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My head shakes and makes my brain aches, but the exhaustion in my body is easing slowly, being replaced by energy. “I don’t know.” But then I find I do know. The answer is just there, at the forefront of my mind. “He made me into my family’s grimoire.”
Hardin’s brow arches.He did what, love?
My dad’s head is moving back and forth following our conversation, though I’m not sure that he can hear their side of it. Maybe he’s just guessing at what they’re saying. “I made her into our family’s grimoire. She now has all the knowledge of every ancestor that held any amount of power. She’ll be able to access that information at any time, in the blink of an eye. It’s a much swifter way for her to learn what she needs to.” His hazel eyes move to me. “If you’d care for a demonstration?”
I arch a brow, weary beyond belief and wanting this to be over. “Sure, why not?”
My dad nods and then rubs his hands together. “Think about Merritt. Think about what they’ve done to her-”
What have they done to her?Ezra asks, and I feel a bit of relief that he doesn’t appear to know about her binding.
“Think about how you’d like to fix it.” My dad continues like Ezra had said nothing.
My mind moves of its own volition, leaping from one solution to the next and then it lands on the spell that will work, that will unbind Merritt’s magic and allow her to reach her full potential as a witch, as an oracle.
What the hell is that?Gideon’s voice cuts through my thoughts, drawing my attention to my arms, where runes have sprouted up on my skin in inky black, just like the substance from the book that held me in place and poured down my nose and mouth.
They fade almost immediately, like now that I’m not thinking about the spell, the magic is retreating, melting back inside me.
I look up at my father. “So anytime I need a spell, I just have to think about it and the answer will come to me?”
He nods, running a hand over a pleased smile. “Exactly. So long as one of our ancestors learned or created a spell, you have access to it. If you come up with a need that you don’t have an answer for, well… then you’ll have to create your own spell.” His gaze slides to the six men grouped together across from us. “I take it this is new?”
I nod, closing the book in my lap and standing, suddenly needing space between me and my dad. “Yeah, we have a communication spell that lets us talk in our minds, but… there’s never been a visual aspect.” I move closer to them, wondering if I can touch them, hoping like hell I can because even though I’m pissed at most of them, I need some kind of physical comfort right now and I’m sure as hell not going to take it from the man that cut me five minutes ago.
I make a beeline for Kohaku, reaching out to touch him and letting out a distressed sound when I find he’s not really there, a mirage to my tired and dehydrated soul. He gives me a small, sad smile.We aren’t with you, little warrior. We’re still in the parking lot at the facility.
Tell us where you are, wildcard, and we’ll come to you.
I shake my head. “I don’t know where we are.”
My father takes a step closer to us and all six of them bristle. “I won’t keep her here much longer. We’re running out of time as it is.”
I whip around to look at him. “What does that mean?”
He lifts a shoulder and runs a hand through his hair. “Fielder was right when he said they would send someone to bring you to the trials. They’ve pinpointed your location,” he motions at the guys. “And they assume Rosalind is with you.”
Fielder’s fists clench.They’re coming to force her.
My stomach drops. “Dammit. I was really hoping I would be able to avoid this whole damn thing.”
“You have the knowledge you need to pass with flying colors now. They won’t be able to say you aren’t worthy because of ignorance. We both know you have more power than all the elders of Septem Stellae combined.”
I sigh and wish like hell someone could put their arms around me. “That’s the problem, though. I don’t want to pass. I don’t want to be a member of their coven, and everything you’ve told me just makes that more true.”
My dad’s eyes flick to the men behind me. “Can you, uh, turn off the communication spell? I have a few things I would like to say to you that don’t need an audience.”
Not a bloody chance, love,Hardin all but growls.
I swap to having a conversation in my head so my father can’t hear my side of it.I’ll be okay.
You don’t know that, Sweeney.
I cross my arms over my chest and tip up my chin.Idoknow that, actually. Everything he did was to help me survive your fucked up coven, Fielder. He didn’t give me all the knowledge in our grimoire just to kill me now.
He can’t argue with that, even though I can tell he wants to.
Cohen steps forward, lifting his hand like he’s going to touch my cheek.Cut off the communication rune, wildcard, but call Kohaku to you. We’ll feel better knowing he’s on his way to you.
