PROLOGUE
EMBER
“Ash did what?” I shrieked into the phone.
We stood in my sister’s studio next to the containment circle I’d created to summon Discord—a ring of salt with a chalk drawing of his sigil in the center—and Mayhem clutched my shoulders, his brow furrowing in question.
I hit the speaker button and held the phone between us. “Say that again, slowly.”
“The curse has come to fruition.” Chaos sounded grimmer than I’d ever heard. “She lit the bonfire, beginning the ritual, but then she turned on the coven.”
“The whole coven, or just Shade?” Because if Shade had run his mouth, I could see her shooting a little flame at him to shut him up. She’d done it before. “Is he okay?”
“Patrice extinguished the fire and is applying a dressing to his burns as we speak.” Rustling sounded through the phone, followed by Ash’s grunt. “I have your sister subdued with calming magic, but I cannot hold her forever. Summon Discord and meet us here. Then, we will attempt to release her from the curse.”
Thuds and more rustling sounded. A car horn honked. “Let me go,” Ash wheezed.
My heart sprinted like a racehorse on speed. “What do you mean by attempt?”
“If the curse has already come to fruition, we may not be able to reverse it,” Mayhem said.
I gave him my best WTF look. Oh, they’d be able. They’d be able, or they’d have to live out their existences with my boots permanently implanted in their asses. “Bring her here. I’ll set up a room with a ward to hold her while we figure this out.”
“We must summon Discord.” Mayhem set the amulet in the center of his brother’s sigil on the floor. “It’s our only chance.”
“We will, but not until I know Ash and the rest of the coven are safe.” I tightened my grip on the phone. “Chaos, bring her here. Now.”
“Discord should be your priority,” Chaos said. “Ash is mine.”
My jaw tightened with an audible click. “You don’t get to tell me what my priorities should be. Bring her here, or I will end you. Is that clear?”
“If you end—” Mayhem began but then clamped his mouth shut. He knew better than to demonsplain now. Good boy.
Chaos was silent for a beat or two before he finally got it through his thick skull. “We’re on our way.”
I hit End and dropped the phone onto the table. “No more distractions. Grab the railroad spikes from the cabinet and follow me.”
My boots thudded on the staircase as I made my way up to the kitchen. My stomach felt like an empty pit, and my hands trembled as if I’d chugged an entire pot of coffee, but I wouldn’t let my anxiety stop me. I pulled out three grimoires and flipped to the spells I needed. I had the containment spell memorized, but I’d need to subdue her magic and calm her the eff down, so she didn’t hurt herself trying to get out.
“Your vim is already waning,” Mayhem said as he joined me at the counter. “You shouldn’t waste what little you have left on a spell.”
“That’s what you’re for. Grab the patchouli and yarrow from the cupboard. The heather too.” I set up a mortar and pestle next to the copper mixing bowl before adding six drops of lavender oil to begin the potion.
“Once I mix this, I’ll need to channel you to activate it. Otherwise, I’ll have nothing left to summon your brother.” I crushed the herbs Mayhem brought me and sprinkled them into the bowl.
“Anything you need.” He stood behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders as I added a few more oils and some lemon juice.
I patted his hand, and he moved beside me, allowing me to slip my palm into his and open myself to his essence. Pinpricks danced across my skin, and a wave of vibrating power washed through me, filling me to the core of my being. If I weren’t a witch on a mission, I’d have basked in it for a bit. But alas, I had a sister to save and a coven to protect. Maybe I’d have time for basking later.
“Vessel tight, vim bright, hold her magic until the end of her plight. Magical balm, soothe and calm, these iron stakes will keep us safe. As I will it, so mote it be.” I focused our energy into the potion, and it popped and sizzled, yellow smoke rising from the surface before the spell settled.
Mayhem handed me four railroad spikes, and I coated them with the mixture. My head spun from the exertion of the spell, but I steadied myself with a hand on the counter so my demon wouldn’t see. I couldn’t chance him going into burn the world for you mode when I had important things to do.
“Let’s go.” I laid the spikes in the bowl and carried them downstairs, passing Ash’s desk and stopping in front of a small broom closet. “Can you clear that out?”
Mayhem arched a brow, but he did as I asked, removing the cleaning supplies Ash had meticulously organized and setting a wooden chair in the center of the cramped space. “She won’t like this.”
“My coven won’t like dying.” I rested two railroad spikes atop the door frame and laid the rest at the corners on the floor. Then, I lit a bundle of sage and cleared the energy in my sister’s new cell.
