by L. Danvers
“Got it.”
“Danielle,” she started, now speaking directly to her friend.
“Yeah?”
“Be careful.”
Grace
Taking a minute to think, I leaned back against the cold stone wall, propping my leg on it while I looked to the heavens. I prayed for a sign to show me where to go from here. Even a tiny one. Something that would point me in the right direction...
Everything was going wrong. Everything. And I was exhausted.
With the saplings gone, our only hope for saving Xander, Danielle and Victoria was tracking the plants Phoebe had taken down. And I was betting Reed had at least one of them.
Granted, there was no way he would turn the plant over to us... but Nick had offered to help me figure out what our dad did to Xander. So, maybe he’d be willing to do another favor.
Anxiety swelled within me at the thought of asking for his help with this. I hated that I was asking so much of someone I barely knew. I didn’t want Nick to think I was taking advantage of him. But what else was I supposed to do? This was our last chance to stop Xander and save Victoria. And maybe help Danielle, too.
Firming my resolve, I scrolled through the phone until I found one of the texts Nick had sent earlier. It was a casual, Hey. Glad I met you. Still can’t believe I have a twin sister.
I hadn’t replied. Not because I was ignoring him. In fact, I’d initiated the conversation. I simply hadn’t had time to text back. I felt like a jerk for making my reply about this... asking him to steal something from our father...
But I had to work up the nerve. Everyone was counting on me. And if Nick couldn’t pull this off, things were going to get even worse.
So, putting my ego aside, I typed up a text. I read it over about thirty times to make sure I didn’t sound like a completely selfish brat. The more I looked at it, though, the more I relaxed. It was honest and heartfelt. I hoped he could see that.
Releasing a breath, I pressed send.
There. No going back now.
I shoved the phone back in my pocket and headed back in the direction of the main entrance where the others were busy cleaning up the mess Xander had made. When I turned the corner, I spotted Aiden and Victoria sharing a mop bucket, dipping their sponges into the red-tinted water and scrubbing the wooden floors with painstaking focus. Charlotte was doing the same thing on the other end of the room, scrubbing so hard, so violently, I thought she might turn the wood beneath her into dust.
The carnage I witnessed upon returning from my meeting with Reed was horrifying, but my feelings about it paled in comparison to what the others were feeling. They knew these people. Had lived with them for... well, a long time. And now, the people that were supposed to be around forever were... gone.
I hated to drop another bomb on them, but unfortunately, reality needed to be dealt with. “Guys. We have a problem.”
Their eyes lifted, and they froze, waiting for me to share the bad news.
“The Kingdom of the Silver Seas is fresh out of Silverleaf saplings. Which means we’re going to have to come up with a Plan B.”
Aiden’s gaze drifted toward Victoria, and she bowed her head as if coming to terms with her fate. It was interesting that a man like Aiden had fallen for a woman like her. She was so soft-spoken and had this effortless elegance about her. Hardly the person I envisioned as a match for the infamous prince. But maybe his choice in a partner revealed something deeper about himself. After all, he had fallen for Danielle, too.
“There’s still a chance that we may be able to get our hands on one,” I explained, trying my best to sound reassuring. “I texted Nick about it.”
Charlotte sat up straighter. “Who’s Nick?”
“My brother.”
She laughed. “You seriously think a Carlisle is going to help us?”
“I’m helping you, aren’t I?”
She stared at me for a moment, but the intensity in her emerald eyes weakened, and she nodded in agreement. “You truly believe that he can get his hands on one?”
“I don’t know. But we’re running out of options. I figured it was worth a shot.”
Aiden stood, letting his saturated sponge fall into the bucket, paying no mind to the contents that splashed out of it. “Is one sapling enough?”
I knew what he was asking. He wanted to know if one Silverleaf sapling would be enough to save both his brother and Victoria. I didn’t have an answer. Perhaps Evanna would know. But she was upstairs, busy finding a way to track down Xander. “I’m not sure. But if it’s not... then, we’ll find another way.”
