I collapse into the armchair and hug a pillow to my chest. “Sebastian swore it wasn't the spell that set him free. It was just crazy timing.”
“And probably why he didn’t retaliate this time.” Rowan adds distractedly. “He didn’t care that we broke his hold because he didn’t need the sigils anymore. He’s powerful enough on his own.”
“That doesn’t bode well for the next two rings of warding. Now that he’s broken through one, it won’t take him long to break through the others.”
“Tharuzel isn’t our most immediate problem.” Asher finishes his doomscrolling and sits up. “Where the fuck are Orion and Izzy, and why haven’t we heard from Mica and Clara?”
Wylder sets up a round of tea and hot chocolates on the kitchen island with careful precision. “They should be there soon. I’m sure they’ll let us know as soon as they have an idea of what happened.”
Asher scoffs. “Laurel is what happened. We all know it.”
He’s probably right, but I don’t need to feed his anxiety. “She won’t be anyone’s problem much longer. Wait and see.”
Wylder looks up from making tea. “Wait, what did I miss?”
I run through everything that’s happened since last night and realize I forgot to tell him. “With Sebastian showing up with the plan for the sigil cleanse, it got lost in the shuffle.”
“What did?”
“Yesterday, Garrison Stonehoof teleported in, gave me super high-level clearance access to the Order database, and Asher and I identified the two mystery witches meeting Laurel. I sent the intel to him and to Vale. We’re waiting to hear back.”
Wylder is around the counter and hugging me in the blink of a moment. “Poppy, that’s incredible. That’s a big step closer to finding your sisters and figuring out what Laurel and her co-conspirators are doing.”
I like this new PDA version of Wylder. He’s a lot less broody and more snuggly. “We actually think we know what they’re doing.”
Wylder eases back. “What?”
I explain our theory and, as horrible as it is, the more I think about it, the more I think I’m right.
Wylder whistles through his teeth. “If that’s true, it’s going to destabilize those three covens.”
“Or more,” Rowan adds. “Nyx Blake and Heath Walker are only two other coven leaders that we know of. That doesn’t mean there aren’t others involved.”
Sad but true.“Well, the authorities are on it, and there’s nothing for us to do about it.”
“So that leaves us sitting here worrying.” Asher's leg bounces against the couch cushion. "Still nothing from Orion or Izzy. Clara says she and Mica checked Ashcroft and there’s no sign of them.”
Dammit.We should’ve noticed them missing from the chat earlier. Maybe then we could’ve been looking for them. “Man, I hate not knowing if they’re okay.”
Asher grunts. “That’s how we feel all the time around you, Pops. You’re a hard woman to love.”
I chuckle. “Sorry. I’ll try not to be such a burden of worry in the future.”
“You do that.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and Asher lets out a long exhale. “Thank you, sweet Baby Yoda.”
I pull out my phone and open the chat room.
ORION:We're safe. Explain soon.
Relief floods through me so fast I almost laugh.
"Thank the Goddess," Rowan breathes, slumping onto the couch. "Took them long enough."
"At least they're okay." I reread the message, wondering whatExplain sooncould mean.
Wylder sets a mug in front of me and brushes his fingers against mine. “That's one crisis off the list.”
