Page 100 of Love's a Witch
“Give it a few days. Felicity will be feeling better, and we’ll call another vote. It’ll be okay.” Raven stood and stretched.
Nova opened her mouth, but Broca raised a finger, effectively shushing her. The Charms hurried out, the meeting over, and I limped to the couch to hug Blue.
“Blue, buddy, I think we may need to leave Briarhaven,” I spoke into his ear, sadness filling me. I wondered if it would be better if I left him with Henry, so he could be happy with his magickal buddies here. Otherwise, I’d always be hiding him, and he’d constantly have to wear a jumper to hide his wings.
No. Stay.
“But what if I can’t?” I wrapped my arms around where he’d buried himself in the blankets.
Knox will figure it out.
“Yeah, you both seem pretty confident about that.” I sighed and rolled over, looking up at my sisters standing in front of me.
“If they won’t invoke Ordinance 33.3…” Lyra said, her hands at her heart.
“Then we need to disappear,” I finished, hating the sadness that swept across their faces. “Even if just for a bit, to give the town a break from this awful weather.”
“It’s never just a break.” Nova kicked her toe at the couch, her face sullen. “We never end up going back.”
“I know.” I wasn’t sure what else to say, my heart was breaking too.
“Ladies, it’s late. It’s been a big day, lots of high emotions. Let’s table this for tonight. Another day or two of snow won’t destroythe town, and knowing Knox, he’ll have an alert out that everyone takes extra caution. There’s nothing more to be done tonight but to rest.”
With that, we all retired to our rooms, and Blue was soon snoring at the foot of my bed. And still I couldn’t bring my brain to rest. My mind kept flashing back to Felicity’s blood on my hands, and when I finally did sleep, I slipped into a gnarly dream where I was ripping Knox’s heart from his chest and kicking it across the pitch like a football. By the time I jerked back awake, sweaty and crying, I’d made my decision.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTKnox
Like hell they’re going to leave,” I snarled out loud, pacing the library, Haggis wheeling behind me. I’d barely slept the night before, and Sloane hadn’t answered my call. I’d only tried once, and when it had gone to voicemail, I didn’t try again.
I’d said what I needed to say.
But now I needed her to believe it.
Stay, stay, stay.
“Damn right they need to stay.” I looked down at Haggis, who peered up at me, his eyes concerned behind his shaggy scruff of bangs.
Whatever happened with the blood curse ritual?
This from Oswald, who sat on the back of the couch, near the half-burnt curtain sash that hadn’t yet been removed from when Sloane had set it on fire. I was oddly sentimental over that sash. He prowled forward, pretending indifference, but I knew where he was headed.
“It didn’t work.”
Oh? Did they have all the people they need to perform it?Oswald rolled on his back and licked a paw, the picture of calm.
“I’m not sure.”
Don’t you think that might be something you could help with?Oswald stood and stretched, his tail brushing the hanging cord, and he whirled, ready to swipe.
“Oswald,” I warned.
It’s already ruined.
“Fair point.” I ran a thumb over my chin as I considered it. It was the same thought I’d had the other day. But I’d forgotten about it in the flurry of the festival, and then with Felicity’s accident last night. “I might have to convince a lot of people.”
And? Don’t you think it is time to call in a favor after everything you’ve done for this town?
At that, I paused, not even caring when Oswald went into full attack, ripping the curtain cord down from the hook and pouncing on it on the floor. He was right, as he often was.
