“Yes, and no. What I mean is, mymagicis growing inside me. And, well, Belle told me that if I don’t find an outlet for it, it could… kind of explode.”
Eve’s eyebrows rose. “Explode? Like fireballs all over the place?”
“Like redecorating any furniture I’m on in a more charming color.” Cally grimaced. “Her words, obviously.”
“Wait. You mean to say that if you don’t find an outlet for your magic, it’llkillyou?”
“Yeah. Basically.”
Eve shot up, pacing across the room, then spun on her heel to stare at her. “And you’re telling me thisnow?”
Cally squirmed, chewing her lip. “Well, I sort of hoped we’d get Antoine back so it wouldn’t be an issue. Then I hoped the tome might give a spell or two I could just dump some magic into.”
“How long do you have?”
“No one knows. But vampires go feral after two weeks, and the bond is tied to vampires, and Antoine has been gone for two weeks.”
“Great. So it doesn’t matter that you spilled coffee on the sheets, because you’re about to stain them far worse.” Eve crossed her arms. “Am I safe at this distance? Right now, I kinda feel like I want to watch.”
Cally winced. “I’m really sorry, okay? I should’ve told you sooner. I just… you had a lot on your plate.”
“Don’t youdareput this on me, Calista Davis. You have something like this you’re sitting on, and you don’t tell me? You don’t think I’d want to know? That Ineededto know?”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry you.”
Eve threw her hands up. “Worryme? Girl, I do nothingbutworry about you! Have you any idea how—” She cut herself off with a shake of her head, then forced a steadying breath. “All right. So, you have a magical bomb sitting inside you that can go off at any second. No more hugs for you. How do we defuse it?”
“Ideally, by finding me a spell.”
“The crystal-glowing thing? Would that work?”
Cally looked doubtful. “I really have no idea. I’m not even sure thatisa spell. It’s more like an effect whenever I focus near it.”
Eve nodded along. “Scrying maybe? We pull the coven together and get you flying through nightclubs of your choice?”
“I did think of it, and it might help. But I worry it’s too low-level. I did thatbeforeAntoine bonded me, and my magic is way stronger now. Apparently.”
“But you said if Antoine were back it wouldn’t be a problem. How does he fix it?”
Cally felt her cheeks heat. “By feeding on me.”
“Oh,” Eve said, and blinked twice. “Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.” She cocked her head to one side. “Does it have to be him?”
“Gabe, you mean?” Cally sighed again. “It’s the obvious choice, but first, Antoine doesn’t trust him, and doesn’t want him anywhere near me. And second, he’s already fed from me once, and if he does again, there’s a risk he’ll get addicted.”
Eve paused for just a fraction too long. “Addicted?”
“Well, witch blood isn’t like normal blood.”
“Vampire crack, huh?”
Cally eyed the ceiling, as if it held answers. “I like to think it’s a power thing, not a drug reference. But sure, if you want.”
“I don’t see we have much choice. You can’t use enough of your magic to make a difference, Antoine isn’t here to suck on your neck, so that leaves Gabe. And it’s been two weeks, so if we don’t go find him now, you could go splat at any moment.”
Cally gave her a long look. “You really have a way with words.”
“But I’m not wrong, am I? What do you want to do, light up crystals all afternoon and hope you’re around tomorrow to say ‘I told you so’?”
