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Evalle parked along the curb in front of Mother Mattie’s house in the Emory area of Atlanta, waiting for the sun to drop out of sight. Until then, she couldn’t leave the safety of Storm’s Land Cruiser, which was warded against the sun.
Mother Mattie, the elderly white witch who lived here, was taking care of Lanna, as well as Mattie’s granddaughter, Sissy. Both girls had suffered brutal attacks by Grendal, a powerful dark wizard who was now dead.
Adrianna unlatched her seat belt and peered out the passenger-side window. “It’s close. Another few minutes and you won’t turn into a toasted marshmallow.”
“You’re a laugh a minute.”
“I could cloak you from the sun’s rays.”
“Thanks, but it’s almost sunset, so no point in doing that when it’s not necessary.” For someone Evalle hadn’t wanted to work with in the beginning, Adrianna had turned out to be a good friend. Which was why people should never assume they knew a person because of a name. Adrianna was practically royalty in the Sterling witch coven, one of the deadliest dark witch groups known, but she was not like them.
The Sterlings had mistreated Adrianna and her twin sister.
Adrianna had never forgiven them. In fact, she avoided dark majik.
“We now have a large group of beings with similar abilities to reach beyond our realm,” Adrianna said, breaking the silence. She counted off on her fingers. “Me, Storm, Lanna and Mother Mattie, just to name a few who could help Quinn search for his daughter.”
A Sterling witch normally did not partner with a white witch like Mother Mattie, but Adrianna had played a role in saving Mother Mattie’s life. In turn, the elderly witch had shared with Adrianna how to break Daegan’s curse, and Mother Mattie had asked her Fae half sister, Caron, to help them save Lanna.
Evalle asked, “What are you saying? We should have a séance?”
Rolling her head to the side to stare at Evalle, she said, “Sure. If that doesn’t work, we’ll grab a Ouija board.”
“You can be one sarcastic bitch sometimes.”
Adrianna laughed. “It’s so easy to get your goat sometimes.”
“Hardy har har.”
Shaking her head, Adrianna said, “Hardy har har? You watch too many old television shows.”
“Feenix likes them.” Evalle and her sweet gargoyle had spent many hours alone watching television and surfing the net in the past. She looked around. “Sun’s down. Let’s go.”
Evalle had shut her car door and met Adrianna at the back of the truck when the witch’s smile fell away.
Adrianna put a hand on her chest, grimacing.
Evalle snarked, “I told you being a bitch would give you indigestion.”
Looking around first, the witch opened her hand and the white ball of energy appeared, but it was spinning back and forth erratically.
Oh, crap. Evalle also checked to see that no human stood nearby or at a window. “What’s wrong?”
“No idea. Something is affecting Witchlock.” Adrianna sounded angry more than worried. “I wish there was some place to research this power without drawing the attention of someone from Veronika’s family. The best place would be in her ancestors’ realm.”
“I’m with Storm. We should never go back there.”
“Agreed.” Adrianna struggled to stand upright, as if something kept forcing her body to contort. “I feel like I’ve been given a Ferrari with a monster engine, but no idea how it will handle, and dropped into the driver’s seat at a hundred miles an hour in the mountains. One wrong move, I hit a wall and explode.”
Evalle lifted both eyebrows. She took a step back, but in a teasing way.
Adrianna muttered, “Coward.”
About to open her mouth and point out that a coward would survive this, Evalle’s joking faltered when energy surged up Adrianna’s arm. Veins glowed and shot around her arm like lightning strikes under her skin.
Breathing fast, Adrianna said, “On second thought, you may want to run.”
“I’m not leaving. Tell me what’s going on right now.”
Forcing the words out, Adrianna said, “I’ve been pushing the energy a little more at times when I’m alone somewhere, like on a mountain top. Right now, it feels like the energy is trying to power up, but without me calling it. Or, wait, maybe it’s ... reacting.” Adrianna stared off into the distance, focused on something no one else could probably see.
As quickly as it came upon her, the sizzling energy disappeared and Witchlock spun happily in the normal direction, back to the shape of a tennis ball above the palm of her hand.
The witch released a long breath. “Finally.”
“Finally what?” Evalle asked, staring at tendrils of white drifting away from the ball of energy.
