But even then, she didn’t think her power alone would be enough. This was the highest level of necromancy, and if shewanted to be strong enough to complete the spell, she would need a couple of powerful witches backing her up.
Luckily, she knew just who to ask.
She fired off a message to both Iris and her twin, Lily, asking them to meet her as soon as possible. Luckily, both sisters were available, and they made plans to convene at a nearby cafe.
After eating a quick breakfast, Suyin said goodbye to Murmur and her bird sacrifices—well aware of how absurd that was—and then headed to the cafe, rehearsing her story again and again, hoping like hell she’d be able to convince the twins.
When they arrived, their friendly smiles dropped as soon as they saw Suyin, their expressions morphing into concern.
She could guess what she looked like. She hadn’t combed her hair in days, and she was pale with dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. And despite her usual aversion to caffeine, she was sipping the triple-shot espresso in her hands like it was the elixir of eternal life.
“Hey,” Iris said warily, sliding into the booth across from Suyin while Lily offered a small wave. She could tell they were both dying to ask what was wrong but were too polite to jump right into it.
“I need your help,” Suyin said immediately. “And it has to be now.” There was no point beating around the bush.
“Sure,” Iris said immediately. “What’s up?”
“First …” She took a breath. “I need you to swear you won’t tell anyone until after. Especially your demon boyfriends and their brothers.”
The sisters exchanged glances.
“Um … why?” Iris asked.
“I can’t tell you until you agree.”
“We can’t promise to help you with something and not tell anyone what we’re doing if we don’t know what it is,” Lily said gently.
“All I can say is that it’s magic related, and the spell won’t put you or anyone you care about in danger—beyond the expected dangers that come with practicing highly advanced magic.”
The sisters exchanged glances again. They had that psychic-twin-bond thing going on, Suyin noticed, which wasn’t something they’d had in the past. She figured that since Iris had come clean to Lily about how their parents died, they’d gotten closer. She was glad for them both. They deserved to have that connection.
“Su …” Iris made an apologetic face. “Look, I’m guessing this has something to do with Murmur, which is why you don’t want us to tell the guys. While I understand you believe you have some kinda friendship or whatever, I don’t think it’s wise for me and Lily to get involved in anything he’s doing.”
They probably thought she was trying to get them involved with Murmur’s latest murder plot. Unfortunately, it was far worse than that.
She took a breath. “I really didn’t want to have to do this, because I don’t want to view our friendship as a transaction, but … I have to.”
The twins frowned.
“You both owe me, and I’m calling it in.”
There was a pause as that sank in.
Suyin pressed on. “When I heard that you guys were here, looking for another blood-born to lead the coven and help you maintain your protection spell, I dropped my entire life in New York and came to you. And I’ve been maintaining that cloaking spell ever since, even when you lied to me about still needing it. I didn’t do it as some sort of exchange, but if I have to use it that way now to get you to help me, I will. Ineedyour help, and you both owe me.”
Lily pursed her lips. Iris looked a combination of guilty and exasperated.
“Can we tell the guys about it after we’re done … whatever it is?” Lily asked.
“Yes.”
“And it won’t put anyone we care about in danger?”
“No.”
Lily searched Suyin’s face for a moment with narrowed eyes, and then she nodded. “All right. I’m in.”
“Lil,” Iris hissed out of the corner of her mouth. “You sure?”
