Page 126 of Scorned

“We’re headed to do a property check on our grandparents farm,” Lyric said. “We’re concerned that the storm might have caused some damage.”

Lie number two.

“That’s okay. I can try getting a ride from someone else.”

Lyric and Erik left for their mission, April took Scarlet back to her cabin, and Luka went to check on Sage because we were set to leave next. He came back a few minutes later with her in tow.

She let out a hard sigh that echoed through the small cabin. “I’m not ready for this.”

“I told Lyric I loved her,” I blurted, attempting to take her focus off the nerve-wracking mission.

Sage smirked. “About time, Asshole.” She gave me a genuine smile, then sighed, heading outside, Luka trailing behind her.

With a deep breath of my own, I stepped out the door, pulling it shut behind me. Descending the porch, the moon’s eerie red glow caught my eye.

Must be a blood moon.

Chapter 35

Sage

The night had a gut wrenching hold on me. We had to go on a mission to get my mother, and although it wasn’t as dangerous as infiltrating VRC, there was still a sense of concern. We had gone over the plans a few times, making sure that only the people going knew about it, and no one else in the camp. When I got out of the shower, there was another foreboding sensation growing in my chest, exactly like the one I felt at the hotel. I’m not sure if I was correlating the feeling with the one I had before Marcus’s death or if my witch senses were working, but I absolutely knew one thing.

Someone is going to die tonight.

We hopped in my Jeep, heading to our meet up and I refrained from mentioning the nervous alarm to Luka.

He drove the thirty minutes and I absentmindedly picked at my cuticles, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Eventually, we turned onto a dirt road with tall pine trees forming a natural canopy on either side. I glanced at the GPS and swallowed the lump in my throat, knowing we were only a minute away. And possibly only a few minutes from the death of one of my friends . . . again.

“What’s your mom’s name?” Luka asked, bringing me from my wretched thoughts.

Tearing my gaze away from the towering trees, I turned my head toward him. “Janene, why?”

“Because I can’t call her mom. I haven’t even met the woman.”

I let out a nervous laugh, trying to hide my unease. “She’s sweet. You’ll love her.”

Luka turned into a large gravel parking area where my mother and Naomi stood illuminated by our headlights. He parked, then killed the engine.

My breaths quickened and I instinctively turned to my breathing techniques to regain control over my racing heart.

Winnie laid a hand on my shoulder. “Remember to push the necklace if you feel uncomfortable.”

I nodded, then opened the Jeep door.

Meeting Luka at the hood of the car, he took my hand in his, Winnie walking on my other side.

My mother stood nervously next to Naomi, fidgeting with her hands. Her eyes shifted from me to Luka, her face lighting up with a radiant smile.

With a sudden tug, Luka pulled my hand, forcing me to come to an unexpected halt. “There are others here. I can hear them.”

“Sounds like three extra heartbeats,” Winnie added.

“Are you alone?” I asked, my eyes scanning the empty parking lot.

My mom’s face turned confused. “Of course we are.”

While I trusted her, I couldn’t help but cast a skeptical glance toward Naomi, unsure of her intentions. “Who’s with you?”

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