Even though he didn’t believe me, he nodded. “Maybe Uncle Ben will think of something. Where is he, anyway?”
“Researching,” Charlotte answered. “We should probably fill him in.” She pulled out her phone and started texting him. I couldn’t believe how fast she typed. I mean, I wasn’t half bad at texting. But it was like her vampire abilities gave her insanely fast fingers.
While we waited for her to finish, Evanna came racing down the stairs. I spun around as she reached the foot of the staircase, trying to catch her breath.
Before I could get a word in, Aiden took a step in her direction. “Did you find him?”
She nodded. “If I had to guess, I’d say he’s heading for Charleston. He must have remembered Danielle talking about the Book Slayers. Aiden, you have to warn them. They need to get the hell out of Charleston. Now. If he thinks they’re hiding her...”
“I’ll let Melissa know what’s going on,” Aiden vowed. “She’ll make sure the Book Slayers are long gone before he gets to the library.”
The ever-growing feeling of dread was beginning to get to me. I was barely holding it together as it was. I crossed the room and gripped the stairwell, needing to steady myself. I was worried about my friend. Worried about Xander. I was even worried about Victoria.
I checked my phone—Xander’s phone—again, anxiously awaiting Nick’s reply.
Letting out a sigh, I was about to shove it in my back pocket when it buzzed. Heart leaping, I clicked on the notification to read the full text: I can’t make any promises, but I’ll see what I can do. Still haven’t been able to figure out what Dad did to Xander in the first place. If I can get my hands on the sapling, though, I will.
I texted back: Thank you!!!
Nick replied immediately: Btw, a package was overnighted to Dad from Portugal. I bet that’s what it was. I may not be able to take the whole plant. No way Dad wouldn’t find out. But maybe I can get a leaf or two for you.
My eyes went glossy. I hugged the phone to my chest, feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long time.
“Good news?” Evanna asked, cautiously optimistic.
“Nick’s going to help us,” I said, hardly believing it myself. “Everyone might make it out of this alive after all.”
Ben
I’d spent days now going through the leather-bound tome. For generations, my ancestors had kept records of the trinkets they’d acquired. But nothing, nothing, could completely undo a spell.
I had been ready to give up the search entirely until Charlotte texted me. Without access to saplings, Xander and Victoria were doomed.
So, even though I’d already read through the whole thing, I reclined in my La-Z-Boy and began perusing through the book again, hoping I would stumble upon something I missed before. I stared at the pages until I went cross-eyed. As much as I hated to admit it, this was a massive waste of time. But I couldn’t sit here and do nothing. So, I kept reading.
I drifted off to sleep, but the crackling of the fireplace startled me awake. I blinked, watching the bright orange flames lick and snap at the air. I smirked, thinking of how ironic it was to be relaxing by a fire when all we ever did these days was try to put out fires.
Then it hit me.
I didn’t have to put out the fire. I just had to contain it.
Sitting upright, I flipped through the pages, searching for an item that came to mi
nd.
No. No. Where is it? Come on!
When I saw it, I let out a breath. There you are!
I poured over the description my great-great-great-grandfather had written for the object, mindlessly trailing my fingertips along his sketch as I read.
This could work.
I read it over two more times to be sure. And then, leaving the book face-down in my recliner, I ran upstairs. I headed for the media room and opened the latch door in the ceiling that led to the attic. A dinky wooden step-ladder unfolded itself, and I climbed up. Reaching the top, I tugged the chain, and a lone bulb illuminated the vast room, enough for me to see... barely.
I walked along the finished floor, tapping my chin as I tried to remember where I’d seen the item before. Figuring the box in front of me was as good of a place to check as any, I knelt and unfolded the cardboard container. A spider skirted out from behind the top flap, making me jump back for a second before continuing my search. Regaining my composure, I sifted through the box’s contents—an invisibility ring, a truth serum, a dragon’s talon... useful in their own right, but not what I needed...
