Page 73 of Dawn Unearthed

Rowen stood after the others had left, and only our small group remained. “Come with me to the magic shop. We can eat, speak, and then we will meet with the rest of the town for the wake.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go take a nap or something?” Rome asked, and I frowned up at him.

“Do you think me so weak that I need to sleep right now?” I asked before I shook my head. “Sorry, I’m tired, but I need to do something. We need to do something.”

I met Rowen’s gaze, and she gave me a tight nod. “That’s what we will discuss. Before we meet the others and grieve with our town, with our people, we will decide what we must do.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.” Trace held out his hand for Laurel. “Come on. I’ll walk you.”

“I can walk myself,” she said, but she still took his hand. She squeezed it slightly, and I saw the grin play on her lips. He was trying to make her smile, trying to make her laugh or feel at least some joy, and I was grateful for that. Jaxton followed them, whispering something to Laurel that made her smile, as well. Ash followed his sister after giving Rowen a long look. Rowen didn’t walk with him, instead falling into step with Rome and me. The three of us followed the group towards the magic shop.

As soon as we stepped into the building, I inhaled the sweet scents of herbs and magic. It warmed me, settled into my skin as it soothed me. I wasn’t sure how we would protect our town and those we loved, especially after losing my aunt. But I knew we needed to try.

“I know we’re here to protect the town, but first, there’s something else we must do,” Rowen said as she cleared her throat.

I looked up at her. “What do you mean?”

“There’s someone we need to say goodbye to.”

I froze, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. I turned, and I knew that shape, that soft smile. She was but a shade, but not the same that Faith could raise. I knew this woman. I knew this spirit.

“Aunt Penelope,” I whispered.

Laurel sucked in a shocked breath and held out her hand. “No, you can’t be here. They will use her.” She rolled on Rowen. “What have you done?”

Rowen shook her head. “It wasn’t me.” A single tear fell. “It wasn’t me.”

“It was none of you, my children,” Aunt Penelope said, her voice sounding faraway, distant. “I lingered just for a moment because I wanted to make sure you knew what must be done. I love you all. You were all strong, together. Remember that. Know you must be together. I love you. Stand strong and fight. Remember who you are. Where you come from. And know that you always have one another.” She faced me as tears fell freely down my cheeks now. “I love you, daughter of my heart. I love you so much.”

Pain shattered me, and if it weren’t for my bond with Rome, I’d likely be on the floor without strength. “I love you so much. How are you here?”

“As I said, I lingered. Now, I must go.” She looked at Rowen. “I need to go before they find me.”

Chills spread over me. “Could Faith use her? Her spirit?”

“Maybe not Faith, but the one she calls Oriel,” Rowen answered, wrath in her tone. “We need to be careful. There’s something I could say to send her away.” She turned to my aunt. “This means you can’t come back. Ever. The necromancer cannot get you.”

Penelope nodded. “I understand. I only lingered because of the magic here. I do not want to stay. It’s not my place any longer. It’s yours. I love you all. Fight. Remember who you are.”

“Come with me, Laurel,” Rowen said. “We need to gather the rest of the herbs. I did some before the funeral, but now it’s time to do the rest.”

Laurel looked frozen for a moment before she shook herself and went to help. “I can’t use magic.”

“You can do this spell. It won’t hurt.”

“You say that, and yet I feel like it will.”

I looked between them, nodded at Rowen, then followed. “Here, let me help,” I said, standing between them so they would stop bickering and looking as if they wanted to hurt one another because of their pain.

Rowen gave me a tight nod. “Come now, the three of us will work as one.”

“I’ll help,” Laurel asserted. “For Penelope.”

Rowen gripped the other woman’s hand. “I know. If I could take all of your pain, I would.”

The two women shared a look.

“I know that, too,” Laurel said, and I lowered my head and gathered what Rowen told me to.

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