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I kept my head down as the farmhouse came into view. An interior light shone through the window of the front room. If my timing was right, the witches would still be inside preparing their materials for the ritual. There was, of course, the small matter of the ward that would alert them to my presence. I’d have to move swiftly.
I darted past the house and cut through the yard toward the outbuildings. The barn was the most likely place to stash Ashley until the time came to present her as an offering to the gwiber. My skin crawled at the thought of poor Ashley being served to the creature on a silver platter. They must’ve assumed there was no one who cared enough to search for her. My hands clenched into fists as I reached the barn doors. Locked.
I could handle that.
I kicked the seam of the doors and watched the wood shake. I wasn’t as strong as supernaturals like West, but I could hold my own, especially against a barn door that hadn’t been properly maintained in fifty years.
The doors crashed open, and I rushed through them. I skimmed the stalls, and my gaze landed on a body chained to a beam. Her head lolled to the side. Wisps of light brown hair stuck to her cheeks. I rushed forward and gently shook her.
“Ashley, are you awake?”
Her head rolled the other way, and I gasped when I recognized Phaedra’s face. Why was Penelope’s daughter chained in the barn?
I patted her cheeks firmly in an effort to rouse her. Her eyes blinked open, and she tried to focus.
“My head,” she mumbled.
“Someone knocked you unconscious?”
She nodded groggily. “Key…”
“I don’t see the key, but I’ll find it.”
“Stop them. I tried…”
I had a million questions but no time to ask them; there was only time for one. “Where is she?”
“Pond,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. I didn’t want to think why. As much as I hated to leave Phaedra chained in the barn, time was of the essence.
I dashed toward the backyard, nearly colliding with Brenda who’d emerged from a side door of the house clutching a wicker basket.
The witch stared at me in confusion. “You tripped the ward? Kelsey said it was a squirrel.”
“Kelsey is an idiot.”
Brenda swung the basket in the air, intending to hit me in the head. I tore the basket from her grasp and flung it into the bushes.
“We need those for the ritual!” she cried.
“There isn’t going to be a ritual.”
“You don’t understand. It’s the only way.”
“The only way to murder innocent people. Yes, I agree.”
I heard the telltale click and knew I’d wasted too much time.
“Don’t turn around, and put your hands up,” Penelope demanded.
Slowly I raised my hands. “You don’t want to do this, Penelope. There’s still time to change your mind.” I paused. “I guess Phaedra did, which is why she’s currently unconscious and chained up in the barn.”
Brenda whirled around to face her sister. “You chained Phaedra in the barn? You said she was keeping an eye on Ashley.”
“She was going to betray us,” Penelope hissed. “I couldn’t risk it.”
“Betray us how?” Brenda asked.
Penelope tightened her grip on the shotgun. “We can talk about it later. Right now, we need to finish the preparations. The Strawberry Supermoon is our best chance.” She snarled at me. “Too bad you’ll miss all the fun, you imbecile. Imagine coming here alone and expecting to stop us.”
