.”
I cursed and scrubbed my face with my hands. The maple syrup scent of demon blood stung my nose. I cringed and yanked my hands away. I tried to wipe them on my shirt, but when I looked down, I realized I was absolutely covered in blood. My stomach rolled. No wonder people were staring at me so much as we ran here. My clothes were bloodied and ripped to shreds. I sighed and tore the remains of my waistcoat off then tossed it into the corner by the front door. The smell was only slightly better. I frowned and looked back down at my now bare chest.
Are you okay? Are you injured? Tegan’s panicked voice rang through my mind.
I looked up and met her wide green-eyed stare.
“The Elemental Stones attract demons,” Kenneth said as he leaned back against the sofa. “So having three of them in one place has brought a lot of heat on us.”
Tegan’s heart beat erratically through the glyph on my chest. I smiled and shook my head. Her long black hair was twisted and tangled. The once-violet tips were now a grayish color. She had dirt and blood smeared across her face. Her fingers were stained with Deacon’s blood. The clothes Myrtle had loaned her were as filthy as I was. But staring into her pale, gemstone-green eyes, I thought she’d never looked more beautiful.
Cooper dropped down to the bench against the wall and sighed. “What are four Stones in one place going to do?”
“It’s not going to be pretty,” Timothy grumbled. “But at least we have you guys back to help us fight them off.”
We did it. We made it. We were back in the future, in Salem. In the year 2018. And we made it back before Samhain. The truth was most of our success was because of Tegan. It was her magic and brilliant mind that saved us. That saved Deacon. Pride swelled in my heart for this girl that I was somehow fortunate to call mine. I crossed the living room and pulled her to her feet. She lunged into me, wrapping her arms around my waist and burying her face in my chest. I squeezed her tight and pressed my face to her hair. She smelled like dirt and grass, and it made my heart happy.
“Wait a second.” Cooper jerked upright. His face paled. “Timothy? You’re—you’re here? You’re alive? How?”
I frowned. What is he talking about? Why wouldn’t Timothy be— “Oh my Goddess.”
The shock was about the only thing that made me pull apart from my soulmate. But I had to see for myself, with my own eyes. Even though I’d already seen him…I just hadn’t realized what I was seeing. I stared at our Judgement Card for a fraction of a moment before I pulled him into a hug. I’d never hugged him before, but I didn’t think that mattered.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m alive,” Timothy said gruffly. He patted my back then pulled away. He chuckled and pointed behind him. “So are Willow, Paulina, and Larissa.”
The world around me spun. I bent down and put my hands on my knees while my heart tried to function through the rush of emotion. They were alive. We’d done a burial ceremony for them. We thought this whole time we’d lost them. We’d mourned them.
“Did you think we were dead?” Paulina asked. There was a warmth in her voice I hadn’t heard before.
Royce cursed. “Of course we did! You fell through a hole in the Seelie tunnels!”
The hardwood stairs creaked as heavy footsteps thundered down. I glanced up just as my father hit the foyer. He looked down at my balled-up, bloodied clothes by the front door. His amber eyes darkened, and he spun to face the room. His gaze swept over everyone until finally landing on me. His shoulders dropped, and the fear left his eyes.
“Tennessee.” My name was a whisper on his lips as he practically sprinted over to me. He hauled me into a bear hug so tight only our Strength Card could’ve given. “Goddess, I thought I’d lost you.”
I squeezed him back, and for a moment I was that lost, scared little five-year-old boy he’d found alone in the woods. I wasn’t the best at telling people how I felt about them, or how much they meant to me, so I hoped my father heard me through the tightness of my grip on him. I did love him. He was the only father I’d ever known, and it wasn’t until we got trapped back in time that I realized I’d never quite told him. My throat and jaw burned from the emotions threatening to pour out of my mouth. Now is not the time, Tenn.
“I’m here,” I whispered and wished I’d have said something better.
He cleared his throat and stepped aside. He scrubbed his face with both hands then shook his head. “Where the hell have you all been? And what the hell happened?”
