Page 44 of Crown of Envy

“That’s not our mission, Zara,” he interrupted. “We must obtain the Crown of Envy before Maci does.”

Zara’s body stiffened, her arms crossing tightly. Her next words came out sharp and bitter, cutting through the air like a knife. “Sure, you’ll do everything to save a vampire, but not a witch.”

I could almost taste the resentment radiating from Zara.

Lisa gently patted her thigh in a gesture of comfort. “I’m not sure the blade and the stone would be enough to save your sister,” she explained softly. “The dark magic is too strong. I believe only the Crown of Envy has the power to break the spell.”

Zara’s head snapped toward Lisa, her eyes flashing with anger and desperation. “You don’t know that,” she spat. “Justice is getting stronger.”

Lisa flinched at Zara’s tone but held her ground. “He wasn’t turned to stone, though,” she pointed out. “The stone and the blade are eliminating some of the poison, but he’s not completely cured. Only the Crown of Envy can do that.”

My stomach clenched. The reminder that Justice could still die from the envy demon’s poison chilled me. But what truly unsettled me was Zara’s insistence, the raw desperation in her voice.

I watched her from the corner of my eye, noting the tight set of her shoulders, the way her fingers twitched restlessly in her lap. Her resentment was dangerous, growing stronger with each passing moment. A knot of worry formed as I contemplated how far she might go to save her sister.

The dagger pulsed as if responding to the rising tensions. I placed my hand over it instinctively, seeking comfort in its power. As we drove in uneasy silence, I couldn’t shake the feeling Zara’s desperation was a powder keg waiting to explode.

If I didn’t find a way to defuse it, one of us could be severely injured or even killed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

As Brody eased the SUV to a stop in front of McDuff Manor, the tension in my shoulders relaxed. I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, taking in the familiar sight of the grand old building. It stood exactly as we’d left it, seemingly untouched by the chaos we’d endured.

On the porch, Garrick, Grady, and Scott stood at attention. Maggie had shifted back into her human form, her long black hair dancing in the light breeze. Their presence was a welcome sight, a small piece of normalcy in our increasingly abnormal lives.

Damon peered through the windshield with exaggerated scrutiny. “Well, would you look at that,” he drawled. “Casa Creepy is still standing. Gotta say, I half expected to come back to a smoking crater or some kind of demon block party.”

He slouched back in his seat, a lopsided grin on his face. “Hey, maybe our luck’s changing. I mean, we made it through Hogwarts’ dungeon of doom, and now the home base is intact. Who knows? Maybe we’ll find out they’ve stocked the fridge with beer and pie while we were gone.”

His gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, meeting mine with humor and underlying tension. “Though knowing our luck, they’ve probably adopted a hellhound as a new house pet. Anyone else voting we check for hex bags before we start the victory dance?”

We piled out of the car, and Damon stretched dramatically, his joints popping. “Home sweet home, kids. Let’s hope the welcome wagon doesn’t include any surprise guests of the fanged or clawed variety, huh?”

As we approached the manor, I couldn’t help but share Damon’s wariness. In our line of work, moments of peace were often the calm before the storm.

Garrick descended the porch steps, his movements cautious and measured. He scanned our group for any signs of trouble. “Good. You all survived,” he commented with relief. “No one was tainted with dark magic?”

The question turned my insides into knots. I instinctively touched the dagger, its warmth a reassuring presence.

Brody shook his head. “No, why?” His hand moved to his weapon, a reflexive action born from years of facing the unexpected. “Did the Manor come under attack?”

Garrick’s expression tightened. “Maci tried, but the wards Lisa and Zara set prevented her or the envy demons from entering.” He constantly scanned the perimeter of the property as if expecting another attack at any moment. “The strange thing was she didn’t stay long.”

Brody frowned, his brow furrowing deeply. “Meaning what?”

Garrick rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I got the feeling she knew right away the Heartstone wasn’t here.”

My breath caught in my throat. “Maybe she could sense it,” I whispered. The implications of this possibility sent a wave of nausea through me.

“Perhaps,” Garrick drawled.

My heart rate increased as a cold sweat broke out across my forehead. The others shifted uneasily, exchanging worried glances.

Justice moved closer to me, his cool presence a comfort against the rising tide of anxiety. I leaned into him, drawing strength from his proximity.

Damon’s hand twitched toward his weapon. “Great,” he muttered under his breath. “So not only is she powerful, she’s got some kind of magical GPS. That’s just peachy.”

This new piece of the puzzle cast long shadows over our previous sense of accomplishment, transforming our victory into something far more fragile. I suspected we were missing something crucial. The dagger at my side seemed to pulse in agreement.

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