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Humidity thickened in the air as the breeze picked up. Rain would be hitting us very soon. Macy hugged herself, bowing her head when Galanthia glanced in her direction.
“Dear wolf friend,” Galanthia greeted. “There is no shame to be had.”
“It’s all my fault that Izdor and Etta are missing.”
Galanthia extended her hand. “They’re fully grown creatures capable of making their own decisions.”
Macy stepped back. “Doesn’t mean I didn’t hurt them. Everything I touch just gets hurt. Don’t touch me.”
Such an abrupt shift rivaled the way she had responded to me off the side of the highway. Just moments ago, she had begged me never to release her. Now she didn’t want to be touched. Were we going right back to the hot and cold game she had been playing lately?
Agitation billowed around her aura along with another glowing color, one that defied description in this realm. Gold would have been my first guess, but that didn’t seem quite right. It kept shifting, molding into something new as though it were its own life force.
That was what had felt different about her this morning. Somethinghadchanged. But I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.
Galanthia turned. “Raven and Rynar approach.”
“Greetings, Raven,” I said while pushing my thoughts to the back of my mind. “Have you heard any news about your witch?”
She frowned while shaking her head. “Etta is a free spirit. I know she’s alive because the wards are alive, so I’m hoping we can locate her quickly along with Izdor.”
“I can take the skies,” I offered.
Galanthia and Raven protested simultaneously. Macy remained quietly attached to the front of the truck, away from the group, hugging herself still as she stared at the roof of the house. Was she looking for Izdor in her own way?
I cleared my throat and motioned for Raven and Galanthia to stop talking. “Please, it’s the least I can do.”
“It’s dangerous,” Galanthia pointed out. “Baneridge is looking for you and Macy. You have to stay here where it’s safe.”
“I’m the whole reason they went missing,” I barked. “Izdor offered to take Macy to me, and Etta helped. That means it’s my fault.”
Macy snorted. “Right. Because you want to be the martyrsobadly.”
I stared at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing. You’re just leaving out some massive details about how we just barely escaped Percy and Rick on the way back here.”
Raven blanched. “You encountered the enemy?”
“We were halted on the highway, but we were wearing our glamors enforced by Etta and me.”
She tapped her chin. “That changes things. You didn’t see them with the enemy?”
“If I’d seen them with the enemy, I would have saved them.”
Macy bounced from the car and marched toward the house. “I’m getting a drink.”
The door slammed. Thunder crashed above. Lightning fluttered across the clouds, casting eerie shadows upon our heads. Once again, I found myself confused. I had done something to offend Macy, to earn her ire, yet I couldn’t determine specifically what action it had been.
When would this carousel come to an end?
I had risked everything by heading into town—at Izdor’s behest, no less. I should have told him it was a foolish idea. Silverdawn had plenty of places where I could have gotten space away from the house. And then Macy would have joined me without much fuss at all. And then none of this would have been happening.
Instead of thinking about protocol or trying to protect my people, I had selfishly gone out into the world without a backup plan. I hadn’t given much mind to my surroundings. I’d relied entirely on my magic to carry me, and then practically thrown Macy to the wolves.
A hand came down on my shoulder. Galanthia stared into my eyes. “You’ll hurt yourself if you keep thinking so hard.”
“I’m trying to figure out where I went wrong.”
