Page 61 of Captivating Magic

“You need to call my present self, Al,” Lo cut in. They had to act quickly or all was for naught. “Get him here ASAP.”

The standard ease with which Alastair carried himself disappeared as he tensed, and his expression tightened. “Tell me what’s going on.”

He peppered them with the occasional question as they relayed the coming events. When they were finished, he drew his phone from his pocket and shot off a text.

“To me?” Lo asked, nodding to the device.

“Yes, but I doubt you’ll get it in time.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re off with Heath in the Grand Caymans, celebrating your freedom, son.”

“Jesus!”He recalled the cell coverage was spotty in that location. “I need to teleport there right away.”

“Not sure that’s possible in your current state.”

A clawing sense of panic ripped through his chest. “How long can we remain, Castor?”

“Another minute at most,” he replied grimly.

“We came too soon.” Disbelief that he wouldn’t be here to save Ebba rocked him. “Can you leave me and come back for me?”

“I could try, but there’s no guarantee it would work.” Castor looked as devastated as Lo felt. “Christ, this is a mess.”

“Why not simply call her and tell her to stay home?” Alastair asked.

“According to Sabrina Dethridge, this has to play out this way. Ebba has to hit that tree, and I have to be there to persuade Isis and Death to let her live.” Lo shook his head. “But how?”

“Then you’ll remain and hope we can catapult you back to your timeline afterward.” Alastair tugged each of his cuffs down. “If Isis is feeling generous, she might do it.”

“She hasn’t been generous regarding this mess so far,” Lo said, fighting the feeling of hopelessness trying to smother him.

“Don’t lose faith, Laszlo. We’ll save your friend.”

“I love her, Al. She’s the one.” His nerve endings were raw, and he belatedly recalled Damian saying spirits shouldn’t feel as deeply as Ebba was. But Lo did. Maybe their love was the kind to strengthen those emotions even after death.

“We have to go back, Thorne,” Castor said, urgency in his tone. “Delaying is dangerous.”

“Go without me.”

The two friends shared a speaking glance, and their silent conversation was one Lo wasn’t privy to. Nor did he care to be.He wasn’t leaving without saving Ebba, and if he couldn’t, he didn’t care if his soul found his body again or not. Life would be meaningless without her. Recalling his brother’s ongoing pain, Laszlo vowed not to continue on that way. It was all or nothing.

“I recognize the stubborn look,” Alastair said. “You should return, Alex. I’ll take care of him.”

With a frustrated glare, Castor nodded and turned on his heel to jog back the way they’d come.

“Thank you, Al.”

“Don’t thank me yet, son. We haven’t saved your Ebba.”

The following two hours dragged,with no word from Lo’s present self.

“Did you try Heath?” he asked Alastair.

“I did.”

“What about sending someone to the island to find me? Ryker?” Lo suggested Alastair’s brother-in-law and best friend. Ryker Gillespie had been trained as a master spy by the Witches’ Council. If anyone could locate a target, it was him.

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