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“Thanks.” Shane let out a long breath. “Killian, don’t tell my pack or my family we’re back. We need to do a few things before they know.”
“All right, I won’t tell anyone. I’ll be waiting for you at the castle’s main entrance.”
“See you soon.” He hung up and glanced at me. “Ready to have your memories back?”
My stomach tightened. “I can’t freaking wait.”
* * *
The castle was magnificent,made of stones and with turrets and balconies. Wide stone stairs led to dark wooden doors that had to be at least sixteen feet tall.
Killian waited for us right before the giant doors, along with a few others. Shane killed the engine and Ariella opened the car’s door. “I’ll go … talk to them.”
Shane nodded. Ariella left, closed the door, and walked to the others.
Shane asked me, “Do you remember anyone here?”
I looked at them again, all lined up to welcome us. I shook my head. “No one.”
“You’ll remember everyone, but still …” He pointed to the line of people standing outside, their eyes all on me even though they attentively listened to Ariella, the shock apparent in their faces. “In the center are Killian and Lavinia, our good friends. Then there’s Thea and Drake to their right, and Almae to their left.”
A new memory popped in my head. Of me naked after fighting a demon and the three witches—Lavinia, Thea, and Almae approaching me. Almae put a jacket on my shoulders, then left with Thea to free the pack, while Lavinia and I went back to Shane.
“I saw the witches in a memory,” I told him.
He smiled at me. “You’re remembering more and more, but we’ll fast track that.”
The car shook and a muffled scream came from the back. Dot had woken up. Ariella opened the trunk and pulled her out. Drake snapped his fingers and a group of vampires surged from the corners of the building—holy moon, they had been there the entire time?—grabbed the witch by the arms, and carried her inside the castle.
“Ready?” Shane asked.
I wasn’t, but that was beside the point. I nodded. Together, we exited the car and I felt like I had stepped onto a stage to sing and had lost my voice. Everyone was looking at me, especially Lavinia, Killian, and Almae, as if they were seeing a ghost.
Thea came forward. “Welcome to DuMoir Castle, Raika. Ariella told us you don’t remember much. That must be confusing and a little terrifying, but don’t worry. We’ll fix it right away.” She gestured to the large double doors of the castle. “Come with me.”
Wishing I could shrink into myself, I followed her through the immense castle’s foyer and large hallways, until we arrived at what looked like a sunroom.
“This is where Thea and the others make their potions,” Shane said from behind me. I was glad he hadn’t left me alone. Right now, he was the one I knew the most.
Thea pulled out a stool from under one of the long tables and patted the top. “Sit here, please.”
I hesitated, but sat down. Almae and Lavinia grabbed chalk from the table and started drawing a circle around me. I tensed.
For a quick second, I panicked. What if this was the spell? What if these supernaturals had messed with my memory, and made me believe things that weren’t true? Who should I trust? Who was telling me the truth?
I looked at Shane. He held my stare, his chocolate eyes so sure and proud … the feeling in my chest tugged hard.
Him.
I could trust him. Now and forever, he would never lie to me, not on purpose. I knew that surely as I knew I could read and write even though I didn’t remember being taught how.
I relaxed a tiny bit.
“Don’t worry,” Almae said. “We’re here to help you.”
With the circle closed, the witches stepped outside the white line and joined hands.
“Ready?” Thea asked.
