Page 29 of Twilight Echoes
“Call me when you know anything.” Arianna kissed her mother and Avery on the cheek, before making her way across the room, where Darrell and her father were still talking.
“I wonder what they are discussing,” Avery said, contemplating using her own magic to listen in.
But that would be rude.
“Let’s go over and find out.” Her mother rose, smoothing down her skirt.
Avery followed her mom across the living room with a pounding heart. Her mouth went dry.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I disagree,” Darrell said as she stood next to him, wishing he’d hold her hand or put an arm around her.
Any sign of affection might help ease her nerves.
“You can disagree all you want. You’re not going,” her father said in a firm tone. The same one he used when he’d ground her for something. “I need you and Avery to stay near each other at all times.”
“I concur.” Trask lifted a tumbler and took a slow draw as he leaned against the mantle.
“Both of you keep saying that. Why?” Darrell asked.
“Because we don’t know what we’re walking into.” Her father held up his unlit pipe. Her mother had instituted a new rule. No more smoking in the house. She hated the damn thing and wanted her father to quit.
So did Avery and her sisters.
“We have to consider the coven is prepared for us to come,” Trask said. “It’s best if Albert and I deal with this. We have the strongest magic and the last thing we need is to worry about you or Avery.”
“I can tell you’re leaving something out.” Avery knew by the way her father and Trask avoided giving a detailed explanation that they were holding something back.
“Dear, you should tell them,” her mother said.
Her father scowled.
“Tell us what?” Avery glared.
“Please, sir. It’s one thing to ask us to sit back and do nothing. But to not tell us why isn’t fair.”
“That’s a reasonable request.” Her father nodded. “I was able to deconstruct some of the spell from what came out of the two of you and found something very disturbing.”
“What’s that?” Avery grabbed Darrell’s biceps and squeezed. Her heart contracted, tightening in her chest so hard she couldbarely breathe. It was as if she’d been hurled through the air and landed flat on her back, knocking the wind out of her.
“There was a binding component to the spell, but I don’t know how it works. It wasn’t specified. Or maybe it wasn’t even cast properly,” her father said.
“I’ve been working on dissecting what we have of the spell.” Trask set his glass down. “I can tell you that whoever cast it was an immature witch or wizard.” He raised his hand. “That doesn’t mean a young witch or wizard. It just means the spell was rushed. Or whoever cast it didn’t adjust the cauldron words to meet the purpose.”
“I’m sorry.” Darrell rubbed the back of his head. “I don’t understand.”
“Every spell is written generically,” Avery said. “That way it can be altered quickly to fit any given situation.”
“This was a destruction spell meant to wipe out a group of people,” Trask said. “But it’s only affecting males. Either the witch didn’t know that, or she accidentally altered it that way. The binding portion of the spell appears to be an addition to the spell.”
“You mean like it wasn’t supposed to be there to begin with?” Avery asked. “Is it possible for others—for witches—to know a wolf imprinted?”
“A seer in training might be able to do that,” Trask said. “Or one who has great empathy. Or even one with the ability to see the past. So, yes. It’s possible.”
“Oh no. That’s interesting and not good,” her father said, waving his finger between Avery and Darrell. “Trask, do you see that?”
“I do.” Trask nodded. “I didn’t expect the binding portion of the spell to happen quite like that.”
“What does that mean?” She glared at Trask.
