Gia didn’t want to talk to Ramirez. Asking about his coven would encourage him to recruit her, and she needed a coven in her life like she needed a hole in the head.
Unless… Oh fuck, she was losing it, but she couldn’t help wondering: if Aurora was real, couldwitchesbe real? Magic and spells, and who the hell knew what else?
Gia changed her mind. That was the worst-case scenario. She’d rather deal with hallucinations.
“Please.” Aurora drifted even closer, her features twisted in desperation. “I need your help.”
Aurora’s pain seemed to fill the air, andGia swore the feeling echoed her own, the familiarity crushing. How could she deny helping someone? She was only here because of the kindness of strangers.
“Okay. I’ll call.”
Aurora shimmered, her expression relaxing. “Thank you.”
Gia’s stomach twisted. She didn’t deserve gratitude. Averting her eyes, she curled onto the couch and grabbed her phone to look up Edward Ramirez, Shearwater Landing lawyer.
Aurora hovered at the other end of the couch, her arms crossed. As if pulled by a magnetic force, Gia met her stare, unable to look away as she raised the ringing phone to her ear.
She was either about to sound ridiculous or confirm something she wasn’t sure she truly wanted to know.
“Ramirez Legal Services, this is Grace. How can I help?”
“Hi. I was in to see Mr. Ramirez the other day and had a…uh… follow-up question. My name is Gia.” She didn’t want to give her last time to this unknown receptionist, or Aurora. They might not have heard of the Balzanos all the way out here, but she couldn’t shake her cautionary nature.
“Oh,Gia,” Grace said, recognition brightening her tone. “Edward will be pleased you called. I’ll pop you through.”
The line went quiet. Seemed Grace was already aware of who she was. Made sense, but unease put Gia on alert. Was Grace part of the coven?
“What can I do for you, Gia?” Ramirez’s familiar voice asked.
She cleared her throat. “I have a question about the coven you mentioned.”
He hummed, sounding pleased. “Of course. Ask away. You’re welcome to come over in person and?—”
“No, that’s not necessary. I was wondering if Aurora Thornfield requested to join?”
“Do you know Aurora?” Surprise lit Ramirez’stone.
Gia’s grip tightened on her phone. Holy shit. “Doyou?”
“Not personally. I believe Aurora is close friends with Lilly and some of the younger witches. I look after our official membership records. Susan was coordinating Aurora Thornfield’s acceptance into the coven before her death. I really should follow up.”
“Awesome. Thanks. Bye.” Gia cringed and ended the call.
Aurora raised a brow. “So?”
“He said you were joining the coven.”
“And if I were a figment of your imagination, there’d be no way for him to know what you were talking about. You couldn’t randomly guess the name of someone joining the Lockwood Coven.”
Shit, she was right. Gia’s heart thumped, her pulse rushing in her ears. Ghosts were real, and her aunt had been in a coven. Of real witches.
What had Gia gotten herself into?
“Don’t panic.” A small smile tugged on Aurora’s lips. “This is good.”
“No, it isn’t. I need to get away from these people. I’m done living a life controlled by power-hungry mobs.”
Confusion broke over Aurora’s face, her form flickering. “The Lockwoods aren’t after power. Do you know other witches like that?”
