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I look at the owl, and he’s hopping across the counter, his wings fluttering. Narrowing my eyes, I look back toward the door.

“I found this yummy restaurant,” Aria responds. “I wanted to stay in there and just smell the food.”

The bags rattle.

I take a step, and the bird looks at me. I can’t describe accurately what I sense in his eyes, but it’s not good.

“What the fuck?” Aria grits out.

I move.

“Oh, shit,” Savy gasps.

Everyone follows as I rush through the door.

Griffon is standing in the store, grinning. He lifts his hand, his mouth moving silently.

My body freezes just over the threshold. I watch helplessly as he winks at me. Ice covers my skin, growing thicker every second.

“Stop,” Savy growls, stepping forward. “Don’t hurt him.”

I can still hear everything, yet I can’t move.

“He’s still alive,” Griffon says. “He’ll stay that way as long as you listen to me.”

“What?” Aria asks, stepping slightly in front of Savy.

Fire.

The ice begins to melt from my arm.

I stare at my soul bond. She lifts her arm, her magic emerging from her palm.

“Aria, spell him,” she demands.

If Aria centers her magic on him, time will stop, and his spell will be canceled.

Fire.

Griffon looks at me, narrowing his eyes, and increases his spell. The melting ice regenerates. My heart pounds, knowing I can’t get to her before he hurts her. We underestimated his power. I can’t see Rome and Mara, but I know they're frozen too. Lace won’t have any way to remove the spell on her. Mateo is skilled, yet there is no movement behind me, except the fluttering of wings.

I can’t give up.

Fire.

“Aria.” Savy’s magic floats through the air, yet the room stinks of evil.

“Don’t you want to talk to your father?” Griffon smiles.

“Father?” Aria asks faintly.

Savy’s spell halts.

Fuck.

Chapter Twenty-One

Savy