I sealed the box and returned to my feet, scanning the room.
I was an idiot. The Mirror of Astria was right there and I hadn’t even thought to use it. I stood before it, squeezing my eyes shut as I thought hard about the object I was looking for. When I opened my eyes, one of the boxes situated behind me in my reflection glowed a brilliant white. I spun around and marched straight for the box, remembering the one the mirror had revealed to me. I unfolded the top and, sure enough, inside was the wooden case.
Chest caving, I undid the latch.
There, in a sea of purple velvet, sat a bracelet woven with the mane of a dark unicorn. In the center was a blank pendant.
I supposed I shouldn’t have been so hard on myself for not thinking of it sooner. It wasn’t a true fix. Xander would still be cursed. But he wouldn’t be able to harm Danielle. For now, that would have to do.
The Bracelet of Wynstar would render its wearer powerless to fulfill any orders given while under an enchantment. And only another person could remove it.
In other words, we didn’t need a Silverleaf sapling to stop Xander. All we needed to do was lure him back to the castle and find a way to get this bracelet on him. Then, even if he wanted to, he couldn’t lay a finger on Danielle.
I grinned, proud of myself for coming up with this solution.
Once back downstairs, I put out the fire and gave Charlotte a call as I headed out the door, wooden case in hand.
“Hello?” she asked in her usual abrupt tone.
“Hey. I’m heading your way. I found a way to stop Xander.”
With a click of the key fob, I climbed inside my car and sped in the direction of Crescent Cape.
Julian
We had caught the first flight out of Lisbon and were already back in the States, now nearing the castle, when Charlotte called. Our conversation was brief, and after a few quick words, I hung up the phone.
“What was that about?” Danielle asked, holding my hand as I pressed my foot against the pedal, making the engine thrum with power.
“Grace is working on getting the sapling from Nick. But, in the meantime, Uncle Ben found another solution. Well, more of a Band-Aid...”
Danielle lifted her head, her dark eyes lit with intrigue.
“He found this magical object, the Bracelet of Wynstar, that can help. As long as Xander’s wearing it, he can’t harm you.”
She chewed her lip. “You really think a bracelet will stop him?”
I laughed. “It’s not some random bracelet from a pawn shop. It’s made with unicorn hair.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “The words that come out of your mouth sometimes...”
“You’ll get used to it.” I grinned, a broad smile dimpling my cheeks.
“I don’t know about that. It’s like there’s this whole other world that I never even knew existed.”
I dipped my head. “You’re right. There is a lot to fill you in on. And I promise I’ll do that when you’re safe and we have a moment to breathe.”
She squeezed my hand harder, rubbing her thumb along the back of my hand. She looked over at me, frowning. “Is it always like this?”
I furrowed my brow.
She gestured with her hand, motioning to the world around us. “Always running from—or to—something? Does it ever stop?”
I shrugged. “It ebbs and flows. A sect of supernaturals will rise up from time to time, thirsting for power. Or another group may threaten to go public, endangering us all. But there’s plenty of downtime in between.” I looked at her, realizing that didn’t comfort her one bit. “Your sense of time is still very... human. Eventually, though, these hard days will be nothing more than a blip in your memory. A tiny speed bump. Promise.”
She shook her head. “What if it doesn’t work?” she asked, obviously referring back to the bracelet.
“It will work.”
“But what if it doesn’t?”
I took my eyes off the road for a second as the castle came into view, looking her dead in the eye. The smile fell from my face. “No matter what happens in there, I will protect you.”
“I can protect myself,” she said, mindlessly touching the blade strapped to her thigh. She hadn’t taken the thing off since Uncle Ben first gave it to her. I guess she hadn’t fully accepted her superior supernatural abilities yet. But I didn’t press her about the blade. If it made her feel safer to wear it, then that was good enough for me. “What?” she continued. “I can. I am a hybrid, aren’t I?”
