Edith’s nails dug into her palms. The silver cuffs bit into her skin as magic flared instinctively beneath it.
Gerald noticed. His expression warmed slightly. “Good,” he murmured. “Fight a little. I always did prefer spirit.”
Edith nearly lunged at him. Mark stepped forward instantly. “Enough,” he said sharply.
Gerald glanced back lazily. “She’s fine.”
“She’s restrained.”
“She’s dramatic.”
Edith bared her teeth at both of them. Because honestly? At this point, she hated them equally.
Mark for betraying his brother. Gerald for existing and being a slimeball. She imagined punting Mark directly over the railing, and the mental image brought her immense comfort. Especially if she got to hear the splash.
The boat drifted further from Krakens Hole, slowly, the town shrinking behind them beneath the pale morning sky. Edithstared back at it desperately. At the cliffs, at the harbour, and the home she had finally found. Her chest ached painfully.
Because somewhere back there, Jessica would wake up and be worrying, Binky would panic.
The witches would absolutely start setting things on fire. And Spencer… the thought hit hardest of all. Had he known? Had he helped? Or had Mark acted alone?
Edith swallowed hard against the sudden tightness in her throat. Because the answer mattered far more than she wanted it to. Gerald rose smoothly to his feet again, adjusting his coat as the wind curled around the boat.
“You should prepare yourself,” he said casually. “The wedding will likely happen immediately once we arrive.”
Edith looked up at him slowly, then smiled, sharp and dangerous. “Oh,” she said softly. “One of us is absolutely going overboard before that happens.”
For the first time, Gerald’s smile slipped slightly.
29
Chaos.It was absolute, magnificent chaos. Maeve stood in the centre of the Hollow’s living room, watching three separate arguments happen simultaneously and decided this was probably everyone’s breaking point.
“YOU LET HER GO ALONE?!” Jessica yelled.
“I DIDN’T KNOW SHE GOT A NOTE!” Spencer snapped back immediately.
“Well that seems like important information!”
“I was unconscious!”
“That sounds suspiciously convenient!”
Maeve winced slightly.
Okay.
Maybe Jessica had officially moved beyond worried and entered feral territory.
To be fair, it was reasonable. Edith was missing, probably kidnapped, and the bounty hunter currently swaying slightly in the middle of the room looked guilty enough to set on fire.
Which Isabeau was very keen to do.
“I’m just saying,” Isabeau muttered from beside Maeve, sparks dancing faintly across her fingers. “One tiny lightning bolt.”
“No,” Arietta said firmly.
“One medium lightning bolt?”
