Rhys shook his head. “I know the area you showed me. I should be able to make it easily enough.”
“Then we should go,” Harrison interjected. “Because I have a bad feeling.”
I knew he was right. The itch I’d felt between my shoulder blades earlier was back. It was a sign that trouble was coming and I didn’t want to be here when it returned.
“Ready?” I asked Rhys.
He nodded.
“Kerry, Finn, you’re with me,” I told them. I glanced at Harrison. “You’ll need to go with Rhys. Have you traced before?”
Harrison grunted what I assumed was an affirmative answer as he walked over to where Rhys was rising from the chair, Savannah still lying motionless in his arms.
“I’ll see you there,” I told Rhys. I looked to Kerry and Finn. “Have you two traced before?” When they both nodded, I instructed them, “Hold on my shoulders and don’t let go until I tell you.”
Finn wrapped an arm around Kerry, pressing the front of her body to his. They each reached out and placed their palms on my shoulders. Taking a deep breath, I envisioned where I wanted to take us and let the magic take me into the darkness.
A blink of an eye later, we emerged from the trace line. I was shaky and breathless, but we’d made it unscathed. We stood in front of the house I’d been staying in for the last few months.
A few yards away, Rhys held Savannah in his arms and Harrison looked around the open area.
“Where are we?” Kerry asked.
“A safe place,” I replied.
I’d found the house by accident and purchased it under a false identity. It was a large ranch-style home with four bedrooms and several bathrooms. It had been converted to function off the grid. Solar panels and a windmill provided electricity and there was a well for water. A woodstove kept the living areas warm and the bedrooms and bathrooms held small propane heaters. It wasn’t luxurious but there would be enough space for all of us and it would keep us warm and dry.
“Whoa,” Kerry said as she approached the house. “There’s some heavy duty magic here.” She turned to look at me thoughtfully. “Did you have a witch cast protection spells and place wards on the property?”
“You could say that,” I replied without elaborating. No one here knew about the rest of my abilities and I wanted to keep it that way for a bit longer. Witches rarely trusted me when they discovered what I could do.
Rhys came over to me, still holding Savannah, and I recognized the strain on his face. He looked tired and haggard.
“Give me a moment to deactivate the protection spells and you can come inside,” I stated.
I walked up the front steps, Ava in my arms, and murmured the words that would allow the rest of them to enter the house. Using magic, I unlocked the front door and shoved it open with my shoulder.
“It’s safe to enter now,” I called over my shoulder, carrying Ava inside.
She didn’t even flinch at my raised voice. She was completely out.
I chanced a glance at her abdomen and saw that the wound still hadn’t healed completely. As soon as I got everyone settled, I would have to see to that.
Rhys came in first and I noticed that his arms were trembling ever so slightly. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, the shakes were setting in.
“Follow me,” I commanded before heading down the hallway.
I would put Rhys and Savannah between the master bedroom and the room where I intended to put Kerry and Finn. We would be close by if Savannah encountered a problem after the binding spell.
I stopped just outside the doorway. “This will be your room. The bath is shared with the other guest room where Kerry and Finn will stay, but the bed is a queen and it’s brand new.”
I’d purchased the furniture with the house and kept most of it because it was well made, mostly new, and comfortable.
Rhys carried Savannah inside and set her gently on the mattress. He brushed her hair away from her cheek with one hand before he looked toward me. “Thank you, Macgrath.”
I nodded. “You’re welcome. Try to rest. We’ll sort out food later. The freezer is fully stocked and there are a few things in the fridge.”
I didn’t wait for his response before walking away. My own arms were beginning to weaken and I knew I would need to lay Ava down soon. I moved to the end of the hall and opened the door to my room.
