“If you think that’s cool, you should hear what she’s working on now.”
I listen to Seb describe how I’m creating the ring, and my stomach drops, forms into a knot, and gets tighter and tighter and tighter.
You’ll never get this right without the help of gold dust, the spider says. You barely know what you’re doing. Flying by the seat of your pants. Making promises you’ll never be able to keep.
Shut up.
You’ll never complete it successfully on your own. You want to use it. Remember how good it felt? How confident you were? The goddess could tell you exactly how to complete the ring if you went back to the Gold Room.
No. I’m done. If I do it again, I might do permanent damage. I recognize the warning signs. Seb’s right, I can’t do it again without potentially losing myself.
If you don’t do it again, you’ll have to ask Hazel for help, and there’s absolutely no way she’ll agree to it. She’s a wise woman. The witches still have a policy of neutrality.
You don’t know that.
“Zoe? You okay?”
I shake my head, coming out of my conversation with my spider. I haven’t heard a word anyone has said since Seb started talking about the ring. “Sorry. Lost in my thoughts.”
“Connor asked how long the ring would take to complete.”
“About a week, I think. I’ve never done this before, obviously. But looking at the spells involved, that’s my best estimate.”
Connor nods slowly. “Well, all right. I’m looking forward to seeing this ring, little badass.” He takes a huge gulp of his coffee and then turns to Fiona. “You up for a visit to Cardinal Island?”
She nods. “I feel good.”
“Cool. Seb, I’ll let you know how Remus responds. And shoot me a note when the ring is done so I can see it in all its glory.”
I cross my arms over my stomach, and Fiona slaps her mate on his shoulder. “I’m sure Zoe will do her absolute best. It’s her first time doing anything like this. She doesn’t need any more pressure, Connor.”
“Ah, she looks like a fighter to me. Maybe she likes the pressure. When’s your birthday, Zoe?”
“February 29th. She’s a Pisces,” Seb answers for me.
Connor’s face falls. “Sorry. Fiona’s right. I’ll, uh… You got this.” He smiles and gives me a thumbs-up like I’m five.
After a few well-wishes, we see them to the door.
“I guess we’ll know soon enough if your theory about the water is accurate.”
“Yeah,” I say, trying to sound enthusiastic, but inside, I’m praying I don’t fuck this up.
Chapter Thirty-Three
SEB
Zoe attacks the problem of the ring like her life depends on it, but there’s only so much she can do. Each of the layers of enchantments takes days to cure into the gold. It’s all I can do to get her to eat and rest. She needs both those things. In the middle of the night, I catch her thrashing, caught in some nightmare. She calls out my name sometimes, not in the way she does when we have sex, but like she’s scared for me. I pull her against me and she calms, but it’s clear the idea of me facing Roman weighs heavy on her mind. I need to help her relax.
On the fourth night, with two spells in place, I take her hand and lead her out the back door. “Where are you taking me?”
“Your studio. Have you even used it yet?”
She snorts. “Uh, no. I’ve been a little busy trying to save dragons.”
“Well, put on your dancing shoes. We’re taking the night off.” I half drag her toward her cottage. The place has been dark for days. She’s stayed with me since our mating, moving her clothes and things into my place. But the studio is in her cottage. I know her. I know this witchy work she’s doing on my behalf drains her, and I know what medicine will make it better.
Zoe needs to sing.
