Page 42 of Commanding Chaos

Ember took it from his hand. “When did you have time to shop?”

“She used her power to find it in fewer than three minutes.” He snatched it back and handed it to me. “I believe shopping is one of her duties in the coven, is it not?”

She screwed her mouth to one side, but she didn’t reply.

A quick magic-revealing spell wouldn’t hurt. I recited the incantation to reveal a simple beauty enhancement charm. “Unless I want to make myself more attractive, I don’t think it’ll help.”

Ember grabbed it and strode to the back of the library. She returned a moment later, wiping her hand on her pants. “No one needs magic like that right now.”

Chaos raked his gaze down my body. “You especially, Ash.”

My sister blew out a hard breath, closing her eyes and shaking her head. “Let’s go.”

We headed out the back door, and as soon as I locked it, Shade and Miles came around the corner, wearing their black spandex beastie-battling attire.

“Did you find another rift?” Miles asked.

“No, did you?” I gestured to his outfit. “You look like you’re ready to fight.” Or attend goth yoga. It would work for both.

“With the frequency it’s happening, I didn’t want to ruin my good clothes.” Poor guy. He was trying so hard, but he couldn’t hide the sadness in his eyes.

“Smart move.” I descended the back steps. Ember stopped halfway to the van.

“Where are you going?” Shade glanced at my travel spell kit before looking at my eyes. “We’ll tag along.”

“Umm…” I adjusted the strap. “That’s okay. We’ve got it. Hey, thanks for the extra shadow spells. Ember said we’re splitting up?”

“Only if we have to.” He turned to Ember. “Where are we headed?”

She made a noncommittal gesture with her shoulders. “Nowhere important.”

He crossed his arms. “It must be important if the three of you have to go together.”

I clenched my jaw. “It’s private.”

He scoffed. “I thought there were no secrets in this coven. Look what happened when Miles kept one. No offense, man.”

“Yeah.” His posture deflated. Poor, poor Miles. I would never understand why he subjected himself to Shade.

My brain scrambled, trying to come up with anything to get him off our backs. Of course, I had nothing. My mind inconveniently blanked right when I needed it most.

“If you must know…” Chaos moved beside me. “My mother passed away recently. We’re going to spread her ashes at sea.”

“Where’s the urn?” Shade would not let up. I clenched my teeth.

“We will pick it up from the undertaker on our way.” Chaos inclined his chin. “It’s a private affair, which you are not invited to attend.”

Shade sniffed. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“I’m sorry too,” Miles said. “We’ll handle anything that breaks through today. Take your time.”

I grabbed Chaos’s arm and tugged him to the van while Miles and Shade walked away, once again thanking the goddess demons were good liars.

15

ASH

The drive to the next point on the pentagram took twenty minutes with traffic. From Boston, it would take nearly an hour, which meant it would have taken Isabel at least half a day to get there by foot. More if she were traveling from one of the other points on the star. I couldn’t imagine her state of mind as she hid the skulls of the demons she had tricked.

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