“So that’s…good news?”
“As good as can be expected.”
Jenna sighed as Alice prepared the second rod with Titus’s blood.
When she ran it through the flame, it sparked white and blue, but this time when the flame turned green, it wasn’t nearly as bright. As they watched, it darkened until it went black.
Titus had never seen a black flame before. “What does that mean?”
Alice stared at the flame for a moment longer before setting the rod aside. She looked at Titus. “It means…I cannot remove the spell from you.”
Jenna put her hands flat on the table, unwilling to accept what she’d heard. “Why not? How can that be?”
Alice shook her head as she peered at the rod now cooling on the table. “Blood. That’s how.”
Titus rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I.” Jenna twisted her hands together. “Please, Alice, explain what’s going on.”
Alice straightened the rod so that it lay parallel to the one she’d used for Jenna. “For you, Deputy, the spell has worked as it was built. It’s enveloped you in its magic. Like an unbreakable bubble. But for Chief Merrow…”
When she didn’t finish, Titus cleared his throat. “It’s okay. Just say it.”
Alice’s brows bent as though she was deep in thought. “This spell isn’t surrounding you. It’s in you. In your blood. It’s become one with you. That makes it impossible to separate you from the spell.”
“How is that possible? Why is it different for me than for Jenna?”
Alice’s expression changed to one of concern. “There are two possibilities. One is that this spell was built with you in mind, and whoever did it had access to your blood and included some in the spell. If that’s true, whoever built this spell is powerful. Or stupid. Or both. Blood magic is not for the uninitiated. It’s dangerous even to those who understand it.”
“What’s the second possibility?”
“That the spell wasn’t meant for you but got into your system by another means. But blood was still involved. And that’s what complicates things.”
He shook his head. “Why would someone target me? For a love spell?”
Jenna leaned her hip against the table. She could imagine all kinds of reasons someone would want to be part of a love spell with him. “We never considered you as the target, but I guess we should have. After all, that sulfur scent could very well have been about getting you there.”
“True. But it could have just been to get someone in the house. Not necessarily me.”
“Let’s say it was,” Jenna continued. “Do you have any secret admirers? Have you gotten any anonymous emails, letters, or texts from anyone recently? How about an ex-girlfriend who never really got over you?”
“No. Since Zoe, I’ve kept a pretty low profile dating-wise.”
Jenna wasn’t done. Her training as a law enforcement officer wouldn’t let her give up that easily. “Have you made any witches mad?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
Alice blew out the black candle before asking the next question on Jenna’s mind. “Who would have access to your blood?”
“Not many people,” Titus answered. “You know shifter blood has its uses, so as a community we’re pretty careful about who we see for our medical checkups and such.”
“Wait a second,” Jenna said, suddenly curious. “What do you mean shifter blood has its uses?”
Alice spoke before Titus could. “Supernatural blood, be it vampire, shifter, witch, valkyrie, whatever, is a powerful ingredient in certain types of magic. Mostly the worst kind. But that only adds to the price a vial of such blood can bring. Shifter blood is especially potent.” She looked at him. “It’s wise that you choose your doctors carefully.”
“Hold up.” Things clicked together in Jenna’s mind. “You mentioned something about the spell getting into his system by other means.”
Alice nodded. “It’s possible, yes.”
Jenna glanced at Titus. “You cut your hand on a nail right before the box exploded.”
He opened his palm as if remembering. Then he shifted his gaze to Alice. “Would that be enough? A cut on my hand?”
“Did it bleed? Was it open that much?”
“Yes, but I heal fast.”
She sighed, closing her eyes briefly. “It may not have been quick enough. I’m sorry. That could definitely do it.”
He swore softly, balling his hand into a fist. The wolf shine gleamed in his eyes for a moment, then vanished as he seemed to compose himself. “So that’s it, then. You can’t remove the spell from me?”
“No,” Alice replied.
“What if it’s removed from Jenna but not me?”
“She would be free of it. You would still feel the effects for the remainder of your days.”
“All my life? You’re sure of that?”
Alice hesitated. “There is a very good chance, yes, but it’s not definite. It might fade as the years go on. But it might not.”
Jenna felt for him. He was clearly unhappy about this new development. She got it. Being temporarily stuck in this love spell was bad enough, but for a lifetime? She reached out and touched his arm to get his attention. “Hey, this is Nocturne Falls. Anything is possible. I’m sure Alice and the coven can figure out a way to free you.”
The anger had left his face, but a spark of it remained in his eyes. “And if they can’t?”
“Then they can’t. Don’t forget, the spell is supposed to become permanent for both of us when the full moon rises.” She smiled at him. “Better to be stuck in it together, right?”
“No,” he barked. “Not better. Who wants to spend a lifetime wondering if their emotions are real? Worse, knowing the person they care for only cares for them in return because they’re magic-bound to do so. What kind of way is that to live?”
Jenna’s heart ached, and instantly she understood. Did she feel for him because of the spell? Or because she genuinely cared? She had no idea.
He looked at Alice. “Is it just the love spell or the binding spell too?”
“Both,”
