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There’s a vibration in my pocket. I fumble, pulling it out, and answer it.
“What?” I ask quickly, without waiting for a greeting.
“They are both alive, and safe. Calli got a bump on her head—probably from being thrown in the van. I only got a quick look at her.” Ben’s voice comes through quickly.
“Do you know when they plan to…” I trail off, not wanting to ask the question despite my need to know.
“They don’t have a set time yet, but Cade”—I hear him sigh—“they want you to bring the grimoire. They need it for the ritual; Rosa intends for it to be a trap. Expect a call soon.”
Fuck. Calli’s phone. They must have gotten my number from it before they ditched it. Of course they would pull some shit like this. They need their creepy fucking book to even perform the sacrifice, and they think they can set me up with it.
Bastards.
My jaw clenches as I try to keep my composure.
“I’ll bring it,” I say without further thought.
“I sent everything you guys need to Jack, but Rosa will most likely tell you the location herself.”
“I’m looking forward to the conversation,” I say in a low voice as I hang up the phone.
I run my fingers through my hair. We can take Rosa and her goons, no problem, but Gregor. He’s the fucking wild card that will determine what happens. And if any of the wrong people get ahold of the grimoire, we are all fucked.
“Make sure you call your guy,” I say as I now turn to Jack.
“The flight is taken care of; I’m waiting for him to text me that the plane is ready.” I can see the worry in his eyes.
I go back downstairs and grab my duffel bag, zipping it up—I throw it over my shoulder as I make my way to my room. I open the door slowly, the room feeling empty, tossing the bag onto my bed as I stare at the safe under my bed. I hesitate as I move closer to it. The low hum coming from under it pulls me in, as if it’s calling out to me.
This is what it does. I’ve been ignoring it, but every time it comes to my thoughts, it’s as if the grimoire tries to consume me. I quickly grab the small safe and toss it into my duffel, bolting out of my room as if the room was the issue.
The safe lands hard on my workbench with a thud as I stare at it—fighting the uncomfortable feeling that the grimoire is waiting to be let out—when my phone rings. I look at the number, which is a Boston area code. I swipe to answer.
“Hello, there,” I hear Rosa’s sultry tone over the line.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask, my voice clipped.
“Oh, there’s no need for small talk, my dear boy. We both know what’s happening here. You want your sister, and I need the grimoire.”
“You need it to sacrifice her, so why would I give it to you?”
“Here are your options: She can either die a slow and painful death by my hand, or you can bring me your parents’ grimoire and we can make a trade.”
“What trade?” My confusion isn’t faked. There is no way she thinks I’m dumb enough to believe whatever she is telling me.
“You bring me the book, and I will give you your sister. Simple!” Her voice sounds too kind, it’s unnerving.
“The Covenant has been after Calli since she came of age, and now you expect me to believe you will just give that up?”
“Well, as the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea. I just so happen to have a spare witch—and I believe it’s high time the Halloway name has passed the baton to a more capable leader.”
Rosa’s full of shit. She doesn’t even know what the sacrifice is really for. It makes me sick. The idea of giving such an ignorant person something so powerful is not on the table. I won’t underestimate her, but I can go along with this nonsense long enough to get Calli out of there.
“Are you suggesting that if I hand over the grimoire, Calli and I can be free of the Covenant?”
“You get it! That’s right. You are far more of a nuisance than any of us could have expected. I think it’s reasonable for me to say I’ve met my match.” She pauses. “I have no interest in playing this little game any longer.”
I’ll play along just enough to make her think she can have it.
