Andrew gestured to me, his voice rising. “What are we going to do now? Tessa wasn’t part of our original plan.”
“Plans change.”
“No, I was only supposed to scare her, and that’s because you couldn’t convince Derrick to change his mind about marrying you. You should have left them alone. This was supposed to be simple! No witnesses. No tracing it back to us. You promised me our father and Mae’s deaths would be painless, and instead, you bludgeoned Mae.”
“I said, plans change! Mae walked in on me, and I had no choice. But Father still got the note I slipped him that said she’d left the money in the stables, and after I created a little fire in the parlor, he went for it. I drugged him just like we planned.” She laughed. “Tessa’s not the only one who can slip something into someone’s drink. His death was painless. And we’re so close! Derrick thinks our father killed Mae. They know about the affair and the theft at the company. It’s not ideal, but we’re in the clear just as soon as we take care of our little witch problem.”
Andrew scrubbed a hand through his hair, shaking his head. “Let’s take the money they stole and run, Isabelle. It’s not too late. We’ll start over somewhere new and send for Mother once we’re settled. I’ll saddle the horses, and we can get as far away as possible.”
Spinning on her heel, she sliced a hand through the air. “We didn’t come this far to walk away and leave everything behind. The company is yours now! It’s what you’ve always wanted, and what about what I want? Derrick will come around. We can fix this. There has to be a way. I just need to think.”
“Isabelle, please—”
“No,” she grated. “Don't be weak. How far will you go to get what you want?”
“To the end,” he whispered.
She smiled. “To the end.”
Almost a full minute of silence filled the basement before she spoke again.
“I have an idea. It’s the easiest way to get what I want and solve our problems, but I need your help. One more time.”
I felt her eyes on me, and Isabelle walked closer. She kicked her foot into my side, and I winced.
“Tessa’s awake. Open your eyes, witch. I have something to show you.”
Peeling my eyes open, I struggled to sit up and pressed my back against the stone wall. Isabelle crouched in front of me, her features devoid of emotion.
“I don’t know how much you heard, and, honestly, it doesn’t matter. See this?” Reaching into a hidden pocket in her gown, she retrieved a golden medallion. “I stole this from your nightstand, and now I’m going to use it to take your place.”
My denial was muffled by the rag, and I jerked at my wrists to get free.
“It’s actually a decent plan. Derrick won’t be able to tell the difference. I’ll tell them Isabelle wandered off and probably met up with her father. She’ll vanish. Poof.”
Pressing the medallion to her heart, she closed her eyes and whispered an incantation.
Raven-black hair turned dark brown, the curls cascading down her back. Her clothes transformed, and her features morphed into mine. I swallowed the whimper in the back of my throat as I stared at my mirror image. Horror squeezed my chest, making it painful to breathe. She laughed in my face and rocked back on her heels.
“Maybe I should thank you. This will speed things along with Derrick. I’ll still have to fix the damage from your argument earlier, but I can be persuasive. Besides, I think it’s clear he’d be happier with someone a little more traditional. I’ll sell off your wretched magic shop, then resign from the agency.”
Stepping into the shadows, she returned holding the leather quiver we’d found in Richard’s trunk along with a bow. She tossed them both to Andrew, who stood stoically on the sidelines, watching our interaction. He caught the quiver and strapped the bow to his back.
“Take her into the woods, and this time, you have my permission to hit the target. Bring me back the arrow that pierces her heart. I’ll use it to perform a ritual that will make my shift permanent. I’ll handle the others…or, I should say, Tessa will. See you soon, brother.” She cast me a final look, triumph in her gaze, and then she vanished into the dark.
“Get up,” Andrew urged, his voice flat.
I shook my head, stalling for time. I wouldn’t be able to use my magic if my fingers were numb, and it would be even worse if he dragged me outside in the cold. Yanking on my wrists, I tried to loosen the bonds, but it was no use. I slumped against the wall, wheezing through the rag.
“I said, get up.” Andrew lurched and grabbed my arm, hauling me to my feet. Balance was my enemy, and I tilted, crashing into him. “Walk.” He shoved me forward, and I stumbled as he scooped up the lantern. “Either you walk, or I knock you unconscious.”
Okay, that would be worse. I might not wake up.
“I’ll walk,” I said through the rag, but it came out a jumbled mess.
The basement door creaked open into the night air. Wind immediately blasted through my thin garments, and I shivered violently. My slipper-clad feet sank into the snow, and ice stung my ankles.
The snow had died down to flurries, and they fluttered past my cheeks, sticking to my clothes.
