Page 89 of Captivating Magic

“I suspect he holding an excision circlet. Its primary use is to draw a soul out of a body so another can enter. As long as one retains possession of the object, they control the physicalform they inhabit.” He skimmed the page. “But it can also draw multiple souls into its center, leaving a body open for a spirit to possess, so be careful.”

He didn’t need to elaborate. If Damian’s soul were drawn in and Spencer jumped into his body, he would possess unimaginable power at his fingertips.

“Informative. Thank you, Nash.” The Aether’s expression darkened, and the temperature dipped a good ten degrees. “Decimating the soul it is.”

“Wait!” Spencer quickly withdrew the circlet and tossed it away. “Just wait, please!”

“Who did you intend to use this on next, Barlowe?”

“Him.” He pointed to Lo. “Ebba doesn’t love him. She’s physically tied to him because of the wolf. But if I could possess his body, she might love me instead.”

Oddly, Laszlo understood the man’s pain and obsession. When he would’ve stepped forward, Ebba placed her hand on his arm.

“Let me.” She walked to the edge of the barrier. “Spencer, I’ve loved Laszlo since I was sixteen years old. I only dated you because he was married, and I refused to do anything to destroy his happiness.” Compassion softened her face. “That’s what true love is. The willingness to bury your wants and desires so the other person can find their joy.”

“But I love you, and if given a chance?—”

“You’re not hearing me. The answer will always be no. Remember our conversation in the car the night of the accident?” She hugged herself and shook her head, looking pained. “I tried to tell you then. I don’t feel any chemistry with you. There’s no love. Friendship would’ve been nice, but you wouldn’t settle for that, and I had nothing more to offer you.”

“It’s the bond with the wolf. The excision circlet can remove her, too. Give me a chance,” he begged.

“If she dies, Ebba dies, and with them, so does Laszlo,” the Aether informed him. “You’d be killing three separate souls. You weren’t paying attention that night.”

“It’s hard to hear the truth, isn’t it?” Ebba asked Spencer softly.

His face crumbled before them, and tears filled his eyes. “Why can’t you see we’d be perfect together?”

“Because we wouldn’t be.”

“What if I could take that feeling away?” Damian suggested, not unkindly. “It would allow you to move on without the earthly ties, and I can speak to the Goddess on your behalf. Perhaps they will allow you to reincarnate with your fated mate in the next life.”

The light died from Spencer’s eyes as he watched Ebba. “Idolove you, Ebba.”

“If that’s true, let Damian help you move on so I can be happy.” She dropped her arms, and her voice was raw when she said, “Please, Spencer. Let me be happy.”

“Okay.” He nodded his agreement.

The Aether glanced over his shoulder. “How do we neutralize the object and release McClutchin Adams, assuming he’s still alive in there?”

“There’s the catch. He has to reverse the spell.”

Damian didn’t appear pleased, but he faced Spencer. “Barlowe, are you willing to release your host while inside the protective circle?”

“Yes.”

“Pick up the artifact and make the switch. If I detect any artifice or duplicity, I will destroy you immediately. Understood?” The Aether’s no-nonsense tone left little doubt that he’d follow through on his promise.

“Understood.”

“Good.” With a nod toward the circlet, Damian said, “Proceed.”

Spencer inched closer to the object as if afraid the Aether would go back on his word. Placing it against his throat, he said, “I release you from this hold, McClutchin Adams. Come forth from the prison to which I sent thee.”

Sparkling lights filled the circle, obscuring their view, and Lo hated that he couldn’t see what was going down. He prayed Damian and Alastair would sense deceit. When the shower of sparkles landed on the ground, Spencer’s ghostly self stood beside Clutch.

“Thorne, you know him best. Please ask your friend a question only he’d know,” Damian instructed.

Spencer appeared resigned, while Clutch was enraged. But there wasn’t the standard malice in his gaze that Spencer always failed to hide. Satisfied the switch was made, he turned to Ebba. “Present a question only Spencer would know the answer to, and I’ll do the same.”

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