by Lila Kane
He narrows his eyes. “Trash.”
“Lo‒”
He takes my arm, pulling me to the kitchen.
“You’re seriously not winning any points here,” I say, stumbling after him.
He tosses open the cabinet under the sink and points to the bin. “Trash.”
Like I can’t come back in here and get it out later. I throw it in there and fold my arms. “I want to see my mom.”
“What’s in your pockets?”
I gape at him. “Nothing.”
He steps forward. “Show me.”
“I said nothing. Logan!”
His finger grips my belt loop and pulls me closer. He digs in my front pocket as I try to push his hands away. He comes out with a library card.
When he frowns, I snatch it back. “I just got it this morning,” I say, trying to sound convincing.
“Anything else?”
He reaches for my back pocket. I point my finger at him. “Don’t you dare.”
“You know what happened last time you tried to trick me,” he says. “I’d appreciate full disclosure.”
“I don’t have anything in my pockets, okay?” I reach back and pull them inside out. “See?”
“Good.”
His shoulders relax and I step back as well, hoping he’s finished. Then he says, “I’m going to need your necklace, too.”
I shake my head. “I’m not going to do anything with it.”
“Then take it off.”
“It’s been in my family for years, Logan‒”
“I won’t lose it.” He pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and opens it. “Come on, set it inside. I’ll save it for you until this is done.”
Feeling sick inside, I take off the necklace. I know it probably wouldn’t have done much to help me anyway, but it’s a nice form of security. I drop the necklace in the handkerchief and turn away.
“Now I want to see my mom,” I say. “I won’t do anything else until I know she’s safe.”
“Of course.”
He agrees so readily, I’m caught off guard. “Really?”
“You held up your end of the bargain, I’ll hold up mine.”
I swallow, trailing after him as he guides us to a door off the stairs. It’s paneled like the walls, and almost blends in. He opens it and starts downstairs.
My boots click against the floor as we descend into the dim basement. “You put her in the basement?”
“Safer,” he says. “For both of us.”
I frown, thinking I’m going to find her chained to a wall or stuck in some kind of cell. But I’m not so sure when I see the basement. It’s nice, more than livable, and furnished well. There’s a room off to the side, bolted from our end.
“What do you mean safer?” I ask, stepping closer to the door.
His voice lowers when he glances at me. “I can feel her power. It’s not like she shows it off or anything, but I can tell she’s a strong witch.”
I’m surprised. He’s never said anything about being able to feel my power. Then again, I don’t really have much. But still.
Logan leans against the door, smiling at me. “I can feel your power, too.”
My throat dries.
He nods as if I protested. “I can. It’s different. Not as calm. But I can feel it.”
“But you don’t have me locked in a room.”
“Do I need to lock you in a room?”
I shake my head.
He laughs and points. “Do you want to see her?”
Nerves swirl in my stomach. I haven’t seen my mom in years. She probably won’t even recognize me. And what do I say to her? Hey, once we’re done dealing with the vampires, you want to get a drink?
“She’s sedated,” Logan says.
“What?”
“Like I said, it’s safer.”
I’m torn between outrage and acceptance. Sedated means she isn’t hurting. She’s just sleeping. And she’s safe.
“You want to see her now?” Logan asks.
I nod.
He unbolts the door, then pulls a key from his pocket and undoes the lock. He pushes it open a few feet.
I’m surprised again. The room is dim but comfortable. A queen-sized bed, a chaise lounge in the corner, fluffy pillows and a plush comforter. She’s sleeping on her side, face turned to us. She looks peaceful.
She looks like me.
I’m suspended in the doorway, too scared to walk in. Rationally, I know she’s not going to wake up. But I still don’t want to move.
“How long has it been?” Logan asks from beside me.
“A long time,” I whisper.
“Maybe things will be different now.”
He says it like we can be reunited. Like we have a chance to get to know each other once the spell is done. Like he’ll let us go.
For a moment, I believe him.
But I still can’t do the spell. And the first chance I have to be alone, I’m going to get in contact with Ryan and Cheyenne. I don’t have much more of a plan than that. Oh, and maybe break the spell around his house so Ryan can get on Logan’s property. Just in case.
I back out of the room, almost relieved my mother’s asleep. I don’t think I’m ever going to know exactly what to say to her.
Logan locks the door again. When he faces me, I can’t read his expression. “Ready to get to work?”
“Why is your sister here?”
He glances away. “She isn’t feeling well.”
I swallow. “I’m sorry.”
“She’ll be fine.”
The emotion in his voice is controlled, but I can still hear it. He must care for his sister a lot to bring her here while he’s dealing with me and the spell.
“Are we done here?” he asks.
“Yes.”
He locks the door again and I make a mental note where he puts the key, what kind of lock is on the door‒everything I can.
“You’re quiet,” Logan says as he leads me back up the stairs.
“I don’t know what to say.”
He gestures to the library. “Let’s work, then.”
My steps slow when we walk inside. My eyes instantly flash to the desk where Logan and I worked last time. I swallow. Where we did more than work. I automatically look for the letter opener, my throat tightening up. But it’s gone.
