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“You’re blowing it out of proportion. Helping you comes at a cost in this regard because of the nature of that amulet. I really wish I could do something—”
“There is something you can do,” I said, cutting her off.
Autumn’s brows knitted together as if she was unsure if she should have mentioned that at all.
“What?”
“I need you to make sure the spell that will hide me is still in place.”
Autumn glanced around the store as if looking for something she could use as a distraction.
“If you don’t want to help me with the amulet, at least help me stay alive until I figure out what to do.”
I stared at her, willing her to do at least that for me. If she wouldn’t help me with that, and something happened like it had before, I was screwed.
“Give me your hand,” Autumn said with a defeated sigh.
I reached over the counter, and Autumn took my hand. Her long fingers were smooth and cool, her touch light as a feather. She looked at me, and her violet eyes grew to a deeper purple. I knew she wasn’t looking atmebut rather at what she could see around me.
“It’s slipping,” she said and let go of my hand.
“What?”
“The veil that hides you. It’s fading, slowly. It’s still working, but it won’t work for a lot longer.”
Fear coiled tightly in my stomach.
“Help me get it back into place,” I urged.
“I can’t,” Autumn said simply.
“You helped me before!”
“That was different. There were cracks in it before, caused by an outside force, but this comes from the inside.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“That amulet is going to be your undoing. It’s fighting the spell you put on it and on you, and since it’s the same spell, it’s linked in a way. It’s fighting its way through.”
“So, you’re telling me there’s nothing that can be done?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “You’re not going to help me destroy the amulet, which is putting me in grave danger, and you’re not going to help me hide?”
“I wish I could,” Autumn said apologetically.
“Yeah, you keep saying that, but I’m starting to think you’re just covering your ass, making yourself feel better that you’re doing therightthing.”
“Oaklee…”
“Don’t worry,” I said tightly. “I’ll figure something out. If my father finds me and kills me, I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. Let’s just hope that I don’t get caught in the crossfire between Tate and Jameson.” I turned on my heel and marched out of the store without looking over my shoulder. I’d hoped she would call me back and give me the help I needed, but she didn’t do that.
When I stepped into the sun, my throat felt tight, and I struggled to breathe. It was a beautiful, hot summer’s day, but I shivered with the cold of fear, and my stomach twisted with dread.
Autumn was right not to help me, though. Autumn would be risking herself, and she didn’t owe me that. She didn’t owe me anything. I was alone, but I could do this. I had fended for myself ever since my mother died, and this challenge wouldn’t be any different. There had to be a way to make everything right.
I turned in the direction of my apartment and started walking. The same sensation of being watched, being followed, crept up on me, and magic ran down my spine like an icy finger. I froze. Whoever it was, it was close.
A panther jumped out of an alley in front of me with a growl, and I stopped. My magic was on the surface right away, my fox ready to run for it.
The panther held its head low, and I was ready to shift and make a break for it. I glanced around, looking for the easiest way out—a way that would make it hard for a panther to follow.
