Page 6 of Crown of Envy

Lisa placed her hands over the wound, her eyes closed in concentration. A soft glow emanated from her palms. Justice’s eyes closed, then his breathing began to steady.

“There, that should buy us some time. At least, I hope it does. I have never treated anything like this before.” Lisa pulled back and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “We need to find a permanent cure—and fast.”

I stroked Justice’s thick hair, my fingers trembling as they combed through the soft strands. “What does that mean?” My voice was barely a whisper, as if speaking the words too loudly might make them real.

Lisa didn’t waver from my gaze. “He’s a vampire and stronger than us, but I don’t know anything about this type of demon venom.” Her eyes filled with a helplessness that made my stomach twist.

My hand stilled in his hair as a wave of icy fear washed over me. “You’re not saying…” I choked out, my throat tightening around the words. “You’re not saying he could die, are you?” My heart thumped, the blood roaring through me.

She pressed her lips together as she searched for the right words. After a long moment, she released a shaky sigh, her shoulders sagging. “I don’t know, Sawyer,” she admitted.

I wiped my tears away. “I can’t lose him. I just can’t. Not after everything we’ve been through.”

She grasped my hand, her fingers cold and clammy. “I wish I had answers for you. Damon and I met with a coven, though. Maybe they’ve encountered these envy demons.” Her eyes reflected the same despair that threatened to engulf me.

Sean came into the living room. “What happened?”

A red-haired woman with big blue eyes followed him. The woman wore a long black robe like something a monk would dress in. She looked down at Justice. “If you don’t find the Crown of Envy, he’ll die before the next full moon.”

Lisa put her hand on my shoulder. “That’s in less than three weeks.”

I stared at the red-headed woman. “Who are you?”

She gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m Zara McLeod.”

Lisa squeezed my shoulder gently. “She’s a witch from the Thistlewood Coven in Edinburgh and here to help.”

I glanced at Damon. He shrugged, but there was a tick in his jaw. A sure sign he didn’t trust this woman.

I stood slowly. “What exactly is this Crown of Envy?”

Brody straightened, his gaze filled with determination as he surveyed the room. “All right, everyone, listen up,” he announced. “Justice needs some rest, but we can’t afford to waste any time. Let’s gather around the dining room table and assess our current situation.” He gestured toward the table, his movements purposeful and efficient.

“We need to discuss the mirror and the crown, then formulate a strategic plan for our next move. Every second counts, and we must work together to overcome the challenges ahead. It won’t be easy, but I have faith in every one of you. Together, we will find a way to protect the innocent and bring justice to those who threaten our world.”

The crew followed Brody as I lingered back. Justice slept peacefully.

Damon came up alongside me, his eyes narrowed. “Friggin’ witches, man. I’m telling you, Sawyer. We gotta be careful with this one. Those magic-slinging chicks from Edinburgh are bad news.”

“I thought you went with Lisa to this coven.”

He shrugged and smirked. “I did. Doesn’t mean I trusted anything they said. Their meeting place was like a Halloween store complete with cauldrons, masks, potions, and creepy-shaped candles.” He shivered as if he’d walked through a ghostly apparition, then crossed his arms, leaning against the wall, his gaze focused on Zara.

I clasped his arm, feeling the tension in his muscles. “Come on. We don’t want to miss anything important.”

“They may be creepy, Sawyer, but I could feel their power,” he told me. “They’re a force to be reckoned with. If they know where this crown is, I bet they’re up to their eyeballs working with those envy demons.”

I swallowed hard, a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. The thought of the witches collaborating with the envy demons sent a wave of dread through me. They’d already wounded a vampire. What could they do to the rest of us?

CHAPTER FOUR

Damon and I walked into the dining room, where two chairs waited for us. A third remained empty, putting a hollowness in my chest. It was where Justice would usually sit. God, please let him be all right.

Zara regarded us with an intense, unwavering gaze. “Now that we’re all here,” she began with a hint of condescension.

I bristled at her tone, my hands clenching into fists beneath the table. I bit my tongue, fighting the urge to snap back at her. Damon grumbled under his breath.

Zara ignored him. She drew a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling with the effort to maintain her composure. “The Crown of Envy is from the Court of Blossoms,” she explained, her words measured and deliberate. “Centuries ago, the envy demons invaded Edinburgh. The fae came and forced them back to hell with the crown.”

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