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“They can’t,” Clay said.
“But they can send emissaries,” Grey added. The Soul Weaver stepped up to the center island and leaned on it with an exhausted sigh. “The aunts warned that the pestilents can control the minds of humans. Those humans can be sent to kill us, which is why I’m the one who checks all the delivery people who arrive each fucking day.”
“The spell guards against pestilents only,” Clay continued. “It can’t pick out humans, or apparently animals under a spell.”
“Done!” Dane announced suddenly. He released Wiley’s leg and dropped back in the chair he was in, leaning his head on Clay’s stomach.
“How do you feel?” Baer watched closely as Wiley lifted the injured leg and slowly moved the foot around, then bent the leg at the knee.
“The muscles are a little stiff and sore, but the pain is way less than what it had been. Thank you so much, Dane. I really thought your powers could only be used on the Weavers.”
Dane gave him a tired smile. “Not limited, but chasing that venom down was definitely draining.”
Baer’s arms tightened around Wiley, holding him in tight. “Thank you, Dane. Really…thank you,” he said around the lump in his throat. Wiley was all sunshine and happiness. He couldn’t be allowed to die because of his carelessness.
“I’m just glad I can help.” Dane tilted his head, looking around Wiley at Lucien. “How are you doing, Mr. Flames?”
“My leg is throbbing like a motherfucker,” Lucien complained. But his lips tilted into a surprising smirk. “But I’m not dying.”
“Can you hold on for five minutes? Let me catch my breath.”
“I’d be willing to barter for up to fifteen minutes of rest if you can get Baer to agree to make that grilled cabbage he made the other night.”
Dane grinned broadly up at Baer and said, “Deal!”
“Well, now that dinner is settled and Wiley is healed, can we get back to the attack?” Grey interrupted with his usual grumpiness. “I get that we’re now going to be facing the chance of human and animal attacks on the plantation. But what about our Animal Weaver? Can’t you do anything about it?”
Baer shook his head. “Not that I’ve found. It’s a spell of some sort. I tried to command the snakes, and it was like hitting a brick wall. I couldn’t reach them at all. The best I could do was to bring in their natural predators.”
“Thank God we’re not living somewhere that lions roam free,” Lucien muttered.
“No, but Georgia does have black bears and bobcats,” Dane added.
Grey scrubbed a hand over his sweaty face. “I’m never going outside again.”
“Baer,” Clay started in a low voice that worried him. “What does that mean for Ruby?”
Baer shook his head. “Nothing good. I think she heard the spell, but it didn’t affect her because the witch wasn’t directing it at her. Maybe the witch doesn’t know she’s here.”
“But if the witch discovers her…”
Baer didn’t want to say it. Didn’t want anyone to voice the thoughts going through their heads. He would not put his beloved Ruby down, but he also didn’t want a damn pestilent witch hurting her. Baer looked at the dog who was staring up at him. There was nothing but love and trust coming from her. She believed in him completely.
“It’s a spell!” Wiley shouted, jerking them all from their dark thoughts. “It’s just a spell. You all have magic. And now we have an entire trunk full of journals and spell books. We can find the answer to this. Nothing is going to happen to Ruby. We might even find a spell that strengthens the protection on the plantation. We’ve got this!”
“Wiley is right. We need to spend some time going through the books. We might have already run into this problem in the past and come up with a solution,” Clay said.
Baer hugged Wiley to him, pride swelling in his chest. He wasn’t sure if they’d find the spell they needed, but he was clinging to Wiley’s optimism.
Grey snorted. “I’m not worried about Ruby as much as I am that cat.”
“Awww…Queenie is a sweet princess,” Wiley cooed at the Soul Weaver, but the mischief twinkling in his eyes was plain for everyone to see.
“She’s a bitch, and you know it.”
Wiley smiled and rolled his eyes. “She’s a cat. What do you expect?”
“That will probably work in our favor,” Baer said. “Cats don’t like to listen to anyone. I doubt there’s a spell out there that would work on her.” But even knowing that, Baer prayed that Queenie wasn’t targeted either. The cat might not be fond of Baer, but she was deeply loved by Wiley. He didn’t want Wiley hurt by any attack on his pet.
For now, his main concern was keeping Wiley safe. He’d read a hundred spell books if had to. No one was hurting his Wiley ever again.
