No, there’d be no pausing now. No catching my breath.
The contract was in my lap, which probably wasn’t a brilliant idea as it was being jostled every time I madly changed gears. Yet it felt safer there. It felt at hand and reminded me that despite how crazy this situation was, I’d managed to escape McCain. And that meant I could do it again, surely? But more than that – much more than that – I’d done it without my powers.
Even though I was still very much driving madly, I got the sudden urge to lift up my hands and stare at them. From the day I’d entered this magical world, everyone had told me it was my abilities as a seer that made me special, that would keep me and them safe. But not only was my ability to see the future seriously dangerous, not only did it rob me of my ability to make my own future, but I was also starting to question if it was even necessary. It was with nothing more than my own freaking intelligence and tenacity that I’d managed to escape McCain. So it would be me and my own freaking intelligence that would ultimately defeat him.
Finally, we reached the witch café. And it was my turn to ride up onto the pavement, bringing the car to a shuddering halt, the tires spinning and churning out smoke.
I plowed out of the front seat, twisted around the vehicle, opened the door, and stared down at Bridgette. One of her hands was limply and loosely pressed against her copiously bleeding stomach, and yet somehow, she still managed a smile. “Remind me never to drive with you on a full stomach,” she quipped. “And I thought I was an aggressive driver.”
I managed a small smile as I looped an arm under hers and helped pull her to her feet. With my other arm, I kept the book locked against my sternum. The more my skin pressed against it, the more I felt something. And it was a truly strange sensation. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It wasn’t that I was feeling age or power or magic or anything so simple. Just… something important. Something that would ultimately make the difference for everyone.
Immediately, the door to the café opened, and Sarah Anne spilled out followed by several witches. The witches rushed over to Bridgette and took her from me.
Sarah headed for me, her face pale with worry.
Before Sarah could loop an arm under mine to help me, Bridgette gave a sudden groan and collapsed between the two witches.
“Oh my god,” Sarah spluttered as she shot forward, scooted down to her knees, and wrapped a supportive arm around Bridgette’s back.
Bridgette fell forward and passed out in Sarah’s arms.
Sarah screamed in frustration, calling for the other witches to come to her aid. Then she reached toward me.
I waved a hand at her. “No, it’s okay. I can make it through the doorway on my own,” I said. Even though my body was still wracked with nausea, I honestly did feel strong enough to walk on my own two feet. “You’ve got to help Bridgette.”
“She needs medical attention now,” Sarah snapped at the witches as they tucked their arms underneath Bridgette’s and started to drag her through the door.
Sarah faced me. She bit her lips into a grim line. “What happened,” she said in a quiet tone that didn’t carry.
Though I wasn’t jealous of Sarah and Max, I still didn’t exactly know how far their relationship went. Had Max ever confided in Sarah what he was? That he wasn’t a fairy, that he was somehow the split off form of a sorcerer king from centuries past?
Suffice to say, I didn’t answer Sarah. I tilted my head down and stared at my feet as she helped shepherd me back to the room where Max was waiting.
As soon as I saw him, relief and yet fear bolted through me. “We have the contract,” I said as I gestured to it. It was still in my arms. “We need to do this quickly. We need to get Max back on his feet and get out of here now.”
Sarah turned to me as she set me down on a plush chair and took several steps back. “There’s nothing to fear, seer. It’s safe here. As you already said, the Lonely King has been brought down.”
Bridgette was placed down on one of the sofas. She was so still, I’d assumed she’d lost consciousness. Suddenly, she pulled herself onto her elbows. “Safe, my ass. Something came after us at Chi’s house. It was…” Bridgette couldn’t finish her sentence. She twisted her hand and locked her frightened gaze on Max. It was obvious she was checking to see that he was still there. Still on her elbows, even though her body was bucking back and forth from the effort of holding her up, she stared at me. “Who the hell was that guy back there? He looked exactly like Max. How the heck is that possible? What the hell is going on?” She spat her questions one after the other, and as she asked them, I felt colder and colder.
On the mention that there was a man who looked exactly like Max, Sarah stiffened.
Bridgette didn’t notice. None of the other witches noticed, either. But I did.
I saw Sarah’s back straighten, saw a lump form in her throat as she swallowed a breath.
Though Bridgette continued to question me, I ignored her and kept all
