Page 97 of Wicching Hour

Declan, who could, of course, hear both sides of the discussion, pulled the phone from my hand. “You need to get ready and practice. I’ll talk to her.”

Nodding, I blew out a breath and handed him the phone before going out the back door and over the railing. I didn’t have long to practice. Treading water, I closed my eyes and shoved out the hurt and betrayal. I thought of the ocean, the force of the waves, and pushed my magic onto the deck.

It took a few tries. Okay, more than a few but I had a lot on my mind. I opened my eyes, staring at the open door to my studio. Declan’s voice was raised, so I went in.

“She’s been working her ass off trying to make you two happy, taking on all the danger while you pass judgment, always finding her lacking in some way. She’s a fucking miracle, but you two never fail to find fault.”

He paused, listening, and then said, “No. I’m not. She just found out some hard truths tonight that broke her heart, but she’s still getting ready to battle a demon.” He paused again. “Guard dog? Yeah, hilarious. Just know Arwyn has a very protective wolf in her corner now. And unlike you, I’ll always be on her side. So, are you going to come back her up or are you just going to let the rest of us risk our necks?”

He listened a moment and then threw the phone, but I flicked my fingers, catching it. Bracken was just moving his hand, no doubt to do the same, when they both turned to the open door.

“Arwyn?” He was staring right at me but didn’t seem to see me.

I looked down and didn’t see myself either. “Can you hear me?”

Both continued to stare through the doorway.

I thought of vocal cords again and cleared my throat. “What happened?”

He walked right through me onto the deck. “Ursula, where are you?”

I pushed harder and heard a sharp intake of breath. When I turned toward the sound, I found a wide-eyed Bracken.

“How did you do that?” he asked.

“Can you hear me?”

He nodded.

“Oh, good. I got that working,” I said.

Declan stood in the doorway, looking astonished. Pointing behind him, he said, “You’re in the water. How are you here?”

“I know, right. This was what my dad was teaching me earlier. He wants me in the water and sending this shadow out to deal with Calliope.”

Bracken blinked. “But can you do magic in that state?”

I flicked my fingers and the lights went out. With a shrug, I turned them back on and said, “Looks like.”

“Are you an apparition or physically here?” Bracken walked closer and put a hand on my cheek.

We approach a grand double door that looks weatherbeaten. Bracken has the demon blade in his hand. He thrusts it forward, popping a ward. The door clicks open and he reaches for the doorknob.

Terror floods my system and I try to stop him, but he’s already touched the knob. Convulsing, smoke rises off him, along with the acrid scent of burned hair. He’s blown back into the courtyard. Declan and I run to his crumpled body. His skin is charred, his expression grotesque. Dead.

On a huge intake of breath, I opened my eyes and stepped away from Bracken’s hand. “You can’t come with us.”

“Don’t be silly,” he protested. “Of course I’m coming.”

“No.” Sudden tears flooded my eyes. “You can’t. If you come, you’ll die.”

He stilled a moment and then said, “But if I don’t, who will die in my stead?” He paused, patting his pockets absently. “I know not to touch your skin, yet I felt compelled to do it just then. I could have touched your sleeve to know if you were corporeal, but I touched your skin. Was I influenced to do that, so you’d see what you saw? What if my not going weakens our side and Declan dies instead? What if it’s little Faith?”

He shook his head. “We have a plan and it’s a good one. They’re clearly nervous or they wouldn’t be trying so hard to derail us.” He pointed at Declan. “He never loses his temper and yet he’s yelling and throwing phones. No. We’re not changing the plan now. We have them spooked, which means we’re on the right track.”

My phone buzzed. Declan went to the couch to get it. “Can you open it in this state?”

“I guess we’ll find out.” I reached for it. “If it slides through my hand, try to catch it.”

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