“Everything is back to normal, or at least what I call normal.” Using her free hand to brush long, blond hair over her shoulder, Adrianna explained, “Now that I can think more clearly, it felt as if the power was stretching out of shape or in one direction.”
Evalle considered possibilities and still came up with only one. “Do you think it was Veronika?”
“If I hadn’t recently seen her in the cell beneath VIPER with all of Sen’s badass security, I might think that. She would have jumped on the chance to get to me when I stood that close. She couldn’t. I have no idea what just happened. It could be nothing more than a reaction to my testing the power recently. Maybe the bulk of the Witchlock energy is trying to pull what I carry with me back to the source.”
“That’s not good.”
“No, but I don’t even know if that’s the reason.” Adrianna’s frustration coated every word. Closing her right hand, then reopening it to an empty palm, she stretched her fingers and said, “Let’s go see Lanna.”
Letting the moment pass without further examination, Evalle led the way to the front door and knocked, expecting to see Mother Mattie when the door opened.
Instead of the elderly witch, her half sister, Caron, stood there. The Fae who’d killed Grendal. “What?”
“Lanna asked me to visit,” Evalle said, getting to the point for Miss Personality.
Without turning around, Caron called out, “Lanna? Did you contact this Belador and ...” Her gaze swung to Adrianna, whom she asked, “Just what kind of witch are you?”
“To answer that I’ll need a reference point,” Adrianna answered smoothly. “What kind of Fae are you?”
Caron didn’t smile.
Lanna showed up before that conversation could go any further and rushed Evalle, who opened her arms to the young woman.
To see Lanna happy warmed Evalle’s heart. Quinn needed to see his cousin and let go of the guilt he carried for not keeping her safe.
Releasing Evalle from the hug, Lanna turned to face everyone. “Caron, this is my good friend, Evalle, and my other friend, Adrianna.”
Evalle started to point out that Caron had met her and Adrianna, but that would mean bringing up bad memories for everyone.
Still not impressed, Caron said, “You can come in, but if anyone makes a threatening move toward Mattie, Lanna or Sissy, I’ll have to turn you to dust.” With that, Caron left.
“Please do not be bothered by Caron,” Lanna said, her eyes showing how much she wanted everyone to get along. “Come. We have tea.”
Adrianna smiled and gave Lanna a hug. “I’m glad you’re better.”
“I am fine. I need to see Cousin soon.”
Evalle saw shadows in Lanna’s eyes. The young woman was not as fine as she claimed, but Evalle knew from experience that sometimes you had to keep telling yourself you would survive just so that you could.
When they entered the kitchen, Mother Mattie had placed four mugs with steeping tea bags on the small table in her kitchen.
Evalle said, “My apologies, Mother Mattie. I should have called to tell you Adrianna was coming with me.”
Lanna laughed. “She knew. That’s why she has four teas. Caron will not join us.”
Once they were settled, Lanna took a sip of her hot drink, then placed it carefully on the table. Evalle noted Lanna’s deliberate mannerisms, which were so ... managed compared to the bubbly and vivacious young woman who had come to Atlanta only months ago.
“Thank you for coming,” Lanna started. “I must help my cousin. He needs me.”
Evalle lifted her hand. “I know he appreciates how much you want to help, but Quinn can’t handle you getting hurt again. He has asked me constantly about when he could come to visit. I told him you would call when you were ready. He misses you and loves you very much.”
“I know he does, but Cousin must learn that he is not responsible for everyone else.” Lanna turned bright blue eyes on Evalle that were far more mature than they should be at eighteen. “I have not broken Cousin’s confidence, but Mother Mattie knows about his search.”
Hmm, Quinn would not be happy.
Evalle asked, “How did you find out, Mother Mattie?”
“While using my natural healing on Lanna, I saw things that troubled her. I had to ease her worries to push her beyond the grief she’d experienced.”
Grief, yes, but in Lanna’s case it was probably loss of innocence as well as loss of confidence in herself.
Evalle reached over and squeezed Lanna’s hand. “You have no idea how proud of you I am. Quinn will be thrilled when he sees you again. I’m sure he’s going to be fine with Mother Mattie knowing.” She hoped. Poor Quinn was running a daily race to find Phoedra without an enemy discovering that she was his and putting a target on her back.
