“What about the other surprises he set up?”
“All in place. Every property’s got something special waiting. By the time they’re done stumbling into his traps, no one will take their accusations seriously.”
The voices fade as the men move away. I look down at Kara, whose face has gone pale in the moonlight.
She pulls away from me, running a hand through her hair. “Shit.” Her voice comes out hoarsely. “You were right. This whole thing was staged.”
“I know.” I keep my voice gentle, resisting the urge to say “I told you so.”
“And I walked right into it like an idiot.” She presses her palms against her eyes. “If you hadn’t shown up…”
“But I did.” I touch her shoulder lightly. “And now we know what he’s planning. That’s worth something.”
She drops her hands and looks at me, her usual defiance dimmed by understanding. “He’s got more traps set up. He’s trying to make us look irrational.”
“Yes. Which means we need to be smarter about this. No more solo missions.”
Her shoulders slump as she exhales deeply. “You’re right. I was an idiot.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. It’s honorable to want to protect the ones you love. Everyone should have a code of honor.”
She looks at me sharply, as if trying to find a hint of irony. She won’t find any. I believe what I said. The sound of approaching footsteps makes me tense. “We need to move.”
“But Gran…” She pinches her lips together.
“Isn’t here, Kara. But we’ll find her. I swear it.” I lock eyes with her. She gives a small nod. “Let’s go,” I say. I anticipate resistance, but there is none for a change. She simply nods again, then stands silently as I slide my arm around her shoulder and guide us into the shadows.
I materialize with Kara in the garden of her family home, my arm still around her. She’s quiet – too quiet. It’s unnerving after her usual fire and resistance.
The silence stretches as she steps away from me. Her face is drawn, shoulders tense. She looks…defeated. It doesn’t sit right.
This isn’t her.
I’ve seen Kara Blackwood in action enough times to know that this passive acceptance won’t last. She’s a fighter – stubborn, fierce, infuriating. The kind of witch who’d rather chew off her own arm than admit defeat. And yet here she stands, subdued after nearly getting crushed to death in Lucien’s trap.
My instincts scream that this is just the calm before the storm. She’s processing, regrouping. Soon enough, that legendary Blackwood temper will flare back to life, and she’ll be charging headlong into another rescue attempt.
How long before she tries to slip away again?
The thought sends an unexpected surge of protectiveness through me. I’ve seen what Lucien’s capable of. If she goes off half-cocked again…
“I can hear you thinking from here,” she mutters, not turning around. There’s an edge creeping back into her voice.
And there it is – the first spark rekindling.
I move as if to put a hand on her shoulder, my hand hovering close enough to feel the warmth of her skin.
“Kara, I just—” I begin, almost tempted to tell her that I don’t like the idea of her being in danger, that it makes something twist in my chest. But I don’t say it because lights flare brightly from the house in front of us, and suddenly, there are voices.
“Kara! Oh, thank the goddess!” It’s Georgia Blackwood, flying toward us. The others follow closely. And if there’d been anything I’d wanted to tell her, it remains unsaid.
The moment is gone.
5
Chapter 5
Kara