“And what are you wearing?” Lily asked with narrowed eyes.
Easton walked back over to his girl and sat down. “How did Deacon get hurt?”
“More important question.” Braison leaned forward. “Why didn’t you heal him?”
Kenneth raised his hand. “What exactly did you mean by Deacon died?”
I exhaled in a rush and pushed my hair back. When I pulled my hand back, it was slimy with black demon blood. That’s lovely. I glanced over to Cooper who was sitting in between his parents on the bench. He shook his head and stared at the ground. Henley and Royce were half lying down on the hardwood floors, both speckled with Deacon’s blood.
Tegan groaned and pressed her forehead to my back. Her fingers slid against mine. “Where do we even begin?” she said against my skin.
“How did the four of you survive? You fell from the tunnels.” I looked to each of the four in question. “That’s what I want to know.”
“Truthfully?” Timothy shifted his weight around and scratched the scruffy beard on his jaw. “We don’t really know. It’s Fae magic, I guess. When I fell…man, I thought I was dying. Then suddenly I landed on the beach a little ways up the coast. I called. They picked me up.”
“Same here for us. Well, kinda.” Willow pursed her lips and frowned. “We kinda sorta landed in a playground. Scared the hell out of some Sapiens, but I made them get over it.”
Chutney nodded and twirled her ringlets around her finger. “Yeah, and I got us a ride on some bears. It was cool.”
Willow rolled her eyes. “I need to get you a dictionary.”
I smirked then turned my gaze. “Paulina?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “I may have given an old man in a cemetery a heart attack when I suddenly appeared next to a grave. It was funny, but he didn’t agree.”
My father opened his mouth then shut it again. He frowned at me and cocked his head to the side. “You two look exhausted. Please…sit.”
Now that he mentioned it, I was tired. My eyes burned with the need to close them. My legs and movements felt sluggish. I blinked and turned toward the couch. Kenneth slid over to the far end next to Bentley, who sat perched on the armrest. I plopped down at the other end then pulled Tegan into my lap. There was a spot right next to me, but I just needed her closer.
“Good. Now talk.” My father crossed his arms over his chest.
Tegan sighed and leaned back against my chest. The wool fabric of her waistcoat was rough and itchy, but the heat of her skin still burned through. “What if I told you the Seelie Prince and Princess tricked us and sent us back in time to Salem in 1692…”
Silence.
Eyes widened. Jaws dropped.
“WHAT?” My father reached up and tugged on his short blond hair. “You’ve been… You were… What?”
Kenneth made a half whimper, half growl kind of noise from my left. When I looked, he’d pinched his nose and closed his eyes. “I was worried you were going to say that. What happened when you were there? Did you talk to anyone? Did you do anything? Did you interfere with anything at all?”
Tegan sat up straight and tucked her hair behind her ears. Her profile was sharp and stunning. “Well…we talked to a few people…”
Kenneth leaned forward and narrowed his eyes on her. “Who?”
Tegan shrugged. “Do you know Myrtle, the lead Crone?”
Kenneth nodded. “Of course.”
“Well, we do, too, now.” Tegan reached down and tangled her fingers with mine. “Though she was just a civilian witch in 1692. She hid us in her brother’s house a little outside the village.”
Timothy frowned. “Myrtle has a brother?”
I nodded. For some reason, I wasn’t surprised they hadn’t heard of him. “Yeah, his name is Leyka.”
“Leyka?” My father’s eyes widened. He glanced back and forth between the five of us who’d gone. “As in the Angel named Leyka?”
Royce nodded. “Yeah, but back then, he was just a civilian witch, too.”
“There was also Saffie.”
“WHAT?” everyone practically yelled in perfect unison.
“You heard us right. Saffie, also known as Saraphina, is Myrtle’s daughter and Leyka’s niece. She’s a half witch…and she’s one of the biggest reasons we made it home.” Tegan hung her head and tugged at her wool skirt. “You have no idea how hard it was to not tell them what becomes of them.”
