“That lady Sheryl managed to pull some strings and organize another baptism for Connor. It’s tomorrow at two-thirty.”
Phew.So something awful hadn’t happened. “Finally, some good news. You had me worried for a min?—”
“It’s not all good. Blake says he heard from his friend that the fae are going to be at the baptism. They’re going to try and take Connor again.”
CHAPTER TWO
MAEVE
No. Not again.
We’d only just saved baby Connor from the realm of the fae. My new friend Jane had lived through the worst days in her life, not knowing where her son was or how to get him back or whether she was going mad. No way was she going through that again. No way inhell.
Kelly’s eyes widened. “Maeve, you look sick. What’s wrong?”
I tore myself from my chair and raced out of the diner so Kelly couldn’t hear our conversation. “But how’s that possible?” I snapped into the phone. “The fae can’t get through the wards. The wards are still holding, aren’t they?”
Shit. Have I left my boys back in England completely unprotected?
“They’re definitely still holding, although all your scientific equipment was destroyed. I don’t know how this could be possible. Blake swears it’s true, but he’s not saying anything else until you get back. I’m going to get it out of him if it’s the last thing I do,” Corbin growled.
Arthur barreled outside after me. He tilted his head close to mine so we could both hear the conversation. His scraggly Viking beard tickled my bare shoulder. Ordinarily, this would send a shiver of delight right through me – especially after what we’d shared the last couple of days – but not now.
Now my whole body shook with fear.
My mind whirred, struggling to put all the pieces together. Rowan and I wondered if Blake was up to something when we found the last of our sleeping draught gone. Now we knew we were right.
“Corbin, don’t hurt Blake. Remember, he’s part of this coven, too, and he might have just saved Connor’s life.”
“He’s been talking to the fae after we explicitly said not to. We can’t trust him.”
“He may have his reasons. If he came to you as soon as he knew something was wrong, that’s a good sign. It says he wants to help. Just please, promise me you won’t kill him until I get back.”
“Youwillcome? Blake says we’re going to need the whole coven to deal with this. He says they’ll be stronger than ever.”
“Of course we’re coming back,“ Arthur said into the phone. I glanced through the window of the diner at Kelly, who was hunting through her shopping bags. My stomach churned. I didn’t want to leave her in Phoenix by herself, but if I didn’t go, the coven wouldn’t have the power it needed. No way was I risking anything when Connor was involved.
“Good.” I heard a tapping noise as Corbin did something on his laptop on the other end. “I’ve just checked and there’s a flight leaving Phoenix in two hours. If you hurry, you might be able to get a last-minute seat.”
“I’ll call you from the airport.” I clicked the phone off and stared at Arthur. “We have to go. The fae have somehow found a way to get to Connor again. We need all of us to stop them.”
“What about your sister?”
I squeezed my eyes shut. I really,reallydidn’t want to do this. It was my job to look after Kelly, especially after she had just made an attempt on her life after being forced to live with our abusive uncle. I’d promised her yesterday that from now on I would be here for her no matter what. I’d only been in Arizona for three days and already I was abandoning her. “She’ll have to join us later, if it’s safe. We can’t take her with us now and I can’t stay behind with her. You need me.”
I’m the High Priestess. My coven has to come first.
“Bloody fae, ruining everything. Flynn’s right – they are wankers.” Arthur picked up my hand and squeezed it. “It’ll be okay, Maeve. We’ll get the bastards.”
My warrior. No matter what we were facing, Arthur waded in on the front lines without fear. The rage that burned inside him – the flame of passion from which his power grew – wouldn’t allow him to back down. I hoped his fire would give me the strength I needed to see this through.
I squeezed back, but even the fierceness in his eyes couldn’t make my stomach stop churning.Please let everyone be okay. Please let the fae hold off their attack until we can get there.
Please let there be seats for us on this flight.
“I’d better go give Kelly the bad news.” I dropped his hand. “Can you bring the car around?”
Arthur ran off and I rushed back inside. Kelly looked up from the table just as the waitress dropped off two slices of brownie cake and Arthur’s ridiculous burger. She’d taken a huge bite out of the side of it. “Omigod, Maeve. You have to try this burger. It’s even more disgusting than it looks. Do you remember that time Dad ordered it and you lectured him about his gluttony sermon from church and so he had to choke down the whole thing—” Kelly’s words died away as she noticed my expression. “What’s wrong? Is it Uncle Bob? Has he taken back all his money?”
