"The siphoning plot ran deeper than we knew." Garrison continues. "We identified those first three covens when you identified Nyx Blake and Heath Walker from the meeting you interrupted, but we have confirmed another three coven leaders involved and two more under suspicion."
My stomach turns. "How far does it go?"
"Far enough that I won't rest until every one of them is rounded up." Something fierce flashes in his gaze. "You have my word, Poppy. We won't stop until every one of these people is weeded out.”
I believe him. Garrison Stonehoof doesn't make empty promises.
"Thank you." The words feel inadequate, but they're all I have left in me to give.
He rests his massive hand on my shoulder and squeezes. "Get some rest. Your sisters will need you when they wake."
He’s halfway to the door when a hoarse voice chimes in. "Sounds like I missed one hell of a party."
I twist around and am at my sister’s bedside in a heartbeat. "Violet? Are you all right?”
Her dark brown gaze—the same shade as Lily and Dad—meets mine. She looks confused, maybe a little disoriented, but aware.
Tears blur my vision as I grab her hand. “Hey there. You’re safe now.”
“Lily?”
“Her too.” I lean to the side so she can see our little sister in the next bed. “We got you both out… all of you.”
She squeezes my fingers and stares up at me. “Wow, you got boobs.”
A laugh breaks through my sob. “Yeah, that happens.”
Violet's gaze drifts around the room, taking in the infirmary, the other beds, the quiet chaos of recovery. "What happened?”
I brush her hair back from her face. "What do you remember?”
Her brow pinches, and she closes her eyes. “Nothing, really. My mind feels foggy. I’ve got a bunch of jumbled images, but can’t put it together.”
I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.
I decide it’s good.
It’s bad enough they were captured and physically suffered. Why should they have to relive it with haunting memories?
I squeeze our joined hands. “Well, I’ll tell you what I know. The first and most important thing is that the healers think you and Lily will both make a full recovery.”
“Recovery from what?”
Garrison dips his head and slips out, giving us privacy.
I spend the next twenty minutes going over everything I know for sure and some of the things we’d been able to piece together.
When I finish, she closes her eyes. When she opens them again, tears track down her cheeks. "Five years? The last thing I remember clearly is Mom kissing us goodnight before she went to meet a witch friend for a night ritual.”
“Yeah, I woke up when Laurel came to tell Dad that Mom was in danger. He left with her and told me to hold down the fort. I did a pretty shitty job of it.”
“None of this is your fault.” Violet's voice drops to a whisper. “I can’t believe they’re both gone. I think… somewhere in my mind I knew, but to reallyknowit…”
I hold her hand tighter. “I know. It’s horrible.”
I crawl onto her bed and hug her, the two of us sharing in the profound grief of everything we’ve lost. Everything Laurel and her friends took from us.
And for what? Power? To gain the magical strength to lead a coven? It makes no sense to me. We lay there for ages, and I don’t realize I’ve fallen asleep until a mumbled groan from the next bed snaps me awake.