“Come on,” Logan says, pressing a hand against the small of my back. “We can’t work if you won’t even go in.”
I straighten and nod. If he can work in here after I stabbed him, I guess I can, too.
I sit at the table. Logan perches on the edge. He drops my bag on the surface. “You can use your book. And I have your mother’s. We’re looking for something to reverse a spell, or to restore things to their natural order. Anything that will take away the curse.”
I stare at him blankly. How am I going to find that? And even if I do, the spell sounds so gigantic, I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it.
“It might help if I could talk to my mom. She’d probably know more about this than me.”
He shakes his head. “She’s even more stubborn than you. And she wouldn’t tell me anything. Let’s work with what we have and go from there.”
I sigh and slump in the seat. I press my hands over my face. “Logan, please…you don’t understand.”
“I understand you haven’t even tried. Willow,” he snaps and I pull my hands away. “Look at me.”
I blow out a breath, meeting his eyes. “What?”
“I need you to try.”
What I need to do is contact Ryan somehow. And get my mother out of here. And stop Logan from getting the spell done. But none of those tasks is realistic with him sitting right here, clearly in distrust.
“Okay.” I nod. “But I might not be able to do too much unless I know how the original spell was done.”
He straightens. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
I open my Book of Shadows, paging through the first part fairly quick
ly. Shapeshifters, vampires, werewolves, and the list goes on. All information I need to know but don’t have time for right now.
My hand freezes when I get to the next section. Protecting an Area. I quickly turn the page before Logan notices. I need that spell. If Logan’s property is protected from other supernatural beings, myself excluded, then maybe I can figure out how to reverse it.
“What?” Logan asks, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Nothing. Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“I…” I think quickly, then smile when a legitimate idea occurs to me. “Selena.”
He hops off the top of the table and stands behind a chair. “What about her?”
“I keep seeing her‒especially when I’m at the Shadow Hill Hotel.” I leave out the part about how she gave me my necklace. About how she keeps trying to help me against vampires. “Maybe if I could…try to contact her again, she’ll help me.”
“Help you how?”
I stand, start to pace. “I don’t know. Either tell me how to reverse the spell or what original spell was done in the first place.”
He folds his arms, looking like he doesn’t believe me. “Can you do it from here?”
“I can try.”
“Is she the one who showed you where your Book of Shadows was?” he asks.
I shrug. “I don’t know. It was just a vision.”
A scary, breath-taking vision that had knocked me out completely. But it worked.
“You look nervous.” He steps closer and my breathing quickens. “Tell me.”
I drop my chin to my chest. I’m more scared of it not working than it working, but I still need him to keep trusting me. “It’s just…last time I kind of passed out.”
He frowns.
“And stopped breathing. For just a minute.”
There. Now he’s going to know this is a risk for me, too. Maybe he’ll give me more space.
His eyes meet mine, none of the influence there now. Just blue. And concern. “Do you think we can find another way?”
“How fast do you want to figure this out?”
His jaw clenches.
“I know,” I say before he can. “Fast.”
“Can you do it?”
I take a deep breath. “I think so.”
“Here? Now?”
I glance around. “Can I have something to drink first? Water?”
He nods. I expect him to tell me to come with him to the kitchen, but he gestures to the chair. “Stay here.”
I sit obediently and fold my hands on the table. He leaves and I hear the lock turn on the outside of the door. I don’t care, this is right where I want to be. Alone.
I reach into my pocket and pull out Cheyenne’s library card.
Chapter 25
I rush the projection, shooting myself toward the library. I appear next to Cheyenne’s desk. Ryan’s there, too, and he feels my presence right away. He turns, sees me, and his eyes widen. Cheyenne straightens in her chair, and then smiles.
“That was fast,” she says.
“No time. I’m at Logan’s. I’m fine‒and so is my mom. I’m going to try to contact Selena to see if she can help.”
“Willow.” Ryan reaches out and his fingers brush my arm. Warm and strong. I want to lean into him, but I can’t lose focus. “That’s dangerous.”
“Logan thinks she’s going to help us. It’s my best chance at figuring out a way out of this. Maybe out of his house, too. I’m also going to try to get rid of the protection spell around his property.”
Ryan reaches for me, pulling me close. I bury my face against his chest, wanting to sink into him and forget all about Logan, my mom, and the spell. Something tugs at me. Before I can say goodbye, I’m ripped from Ryan’s arms.
My eyes flash open just as Logan walks through the door. He gives me a curious look and I try to cover up my unease with humor.
“You said stay here, so I did.”
He lifts his brows. “Didn’t expect you to listen.”
Logan hands me the water and I drink a long gulp because I don’t know what else to say. I have a plan, but I’m not going to be able to do anything if he hovers. I casually flip through the pages of the book, passing the protection spell again.
I need to remove the supernatural boundaries around Logan’s house. I think I might only need to voice it, but I’m not sure my powers are strong enough. I feel like I’m getting in over my head.
“What do you need?” Logan asks. When I shoot him a curious look, he adds, “To talk to Selena.”
