Page 139

I couldn’t sleep without him.

And I couldn’t succeed in this task without him.

I needed Draven. I wanted to be with him. Maybe it was a bad idea. Maybe he’d never fully trust me again, but I had to try. “Come on, sweet girl. Let’s go.”

My phone rang as I was locking up.

Penny.

“Hey, Pen, everything okay?”

Silence.

“Pen?”

“I-Iris…oh goddess. Sapphire’s here. She’s at the front door. I told her to leave, but she won’t go.”

Fuck. “Is your dad home?”

“No.”

“When did you last strengthen your wards?”

“I…I don’t know.”

Not good. “Lock yourself in a room and start warding it, Pen. Over and over again, make it as strong as you can.” Nia and I jumped into my car. “I’m on my way.”

“No, just, I need someone to talk to until Isaac gets here. He’s on the way.”

I got in my car and headed for her house, anyway. I didn’t trust Isaac to protect Penny from his psycho mother. Gunther lived near the council buildings for an easier commute, and not far from Willow’s shop. “I can be there in a few minutes.”

“No, it’s too dangerous,” she said.

I turned onto Casper Road, where there were several cafés and bars and where all the council members often came to lunch. It was busy, people filling the outdoor tables—

I did a double take.

Isaac Eldridge and Sapphire were sitting outside a cafe.

Where they weren’t was at Penny’s house.

What the actual fuck was going on?

I slammed on the brakes, pulling into the nearest park.

Penny said Sapphire was at the door, that she’d talked to her, but she couldn’t have done that because Sapphire was sitting right there. Penny had lied to me.

“Iris?” Penny said.

“Is Sapphire still there, Pen?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re sure it’s her?”

Silence. “Yes.” Her voice sounded weird.

“Are you absolutely sure?”