“Thank you.” A little of the happy Lanna peeked through before her eyes darkened again. “But Cousin may not be so glad when I tell him what he must do.”
Adrianna had listened intently and now asked, “What, Lanna?”
“I know you have visions. I have heard,” she told Adrianna. “I too have them, but maybe not the same. I also have had dream meetings.”
That announcement didn’t faze Mother Mattie. No doubt, the witch had seen and heard a lot during Lanna’s recovery.
Everyone waited for Lanna to finish speaking.
“My visions have been confusing and my dreams have been ... difficult.”
Evalle’s heart clenched at the nightmares Lanna had to be suffering.
“But I now think I know how to find my cousin’s daughter,” Lanna finished. She gave Adrianna a weighted look. “It will take all of us to find her.”
“I’ve told Quinn I’ll help in any way, Lanna, but I haven’t had any dream visions that clearly relate to this,” Adrianna admitted. “At least, as far as I know they don’t.”
Glancing over at Mother Mattie, who gave the young woman a solemn nod, Lanna said, “I have finally realized that I could do more than touch the bracelet given to Cousin.” At Adrianna’s frown, Lanna explained, “Kizira gave Cousin small bit of his own hair braided with Phoedra’s. The bracelet burned my hand, but there is another way to find a connection to his child. It’s inside him. We must bring together our power in one circle while I hold his hand. We can find this girl.”
Evalle couldn’t breathe for a moment. She turned to Adrianna and Mother Mattie. “Can we do this?”
Adrianna gave her a thoughtful look. “I don’t know, but I also don’t know that we can’t.”
Mother Mattie smiled. “It is possible. Lanna came up with that all on her own.”
Lanna looked around, leaning forward and peering toward the hallway, then shook her head. “I would like much more power, but we will try it with me, Adrianna and Mother Mattie.”
Had Lanna been looking for Caron?
“What about Storm?” Evalle asked.
“His majik is different,” Mother Mattie clarified. “We are all some form of witch majik.” She pointed at herself, then Lanna, then Adrianna as she said, “White majik, white majik, neutral majik.”
Adrianna suppressed a smile, but Evalle could tell she was touched that Mother Mattie had not called her dark.
But if Storm’s majik was different, then surely Caron’s was, too.
Ready to find Quinn’s daughter and give her friend some badly needed peace, Evalle asked, “When do you want to do this and what do you need?”
Mother Mattie held silent, watching Lanna who said, “Tonight. I would like to do this in your building, Evalle, if Storm agrees.”
“You know he will. He’d do anything for you and Quinn.” Evalle remembered something. “The twins miss you, too.”
Lanna’s cheeks pinked. “I have missed them.”
Evalle would bet Lanna’s flush had to do with one of the twins in particular, but she would not put Lanna on the spot by bringing it up.
Bullfrog grunting broken up with cricket chirping approached from down the hall.
“I know that adorable sound,” Evalle said. The last time she’d seen Oskar, Mother Mattie’s familiar, he’d backed away from Lanna because she’d been tainted with Grendal’s majik at the time. Oskar had recognized the scent of majik as the same one from Grendal, who had also captured Mother Mattie, but the little familiar had had no way to relay that to anyone when Evalle found him.
Evalle recalled her one encounter with Grendal at a beast fight and shuddered at the memory.
Oskar came trotting up on all fours, looking something like a shaggy bichon frisé with a salt-and-pepper coat. He smoothly stood up on his hind legs when he got to Lanna and turned his huge, yellow, owl eyes on her.
She cooed all over him, careful to avoid getting poked by the unicorn horn protruding from his head.
“You two made friends,” Evalle commented.
“Not at first, but all good now,” Lanna replied. “Oskar was not happy when he smelled scent of Grendal’s bad majik on me, but Mother Mattie and Caron fixed that.”
One look at Mother Mattie’s concerned face told Evalle that neutralizing Grendal’s influence on Lanna hadn’t been an easy task.
Evalle remembered Mother Mattie’s granddaughter and asked, “How is Sissy?”
The light in Mother Mattie’s eyes dimmed. “She’ll come back to us. It’s just going to take a bit longer for her.”
“I will spend time with Sissy once she is awake again,” Lanna said, still leaned over and petting Oskar.
