Page 48 of Captivating Magic

“This sounds more dangerous by the minute.” Lo sat straighter and gripped Ebba’s hand. “If it isn’t safe for her, it’s not happening. I’ll find another way to save her.”

“There isn’t one.” The Aether’s intent look tried to relay the truth. “Earlier, my daughter gave us the solution. For as young as she is, she’s still able to view and weigh every possible outcome. If she said Ebba’s survival depends on you and Castor going back in time to five months ago, then that’s what it will take.”

“You really think I’ll survive this?” Ebba asked, afraid to hope.

“There’s a twenty percent chance of failure, according to my calculations. Less if you ask Beastie. But yes, I do.”

Ebba shared a concerned glance with Laszlo. “I’m worried about you more than anything. Should this go wrong?—”

“We’ve got this, Sweet. Trust the magical process.”

His smile was both a comfort and a bittersweet blow to her heart. Losing what they’d shared would be devastating.

Maintaining eye contact with Lo, she turned her head enough to ask, “Will you need to remove Lo’s memories of this time, too? Won’t the echo affect him?”

“That’s going to be trickier. He’ll need them when he returns,” the Aether said.

“Why?”

Lo answered for him. “To deal with Death if she comes for you.”

Ebba’s mouth rounded in an O as she processed the trials ahead.

“Shall we get to it?” Damian asked. His tone was kind but prodding, indicating their time had run out.

18

The living room furniture was pushed against the walls, creating a large blank space for the coming ceremony. Laszlo thanked his lucky stars Ebba wasn’t a pack rat, because there’d be no room to move despite the spaciousness of the apartment.

Castor and Alastair teleported the bed and its occupant to the center of the living room floor, but not without a wisecrack or ten from the Traveler.

“Dude, are you ever serious?” Lo snapped.

When Castor’s icy blue eyes met his, they were void of amusement. “My life has been a series of one trauma after another. I had a murderous family, and enemies who forced me to fake my death to protect my son and the woman I loved. Strangers had to raise Quentin so no one knew he was related to me. His entire life, he believed his father didn’t give a shit when, in fact, it was the opposite.” Sucking in a stabling breath, he dropped his shoulders. “If I seem blasé to you, Laszlo, it’s because I’ve had to put on an act since the day I learned to walk. But I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t care or take my responsibilities seriously.”

Feeling like an ass for his waspishness, Lo pressed a hand to the other man’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“Aw, does this make us besties?” Castor quipped, batting his eyelashes.

“Nope. Still don’t like you.” But the constant annoyance he’d felt for the man was gone, and Lo smiled to soften his reply. It helped that the guy had saved Ebba and was willing to do whatever it took to keep her alive.

“I know you,” Spencer stated. “You were there that night. You caused the accident.”

The accusation was dismissed by those who knew the truth, and his attempt to stir trouble among their group failed.

“Shut up, pig-fucker. No one believes a word out of your lying mouth,” Lo said.

“Pig-fucker?” Caster crowed his delight. “Careful, Laszlo Thorne. I’m beginning to see potential in a friendship.”

“Spare me.” To Ebba, Lo said, “Please wait in the farthest spot of your apartment. We can’t take the risk you’ll be pulled in with this spell, Sweet.”

After she was gone, they cast their circle and positioned themselves with one man at each corner of the bed.

“Damn! I forgot the globe.” Leaving the protective circle once created was never ideal, but he didn’t have a choice.

“What globe?” Damian asked with a frown. “You shouldn’t need any tool for this but the doll.”

Earlier, under the Aether’s advice, he’d texted his sister and suggested she and Rafe head home. With Damian here, they didn’t need the added artifacts. The man’s power was formidable, and although objects could enhance his abilities, in this instance, they weren’t needed except for a vessel for Spencer’s soul.

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