My father cursed and shook his head. He turned and sat down on the other couch next to Braison and Paulina. “Okay…maybe you can tell us exactly what happened. From meeting with the Seelie Court to arriving here tonight.”
Tegan looked over her shoulder to me and arched one black eyebrow.
“Go ahead, Kitten,” I whispered.
She nodded then turned back to face the room. Her shoulders rose and fell. Everyone watched her, riveted and anxiously awaiting the story. Tegan tucked her hair behind her ears then launched into a detailed play-by-play of everything that had happened. She told them everything.
When she got to the part about our ceremonial burial for the four that fell from the tunnels, they all got a little teary-eyed. Even Timothy’s cheeks flushed, and he refused to meet anyone’s eyes. Listening to Tegan’s retelling, I couldn’t believe she was talking about us. Now that we were back, it felt like a weird dream. But I knew it was real. Deacon’s blood on my hands was all the proof I needed. The specifics Tegan recalled were so vivid and clear I saw it perfectly in my mind.
When she finished, the room fell silent and tense. I’d never seen so many shocked faces in one place. I couldn’t blame their reaction; it was a lot to take in.
Kenneth opened his mouth then shut it again. Three times. Then he just shook his head and scratched it.
I sighed. “I know that was a lot. I’m sure you have questions, but maybe we can take a raincheck until morning?”
Royce groaned. “YES. I need me a hot shower and an air conditioner right next to my face.”
“I need Tegan’s Sleepless Moon potion to avoid the dreams sure to be awaiting me,” Henley grumbled and lay down on the floor. “Especially from that return trip.”
“You’re worried about dreams?” Cooper shook his head and laughed. “I’m in for an exhausting sleep.”
Tegan gasped and turned in my lap to face her brother. “Cooper.”
He frowned and leaned away from her. “What?”
“You need to go in everyone’s dreams!”
His pale green eyes that matched hers widened. “Um, say what?”
She glanced back at me with that twinkle in her eye that told me she was up to something. “When we dream, we see things
that our conscious minds can’t.”
“Yeah, Peepin’ Tom time, dude.” Easton winked at Cooper.
But Cooper frowned and shook his head. “Why would I want to do that though? You know I don’t like looking into any Coven member’s dreams. Tennessee, tell her.”
“I don’t know, Coop. I think she has a point.”
He looked at me like I was crazy. “You’ve been pretty damn adamant about me not looking into your dreams the last few months. Now you want me to?”
I chuckled and shrugged. “Cooper…I was trying to hide my feelings for Tegan from you for the last few months. You know now, so it’s fine.”
Royce and Easton wagged their eyebrows at each other and air high fived.
“Careful, Coop, they won’t even lock the doors anymore,” Easton said with a laugh.
“Mind yourself, lover boy.” Lily arched one eyebrow at her boyfriend. “Or you won’t have a reason to either.”
Cooper ignored all of them. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Are you serious? You want me to go in your dreams to see if there’s anything to learn? Who am I watching? What should I watch for?”
“Anything and everything, Coop.” Tegan stood and rolled her neck. “We may have gotten back before Samhain, but we still don’t know where the Gap is. Anything could be a clue.”
Chapter Twenty-One
TEGAN
The heat from my hot shower had done nothing to warm the icy chill in my bones. I lingered in the open doorway of Deacon’s room, the hardwood floors cold under my bare feet. My hair was wet and dripping icy little water droplets down my bare arms. I could’ve willed my hair dry, but then I’d never get the knots out. I’d tiptoed down the hall after my shower in search of someone to help me get the comb unstuck from my hair.
But when I reached his open doorway, my heart stopped and my thoughts about my comb vanished. I wasn’t expecting Deacon to have a miraculous, immediate healing, but I hadn’t expected the sight before me. The only light in the room came from the soft, flickering fireplace. Larissa sat in the corner stirring a cauldron and reading from a spell book. Katherine leaned over Deacon and reapplied some type of ointment onto his wound.
The Aether Witch (The Coven: Elemental Magic Book 6) Page 11