“You doing okay?” Cal asked, sinking into the couch next to me.
“Nope.” I exhaled. “What about you?”
“No. This is all so fucked up.” Cal ran a hand through his hair, staring at the cards strewn about the coffee table. “Emory have any luck?”
“Nothing definitive.”
“Any idea what those cards mean?”
“Emory said something about conflict and family. She’ll have to be the one toconnect the dots.”
“Okay, I got it!” Emory hollered from the other room.
I stood, stretching my legs and led the way into the kitchen.
“Anyone want a cup of coffee?” I asked, starting to brew a much-needed pot.
“No, thanks.” Cal shook his head, looking pointedly at his watch.
I shrugged. “Don’t judge me, Callum. We have a long night ahead of us.”
The rich aroma filled the kitchen, and I poured myself the largest cup I could find in the cupboard. Steam wafted from the mug as I added oat milk and honey. I raised the glass to my lips,blowing on it before taking a cautious sip, careful not to burn my tongue.
Emory laid the map of the town from our dad’s office on the kitchen island. The clear quartz crystal hung from a chain, and I watched with anticipation as she held it over the map. It swung clockwise over and over again. Never stopping.
“It’s not working.” Emory sighed. The crystal continued to spin. “It’s like it can’t locate her at all.”
“How is that even possible?” Cal asked, coming up behind Emory. I didn’t miss the way she leaned closer to him. As usual, Cal seemed oblivious to Emory’s feelings.
“I don’t know. These things can be finicky, and I might not be in the right headspace to be scrying.” Emory continued to hold the crystal above the map, but it never stopped spinning.
Emory’s magic searched and came back empty. No echo, no trace. Kenna was nowhere to be found.
CHAPTER 36
GREY
It only took Lyra two hours to text me. I expected it to be some long-winded apology, but it only said to meet her at the church and bring the book so she could remove the collar.
My hands shook with anger as I reread the message. I slammed my phone down and watched it shatter into a thousand tiny pieces all over the Dutchman parking lot.
She knew just what to say to get me to the church, and once she removed the collar, she’d be free of me. I wouldn’t be so lucky. She’d etched herself so profoundly into me that her presence went deeper than the ink of my tattoos. It was carved into my bones.
I tried to start my car. Click-click-click-click. Fuck me. The starter must be bad. I punched my fist against the steering wheel.
I guess I was walking.
Thirty minutes later I pushed open the church door, only to find it empty. I stepped inside, an unnatural coldness brushing against my skin. It was a warning to any who entered, and I was acutely aware of the dangers lurking in the dark. Hellhounds,wraiths, and whatever the fuck else decided to show up. The church was a beacon for the supernatural.
The pew creaked and groaned, echoing into the darkness as I plopped myself down and waited.
“Hello?” a timid voice called, but it didn’t belong to Lyra. I turned to find big brown doe eyes staring at me.
Kenna Whitethorn hovered at the threshold of the church.
My lightning flared, ready to strike if she advanced. But she just stood there and stared.
“Is Lyra here?” she asked, looking around the church.
