Page 68 of Charmed

"She didn't know the Minister had been spelled. Not until Kaida returned to the island. The night she died, Celeste suspected someone from the Meath clan would have to remain, but she wasn't certain." Aunt Mara frowned, setting the tea aside. "I asked her about The Between place and..."

The apologetic and uneasy expression on her aunt's face sent Fiona's heart straight into her stomach. "And what?"

"It's true. What we thought is true. Celeste can't see or hear them, but she can sense both bloodlines in that plane with her." Aunt Mara released a ragged sigh. "She suspects I'll go there, as well. And the Minister."

"No." Ceara clasped a hand over her mouth and dropped her forehead to the mattress.

Nauseated, Fiona rubbed circles over her sister's back. "We'll tell everyone tomorrow. They should know." And the facts only added more pressure on them to complete the tasks. There were things worse than death, and the existence Celeste has been living in was it. "Can you stay with Aunt Mara? I need to rest."

"Of course." Ceara looked up, a wan smile curving her lips. "Would you like me to make you some tea?"

Fiona shook her head and stood. Putting on her brave face, she looked at Aunt Mara, then Ceara. "We are going to win. Make no mistake. We will win, we'll free our families, and we'll get our forever back. I vow it."

But as she strode out of the bedroom and into hers, doubt strangled her. She was supposed to be having her impromptu meeting with the Minister tomorrow night, her and Riley were in a fight, and they had a week to figure out the task based off Celeste's cryptic hint.

On autopilot, she undressed and put on a nightgown, then walked to the window. Part of the cliffs and the Atlantic could be spotted to her left, the maze of gardens to her right. Dusk descended, proving it too early to sleep. Not that she could. Or would ever again.

It seemed like years since she'd woken up in Riley's arms, safe and secure, but it had been just this morning. Mere hours ago, in retrospect. How quickly things could go south. Happy and satisfied to despair and hopeless. Such was Fate, the cruel bitch. Which was the very reason she fought so adamantly not to get more attached to Riley. Yet, as she stood there, watching dusk fade to dark, all she wanted, ached for, was him.

She turned and fetched her phone from her purse. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she pulled up his contact info and stared. And stared. Her hands shook, thumbs working a text, but she paused before sending. Stared some more.

Visions of Kaida in the meadow swam to mind, bloody and bruised and gasping her last breath. Aunt Mara in the tub, slices up her arms as ribbons of red wove through the water. Riley in danger in the forest, in the alley, and Fiona's abject terror she wouldn't be able to save him.

She didn't know how long she sat in silence, staring at a text she wanted so desperately to send, but shouldn't. Eventually, though, footsteps came from the hallway, too loud to be her sister's.

"Hey." Riley, his gaze solemn and concerned, filled the doorway. "My mark's been burning the past few hours. I called Ceara. She told me everything." He cleared his throat, jaw clenching from obvious nerves and strain. He still looked like an answer to an unspoken prayer. "Are you okay?"

She opened her mouth to say yes, but shook her head instead.

"Why didn't you call me? No matter how mad I was, I would've come, Fi."

Giving up, or in, or up again, she held out her phone, screen toward him with the unsent text on display. Can you please come over?

He walked deeper in the room and glanced at the cell. In seconds, his face fell and sweet understanding filled his eyes. "Ah, babe."

Way past shock and straight toward annihilation, she choked on a sob. Just broke. Right in front of a witness and without giving a damn, she broke. Crumpling, she dropped the phone and covered her face with her hands.

Before a tear could spill, he hauled her to her feet and yanked her against him. His arms banded around her back, one hand sliding up to cup her head, while she buried her face in his chest, trying to crawl inside him for all she was worth.

Chapter Nineteen

Fiona's first sob squeezed Riley's heart. The second one ripped it right out. But it was her quiet wail against his chest that tore him clean in two. He didn't think it was anatomically possible, but he dragged her closer, holding her so tight their DNA merged.

Ceara passed by the bedroom and paused, her brows wrenched in concern.

He looked at her helplessly over Fiona's head, jarred to the marrow.

When his tattoo had initially started burning in warning, he'd figured his little witch was still on a tear over their argument. He hadn't worried. Much. The mark hadn't activated while they were in physical danger, so Kaida must've been right about it being emotional. His plan had been to let Fiona stalk it off and claw the walls for a day, then he'd engage.

But then it kept searing, not letting up. For hours. At his wit's end, he'd called Ceara. And felt like the biggest asshole this side of the Atlantic.

He never should've ignored the warning. He'd nearly collapsed over what Ceara had told him. Their ancestors being trapped in some kind of purgatory plane? Mara's suggestion to get answers? Either one of those would've had Fiona upset. Reasonably so. Heaven help him, though. What she'd done for her aunt? Standing by while...

Mercy. Even Fi had her limits. They might be a million bars above the rest of the population's, but she had them. He should've come over immediately at the onset. Should never have waited. She'd needed him, and he'd blown her off.

Ceara swallowed and offered a barely perceptible nod. Part thank-you, part understanding radiated in the gesture. He deserved neither, yet she inaudibly shut the door, trusting him with her sister.

He sighed, resting his chin on Fiona's head. "It's okay, babe. Let it out."

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