Felix was already typing. “Okay. We need a solid plan. Exact timing. Backup contingencies. Who’s going in, who’s staying outside as lookout?—”
“I should go,” Ramona said immediately. “I know the building. I know where everything is.”
“I’m going with you,” Zara added. “Obviously.”
“I can handle tech,” Felix offered. “If there are any security systems, cameras, magical alarms — I can disable them remotely. For being one of the most powerful witching institutions, their servers are surprisingly vulnerable.”
“I’ll stay with Felix,” Kashvi said. “Provide backup if something goes wrong. Posey, Cammie — you two should probably stay home. We don’t all need to be accessories to grand larceny.”
“Absolutely not,” Cammie said. “I’m coming. Someone needs to keep watch.”
“And I can help with plant-based wards,” Posey added quietly. “If we need to create diversions or confuse tracking spells.”
“So we’re all going,” Ramona said.
“We’re all going,” Zara confirmed.
They spent the next hour going over details. Guard routes. Entry points. Titles and their possible locations. Felix pulled up floor plans on his laptop, showed them the security camera coverage he’d already mapped. Cammie made a list of supplies.
Eventually, Kashvi and Felix headed back to their cars — more research to do, more planning needed. Posey and Cammie followed, Posey explaining quietly what a magical ward was to Cammie.
Which left Ramona and Zara alone in the clearing, the fox pressed against Ramona’s leg.
Zara had been quiet for a while. Through the tether, Ramona felt something building — tension, anxiety, the weight of words unsaid.
“Can we walk for a minute?” Zara asked quietly.
They moved to the edge of the clearing, still visible to the others if they looked, but out of earshot. The fox followed, settling at Ramona’s feet when they stopped near a fallen log.
Zara looked stricken. Ramona had never seen her like this. The composed, controlled demon looking genuinely distressed.
“What’s wrong?” Ramona asked.
“I need to tell you something.” Zara’s voice was tight. “I should have told you sooner. Weeks ago. But I didn’t know how, and then the longer I waited, and then, today?—”
Through the tether, Ramona felt it — affection, fear, desperate vulnerability. Everything Zara was trying to say and couldn’t quite voice.
She’s going to say it, Ramona realized.She’s going to say I love you.
And that makes it real. And real means it’ll hurt when she leaves.
Ramona’s hands were shaking. She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t hear Zara say it out loud because once it was said, once it was named, there was no taking it back.
“Zara, we don’t have to talk about it,” Ramona said quickly.
Zara stopped. Looked at her. “What?”
“We don’t have to — to name it. Or define it. We can just?—”
“Ramona—”
“We have nine days left. Let’s just enjoy them. We don’t need to make it complicated.”
Zara’s eyebrows furrowed. “I’m not trying to complicate anything. I’m trying to tell you something important?—”
“I know it’s important,” Ramona’s voice cracked. “And I feel it, too, but saying it out loud makes it?—”
Zara stepped closer. “Ramona, I can’t keep this from you any longer.”
