Page 121

The hum of magic from Wills’s blood was instant. She recited the spell, and I repeated it. As soon as I finished, the small red light flashing on the panel died.

“It worked.” We’d never tried anything like this. We’d heard of it being done, the witch–familiar connection acting like a kind of conduit. Familiars were often sent in by their witches to do tasks for them, especially animal familiars, since they could go places undetected, but we’d never tried.

She sighed in relief. “Thank fuck. Let me know when you’re out.”

We disconnected, and I shoved my phone away and walked deeper into the house. If he knew something about Jasmine that he wasn’t telling me, I’d find it. My fox’s ears were up, listening for any sign of life in the big, old house. I sniffed the air, searching for her scent, but I wasn’t getting anything, not under a layer of floor cleaner and bleach. No one used that much of the stuff unless they were trying to mask something—or someone.

I headed for the stairs. I’d start at the top and work my way down.

I wasn’t leaving until I’d searched every single room in this house.

Jasmine

* * *

I wrapped my arms around my knees tighter, shivering, my muscles seizing as waves of agony radiated through me. If I didn’t die from the emotional wound Xavier had torn open when he released my feelings for Ren, then he’d make me suffer when he came back.

There was no escape from this world he’d created.

In this realm, it was as if I were in his mind. The rooms where he’d locked away the most vulnerable parts of himself in his psyche, where he kept his deepest fears, were locked here as well. He had walls so thick in his mind I couldn’t get through, but here, in this realm, those rooms were guarded by monsters, dark shadows with sharp teeth and claws.

I didn’t know if he knew they existed. I had to assume he avoided those places here the same way he did in his mind. The house was big enough that he’d never have to go to those rooms, in this realm or the one he occupied.

A creak came from outside the door. I stilled.

Oh goddess, he was back.

I dragged my upper body off the floor and somehow struggled to my feet. The handle rattled, followed by the sound of metal on metal, the handle turning again—the lock clicked.

I stumbled back several steps, fear, adrenaline spiking so high black dots danced across my eyes.

The door swung open and the light flicked on.

Ren.

I ran to him.

Ren

* * *

I walked deeper into the basement room. The walls were covered in bookshelves. Old books by the looks. The guy liked globes, and there was a blackboard with chalk drawings on it. Symbols of some kind. A mat had been rolled back and there was a sigil configuration on the floor.

I stayed clear of whatever that was painted on the floor and pulled out my phone, taking pictures of it and the blackboard. I’d never seen anything like them. I took a few more of the room, then shoved the phone back in my pocket. Striding to the desk, I searched the drawers, then moved to the shelves. There was nothing here. Nothing that would lead me to Jasmine, anyway. Why the fuck was my gut telling me this was where I should be?

The urgency tightened in my chest. “Jasmine?” Her name fell from my lips, desperation making me say it again, louder this time, then again—until I was roaring her name, not caring who the fuck heard me.

Jasmine

* * *

A sob escaped as Ren lost it, calling my name until his voice was raw.

I lifted my hands to his face, but they went right through, like he was a ghost. “I’m here. I’m right here.”

He looked straight ahead, looking through me. His chest heaved as he stared unseeing right at me. “Where the fuck are you, butterfly?” he choked. “I need you to come home to me.”

With the walls inside me gone, the love I felt for him flowed through me and straight to him. “I’m here!” I cried out again, willing him to see me.