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CIARA SHOVED THE KEY card in her pocket and slowly pushed the door more open. She was expecting someone—or something—to attack her, but she didn’t see or hear anyone.
Staying at the door, she reached for her phone and called Doherty.
It didn’t take him long to pick up the call. “Are you ready?”
“Come to my hotel room now,” Ciara said and hung up.
She didn’t have time to talk with Doherty if someone was in her hotel room. Someone just had to know something was off. Because if something happened, Doherty would be there to figure it out.
Ciara stepped inside. She listened carefully but couldn’t hear anything. Keeping alert, she checked behind the door. Nothing.
She reached for the wardrobe door. Holding her hand on the handle, she stopped moving and listened, then yanked the door open. No one in there.
Ciara eyed the corridor, leading to the bedroom part. She couldn’t see or hear anyone. She turned her attention to the bathroom door.
Clenching her hand into a fist, she pushed the door open. She opened her fist, sending an air blast into the bathroom, and stepped in. No one in there, either.
With her air blast, Ciara had broken the mirror. By only moving her hand, she fixed it with magic.
She was aware how heavy her breathing was. Her heart pounded so loud she could hear it. Exhaling, she stepped out of the bathroom, closing the door silently. As she walked along the short corridor, her heartbeats only grew louder.
She walked around the corner.
There was no one. Not anymore.
But her clothes were no longer neatly folded in her bag. They were in the bag, but someone had thrown them back in there.
She strode over to see if anything was missing. She went through her belongings, but she couldn’t figure out what was missing. It looked like nothing was.
She also couldn’t see anything out of place or any items that weren’t hers.
“Ciara!” Doherty had been quick. He was already at the hotel room door.
Ciara walked to Doherty’s line of sight, noticing he wasn’t alone. “Someone’s been here,” she said and returned to investigate her bag.
Doherty, along with Henry and Liam, followed her.
“Liam, look around and make sure there’s no one spying on us. Also, check for any spells,” Doherty instructed.
Liam nodded and got to work.
“Someone has gone through my stuff, but nothing is missing,” Ciara said.
Henry furrowed his eyebrows. “How do you know someone went through your stuff then?”
“Everything was folded and set neatly in my bag before. The hotel room door was also open when I came here. Not just unlocked, but actually open.”
“Do you think it’s one of the witch hunters?” Doherty’s eyes clouded with worry, and he observed Ciara.
“I have no idea.” Ciara sighed. “I’ve made a fair share of enemies. Not all of them are witch hunters.”
Doherty nodded. “You’re right.”
“Well, you can’t stay here,” Henry said and turned to face his best friend—to whom he hadn’t talked in weeks. “You have to come stay with me.”
“You don’t mind?” Ciara asked.
“Of course not.”
A knock at the door startled Ciara, Henry, and Liam. The latter two turned to face the door and grabbed their wands, pointing them at it.
“Calm down. It’s Diana.” Doherty walked to the hotel room door while the two wizards lowered their wands.
“What is she doing here?” Ciara asked.
“She should be able to tell who has been in here,” Henry said, pocketing his wand. “She has an ability. Runs in the family.”
“Oh.”
Doherty returned to where Ciara and Henry were standing with the woman Ciara had seen at the meeting. Diana was looking around the room. Everyone else stared at her, eager to know what she would find out with her ability. Ciara supposed it was a special gift like her wandless magic.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to help you much,” Diana said and turned to face Ciara. “Whoever was here, she or he was powerful.”
So someone powerful was after Ciara. Another confirmation she wasn’t safe to be around.
“Pack your stuff,” Doherty ordered. “You’re going with Henry.”
Ciara nodded and threw everything in her bag. There wasn’t much to pack. She only had to grab a few things from the bathroom and make sure nothing was left on the bed or the tables.
“Whoever was here, they left no trace.” Liam sighed. He had searched through the entire room but had found nothing. He couldn’t even sense any hiding spells.
