Did Nico Aldobrandini have an excuse for killing her mother?
If he did, was she prepared to hear it?
Eve returned before she had an answer to that question, carrying a tray with drinks and two plates of sandwiches. “Marcel is lovely. Why don’t I have a butler?”
“He’s not a butler.”
“He’s basically a butler.” She set the tray down carefully. “Anyway, here it is.” She held up a compass that looked like an antique, then leveled it above the candles. “Let’s get this checked and—” She trailed off as she stared at the needle. “Omigod. I’m such anidiot!”
“What is it?”
“Magnetic north! We’ve been aligning to true north! No wonder we’ve been off. You think the witches that wrote these spells were using Google Maps?” She carefully repositioned the candles. “Get your sexy butt over here and run the spell again.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Eve swiped the obsidian before Cally could pick it up, walking back to the tray. “I also brought a damp cloth. This thing is covered in so much of your sticky blood that it looks like someone sneezed barbecue sauce.” She gave it a thorough wipe with a look of disgust, before handing it over.
Cally took it, then knelt in the circle and pricked her finger while ignoring where Eve hid her phone.At least I heal fast enough that my finger isn’t a pincushion.
“Ready?” Eve asked, sitting on the edge of her chair, eyes shining with anticipation.
“Let’s see if this works.”
She focused on her phone, concentrating on intent, the incantation coming smoothly after endless repetition, and no sooner had she finished uttering it than the pull was immediate, strong and insistent.
“There,” she said instantly, turning to point. “Wait, I want to try something.”
Cally rose to her feet, eyes still closed, the obsidian held out, still chanting as she stepped out of the circle. The pull continued, increasing as she neared her phone, and the obsidian turned in her hand. She stopped when she was sure, and opened her eyes to find a cushion lying at her feet. She pushed it away and swept up her phone, turning to Eve with a grin. “It worked!”
“Awesome! I knew you could do it!” Eve jumped to her feet. “Damn, Cally, you’re a real witch!”
She’d heard it before, but never like this. For the first time, it meant something. “I am, aren’t I?” Her fingers tightened around the obsidian in one hand, her phone in the other, holding them like proof.
“Now all we have to do is figure out the immobilization spell.”
Her satisfaction faded as quickly as it had come. That was the real test, and they barely had a day left.
What if she failed? What would Darian do then?
“Eve,” she began, her guarded tone making her friend look up. “I’m going by myself on Friday.”
“No, you’re not, sweetheart.” Eve said it like the discussion was over.
It wasn’t. “It’s not safe. You’re not coming with me.”
“No, Iamcoming with you.” Eve crossed her arms, her chin tilted at a determined angle. “What if something goes wrong, and you need last-minute adjustments?”
“What if something goes wrong and Darian decides we’re both a liability?”
“Then you’ll kick him in the head and we’ll run.”
Cally pressed her lips together. “Please, Eve. This is putting you in danger.”
“Sweetheart,” Eve said softly, “our world is vampires and magic now. Danger is the new normal, and I’m not going to leave you to face it alone.”
Cally shook her head. “That doesn’t meanyouhave to be in danger. Hell, with my superhuman levels of marked-chattel healing, I could probably survive getting shot by Darian.Youcan’t.”
“I’m still coming.”
