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I’m shaking her frantically when I’m hit with a smell so strong I gag.

I’d know it anywhere.

Chad.

Terror seizes me.

Before I can turn, there’s a searing pain on my head, the force of the blow sending me careening over Minna.

“What the fuck?” I groan as I touch my head and feel hot liquid.

I hear heavy footfalls and begin to crawl my way to the end table, hoping to pull myself up to run. Before I reach it, I’m struck again, this time with enough force that black dots swim before my eyes. I try to keep them open.

As darkness swallows me, my last thought is of Auggie.

Chapter 18

I Know

AUGUSTUS

On a normal day, the drive from my house to the Twisted Broom takes fifteen minutes, twenty if I hit all the red lights, twenty-five if school is in session and I run into the school zone. Today, I’ve barely made it out of my tiny subdivision and onto the main road in that time.

Molasses pours faster than I’m currently driving.

I try calling Cordelya again, but it rings until voicemail picks up.

Fucking hell.

I roll down my window and stick my head out, trying to determine the holdup as my anxiety shoots into the stratosphere. Whatever the problem is, it’s on the other side of the curve in the road headed down Main Street.

Fuck!

I grab my phone from the seat beside me and dial Eric.

“Augustus, where the fuck are you?”

I’d ended the call with Officer Burrows and stormed out of my house before my friends could ask questions.

“Trying to get to the fucking Twisted Broomsticks, but there’s an issue on Main.”

Eric huffs into the phone. “That’s because there’s been an accident. Some jackass clipped the delivery truck headed to the Twisted Broomsticks. The driver lost control trying to correct course, and it tipped over. Call came in right after you stormed out. Tilly and Brecken are on scene.”

I slam my hand on the steering wheel. “Fuck!”

“Listen, Evren, Jackson, and Logan are trying alternative routes. They called Kallie, Grace, and Ember. They’re all on their way.”

I rub at my chest where sharp pain has taken up residence.

“Augustus?”

“I’m still here.”

Here and not moving because of this fucking accident.

“I know you’re pissed, man, but I need to ask you a question. You said you were going to get your mate. How do you know Cordelya is your mate?”

A flash of heat rushes through me.