Anthony wore shorts and flip-flops but would likely change back at the Tennessee house. “Son, you're not ready for open combat.”
“I am! I've trained for years, you know that. You trained me!”
“I did, I know. And you're very good. But you're still growing. You're not at your full strength or power.”
“Stephen,” I said softly. “I need you to protect my babies. What if they come after Michael or Kohbi to get to me?”
He bristled.
“You'd never let them take my babies, would you?”
“Of course not!” He puffed out his chest. “I'd die first.”
“I'm sure it won't come to that, but if it does, I need to know you've got Danyelus and Tammy's backs.”
He nodded. “Of course, I will.”
“Plus, you know the kids. You can help keep them calm and in line. You'll be on the move. They'll need your help.”
He still looked disappointed, but nodded.
I opened my arms and he considered me for a moment before pulling me into a hug. “Be safe,” I said.
“You, too.” His voice was strangled. He gave his dad and uncle a severe look and ran from the room.
“He's at a difficult age,” Anthony said.
“Yeah, he is,” Elias agreed. “You were a total douche at that age.”
Cindy interrupted them before they could go all bromance on us. “Ready?”
She opened a portal and I ducked through it before it was even really open enough. I stepped out into our living room in Tennessee, and everyone followed behind.
Hearing voices in the kitchen, I moved there and found it full of people I'd never seen before.
Anthony squeezed around me and addressed the room. “Thank you all for coming. I see you've already started scrying.”
A short man with a black goatee stepped forward. “They've still got that powerful magic-user. We can't pinpoint an exact location, but we know they're back on Bali.”
“How do you know that?” I asked. They'd have to have something of Dumadi's or Linna's to scry for them.
Cindy wedged herself into the room. “I took aminusculeclipping of Linna's hair when she was born. I told Elias.”
I glared behind me into the hall where Elias stood.
He shrugged. “I forgot, and now I'm glad she did it.”
Rolling my eyes, I turned back to them. “We need to find Ross. He's Dumadi's son and can help us pinpoint him.”
“Yeah, but will he?” a voice said from the back of the crowded kitchen.
I glowered. “He had better.”
Anthony pulled his phone out. “I'll call and let the Junta know we're incoming and not to warn Ross.”
He squeezed back out of the room. The witches turned back to the kitchen table where they had maps spread out everywhere. I watched them find a different map of the island and return to their spells, continuing to try even though they'd failed before.
Anthony returned quickly. “They're ready for us. He said to have you open the portal into the main conference room. They're ready to back us.”
