Page 50 of In Dangerous Water

Two seconds later, she was snoring.

The sound had me smiling and tearing up at the same time. I brushed my sister’s auburn hair back from her face. “They thought they were runningmeoff the road,” I said to Brynn and Skye.

“Austin told us,” Brynn said, taking my hand.

“I know it’s unethical to curse someone with magick,” I said softly as not to be overheard by a passing nurse or doctor. “But I’m done. First Ryder, and now Kenna. Enough is enough.”

“I understand your need for retribution,” Brynn said, squeezing my fingers in warning. “But revenge magick? Those particular waters are dark and dangerous, Cordelia.”

“Not revenge,” I said. “Justice.”

“Well, color me intrigued.” Skye stepped closer. “What’d you have in mind?”

“I’m going to lure them out and cast for justice,” I said. “And make that stalking bitch fall by her own hand—before the weekend is over.”

“Hell yes.” Skye’s smile was a tad wicked. “I’m all in.”

“Me too,” Brynn said, looking from where Kenna lay all battered and bruised, and back to me. “Tell us what you need.”

CHAPTER NINE

Skye, Brynn, and I hatched a magickal plan of action. Each of us would work our own elemental magick—with the same intention—and complete it before sunrise. True, having all four elements working together in harmony would have been ideal, but Kenna was out of the mix temporarily, and three would have to do.

Besides, I had another idea of how to up the power of the working...and to tip the odds even more in our favor. I brought Tim up to speed on the drive back to Ames Crossing, and by the time we returned to the carriage house, it had been well after midnight.

Tim and I both went straight to bed and held each other close. After everything that had happened, we were both exhausted.

Tim was asleep within moments, but I lay awake. I took advantage of that time and mentally fine-tuned how to best cast the spell for justice. I would work it tonight.Or this morning, I realized, noting the time.

Finally, once Tim was sleeping soundly, I slipped from the bed. Tossing on a pair of sweatpants and a jacket over my night shirt, I let myself outside. Taking a moment to cast a spell so I would go undetected, I pulled up my power from the gut and concentrated on blurring my aura.

I rarely used reluctance spells, but tonight I did in order to make myself less noticeable to the cameras and the security officers that did their rounds through the mansion’s gardens. Satisfied with the magickal camouflage, I made my way barefoot through the formal gardens, heading for the private spot with the little fountain.

Now I stood in the dark, my feet on the earth, and pulled up power from the natural elements that surrounded me. My only illumination from nearby solar pathway lights, they gave me enough ambient light to allow me to see.

“Element of water,” I began, “hear my call...”

Within the fountain, the water leapt high. I required the element of water to add extra strength to the spell that I was about to cast. It responded to my call. Defying gravity, it morphed into shimmering droplets, sparkling and floating in mid-air.

Adapting a ritual that my grandmother had taught my sisters and me, I cast the spell for justice. To personalize it, I called upon an ancient goddess of the water and requested her help.

Carefully I worded my entreaty: to reveal the stalker’s identity, and to make sure that justice would be served immediately. Deliberately I left it to the goddess to decide how that would be meted out…because truth be told, the old gods were going to be much more creative than I could ever be.

“By the powers of earth, air, fire and water,” I chanted as I closed up the spell. “Please hear the call of your daughter. My adversary will be revealed and fall by their own hand; swiftly brought to face the good justice of the land.”

I tossed my hands up and the water from the fountain shot out all around me, dispersing and traveling out where my magick would begin to unfold.

I felt an innerclick, as the enchantment rolled out into the world to do its work. After whispering my thanks to the old gods and the elements, I made my way back to the carriage house. Silently, I let myself back inside. Wiped out from the events of the previous day and the magick I’d cast, I was now freezing cold. With chattering teeth, I tugged my jacket off and slipped back into bed with Tim.

I snuggled up against him to get warm and was asleep within moments.

***

Later in the morning, I met Brynn in the ballroom at the mansion. She was hauling in her first boxes filled with the florals and pumpkin centerpieces for the Halloween Masquerade Ball. The ballroom was busy, with the staff putting the finishing touches on the buffet tables and setting out dishes for the guests. The bar staff was stocking theTrois Amiswines, and across the ballroom, the DJ was setting up.

“Good morning,” I said, helping Brynn ease a box down to a long worktable.

“Did you have a good night?” she asked conversationally.

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