“Hang on. We can use mine.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called Jasper.
“Mac?” His friend’s voice held a note of worry. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Calli leaned close as he put the phone on speaker.
“Thank fuck. What the hell happened yesterday? Sage has been freaking out all morning because we haven’t heard from either of you guys.”
A shout echoed in the background, along with what sounded like someone banging on an espresso machine. “I’m not freaking out!”
“She totally was,” Jasper said quietly. “So, what happened to you guys?”
“I don’t honestly know. I went to see Mrs. Greenlee, then I left the inn and it’s all blank after that. Calli found me on top of the Black Cliffs outside of town. “We saw the witches who cast the first protection spells.”
“You saw what?” Sage’s voice was much closer now. “Tell me?—”
“Tell us everything,” Jasper corrected.
Something in Malcolm’s chest eased because of his friend’s instant involvement. Jasper had his back, no question, ever since the night he’d woken up levitating in the air. Malcolm was damn lucky to have him for a friend.
“Well, they weren’t happy about something, I know that much,” said Malcolm. “They tried to get me to walk off a cliff, but Calli got there in time.”
They recounted the events of last night for Sage and Jasper, what they could remember, anyway. So much had felt like a dark and terrible dream to Malcolm. One he couldn’t wake up from until Calli arrived to save him.
“If those ghosts were the ones who put up the barrier, then this can’t be a coincidence,” Jasper said. “I’m going back to the archives. Finnigan can help me search the magical histories that are hidden from humans.”
“Thanks,” Malcolm said. “I’ll join you. He definitely knew he’d feel better digging through dusty tomes than doing nothing.
“Sounds good. Maybe between the three of us we can find out more about the original boundary ritual,” Jasper said. “Want to meet at the library in half an hour?”
“I’ll be there.” Malcolm hung up the phone. Calli was watching him.
“What’s wrong?”
She bit her lip and let out a soft breath. “Whatever you find out… just remember, we don’t have to follow those spells. Not if it means someone gets hurt,” she said.
He pulled her into his arms, basking in the care and compassion she exuded so easily. It made him feel safe somehow, and in that moment he wanted nothing more than to share that with her, to let her know that he’d do anything to protect her.
“I know. But we still have to understand the original spell.”
“We can find a way to survive even without protective wards. There are plenty of smaller spells we can use to deter humans and protect against hunters. It wouldn’t be perfect, but we’ll just have to be smart about it. I’d rather us do that than resort to something that would get someone killed.”
“I agree.”
“Also, I think the witches in town need to meet with Mayor Thornfield to discuss our options. It will give everyone something to focus on other than worrying about worst case scenarios.”
Malcolm pulled Calli into his arms, holding her for a long moment, savoring the feel of her, the beat of her heart against his chest. The quiet old house creaked as the winter wind blew outside, whistling against the windowpanes.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” he promised her.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Malcolm eyed the massive stack of books Finnigan had set down before him and Jasper in one of the private reading rooms of the town library. The yeti was still in his human form, and his piercing blue eyes met Malcolm’s.
“We may not like the answers we find,” Finnigan warned him.
“I know,” said Malcolm. “But it is my fault the wards are down.”
The yeti placed a palm on top of the books, stopping Malcolm from taking the one on top.
