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She took a step even with Cassia. “Take it however you want. I don’t give a fuck. But I will burn hell to the ground if my sister dies.”
“You can’t even light a candle. How do you expect to do anything more?” Cassia hissed. Regret washed over her face, but the damage had been done.
At least she knew what her mother really thought of her.
“Andromeda… forgive me. I’m sorry. I had no right.”
Romy’s hand went up, creating a barrier between herself and Cassia. “No,” she whispered. “Stop.”
After pushing past the medical personnel, she knelt beside Thora, still unresponsive, and kissed the top of her head. “I promise we’ll figure this out, sis.I’llfigure this out. I love you.”
Then she ran.
Unsure of where togo or what to do, Romy turned left off Coliseum and drove toward the river. At the first stop sign, she pounded her steering wheel and screamed. How could her parents just give up? How could they turn their backs on their own child? Romy knew they loved her and Thora. Their devotion had been consistent and steadfast throughout her entire life, and perhaps that was what disturbed her most. Their neutrality violated every single thing she believed about Cassia and Cyril Delacroix.
The coven’s laissez-faire philosophy stemmed from their belief that whatever transpired—good or bad—was the will of The One and The Only. While she’d seen it in action with the elderly and heard of instances when they’d allow a younger, chronically ill member to pass, she never dreamed her parents would permit the practice with their own daughter.
Fuck. That.
And fuck them for allowing it.
Her phone lit up with several texts, most from Cassia, apologizing. Two from Loren, the first inquiring about why the healers were called for Thora and the other saying she’d heard the news. Another from her grandmother, who sent an excerpt from one of their ancient, sacred texts:should any of you find yourselves or those you love on the brink of death, summon the healers within the covens and believe in the will of The One and The Only.
Bullshit. Bullshit. Bullshit.
Furious, Romy almost tossed her phone on the floorboard but decided to open a message from Dane.
Dane: where’d you go? Just tell me, Romy, cuz I’m looking until I find you.
Romy really didn’t want company, but she didn’t want to be alone either. She checked the clock. 9:15 p.m.
Romy:meet me at The Fly.
Ten minutes later,Romy looked up from the river’s edge to see Dane. He set a book at her feet.
“DivinaMaledictio.” She drew the last word out in slow syllables. “What am I looking at?”
“It means The Divine Curse. Dr. Clive Rice, one of my mom’s mentors, wrote this. From what I understand, Dr. Rice collaborated with several other preternaturals to compile a comprehensive list of spells ranging from menial hexes to destroying entire cities. He… um… disappeared… because he disagreed with the High Council’s rules about interaction between the races. And for obvious reasons, this book is banned.”
“I’m guessing my dear grandmother had a hand in that.” The words left a bitter taste in her mouth. Romy knew the High Council had its flaws, but she’d never seen evidence of the coven’s totalitarianism before that evening.
She shouldn’t be surprised. Her world mandated conformity.
Dane kept his focus on the ripples of the water.
“You don’t have to confirm it. I know she did. That’s probably why she never supported my mom conducting excessive preternatural research. Sometimes I get the feeling that our coven doesn’t care for anybody other than those like us. And if that’s the case, then we have no business presiding over any council.” She ran her fingers over the worn leather volume and brought it to her nose. “Old books. I love them.”
“Me too.” Dane leaned down and inhaled.
“I know your mom took a big risk, so please tell her that regardless of what happens, I appreciate it. The secret stays with me.”
“Thanks for that reassurance.” He flipped over to a dog-eared page. “This is where she suggested we start. Fenrir’s Rose. Supposedly, it’s lethal for most witches to consume in its natural state, but an altered form can be used to heal. With this, we’d have a fifty-fifty shot of healing Thora. If she ingested it, she could die. But she could live too.”
The odds were shit, but it beat sitting around and waiting for the worst to happen. “Where do we find it?”
“From what Mom said, the plant is usually found near the Lycan Woods. She didn’t know why, but it seems to favor growing near the wolves.” Dane frowned. “Doesn’t seem like the best idea, but it’s all we have. I’ll go with you if you want.”
Romy’s breath hitched in her throat. The Lycan Woods. Wolves.Silvan. “I can be ready in the morning.”
