“I’m sorry.” Holly nodded solemnly.
“Thank you.” Edwina bowed her head. “Unfortunately, veils work two ways. Golden Oak cannot use magic to spy on us, and we cannot do the same to them.”
“Can’t you just…walk into town?” Holly asked.
“There is no physical barrier between Silver Spruce and Golden Oak. However, walking into the other’s territory would be seen as an act of war now that the dark shifters are gathering strength again.”
“But that’s already been done,” Holly exclaimed. “Golden Oak shifters are in Silver Spruce right now. They’re hiding in the old silver mines.”
“But the shifter running the operation in the mines is from Silver Spruce.”
“Then that makes him a traitor, doesn’t it?”
“Or a puppet.” Edwina’s expression darkened. “There have been great disturbances in the forest. The animals sense it. Listen now. Do you hear anything?”
Holly listened to the forest. She didn’t hear sounds of skittering animals and birdcalls that she’d grown accustomed to.
“The animals have fled,” Edwina said. “My sisters and I tracked the disturbances to the edge of our borders. I believe the source is in Golden Oak, but I can’t verify that for myself.”
“What sort of disturbances?” Holly asked.
“Energy fluctuations. Bursts of raw, magical energy. This town sits on a ley line, you know? The air is literally alive with magic.”
Holly stared at Edwina, confused. “I don’t know what that is.”
“They are natural lines that run across the earth. Stonehenge sits on a convergence of them, as do the pyramids. Think of them as linear rivers that carry the earth’s energy from one place to another.”
“Does the ley line run through Golden Oak?”
“No.” Edwina shook her head. “I believe that’s why the Golden Oak clans desire Silver Spruce territory. They want access to the natural energies.”
“What can I do about that?”
“I’m not sure. That’s why I come to you now. I want to offer help, but you, as the vessel of the Maiden, must tell me how.”
“I need a moment to think,” Holly mumbled as she retreated into her mind.
Are you hearing this?
I am, said the voice of the Maiden. Let this teach you that putting a wall between myself and your consciousness is useless if you do not maintain it.
I have something more pressing to think about at the moment. Holly bit back her annoyance. What should I ask the witch for?
Let this be another lesson.
“For fuck’s sake,” Holly muttered.
“I’m sorry?” Edwina sputtered.
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
You’re making me look like a crazy person.
No, you are the one who lacks control. Your second lesson today will be one of judgment. You must decide what to ask of the witch. You will get no advice from me.
“Unbelievable.” Holly sighed. “You may as well blindfold me while I’m at it.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.” Edwina put another foot of distance between herself and Holly.
Great, now the witch with coin eyes thinks I’m a lunatic, Holly thought to herself but was certain the Maiden could hear her.
“It’s a long story,” Holly said. “But I know what I require from you.”
“I will assist if I can.”
“I want to know who I can trust,” she said. “I want to know if someone is going to betray me or is being dishonest before I even speak to them.”
“Trust spells are difficult,” Edwina said slowly. “I will need both of my coven sisters to do it.”
“But can it be done?”
“It can with the right sacrifice.”
“Whoa, what?” Holly’s steps faltered. “What kind of sacrifice? I’m not killing anyone for this.”
“You won’t need to kill anyone, but an exchange of power will be necessary. Is the trust spell all you require?”
“I want some kind of protection spell for Johnny, Keller, Garret, and Loch. They’ve done everything for me, and I will do whatever I can to make sure they’re safe.”
“It is difficult to make a protection spell when I don’t know the exact threat, but there are things I can do. I will find you soon to collect payment.”
“You can’t do your power exchange or whatever now?” Holly asked.
“I could, but it’s a lengthy process, and we don’t have time. We’re being watched.”
Holly’s blood went cold. Her gaze darted around the dark forest, but she saw nothing. Hardly any moonlight penetrated the thick canopy.
“What’s watching us?” Holly said, too scared to even whisper.
“Not a what. A who. Return to your home. It’s just behind us.”
“But we’ve walked so far.”
“Trust me. I kept us close for this reason.”
“Come with me,” Holly said. “I’ll bring you in the house. You’ll be safe.”
“Thank you for the offer.” Edwina smiled. “But if I return with you, who will keep our stalkers away from the house?”
Stalkers. Plural.
Holly swallowed hard.
“I take it you want your eye back?”
“That would be lovely.”
Holly reached into her pocket and retrieved the coin. She pressed it into Edwina’s waiting hand.
“Run back to the house. Do not turn around for anything, not even if you hear me scream.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Run, now!” Edwina barked just as a guttural roar tore from somewhere between the trees, far too close for Holly’s comfort.
She turned and ran in the direction of the house, or so she hoped. She heard Edwina cry out then felt a powerful ripple of energy tear through the air. As much as she wanted to look over her shoulder, she resisted.
Until she heard something crash through the woods directly behind her.
Unable to stop herself,
