Page 71 of The Spell Caster

I can’t have you, he had said.

But I don’t think I can live without you.

Chapter 14

LAYLA

Iwoke in the early afternoon, thoughts tossing around my head like waves hitting the rocks. Even though I was still exhausted, I didn’t think further sleep was possible.

Costi slept soundly as I gently pulled myself out of his embrace.

After setting him an alarm on his phone, I crept out to the bathroom and washed my face, trying not to notice the dark circles under my eyes. Sativa’s new guardian, Salix, was asleep on the couch as I slipped out the front door.

I figured it was safe enough with our teams on constant patrol, and I needed to find Hazel urgently. I hurried through the Circle, watching my surroundings carefully. I saw others doing the same. Despite the breezy, sunny day, no one lingered outside.

I scurried into the library and was met with a crowd of unfamiliar witches. They took up most of the space in the center of the building, sleeping fitfully, huddled on sleeping bags and chairs. A child was crying piteously as someone tried to soothe them. Bags and piles of belongings were pushed up everywhere, and a table with water coolers had been set up on the back wall.

A teen was slumped in an armchair near the door, toying with a necklace.

“Is anyone from the library here?” I asked quietly. My stomach churned with unease.

The teen shrugged, looking at me with blank eyes.

Not knowing what to say to the young witch, I made my way to the library counter. It had been commandeered to hold brightly colored boxes of packaged food—a rarity from outside. Behind the counter, a hallway ran into a different part of the building. A light was on, so I went to investigate.

I found Hazel piling old books and papers into a box in a small conference room with a round table. “There you are,” I said, startling her.

“Oh, Layla,” she said. I couldn’t decipher her tone, but it didn’t sound overjoyed. She looked paler than usual, her greenish eyes wide and somber.

“What’s going on out there? Are those—”

“The Saltmarsh Circle,” she said, nodding. “What’s left of them…”

“Fate,” I exhaled, feeling sick. There was a crowd, but nowhere near the number of people that even a tiny Circle like Northern Sea had.

“You were looking for me?”

“I…” My problems suddenly seemed inconsequential, and I wanted to apologize and leave. But I had to try, or I’d be of no help at all. I breathed in. “Your database of circle spells. I’d like to look at it… if you’ll let me.”

Hazel frowned and glanced around to the stacks of papers and folders she was packing. “Right now?”

“I know it’s not a great time, but I need to figure out the issue with my familiar.”

She nodded slowly. “We need all the spell casters we can get.”

“Exactly. I don’t have any other skills,” I said with a wry smile.

Hazel nodded again without expression. I cringed.

The redheaded witch pulled a tablet out of a bag hanging from one of the chairs. “You can borrow this. There’s a copy of my work so far.”

“Thank you. I’ll bring it back,” I said, then nibbled the corner of my lip awkwardly. “How are you doing?”

She blinked at me. “Huh?”

“I mean, we saw some pretty, um… unusual—”

“Oh,” she interrupted, turning her face away as she busied herself with boxing again. “Oh, that. Yes, that was unusual.”

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