I chuckled—not because I was dismissing her, but because I knew it was true. “Exactly. So, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Her pouty lips pursed together, satisfied with my reply.
I returned my focus to the road as we neared the castle. Truth be told, the issue with Danielle wasn’t whether I thought she could protect herself. She could. Undoubtedly. But what did make me uneasy was that she didn’t yet realize it. She talked a big game, but I knew that was her way of coping. She hadn’t practiced using her abilities enough to be comfortable with them. So, until self-defense came as second-nature to her, I would protect her. Whether she liked it or not.
She could hate me for it afterward if she wanted. At least that would mean she was alive...
Danielle
I hooked my arm around Julian’s as he led me up the steps to the castle. Fear prickled my skin as we entered the eerily empty foyer. Everyone was... gone. My lip curled into a grimace as I thought about the events that had unfolded here. I couldn’t imagine how hard that must have been on Grace. She was no stranger to horrors—after all, she had been a blood slave herself—but to be the one to find the carnage after Xander escaped...
I shivered.
“Where is everyone?” I asked Julian, referring to Grace and the others who had been fortunate enough to survive Xander’s attack.
He was about to answer when the oak doors behind us sprang open. I whirled around as Ben burst through, chest heaving as he caught his breath. His left hand was gripped tightly around a wooden box. Carrying it, he marched over and wrapped his arms around Julian, patting his back. Then he looked at me and gave me a nod. “I’m glad to see you two are alright. Where are the others?”
“We were wondering the same thing,” Julian answered coolly. He pointed to the box. “Is that the bracelet?”
“Yeah.” He opened the box and held it out in the palm of his hand, allowing Julian to get a peek.
I stood on my tiptoes to get a better view, too. Unicorn hair didn’t look anything like I had pictured. I was imagining rainbow colors or sparkles. Pinks and greens and blues. But it may as well have been made of a maroon cord. In the center of the minimalist bracelet was a round, gold pendant. Nothing special. “It’s blank,” I said, wondering what purpose the pendant served.
Ben nodded. “The pendant holds magic, but it won’t be activated until some
one recites the spell.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Grace?”
He shrugged. “Or Evanna. Doesn’t matter for this particular piece. It’s not undoing Reed’s spell. It’s more like freezing it. Remember,” he started, making sure to make eye contact with me before he continued, “if someone ever takes this off of him...”
“Run,” I said, nodding along. “I know.”
“Good.”
Right as he’d snapped the wooden box shut, brisk footsteps scurried down the staircase behind us. Looking over my shoulder, my heart swelled. “Grace!”
She flashed a smile and skipped the last couple of steps, jumping over them and hurrying to wrap me in a bear hug. “It’s so good to see you, Danielle.”
“You, too,” I said, squeezing her back. I glanced up at her and noticed her usually bright blue eyes were clouded with worry. “Where’s everyone else?”
She divided a look amongst me and the men. With a jerk of her chin, she said, “Up there. Evanna’s tracking spell worked. Xander was at the airport, heading for Charleston. Thank goodness for flight delays. Aiden was on the phone with him earlier...”
“I thought you had his phone.”
“I do,” she said. “He left a message for him at the terminal, and Xander used their phone to call him back”
I gulped. “Oh. What did Aiden tell him?”
“Whatever he had to in order to get him to come back to the castle.” She didn’t offer any further explanation.
I nodded. It didn’t matter, I guess. As terrified as I was of facing Xander, the alternative was spending the rest of my life running from him. I hugged my arms around my waist, suddenly feeling chilly.
Stepping forward, Julian asked, “What about your brother? Any word from him yet on getting that Silverleaf sapling?”
Grace shook her head. “No. He’s working on it, though.”
Placing my hand on her shoulder, I quietly asked, “Do you think you can trust him?” It wasn’t coming from a place of judgement. I was concerned about her. Reed was... awful. And sure, Grace was his daughter. But he hadn’t been the one who raised her. If Nick was anything like his father...