Page 173 of The Demon's Spell

A lump rose to my throat. “You can’t give up. I’m the one who gives up, and you’re always there to lift me back up again.”

“I’m not giving up,” she promised. “We can win the trial, but we have to decide for ourselves where we stand on our wrongdoings. If we don’t, we put all our hope in the priestesses’ hands.”

Nadine glanced around the room, and her eyes stopped dead when she looked in the corner. I followed her gaze and realized there was a security camera mounted on the ceiling. The officers could certainly hear everything we were saying.

“We have each other. That’s all that matters,” I said, but my words felt hollow.

Nadine and I didn’t say much else, because we knew the officers were watching. Hours passed, but there were no windows in the holding room to indicate the time of day. I racked my brain for hours, trying to find a way out of this, but I came up empty each time.

It had to be past nightfall when the door opened. It was the first time anyone had been in here since they’d shoved us in these cells. They hadn’t even had the courtesy to provide us a meal. Sheriff Baker entered the room, followed by none other than Headmistress Clarice Verla.

I scrambled off my bench. “What’s going on?”

“Your lawyer’s here.” Baker didn’t sound too happy about it.

I remembered that Headmistress Verla had said she had a law degree. She’d helped Chloe when she’d been arrested earlier this semester. She must’ve convinced the priestesses to let her take our case, too.

Baker approached my cell, and his keys clanged as he unlocked the door.

“We’re getting out?” I asked.

“Your bail’s been posted,” Baker sneered.

I hesitated as I stepped out of my cell. “Aren’t we supposed to have a bail hearing?”

Baker barely acknowledged me as he moved on to unlock Nadine’s cell. “Be grateful you’re getting out at all.”

The priestesses didn’t care about procedure, apparently. Was this another ploy to parade us around town again?

The moment Nadine’s cell opened, she rushed toward me, and I scooped her into my arms. For the first time since we’d been arrested, my heart finally began to settle. They could beat us, hang us, send us straight to the Abyss. As long as Nadine was by my side, it didn’t matter. I smoothed her hair down, and I didn’t want to let her go.

But I also didn’t want to spend one more moment in this hell hole.

Baker cleared his throat. “You’re free for tonight, but your trial begins in the morning. Don’t think we won’t be watching.”

It was a threat if I ever heard one.

“Come. We have much to discuss,” Verla said curtly. She was trying to appear indifferent. The coven still didn’t know she was on our side.

Sheriff Baker didn’t look pleased as Verla led us out of the station. Twilight had already fallen by the time we stepped outside. In the night air, I finally felt like I could breathe.

“Do you have any idea the trouble you’ve gotten yourselves into?” Verla hissed as she led us toward her car. Looks like the police gave it back to her.

I frowned. “Yes, we know. We never should’ve snuck out. Did Everly at least get the scaleweed?”

Verla stopped at her car. “Yes. That’s one good thing that came from this. Now get in.”

She opened the back door for us, and Nadine climbed into the back seat.

I slid in next to her. “I don’t get it. Why would the priestesses set bail? Considering our charges, you’d think they’d want us locked up for good.”

“I’m sure they have their reasons,” Verla said as she slid into the driver’s seat.

Nadine crossed her arms. “Knowing Claudia, I wouldn’t put it past them to be using this as a money grab.”

I leaned forward. “Who posted our bail?”

Verla pulled the car onto the street. “It was a combined effort from The Coven’s Shield. We couldn’t leave you in the holding cell. We need to talk to prepare your defense.”

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