I must’ve looked ridiculous, taking odd steps, pacing in circles, and craning my neck ever so slightly to catch a glimpse of Theodore’s voice.
“I think I know how to find the Celestial Coven.”
Milo quirked a brow. “How?”
“Through Theodore.”
“Absolutely not, that psychopath will—”
“Will lead me to Caleb and Tara.”
“And how exactly will you track him?”
“I’ll follow the breadcrumbs he’s left me.”
Milo’s expression turned pensive. For Theodore’s mind to call out to me from literally anywhere in the world, it meant we shared a connection. I didn’t need to explain the bond between Theodore and me, though it was nothing like what I shared with Milo. My bond to Theodore was through trauma, pain, and suffering.
Since diving into his mind during the kidnapping, his connection to me had only amplified. Honestly, I didn’t believeI’d rid myself of Theodore’s sadistic thoughts until he’d finally died. One could only hope.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“I know I don’t. I want to.”
“We have months to track them,” Milo said. “You don’t have to take on this burden of scouring the globe on your own.”
“I don’t want to wait months. I’ve been sick to my stomach with the days and weeks that’ve already passed. Leaving Caleb and Tara locked away in Amara’s clutches for… I can’t.”
“Okay, I understand, but you need to be on your guard.” Milo’s thoughts twisted to the trap I’d mentioned, the one which Amara used to immobilize me during her attack on Chicago.
“I won’t interact.”
“All the same, Theodore could be luring you simply for Amara to spring some new trap on you.”
“Doubtful,” I replied. “He’d never help her with anything. Their mutual disgust for each other is one thing we can count to our advantage.”
Milo didn’t respond, merely kept his worries buried beneath his surface thoughts.
“My only goal would be to find a location; I’ll leave putting a stop to the Celestial Coven and all the glorious rescue plans to you and the Global Guild.”
Part of me hoped that if I followed this thread, we could resolve things without involving my homeroom coven. But another part knew the fates of lives had become cemented. We were all bound, and something told me this wouldn’t come to a conclusion until my students and I all faced off against Theodore Whitlock again in a final showdown.
Still, that didn’t mean those vile witches could keep Caleb and Tara.
“So, how are we doing this?” Milo asked, running his thumb along the golden band of his engagement ring.
Damn, that little gesture practically took the air out of my lungs.
We.
We were a we. We’d always be a we moving forward.
“We’re not doing anything,” I said, attempting and failing to lighten the mood. “I’m not even doing much.”
“Meaning?”
“I’m calling back all my manifestations, and creating one manifestation,” I explained. “It’ll be infused with a bit more strength simply to defend against any possible traps or tricks.”
“Plus, the added benefit of a quicker search with one enhanced manifestation over a pack.”
