My cheeks heated and the back of my neck itched in mortification. I had no idea what friends did together.
Vas grinned at me. “That would be fun.”
Alrighty then.
I should go search Mary’s house. But everything hurt. Plus, the sun would be going down soon. Breaking and entering would be a lot easier if I didn’t need to poke around with a flashlight and alert the neighbors.
“I’m going home,” I said, and Vas nodded.
“Good idea.”
He followed me home, waiting outside the apartment until he watched me walk into the lobby. I dragged myself into the elevator and unlocked my front door, my whole body aching. Guilt wound its way through my chest as I walked in the door and spotted Lia, curled up on my ancient sofa. She opened one eye, and then closed it again, ignoring me.
I was a bad cat mom.
Before this job, I’d managed to be home most nights, and if I was working, I usually stayed home most of the next day to make up for it. I also came home for lunch when I could so I could hang out with the kitten.
This week, she’d been left mostly alone. I’d rescued her and then abandoned her.
My sister’s face, so cold and pale, flashed through my memory. I pushed it away and sat on the sofa.
My throat squeezed, and it was almost impossible to take a deep breath. My living room turned blurry, and I choked on a sob that wanted to rip through me. I shut my eyes and counted to ten. I was just tired. That was all.
Lia nudged me, then clamped down on my hand with her sharp little teeth. I opened my eyes as she let loose a purr that seemed far too loud to have come from her tiny body.
“Hi. I’m sorry.” I picked up one of her toys— a fake mouse attached to a plastic rod by a long piece of string. I swiped it through the air and Lia abandoned me, crouching next to me on the sofa, her little body trembling as she eyed the mouse.
She leapt, and I spent the next half hour watching her kill the mouse, until I had to force myself to get up or I’d fall asleep on the sofa. I rolled a ball along the wood floor for Lia to chase as I got to my feet. First things first.
Marching toward my front door, I dropped my shields and examined the ward. It glowed a soft lavender, and Vas was right. It was a lousy job. I wasn’t surprised that the witches had phoned it in and overcharged me, but now that I could access more of my power, I could do something about it.
Icoulddo better. I just had to figure out how.
In my mind, Samael threw Vas across the room and prowled toward him. I strained, reaching for my power.
Nothing.
As much as I attempted to use that fear, my subconscious knew Samael wouldn’t truly have hurt either of us.
Damnit.
I pictured the demon who’d attacked me, his expression terror-stricken as he jumped toward me. All I felt was pity.
Time to bring out the big guns.
I focused on Evie’s face. If I didn’t stop these murders, it wouldn’t just be the demons who were dying. Anyone powerful enough to take down Samael’s demons could likely handle my sister’s coven. After the demons, witches would be easy.
Magic roared through me, so fast I swayed dizzily on my feet. I should’ve waited until I wasn’t so depleted. I narrowed my eyes on the lavender, feeding it with my magic. I didn’t know if this would work— had never heard of the ability to strengthen other people’s wards. But I attempted to channel the power toward the ward.
It slowly began to darken. I gasped and the flood of my power slowed to a trickle. No. More. I needed more. Lavender turned to lilac. Lilac darkened to violet. I strained, and the ward flooded with gold, whirling amongst the purple.
I pulled my power back into myself and stared at my ward. I hadn’t set it myself, but it was strong. Pride welled. I could do this. I could learn how to use my magic, could use it to hunt for my mom’s killer.
I walked into my bedroom and fell face down onto my bed.
24
Danica