Doherty nodded and turned to Ciara. “Check out of the hotel. Then go with Henry.”
Ciara nodded.
Doherty turned back to Liam. “Go with them in case there’s still someone nearby. Diana and I will wait a moment and then leave, so we’ll be here if someone is waiting for Ciara.”
Liam nodded.
Henry grabbed Ciara’s bag. “Let’s go.”
The trio left the hotel room after quick goodbyes to both Doherty and Diana. They didn’t spot anyone on their way to the lift.
“So far, so good,” Henry mumbled.
“Whoever it was is long gone by now,” Ciara said.
She knew how dangerous witches and wizards were, but it was unlikely they would attack with everyone on alert. They would have had a better chance when she had been unaware and alone.
“You’re probably right,” Liam said. “But let’s not take any risks.”
Ciara signed out of the hotel while the brothers kept an eye on the surroundings—and Ciara. There was no one suspicious around. Ciara had been right. Whoever had been in her hotel room was already gone.
Once Ciara had signed out, the trio walked out. The air was humid, but the morning sun was warm.
The trio walked to a quieter spot and then used magic to get to Henry’s flat. All three of them were exhausted, having stayed up all night.
Without Ciara having to ask how Liam and Henry had ended up with Doherty, Henry explained everything.
Henry had been stuck at work, so he had been late for the meeting. Doherty had explained everything to him later when he had finally made it to the house. Then there had been an emergency with a volunteer. The witch hunters had spotted him, so Henry and Doherty had gone there to help.
Once they had come back, Liam had finished and gone to his parents’ place.
After Ciara had called Doherty, he had explained the situation. Both brothers had demanded to tag along.
“Are you okay?” Liam’s brows furrowed with concern, and he placed a hand on Ciara’s shoulder.
“I’m fine.” She forced a brief smile. “That wasn’t the first time someone’s broken into my hotel room.”
The latter didn’t bring Liam any comfort. He let his hand drop from Ciara’s shoulder and nodded. “G-good.”
Henry looked between his best friend and older brother before looking solely at Liam. “Iris is probably worried and waiting for you.”
“You’re right.” He glanced at Ciara. “Just call me if either of you needs anything.”
Henry patted his brother on the shoulder. “Will do.”
“Bye,” Liam said, walking to the door.
“Bye,” Ciara and Henry said before Liam left.
Once the door shut, Ciara sat down on the sofa. She leaned against the soft cushions, closing her eyes. All she wanted was to sleep.
Henry was still standing in the middle of the living room. He had only set Ciara’s bag down so far. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Ciara said, meaning it. “But...do you mind if we get some sleep before we talk?”
Henry yawned and nodded. “You can have the bed.”
“No, the sofa is fine. I’m already here anyway,” Ciara said, not bothering to open her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Alright then.” Henry nodded, even though Ciara couldn’t see that. “Good night.”
“Good night, Henry.”
***
MEANWHILE, LIAM OPENED the door to his and Iris’s flat. He was ready to get some sleep.
Iris hurried to hug her fiancé. “I was so worried!” She cupped his face with her tender hands and looked up at him with worry clear in her eyes.
“I’m fine,” Liam said. He pecked his fiancée’s lips and gave her a comforting smile.
“I thought you’d be back earlier.” Iris stepped back to let Liam put his coat away.
“I wasn’t done until early in the morning.” Liam removed his coat and hung it on the coatrack. “Then Ciara called Doherty. It seemed like she was in trouble. Someone had been in her hotel room.”
Iris furrowed her eyebrows. “I didn’t know she was staying at a hotel.”
“Me neither. She’s staying with Henry now.”
“So, she’s safe?”
Liam nodded. “She should be.”
“Good.”
“Do you have work?” Liam asked Iris.
“In an hour.”
“Do you mind if I get some sleep?” Liam’s eyes were burning, and he had a massive headache brewing.
“Go ahead.” Iris kissed his cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”