Page 103 of Enspelled

I can’t let myself think of all the ways she hurt me, the worst of which, making me think she was dead.

Or maybe it was killing my parents to steal my power.

Or was it when she tried to make everyone in town believe I was the one responsible for killing my parents?

A tear slides down my cheek. Lifting a hand, I brush it aside as surreptitiously as I can.

“Briar?” Keane’s voice is low with concern.

“I’m fine.” I make my voice as hard as I can so he knows not to ask again, or even speak to me.

On the way out of Erin Sue’s house, lightheadedness struck me as I was walking down the porch steps. But before I could more than sway, Keane had his hand around my arm and guided me down the rest of the way.

I looked in his face, and I wanted to punch it.

Me? Wanting to punch someone.

I didn’t. Instead, I tugged my arm free and walked away without a word.

The sooner we stop Aunt Mel from destroying the town, the sooner Keane Destin can leave it, and I never have to see him again.

I slept with him.

How could I do that?

When my eyes burn, I squeeze them tightly shut so these fresh tears won’t fall.

The drive passes mostly in silence. Bodie tries to start up a conversation, but no one responds. With the car filled with so much tension, it’s impossible to ignore it. I’m not surprised it's killing anyone’s desire to talk.

I’m almost looking forward to seeing the wolves, even knowing that Liam and his pack are most likely going to try to kill us at first sight. Although Keane was confident that Liam moved us to the cabin because he wanted us to escape, I doubt that he or his pack are going to be happy to see us return.

“Briar, how are you?” Sera calls out.

I peel my eyes open long enough to glance at her. She’s focusing on the road, but as if she can feel my gaze, she lifts her head and her eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror.

I twist my lips into a semblance of a smile. “I’m okay.”

She doesn’t smile back, and I can’t say I blame her.

My voice is still too flat. The smile I gave her felt more like a grimace than anything else, and I just feel… wrong.

As if a part of me is missing, and I can never forget that it’s gone. Not something big like a limb, but something I didn’t realize I had all this time or even needed until someone took it away.

My power. That’s what it is. I’ve finally gotten rid of this crazy out-of-control power I desperately wanted gone, but it isn’t filling me with happiness or relief.

I just feel empty.

“I didn’t think I would miss it,” I say in a low voice as my gaze returns to the trees we’re passing on the quiet, dark road. “But it feels like a piece of me is just gone.”

“We’ll get it back.” Sera’s voice is determined, more so than I’ve ever heard it before.

I don’t know what’s been happening with her, but she’s no longer the quiet, sometimes stammering friend who would heal me in secret. Now she isn’t afraid of arguing with Keane, or going up against the coven to protect her friend, and she’s… strong.

Stronger than I’ve ever seen her before.

And then I remember what she’d lost in the green witch explosion.

“Your mom,” I say, my eyes on her profile. “Was she at the coven meeting?”

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