“The only question that remains is whether or not Evie can pull it off,” Tianna said.
The question that remains is … what are they all smoking?
Cass dropped onto an open chair at the table as I sank deeper into mine. “Psh,” he said while adjusting his fanny pack. “My girl can do anything. She’s the best bounty hunter there is. I’m sure she’s also the best kitsune. All you have to do is teach her how to use her transformation magic.”
I hid my panic for Cass’ sake and attempted a smile, grateful that he had enough confidence to make up for all that I was currently lacking.
Brock’s cell phone rang, and when his gaze fell on the screen, some of the color left his cheeks.
“Fuck,” he said. “It’s the wolf council. I like this plan, but don’t do a single thing until I get back. I have to take this call. I’ve already waited longer than I should have. The seethe will be reporting their deaths. It won’t take long. We can get to work when I get back.”
Everyone smiled their acquiescence with the alpha’s order until Brock was out of earshot. Then they all started moving at once.
“I take it we’re not waiting for Brock to get back?” Molly asked.
“Hell no,” Willemena said. “There isn’t a second to spare. Besides, he’s not my boss. I haven’t lived as long as I have to start following orders I don’t want to.”
“Yeah,” Tianna said, shadowing the witch as she gathered crystals from around the house and laid them on the table. “The only one who’s a part of his pack is Evie. The rest of us don’t have to do a thing he says.”
Oh God.This was going to come around to bite me in the ass. I could feel it.
“What are the crystals for?” Molly asked, picking one up and examining it.
“Put that down,” Willemena snapped. “You do not mess with a witch’s crystals. Hasn’t anyone bothered to teach you any manners?”
Molly didn’t cower. She placed the crystal back on the table slowly. “What are they for?” she asked again, uncaring that an old and powerful witch had just chewed off her head. I had to fight a grin. Molly was fierce.
“Crystals augment magic,” Willemena said. “They can also sustain it. Evie needs all the help she can get, especially since she has to manage magic she’s never done before while in fox form, we’re going to amplify things a bit.”
“Think of it as a battery,” Tianna said. “We’re going to supercharge Evie’s magic.”
Great. Supercharge Evie when she doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing!
“Is it safe?” Molly asked.
“Safe enough,” Willemena answered, not reassuring me in the least.
“Don’t worry,” Cass said to Molly. “My Evie is tough as nails. She’ll get it done.”
All that was left was to hope he was right. I had everything to live for now. I wasn’t going to let a fucking dead vamp take that from me.
I had a family. I had a pack. And I was keeping them.
9Just Breathe
“You got this, Evie.”Cass was still standing on the chair around the dining room table. His gaze was fierce as he peered at my fox.
‘Cass, I love you, but let’s be real. I don’t fucking got this. I’m dead.’Bile rose in my throat. I was totally going to botch this. My head would end up on Nathan’s body or we’d both turn into foxes or something else awful would happen and then the kill spell would take me out.
Reo and Haru were transporting Nathan’s body to the house right now. Brock was still on his call so we were forging ahead. I had minutes to prepare. Minutes!
‘Listen, Evie girl. It’s like my illusion magic. You just need to visualize. Reach out and grab Nathan’s hand and then visualize him being you. Then visualize you shifting back from a fox but into his form, to look like him. Easy peasy.’
For the first time in my life, I wanted to throat punch my bestie. Either he was totally delusional, or he actually thought what he just said to me was in any way easy. Cass once told me it took a decade to properly learn his illusion magic, but I wasn’t going to mention that now.
Willemena burst into the cabin then with Tianna hot on her heels. “The sky is darkening! The kill spell is getting restless. We need to do this now or it will start to strike from the skies, seeking out Evie’s energy.”
‘What the actual fuck did she just say?’I asked Cass.
