Page 45 of Twilight Echoes
“If this works, I’ll be taking care of her and our children for a long time. She needs to come with us. She was there that day, too.”
“No,” her father said, shaking his head. “She’s already at risk. Why put her in the line of potentially greater danger?”
“You told me yesterday that it was best not to have a wall between us. What’s changed?”
“Nothing. I lied yesterday.” Albert let out a long breath, resting his hands on his hips. “Besides wanting you and Avery to have time together, I feared you might shift into a wolf and run off. Shifting could destroy her aura.”
Darrell swallowed his pride. He probably would have lied too. “I can feel her aura now, and she’s worried and angry, which only weakens both of us. I’m sorry, sir, but she needs to go where I go, and I’m going to meet with Merlin.”
Albert pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re right. You’re right,” he whispered, nodding his head. “Locking her up in the limo isn’t going to protect her, much less save either one of you.”
He placed a hand on the prince’s shoulder. “I will lay down my life if it means she’ll be fine.”
“I know you would, son. But understand, she’d do the same for you and excuse me for being a selfish prick, but I’d rather she didn’t. Not to mention, she can’t. She holds the future in her belly. All my daughters will. That’s a lot for this old man to bear.” He sighed. “You’re not a witch. You’re not one of these people’s kind, and they won’t like a wolf hanging around while I probe into their lives, so please, follow my lead, okay?”
“I can do that, sir.”
“Seriously, stop the sir shit. You’re family. Call me Albert.”
“Albert,” Darrell said with a thick lump lodged in his throat. “Let’s get this party started.” Darrell waved Avery over, and she wasted no time racing to his side.
He looped his arm over her shoulders, kissing her cheek, lingering a little longer than he should have. “We’re all meeting with Merlin,” he whispered in her ear. “Stay close to me, okay?”
“I won’t leave your side,” she said with her hand resting on his hip as they followed her father and Gabe down a long, windy path lined with green bushes and colorful flowers, including red and white roses and purple and yellow tulips.
The brick building in front of them stood tall, reaching its three stories into the blue sky like fingers. A sign that read Witches of the Willows School of Magichung over a wooden double door with brass handles. Albert slammed his knuckles on the wood, knocking three times, and stepped back.
They all waited as seconds ticked by like sand in an hourglass.
The big doors swung open and a tall, skinny man appeared. “Welcome, I’m Merlin. It’s a pleasure to see you again, Prince Albert.” Merlin extended his hand, his long fingers showing signs of arthritis. “I wish it were under different circumstances.”
“Us as well.” Prince Albert nodded.
“As you can see by my appearance”—Merlin waved a hand over his wrinkled face—“we don’t have much time. I have aged another few years overnight. There is not one wizard in my coven that will step up after me. Many are running to seek shelter with others.”
“That won’t save them,” Albert said.
“The curse is already in everyone’s blood,” Gabe added as they walked through a long corridor.
Empty classrooms lined each side. Pictures of witches in classrooms performing various spells lined the walls.
“I have tried to explain this, but my people are scared. Many years ago, we suffered our first death from this curse, but we didn’t know why, and it didn’t happen again until a month ago. Since then, it’s been a rapid decline. On my council, there are only three of us left. They are waiting in one of the craft labs.”
“How sick are they?” Darrell asked. When he’d spoken to his mother, a few wolves were complaining of increased pain, but it seemed things weren’t progressing as rapidly as with the wizards.
“I’ve been able to create a potion that slows the process down, but we’re almost out, and it doesn’t appear to be as effective anymore.”
“How is the spell coming to locate the Book of Shadows?” Gabe asked.
“It’s complete, but it will kill me if I use it.” Merlin turned a corner, and they looped up a flight of stairs.
The building should have been filled with the sounds of witches learning their craft. Instead, a deafening silence filled the empty space.
“Trask believes if I surrender my powers to one of you and have you cast the spell, it would work.” Merlin stopped in front of a classroom.
“But that would transfer the black magic,” Avery said with wide eyes.
“It would, but Trask also thinks if we give my powers to an infected, it won’t be as powerful,” Merlin said as he stepped into the lab.
