She didn't look at me. Her gaze was fixed on something across the room, her jaw tight, her shoulders rigid. But through the bond, I felt everything. The misery. The longing. The fear that I'd never forgive her for what she'd said.
Gods, I was a fool.
"Elias." Judy's voice cut through the tension. She stood in the center of the room, her blue eyes sharp. "Good. We can begin."
I never took my eyes from Talin as she glanced in my direction. Our eyes met for a fraction of a second before she looked away.
The thread between us pulsed. I couldn't see it. But I felt it. Like an extra heartbeat in the center of my chest.
"Okay, let's go over this one last time," Judy said. "Four binding points. Four teams. You strike simultaneously on my signal." She gestured to the map spread across her coffee table, marked with four glowing sigils. "Angel and Jamal, you have St. Louis Cemetery Number One. The binding point is in the center mausoleum, the one with the iron gate."
Angel nodded, her face grim. Jamal's hand found hers.
"Alice and Dae-Jung take City Park. The binding point is at the heart of the oak grove, beneath the oldest tree." Judy's gaze lingered on Alice. "You'll feel the djinn magic more there. Don't let it overwhelm you."
Ah, that's why Judy had changed their locations. Alice was the strongest witch besides herself.
"I won't." Alice's voice was steady, but her hands twisted together in her lap.
Dae shifted closer to her, silently promising to keep her safe.
"Lizzy and Killian have the French Quarter riverfront. The binding point is in the old warehouse on Decatur, the one that's been abandoned since Katrina." Judy's expression softened slightly when she looked at the niece she'd only just recently gotten back. "Be careful. That location is the most exposed."
Killian's arm tightened around Lizzy. "Nothing will happen to her."
"Brogan and Esme." Judy turned to them. "The Ninth Ward warehouse. That binding point is in the basement, surrounded by water damage and structural instability. Watch your footing."
Brogan inclined his head. "We'll handle it."
"Which leaves Elias and Talin here." Judy's gaze moved between us, and I had a feeling she could see way more than either of us wanted her to. I wondered if Talin had talked to her before I'd arrived. I hoped so. There were still bad feelings there that needed to be cleared up before they festered and rotted into something that couldn't be repaired.
"Talin will thread-walk into Marcus's pocket dimension from my living room. I'll set up the ritual circle." Judy's voice dropped. "It'll be more complex than anything we've attempted. Talin will need every ounce of power she can channel, and Elias—" She looked at me. "You'll need to keep her tethered to this world no matter what Marcus throws at her."
"I will," I promised her, my eyes on Talin.
This time, she wouldn't look at me.
"Kenya will also stay here," Judy continued. "Her bond to Alex might help pull him back once Talin reaches him."
Kenya nodded, tucking her shaking hands between her thighs. "Whatever it takes."
"Good." Judy straightened. "Once the binding points are disrupted, you'll have maybe ten minutes—maybe less—before the pocket dimension either stabilizes or collapses entirely. Talin must find Alex and get out before that happens."
"And if she doesn't?" Lizzy's voice was quiet but steady.
Judy's expression went carefully blank. "Then we'll lose them both."
"We won't let that happen." Killian broke the sudden silence. "Everyone knows their roles. We have thirty minutes before the moon is at its highest point."
The room erupted into motion. Couples moved toward each other, exchanging quiet words. Judy disappeared down the hall, presumably to gather materials for the ritual circle.
I stayed where I was, my gaze locked on Talin, who also stayed where she was.
Kenya walked slowly after Judy and the others began to file out. Within minutes, only Talin and I remained in the living room, the silence between us so loud it made my ears ring.
"Talin—"
"Don't." She held up a hand, still not looking at me. "Not now."
