Page 24 of The Warlock's Trial

One goes left, and one goes right.

You’ll meet back up late tonight.

For the bride taking the groom’s last name,

Don’t peek outside or you’ve lost the game.

I smiled. “It’s a scavenger hunt!”

“They’re stealing you from me!” Lucas protested playfully.

“You’ll get me back tonight,” I teased.

“They better bring you back in one piece,” he joked.

I sucked a breath. “I don’t know. We’re walking into danger here.”

Lucas tapped his chin. “I guess we’re just going to have to take a risk.”

“I’m the one with rules,” I said, waving the paper at him. “The only question is, which one of us goes where?”

Isa and Oliver pushed past us, and Isa turned the hall to the right. She started meowing, while Oliver went for the stairs.

“I guess that answers that question,” Lucas said. “Have fun.” He placed a kiss on my lips, and we went our separate ways.

I followed Isa and found another box sitting at the end of the hall. I opened the box and jumped when a spell like fireworks erupted out of the box. White sparkling lights exploded above my head and rained down on me. A magical tune of celebration sang from somewhere inside the box. I laughed as I pulled the scroll out and began to read it.

Congratulations, Nadine. You found your first clue.

The second one may be a challenge for you.

Downstairs and through a door is another clue,

If you want to have your cake and eat it, too!

I thought about it for a few moments, but I wasn’t sure what door Onyx was talking about. I figured the cake had to mean something, so I went downstairs to the kitchen. I noticed all the windows in the house were covered by curtains. They were really serious about me not peeking outside.

In the kitchen, I started opening the cabinet doors, but I didn’t find any clue box. I checked the pantry, but still nothing.

I read over the clue again, tapping my foot. “Mm, Isa. You’d think the cake would be a clue to the kitchen, right? Or maybe the dining room…”

I trailed off as my eyes landed on the oven. “I’ve got it!”

I opened the oven door, and victory surged through me when I found a cupcake sitting inside. It was decorated in purple frosting with teal sprinkles. I withdrew it from the oven and turned it around, looking for clues, but I didn’t find any writing on it. I peeled back the cupcake liner, thinking I’d find a clue inside, but there was nothing there, either. It was obvious what I had to do.

I bit into the cupcake, and the most glorious spell overtook my whole body. Joy filled my chest, and a tingling sensation made me feel as if I was floating several inches off the ground. The euphoria made me giddy. I closed my eyes to take it in.

The spell lasted only a few seconds, before I felt my feet against the solid ground again. I opened my eyes to see a piece of paper sticking out of the cupcake. I pulled it out and cleaned it off, then unfurled the paper.

We knew you could do it.

You’re so very clever.

The third clue is hidden

Where you’d feel better.

I had to think about this one for a minute, until I realized it could only mean the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. I went to the bathroom, where I found a cauldron sitting on the counter. A shimmering purple liquid swirled inside the pot, and a teal vial sat beside it.

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