“I already confessed in my trial,” Natalie says, and there’s no hiding the panic in her tone. “It was my doing. Katie’s innocent.”
“Touching.” Fiona keeps her eyes locked on me. “The jury will decide for themselves how they feel about that.”
My stomach twists. We should’ve known Natalie’s trial was a mere formality, given her status. As for me? Everything I finally secured—my place in the coven, my relationship with Natalie, my chance to use my ability to help keep the world safe—could vanish with one verdict. And Natalie must know it because she refuses to step aside.
Hayley and Neil are two strides away.
“Katie, run.” Natalie throws her arms wide, and a dozen luggage trolleys tear free from their owners’ hands, pulling the witches’ attention. Startled cries erupt as bags tumble off and the trolleys crash together like bumper cars.
“But—” I back up. If I flee, aren’t I proving that I’m a criminal?
Then again, if I surrender, I’ll find out what Natalie is so afraid of—and what punishment the coven’s justice system has in mind for me.
“Move!” Natalie tugs my arm.
Okay, we’re running.
I shed my heavy backpack, abandoning everything I have so it doesn’t slow me down. We take off through the crowd, my heart hammering. Can I outrun them, or am I just delaying the inevitable?
“Parking garage. This way.” Natalie stays at my side as we sprint through the airport, dodging startled travelers. Shouts and footsteps ring out behind us as Fiona and the others follow.
I tug at the strings cinching the hood around my face. It’s tied so tight that I feel like a carthorse wearing blinders. I swipe it back, letting the cool air wash over my face and neck. Freaking useless disguise.
Luggage tumbles across our path as the Shadows use magic to try and block us. Natalie apparently doesn’t care about subtlety, slashing the air to get as much out of the way as she can. But she’s one witch against three, and we’re forced to slow down as we jump and dodge obstacles.
I snatch a snow globe from a gift shop display, one with a miniature Vancouver skyline and glitter. “Natalie!”
I toss it up, and she reacts quickly, sending it rocketing behind us. There’s a loud pop! and a tinkle of glass, and the pursuing footsteps falter for a precious second.
“Hate to do this, but…” Natalie spins, and there’s an enormous crash that might be a snack booth.
More shouts and screams.
We keep going, racing down the escalator. A stand of tourist brochures explodes at the bottom, and I can’t track who is doing what anymore.
“I’m s-sorry,” I gasp between breaths. “I’m always getting you in trouble with—”
“Don’t,” Natalie says firmly. “This isn’t your fault.”
But it is. If I were a witch, if I belonged here, I wouldn’t be running from my own coven. At the very least, I could fight back with more than just words and snow globes.
We bolt across the street to the parkade, tires screeching and horns honking around us.
“Sorry!” I blurt.
“This way.” Natalie veers left, her fingers lacing through mine and pulling me along. We pelt down the rows of cars, passing bewildered travelers loading their luggage.
At last, I spot Natalie’s black sedan peeking out. Relief surges through me as the lights flash and the doors unlock.
Wham! Something slams into my back, and the ground rushes up to meet me. My knees crack against the pavement. My hair falls forward and forms a curtain around my face, blocking my view of what’s going on.
“Katie!” Natalie’s voice breaks. “What the fuck, Hayley?”
“Stop running!” Hayley snaps.
A sneaker bounces beside my hand. Did I seriously just get taken down by a flying shoe?
But considering Hayley has an entire utility belt full of God-knows-what, the fact that she hit me with a shoe tells me she doesn’t really want to hurt me. A tiny bubble of hope inflates in my chest. Maybe I can get out of this.
