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Evie had arrived.

I stalked through the house searching for my mother. By now, she would know the property was compromised and I was free. The shitty front door exploded open, revealing Rowan, followed by Ash and Tess, then Evie.

I locked eyes with my best friend. “Hold on,” I croaked. I couldn’t let myself fall to pieces now.

Evie nodded and followed behind me. I gave everyone else a grim nod and stalked down the small hall.

“Moira.”

The deep, rumbling voice stopped me in my tracks. Hot tears spilled down my face.

Logically, I knew they were here. My friends. My family. But there was still a tiny part of me that thought this was an illusion. I’d wake up any moment now still locked in a cage.

“I can’t look at you right now,” I breathed. “If I do, I’ll break.”

Cernunnos said nothing for a long moment. “Then I’ll follow you and gather your pieces when it’s over.”

Evie’s warm hand slid into mine.

We continued down the hall.

Dark fog poured through one of the small, scarred doors. I stopped before it, Evie gently nudging me to the side. She placed her palm against the wood and closed her eyes. Magic, pure and the color of watermelon tourmaline, leaked from her body.

“A spell,” she whispered. “I can’t tell what. Whatever it is, it’s bad.”

Cernunnos stepped up behind me. His heat soaked into my back. “A barrier spell,” he said after a moment. “Whatever else she’s doing is hidden behind the power.”

“Should we risk it?” Evie asked, looking over her shoulder.

Whatever Cernunnos indicated, I couldn’t see. A moment later, vined tendrils snaked up and under the door, cracking the wood in several places.

“Step back,” Evie said. I did as she asked.

Cernunnos’s hands wrapped around my upper arms and gently squeezed. “We have much to discuss when this is over.”

I couldn’t acknowledge those words. Just hearing his voice made me want to shatter.

The door cracked in two and fell inward.

My mother lay suspended in a self-contained, iridescent gray bubble, black smoke roiling around her.

Her eyes glowed a strange silver color.

“What the fuck?” Evie whispered.

“Stay away from her,” Cernunnos warned.

“Break it,” I said.

Evie glanced at me. “Moira. You don’t⁠—”

“Break it,” I repeated.

My friend’s eyes softened. She stepped forward and reached out, but I took a step away. Hurt flashed over her face.

I clenched my jaw to stop myself from apologizing. Evie didn’t know. She couldn’t know what I’d gone through.

“Go outside,” Cernunnos murmured. “Take the others with you and shield everyone.”