Evalle hurt for Sissy. Caron had gone after Grendal to save Lanna. She’d returned with Lanna in her arms and shared nothing about what happened, but from the look in the Fae woman’s eyes, she’d made him pay with a painful death.
Sitting up quickly, Lanna announced, “We should bring Oskar to see Feenix.”
“I can do that, but it depends on what Evalle and Storm say,” Mother Mattie told her.
Evalle would share all that had happened today with Storm, including Lanna’s idea for finding Phoedra. Once she did, she was certain he’d be okay with Oskar visiting. She’d promised Storm she would not bring unknowns into their home without talking to him first. He knew all these people and had met Oskar. If she had any doubt he would agree this time, she wouldn’t offer.
“That’s a great idea, Lanna,” Evalle said, giving Lanna’s arm another squeeze. “Everyone will be glad to see you tonight. In fact, you can move back in whenever you’re ready. We all miss you, Feenix especially.”
“I can?” Lanna’s eyes lit with hope.
She was killing Evalle. “Of course you can, Lanna.”
“I will bring suitcase.”
“Awesome. Feenix is driving us crazy asking about you.”
Lanna’s eyes glistened. “I miss him, too.”
Not used to so much emotional overload, Evalle said, “Ready, Adrianna?”
Rising to join her, Adrianna thanked Mother Mattie for her hospitality. The elderly woman shushed them away when they offered to help clean up.
Outside the front door, Lanna stopped Adrianna, who’d been smiling until Lanna said, “You must not let her have your power.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Veronika. My visions come in pieces like mixed up puzzle, but right before you arrive I see Veronika clearly in my mind. She will come for you. You must not let her win.”
Chills ran up Evalle’s arms. “We won’t, Lanna, but promise me you’ll tell us about any visions and not try to fix something on your own.”
“I promise.”
Lanna’s quick and sincere answer hurt to hear. Evalle never wanted the girl to go looking for trouble again, but the Lanna she’d known would have bristled and argued that she had powers others couldn’t imagine.
And Evalle believed she did.
Would Lanna ever regain her vibrant confidence?
In Storm’s truck, Evalle gave Adrianna a smug look and said, “I was right. Sounds like we’re having a séance tonight.”
“I’m never going to hear the end of this, am I?”
“Nope.” Evalle drove out of Mother Mattie’s neighborhood of quaint homes and had just reached the main thoroughfare when Adrianna made a pained sound.
She said, “Pull over. Now.”
Evalle yanked the truck into a closed gas station.
The witch jumped out and backed away.
Evalle ran around to her side. “What’s wrong?”
The muscles in Adrianna’s normally smooth neck bulged when she strained. “Get away from me.”
“Not happening.” With a quick glance, Evalle said, “Too many humans.”
Sweat poured down Adrianna’s face. She croaked out a few words and all the traffic sounds dulled. Even with whatever was going on, Adrianna had managed to toss an invisible cloak over them so humans couldn’t see what went on.
Hopefully none had been staring at Evalle and Adrianna when they basically disappeared.
Not the biggest worry right now.
Evalle shouted, “Stop worrying about hurting me and tell me what I can do.”
Adrianna’s petite body looked like someone had sucked out the softness and turned every muscle taut. She opened her hand and Witchlock was the size of a basketball, but no longer round. It twisted in different directions, bulging out of shape.
Oh, hell.
Frantic to offer any aid, Evalle called out, “What can I do to help you calm it down?”
“Nothing ... but that’s ... good idea.” Adrianna reached out with her empty hand and stroked over the ball of power while speaking in one of her ancient languages. The energy seemed to slow down for a moment, but then it spun faster again.
Her words came out in harsh breaths, sounding as if each one was being squeezed out of her.
Fury and strain contorted Adrianna’s face into a scary mask. She was clearly trying to force her will on the power.
Witchlock was fighting back.
Adrianna’s body arched, toes barely touching the ground. Her eyes rolled up until only white orbs glowed in the sockets.
A lightning strobe of energy shot across her arms and hands, then up her neck and through her face. It had to be blazing through her whole body.
Evalle hated not being able to step in and fight with Adrianna.
Muttering and shaking her head, Adrianna’s eyes were still white, but she started shouting.
Was she ... arguing with Witchlock?
