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“I need you.”

And with the tremendous rumble of thunder in the distance, I closed my eyes and slumped to the ground, letting my head sink limply against the cold railing.

A shadow flashed across my tear-blurred vision, and it was as if something white had shot across my view, but I was too exhausted, squeezed my eyes shut, and surrendered completely to my inner despair.

Chapter 49

Emely

Amulet

Angus MacRae

I rushed into the room and found myself looking into the startled faces of the others.

Quickly, I tucked my hair behind my ear and straightened my white blouse under my pine green sweater vest, which had slipped slightly at the collar. I probably looked like a scarecrow, and the worst part was that at that very moment, I caught the eye of Miles, who was standing by the closed curtain of the huge window.

I had already expected him to laugh at me with that incredibly insufferable grin and a mocking shake of his head. But instead, he looked me up and down, which sent a pleasant tingling sensation over my skin, slowly spreading to every part of me that he was looking at.

Damn it. I should be mad at him for just showing up at the beach.

“Everything okay?”

In alarm, I looked at Larissa, who had asked the question, and my gaze lingered on Bayla.

Just an hour ago, I had felt her in my mind, seen images of a dangerous place, the lighthouse in Quatura territory, located near the witches’ headquarters.

She had been there, no doubt about it. Even though she wasn't allowed to go anywhere downtown. Not alone.

I had tried to talk to her, but she had been distraught and barely responsive when she had wordlessly pressed my car keys into my hand.

After all this time, she was still in my head. And if this didn't stop soon...

Bayla avoided my gaze. A clear sign. Something was wrong with her. And I couldn't talk to Julian about it because he was still gone.

“Emely?”

I looked back at Larissa, with a growing urge to ask her where she had been yesterday when her entire clan had been looking for her, but I refrained because it was none of my business. In any case, she hadn't been at the party, and that should reassure me.

“Yes, I... had something to do.”

I bit my tongue in embarrassment.

All I had done was run through the woods in Senseque form, losing track of time. I had needed it.

My head was cluttered with things I didn't yet know how to carry on my shoulders. I needed strength, had to get used to this new chaotic life and solve all these problems. I had to become stronger.

“Which shoe store did he drag you to this time?” Miles asked, and I couldn't help but stare at him again.

Why was he so unbearably nosy? Was he proving to me what I already knew? He was jealous.

“He took me to Silvers&Golds to get my ring size,” I lied, forcing a smile I didn’t feel.

Miles’s expression immediately stiffened.

It would remain my secret that this wasn't true and that the mere thought of such a scenario intimidated me more than a little.

But I enjoyed the triumph and walked over to the others.