Page 126 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

“You really should replace your locks,” Ryder said. As he raised his hand to the lock, his claws extended, and his muscles bulged.

Cady spoke. “I wouldn’t do that—”

Ryder grabbed the lock but immediately dropped it and hissed. Blisters bloomed on his reddened palm.

“It’s probably spelled to keep out any ole magical creature,” Cady finished drily.

“This is good,” I said.

“Say that to my hand,” Ryder snapped.

I rolled my eyes. “If the Reid ancestors went through this much trouble to keep the door shut, it means there’s something really powerful in there.”

“Yeah,” Walker agreed, “but how do we unlock the door?”

“Try your key,” I suggested.

Walker stared at me incredulously.

“You’re a Reid,” I said. “It might not burn you.”

Before Walker could do as I asked, Cady poked the lock and examined the tip of her finger.

“Yep,” she said and shrugged. “I felt nothing.”

“You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days,” Walker grumbled and hesitantly picked up the lock.

When it didn’t fry him, he sighed and wiggled the key into the hole. He tried to turn it but met resistance. After a few more tries, he let go of the lock.

“It doesn’t fit,” he conceded.

Ryder's voice dripped with sarcasm. “Really?”

“Would you like to try again?” Walker shot back.

Ryder glowered and walked over to the wall of weapons. He pulled a heavy, double-edged axe down and sauntered back to the closet door.

“You really think hitting it is going to work?” I asked.

“Do you have a better idea?” Ryder asked.

The answer was undeniably no, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of saying so. I tugged Cady back, and Ryder swung. Metal clanked against metal, but the lock held strong. Ryder swung again, but a wave of shimmering magic blasted him backward. Ryder flew and hit the far wall with a bang. The axe, now broken into two pieces, clattered to the ground beside him.

Just as quickly, the tidal wave of magic receded, but the lock remained unharmed and secured.

“Are you okay?” Cady asked.

Ryder lifted a single thumb.

Walker’s lips quirked, and I would’ve chided him for being a jerk, but it was the first hint of a smile he had donned since the spell to save Clyde failed.

Cautiously, I crept closer to the lock and studied it. It was as ordinary and decrepit as could be, but there had to be something we weren’t recognizing.

“It doesn’t mind being touched by the Reids,” I said. “It hates werewolves and doesn’t respond well to force. Is there another key in here? Is there some secret hunter code word?”

Walker picked up the lock and studied it. He tilted his body so I could see it too. When he flipped it over, I realized there was a particular shape to the rusty splotch.

“Wipe that off,” I said and pointed.

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