Just a few minutes later, Lu strode into the room. She’d showered and put on black pants and shirt and braided her hair back.
The silver wing feather key hung around her neck on the same chain as the stopwatch, and the cloaking bracelet Ricky had given her was on her wrist. She’d strapped on her knives and hooked the explosive acorns into her belt.
She scanned the room, finding me, then strolled over. “Did I miss something?”
I shook my head and realized I’d been staring at her. “No. You look perfect.” I opened my arms. “Me?”
Her gaze turned critical as she considered my loose, long-sleeve shirt, dark pants with the vampire-killing knife sheathed at my hip, and the ring that was supposed to give me speed on my finger.
“The spool of thread?” she asked.
I patted my pocket. “Unless you want to carry it?”
She shook her head. “Would you stay if I asked you to?” she asked, moving closer to me.
“Right next to you. Every step, love. I can’t stay behind.”
She pressed her lips together against the argument I saw in her eyes.
“We’re going to be quiet,” I said, “fast, and careful.”
She stepped into my embrace.
“If you die again, Brogan Gauge,” she whispered fiercely against my heart, “I will tear the heavens down to find you.”
“Won’t have to. Death won’t let me in.”
The embrace lasted just a moment longer, then she stepped back, adjusted the chain at her neck to hide the feather and watch under her shirt, and squared her shoulders.
Abbi appeared from out of the crowd, Cassia, resplendent in a flowing black gown that glimmered in the moonlight, beside her.
“We need to be really fast,” Abbi said. “Really, really. The spell won’t last long.”
“An hour would be best,” Cassia agreed. “We might be able to hold the cloaking for longer, but if you can find her and get her out in an hour, the spell will be strongest.”
Hado, the tiny cat at Abbi’s feet, drew up into the shape of a man made of shadows, his golden eyes glowing. He handed Abbi the mortar and pestle she used for her magic.
“You sure you don’t want Abbi to stay here?” Lula asked. “To help support the spells?”
“I’ll help them,” Abbi said. “But I can help you too. If I stay here, it will be harder to help Rhianna.”
“Thank you, Moon Rabbit,” Cassia said. “And thank you, Lula and Brogan. Please bring our child home safely.”
“We will,” I said.
Cassia bowed to Abbi, then made her way back into the flow of people.
“Are you sure you shouldn’t stay?” Lu asked Abbi again.
“I’m sure,” Abbi said. “And you need me. Because I’m powerful.Sopowerful! I’m going to be bright as the sun!”
“Nope. You can only be bright as the moon,” I corrected her. “The sun is much brighter. Besides, we’re trying to hide, Pumpkin, not be seen.”
“I’m still gonna be bright. You’ll see. Come on.” She and Hado started toward the door where Variance was pacing and throwing glares our way.
The witches stopped milling around and gathered in the center of the room in a loose circle. They silently walked around the circle, once, twice, thrice.
Then they began singing.