“Oh. Uh…usually she talks to me when I’m at the hotel.”
“We’re not going to the hotel.”
I glare at him. “I know that.” At least for now. “But I’m trying to figure this out, okay? All this is still new to me. Probably some candles and maybe‒the necklace.”
Logan folds his arms. “Why?”
“Because it links me to her since she’s one of my ancestors. Hopefully it’ll help me to communicate with her‒or get in touch with her or however it works.” When he doesn’t respond, I say, “Come on. It’s a small necklace. There’s not much I can do with it. I’ll give it back when I’m done‒even though it’s mine.”
“Fine.” He moves to the door. “Candles. I’ll be right back.”
His footsteps fade and I flip to the page on protecting an area. Just like I thought, I’ll only need a few words. And a piece of the property. I glance around. It’s not just the house that’s protected, it’s the entire patch of land on this side of the road. I’ll need something from outside.
I curse under my breath when Logan comes back. One thing at a time. First, I have to contact Selena.
Logan scatters the candles on the table. He reaches in his pocket again, but I take the liberty of lighting the candles with my magic. They flare up first before flickering like normal.
His eyes capture mine. “Do not even think about using these candles as a weapon against me.”
“Still mad about the letter opener?”
He props his hands on the table and leans in. “You’re lucky I heal fast.”
I smile at him. “You’re lucky I don’t press charges.”
He laughs, low and deep. “Maybe we should get this done first. Then we can argue.”
“Fine by me.”
I sit at the table and hold out my hand. “Necklace, please.”
He pulls the handkerchief from his pocket and passes it over. I take the necklace out. It hums warm in my hand. I’ve never felt that before, but it’s a symbol. That it’s mine. That it belongs to me. And that Selena and I are linked.
“Okay,” I whisper. “Be patient. Let me focus.”
He nods, waiting on the other side of the table.
I stare for a long moment at the candles, making my breathing even. Then I squeeze the necklace and close my eyes.
“Selena,” I whisper.
I try reaching out with my mind. Can you hear me? I need you.
Tendrils of ice snake into my body. I shiver and squeeze the necklace tighter. I hear Logan say my name, but I can’t open my eyes.
Willow…Her voice whispers into my mind. Then she says, Follow me.
I’m behind the panel in the Shadow Hill Hotel again. This time, her cool fingers grip my wrist and pull. I stumble after her through the tunnel, walking blinding, torn between terror and curiosity.
I try to speak, try to tell her what I need, but my mouth won’t work. We stumble several more feet until the room opens up. A see a dim light from farther away. Selena releases me and I walk toward it, trying to get my bearings.
Soon I can see where the light is coming from. An opening. We’re in a cave.
Look, Selena whispers.
I lift my head. And all around me, the walls of the cave are sparkling. Specks of purple and white glimmering in the light.
Amethyst.
Bring him here, Selena says.
Air fills my lungs. There’s pressure on my mouth. My eyelids
flutter.
“That’s it,” Logan says. “Breathe, Willow.”
I pull in a shaky breath, Logan’s face coming into focus. I’m lying on the floor in the library, propped up by Logan’s arm. He’s shaking his head.
“You weren’t lying.”
I blink, staring at his strong jaw. I cough. “Why would I lie about that?”
“You stopped breathing,” he says, closing his eyes briefly. “I didn’t‒”
He breaks off and I shift in his arms. Amethyst. The cave. I have to get Logan there. And I have to tell Ryan and Cheyenne that’s where we’re going.
I sit up, clenching an arm around my stomach. I’m still holding the necklace in my other hand.
“I don’t feel very good,” I mumble.
He eases back, looking unsure.
I stand, gripping the chair by the table. “I need‒”
I dart for the door, keeping my arm around my stomach. I run straight to the bathroom and slam the door behind me. I hear Logan’s footsteps outside.
“Willow?” he asks, concern in his voice.
I almost feel guilty when I groan, faking how badly the episode made me feel. This might be my only chance. I yank the library card from my pocket and close my eyes.
The quick trip to the library makes my stomach swirl. Even though my projected body isn’t as substantial, I can still feel everything my physical body feels—and right now it feels shaky and unsteady.
I slump against Cheyenne’s desk the moment I appear. Cheyenne jumps again, and she calls for Ryan.
He walks in from the other room, immediately curling his fingers around my arm. “Willow. What happened?”
“I contacted Selena.” My vision swims for a moment. “There’s a tunnel to a cave inside the panel at the Shadow Hill Hotel. I have to bring Logan to the cave. I can try to trap him there.”
“Wait,” Cheyenne says, standing.
“I can’t. I’ll try to undo the spell around Logan’s house‒you have to get there and get my mom out. But you have to be careful, Logan’s sister is here and‒”
“Willow!”
I look at Ryan, but it’s not him who called my name. “Logan,” I whisper.
I zoom back to Logan’s house in an instant. This time I really do feel sick, and I lean against the toilet.
“Willow?”
I can see the shadow of Logan’s boots on the other side of the door. “I’m okay.” When my voice comes out faint, I clear my throat and try again. “I’ll be out in a minute.”