The energy built up until the noise turned into a roar that meshed with Adrianna’s unintelligible words.
Popping flashes like out-of-control fireworks shot around everywhere. Evalle dove to the ground and covered her head.
Power exploded.
Heat ripped across her back.
Soft murmurs filled the space.
Evalle sniffed. Was that the smell of singed hair? She checked her head. Not bald.
She slowly uncovered her head and looked up to find Adrianna standing on the ground again with her eyes shut, but pale and shaking. She’d been through one hell of a power storm.
Gaining her feet, Evalle asked, “Adrianna? You still in there?”
Nodding slowly, Adrianna opened her eyes and looked first at the small ball of energy spinning happily in her trembling palm. She released a burst of air, sounding relieved.
Evalle had seen this woman in more than one battle. Adrianna had ice water in her veins. To see her rattled was not good news.
Swallowing, Evalle asked, “You ready to tell me what the hell happened?”
“I would if I knew. The best that I can tell you is I was fighting to hold onto Witchlock. But while I did that, it seemed as if the power was struggling to figure out what was going on. I have a sense that it will remain with me as long as it believes I am powerful enough to host the energy.”
“I know I’m not going to like the answer, but do you know who was trying to take Witchlock?”
“Veronika.”
“That shouldn’t be possible, should it?”
Raising seriously concerned eyes to Evalle, Adrianna pointed out, “You say that as if this power came with a troubleshooting manual.”
“Good point. Are you ready to drop the cloaking?”
“Sure.” Adrianna closed her right hand, concealing Witchlock, then lifted her other hand and swished the cloaking away.
Sounds from around them sharpened and grew louder.
Holding up her hand, Evalle said, “Let me double check that Veronika is still locked up.”
“Good idea.”
With Quinn busy getting their forces ready for Daegan to take over, Evalle called out telepathically to Trey since he was the central contact for Beladors in their area. Trey, this is Evalle.
I’m here, Trey called back. What’s up?
Have you heard anything about Veronika today? Like her escaping?
No.
Any chance that could have happened?
Doubtful, but I’ll contact Sen and see what he says. Stand by. After a sixty-second pause, Trey said, Man, Sen’s got his tighty-whities in a wad today. He said if we wanted a report, to send Beladors back in to work.
What does that mean? Is he avoiding the question?
Trey said, I have no idea, but I’d think if Veronika had gotten out that Sen would be pushing a Tribunal to demand we come back in force. I’d also expect an apocalyptic display of Veronika’s power just to show us the bitch was back.
Good point. Let me know if you hear differently, okay?
Will do. Then Trey was gone.
Adrianna waited with an anxious look in her eyes.
Evalle said, “Trey just asked Sen, who blew him off because of Daegan yanking most of the Beladors out of VIPER.”
“So nothing new on Veronika?”
“Doesn’t sound like it, but I’ll go hit up my Nightstalker when we get done tonight.” Back in the truck, Evalle said, “I need to get ahold of Quinn so we can hold this séance tonight.”
“Stop calling it that. It’s not a séance.”
“Is too.”
“Is not.” Adrianna lifted her hand. “You need to find Quinn, then please drop me at my house.”
“Sore loser,” Evalle remarked, smirking. She considered the gravity of what Adrianna had experienced and decided it was worth reaching out telepathically for something brief. Quinn, can you talk?
Quinn’s deep voice answered in her head. Quickly. I’m in the middle of something. What’s going on?
Just like she’d thought. He wasn’t where he could deal with Sen. With traffic getting thick, she hurried to tell him, I have to jump, too, so I can drive, but we need you to meet at my place at seven tonight. Good news. Lanna has an idea on Phoedra.
No, Lanna is staying out of this.
Evalle debated for a moment what to say and decided on, Just be on time.
Evalle, did you hear me? I do not want Lanna using her powers in any way. Is that understood?
I hear you loud and clear. Gotta go so I don’t wreck Storm’s truck. Later.
Evalle ended the telepathy.
They had to find Phoedra. Lanna believed she could do it and Quinn had found no one else who could help.
What was the worst that could happen if she held the séance tonight and included Lanna?
Evalle’s gaze tripped over to Adrianna, who looked seriously disturbed over that last power battle.
A lot could go wrong tonight.
