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Hynde’s deep blue eyes narrow on Len and me. “You’re sure that gold shit isn’t connected to the curse?”

“No, but it triggered with Nix. The witch is meant to be connected to Catori.”

Hynde seems to accept Len’s reasoning. I hope he’s right. My brother has never steered us wrong.

Lennox squeezes my shoulder. “We’ll fix it, brother.”

I nod, simply out of habit of always agreeing with him, and trusting him to always have our backs. I don’t know what fixing this is going to look like. Breaking the bond? Completing our mission and returning to Hell? Accepting it, and the fate that comes with it? No, that’s not possible. There’s no way a witch is meant for a demon.

Besides, demons don’t love.

6

“Why don’t you go home and get some rest?” Celeste chuckles as I wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth, having fallen asleep at my desk. Again.

We’ve been back home for three nights, and I’m getting even less sleep than before we went to Hemlock.

“I need to figure out these visions.” I close the book I was reading about wolves and mate bonds and pick up the mug beside it, grimacing as I swallow down the icy coffee that was piping hot when I first poured it.

I managed to keep busy this morning with restocking shelves and packing some online orders, but as soon as Celeste came in at lunch, I jumped back into researching. There must be something about Hemlock we’re missing.

“Are these definitely all our family journals?” I ask, staring at the four journals in front of me: Mom’s, Grandpa’s, Grandma’s, and our great-grandfather’s.

“I’m quite certain.” Celeste nods as Grandpa leaps onto the desk and starts pawing at the cupboard built into the hutch before glaring at me with his yellow eyes.

“Sal.” Celeste tsks.

I pick him up, setting him on my lap to stroke his black fur. People think it’s hilarious when we call our cat Grandpa. Of course, we can’t tell them he’s our actual grandfather.

“Sweetie, did you consider that you’re not getting any visions because you’re exhausted?” Celeste pushes off the doorframe and wanders into my office at the apothecary.

“I’m not purposely not sleeping,” I say. It’s just that every time I close my eyes, not only do I see the dagger, but I see Nix’s face.

I made a sleeping tonic last night to knock me out, which worked… kinda. I don’t know whether the images were dreams or premonitions, but they were filled with more of that gold magic. When I woke up, there was a lingering pull in my chest that was calling me back to Hemlock, back to Nix.

“I think I need to go back to Hemlock,” I say, taking a deep breath of the comforting patchouli, black pepper, and dark berry scent that fills the store from the front door to the back office.

Celeste nods, dropping into the seat beside my desk. “You need to trust your magic, sweetheart. If you think that means going back, then you should do that.”

“Will you come this time?” I reach for my phone. “I can book us some rooms now.”

“Rooms for where?” Sloane leans in the open doorway. Her grubby, gray coveralls are unbuttoned at the top, the long sleeves tied around her waist.

“Hemlock. My business doesn’t feel finished there. It’s all I can think about.”

Sloane chews her lip. “I just told Bobby I’d cover one of the girls. I can’t get away until Sunday, maybe late Saturday.”

“That’s okay, just come up once you’re done.”

“I don’t know if I want you driving alone, sweetie.” Celeste leans over, squeezing my knee. “You’ve barely slept this week.”

“And I’m not sure your car can handle another long-distance drive. It needs a full service.”

“It was fine coming home.” I plead my case without trying to sound too eager. Sloane doesn’t know what it’s like to be plagued with visions you can’t solve. It’s literally my duty as a witch to help people. Right now, I feel like I’m failing. “I need to get these visions out of my head. We already know they’re blocking my powers. We could be putting innocents at risk.” I sigh, slumping back into my chair.

“I don’t feel good about you being there by yourself.” Sloane shakes her head. “Not with those demons hanging around.”

“I’ll lie low until you guys get there.” My heart thumps wildly. Is that excitement? “I’ll only leave the inn during daylight hours and steer clear of the record store.”