Aurora fisted her hands in her hair. “I can’t get off the property. I’m still tied here. Still bound.”
Oh Satan, she should have realized. Not all of her magic had escaped when she’d been a ghost. Her inability to cast spells meant the magic in her blood had remained in her body and had never been free. The link that bound her had remained untouched.
She’d been right that nothing could contain a pure soul, but freeing that soul didn’t sever the rest as she’d hoped. Not while she remained alive.
“I’m still bound,” she repeated, frantic.
Gia stepped through the magic door, seemingly without a second thought, and clasped Aurora’s hand. “We’ll find another way to free you.”
Tears welled in Aurora’s eyes. “How? The only other way is to break the binding, and I can’t cast spells against my family. I’m right back where I started.”
“No.” Gia squeezed her hand, expression hardening into something more determined than Aurora had ever seen. “You are not back where you started. I’m here with you. I’ll break you free.”
Aurora’s heart skipped. “You don’t know the right spells. You said you’ve never had to counter anything. Breaking a binding like this isn’t easy.”
“It doesn’t have to be easy. Tell me what to do. What spells to cast. We’ll break it right now.”
A tear fell down Aurora’s cheek. “Some spells need more than words and access to power. We need my uncle’s blood to undo the binding because blood is how he created it. I can’t break free without facing him, and even then, it’s not as simple as reciting a known spell.”
“Okay, so we’ll face him. And if it’s more complicated thanhaving me repeat a spell, channel me. Isn’t there a way for you to control my magic, like we did before?”
“I can’tuseyou.” Not after everything Franco had done.
“Why not?” Gia closed the remaining distance between them. “I’m giving you permission. I have unrestricted power, and you have the knowledge to undo the binding. We can do this together.”
Satandammit, Gia was serious. She’d pulled Aurora out of her grave, and as if it weren’t enough, she offered up her essence like it was the most natural thing. Aurora’s knees went weak, and her heart swelled, the sturdy beat giving her strength. “Witches can channel each other, but it’s blood magic that most people never mess with.”
“Why not?”
“Channeling gives another witch access toallyour power. It’s the riskiest kind of blood magic. You could easily drain someone to death.” The only saving grace was that, unlike other practices, like leeching, it was impossible to channel against someone’s will.
Gia didn’t seem deterred by the warning. “What’s the alternative? Leave you here until we can get the Lockwoods to come and fight for you? Will they know how to unbind you?”
“I’m not sure.”
The Lockwoods didn’t know how the binding was created. And even if they did, how many people could she ask to fight for her? Especially those who weren’t fighters. There was a whole host of reasons she’d never planned to ask the Lockwoods to rescue her by force.
“Then tell me what to do. Channel me.” Gia squeezed Aurora’s clammy fingers once more. “I trust you with my magic.”
Aurora’s heart clenched. “We have to exchange blood with the intention to share power. You’re super powerful, by the way.Did I tell you? Way more powerful than me, so you should have no trouble casting spells while I channel you, as long as you don’t start to feel strained. If you do, you have to stop.”
Gia nodded. “Okay. I know what you mean. Sometimes, after Franco…I’d feel spent, my magic almost thin.”
The bastard had pushed Gia to her limits? Aurora fumed. She could not wait to get her hands on the damned mobster, but she needed to focus.
“Good. You’ll know when to stop, and so will I. But this won’t be like when I channeled you before. You won’t move as I do, or say the words I say. It will look like the magic is coming from me, while you sense me taking your power.”
“Perfect.” Gia grinned, a feral glint in her eye. “They won’t see it coming.”
A thrill shot through Aurora. No, they wouldn’t. How long had she wanted to strike back? And here Gia was, giving her that gift.
But one last thread of caution nagged at her. There was no getting around how risky this plan was. Could Aurora take on her uncle? She wasn’t sure of the depth of his power. He’d no doubt become complacent, too used to oppressing his enemies, but would it be enough of an advantage?
Viv had crept closer as they’d talked and stepped through the magic door, saying, “In case it wasn’t clear, I’m in.”
Damnation, this was really happening. Aurora swore she could taste freedom, and it shared all the same sweet notes as Gia’s lips.
“I appreciate it, Viv. What did you see when you went spying earlier?”
