“Wait.” I put up my hands, and Callan looked over his shoulder at me. “We can’t do this.”
Callan paused, waiting for my next words.
“Frank is practically a sacred tree to the city of Weed. Causing his death, even in the dignified way you have so carefully planned, is just… wrong.” My stomach relaxed slightly as I voiced what I had been feeling.
Callan stood and put the cork back in the vial. “I trust your instincts. If you don’t want to do this, we’ll find another way.”
“That’s the problem, isn’t it? There is no other way. It’s sacrifice Frank or never find theVanished Compendium.”
“Maybe there’s some avenue we haven’t explored.”
But even as Callan said the words, I knew they weren’t true. The quill was the most promising lead to the book that the Root and Vine Society had ever had, and since they had me, a magical botanist with every affinity power, just like the Renaissance-era botanists who had written the book with the quill, we had a shot at using it.
“I just wish we knew who had put the blocking spell on the quill and why. Maybe there’s a reason they didn’t want the book to be found.”
“I’m certain there was a reason. But that was a long time ago. Circumstances change,” Callan said. He nestled my hands in his, squeezing warmth into them. His eyes found mine again, his long dark lashes sweeping across my face once more. “What do you want to do, local?”
Local. There was that nickname he had given me on our very first meeting. But it wasn’t just a nickname. In Weed, California, Iwasthe local, and therefore, Frank was my responsibility. No one else in the Root and Vine Society could understand what the tree meant to the community.
No, I couldn’t participate in killing the majestic oak, and I couldn’t let my friends go through with it either.
“We can’t do it,” I breathed.
Callan’s shoulders fell, but he nodded and gave my hands a squeeze. “Okay. Plan’s off. We need to find another way to locate the book.”
Even though I was the one who suggested the change, I was full of questions. “What will we do about Wyatt? Once he has an expert examine the fake quill I gave him, he might be back for that one.” I nodded toward Callan’s backpack, where the real quill resided.
Callan straightened at the mention of his brother but didn’t hesitate to respond. “It doesn’t matter. The quill can’t be used while the blocking spell is in place. As long as Wyatt doesn’t know about the Frank connection, he’ll never be able tounblock it either. And you are the only one with all the affinities who can use the quill, so he wouldn’t get far, regardless.”
The little relief in the tightening of my stomach vanished. I was putting Evergreen Academy and the Root and Vine Society at risk by not taking the final step to find theVanished Compendium.But killing Frank was a step too far, even in dire circumstances.
“I’m sorry,” I said, barely able to meet Callan’s eyes. “I really thought I could do this, but now that we’re here, I know it’s not right.”
“Well, I’m glad to see you two made the correct decision. I’m pretty fond of Frank here.”
We jumped at the sound of an unexpected deep voice, and I spun to see a man who had appeared out of nowhere. There was something vaguely familiar about his tanned skin and pine-green ball cap, which were slightly illuminated by the lantern he was holding.
Callan’s eyes shot up to the trees, and I realized that was where the man had come from.
How much had this stranger overheard?
“By the looks on your faces, I can tell you weren’t expecting me. But if you two are magical botanists and you’re doing what I think you’re doing, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”
Chapter Two
Shock coursed through me. The man who had appeared out of nowhere on the Wildflower Trail had just mentioned magical botanists. Humans didn’t know about magical botanists, which left one option. This man was one of us.
Callan stepped forward, positioning me slightly behind him. “Care to introduce yourself?” he asked, and I once again marveled at his ability to sound completely calm in tense situations.
“My name’s Oren Cesalpin, and I’m a forester here in Siskiyou County.”
My eyes widened. So that was why I recognized him. I had probably seen him at the tree cuttings each Halloween. I stepped forward, coming side by side with Callan. “And you’re a magical botanist?”
He nodded. “Tree affinity. Members of my family have beentaking care of the trees in this stretch of woods for a hundred years. Before Wildflower Trail even existed, in fact.”
Callan and I exchanged a look.
“Want to tell me what you are doing here?” Oren asked. His gaze flicked to Frank.
