Page 48 of Gone Hunting

I don’t move. No. She can’t mean . . .

“I’m sorry,” Celia says, her trembling alternating between severe and less pronounced. “I never wanted you to see what I’ve been through.” She bows her head. “Or what I’ve done.”

I stroke her cheek, wishing I could take away the memories that haunt her. “I’m sorry, too. Not because of what you did, but what it did to you.”

Thunder rolls in the distance. It’s different than the thunder that accompanied Mimi’s arrival, more like a screech of madness than anything nature could summon.

“Koda,” I say, sensing a freakish change in the atmosphere. “What’s out there?”

Koda doesn’t appear to pick up on what I’m feeling. But he does infer that something’s wrong. “Nothing,” he replies, peering outside. “I say we make a run for it while the coast is clear.”

He wrenches the door open, only for it to slam shut before he can clear it. He grabs the knob, pulling it hard, but it won’t give.

I turn to Mimi. “Why are you keeping us here?” I demand.

Mimi pulls another steaming cup of tea from her sleeve, her attention on the crackling embers alternating in shades of gold and red. “I told you, it’s too late to run. They’ll come for the tigress and anyone with her.”

“I’ll go alone.” Celia steps from my reach. “I’m fast. I can lead them away from you—”

“No,” I snarl. “That’s not an option.”

Koda positions himself to my right. “We’re not leaving you, Celia. We’re in this together.”

Liam, now done with his snack, edges closer, cracking his knuckles. “We didn’t get to help you track down those men, but we can help you now.”

“Wait a moment,” Gemini says. He looks to Mimi. “We came here for answers and we have none. Why did we see what we did?”

Mimi sips on her tea as another screech of thunder bellows. This one a lot closer. “That’s a good question,” she replies.

“You mean you don’t know?” Koda growls at her.

I don’t blame Koda for his harsh response. It’s taking everything I have to keep from lashing out. “Whatdoyou know?” I snap.

“Celia is cursed by darkness, as are her sisters,” Mimi answers simply. But as she continues to speak, it seems her words are only meant for Celia. “The curse backfired, my dear. Something meant to kill gave you the tigress, the wielder of fire and light, the mistress of weaponry, and the healer, instead.”

“Your other sisters’ powers,” I guess.

Celia didn’t mention what her other sisters can do, protecting them as she’s always done, even from me.

Mimi places her teacup on the saucer, appearing to work through her thoughts. “The lighter power knew you were in trouble and that they were coming for you.”

“They?” I ask. My narrowing gaze tightens. “And who are they, exactly?”

“You’re asking me, young wolf?” Mimi asks. “You sensed them, all of them. What can you tell me of their power?”

“What is she talking about?” Koda asks.

“I was with Celia when she chased down the last of her prey—”

“Don’t,” Celia says, scrunching her eyes closed. “Please don’t refer to them that way.”

It’s what they were, but Celia can’t seem to wrap her mind around it. How can she, when there’s such a disconnect between her and her beast?

“Three dark witches followed us,” I say, carefully choosing my words. “I’m sure that’s what they were. But there was another one, a light one, who was young and awkward.” It’s a strange word to use, but thinking back, it’s the only one that fits.

“Awkward?” Gemini repeats, glancing toward Koda. “What do you mean?”

“Her power was different from the others. It was strong, but raw and uncontrolled. The dark witches didn’t have that problem. They were well-trained and organized.”

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