Johnny clenched his fists.
“Okay.” He sighed. “I’ll fix it. We’ll go to their witchy lair tomorrow and work everything out.”
“I don’t see why Edwina would try to trick me.” Holly shrugged.
The men exchanged a look.
“Maybe it’s a good thing you’ve asked for a trust spell,” Keller said. “You’re too eager to see the good in everyone.”
“It’s a good thing,” Loch countered. “Otherwise, she’d be just like me.”
Holly couldn’t help but laugh. “What happened to the shifter that chased me?” she asked.
“He ran off,” Garret snarled. “Shame. I wanted to give him another scar.”
“Do you know who it was?”
“I didn’t recognize him,” Keller said. The others muttered similar sentiments. “Loch, you were cozy with the dark shifters for a moment. Know anyone with a scar?”
“Cozy isn’t the word I’d use,” Loch sneered. “But no. I don’t.”
“You were this close to being useful,” Johnny snapped.
“Johnny,” Holly murmured. “Easy.”
They locked eyes. The rage simmering in Johnny’s gray-green gaze cooled.
“I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m a little on edge. That shifter came way too close, and Edwina could claim our lives to satisfy her power exchange.”
“What?” Holly blurted.
“Don’t worry.” Johnny held up his hands. “I told you, I’m going to fix it. Just promise me you won’t make any more deals with witches after this?”
“Deal.” She nodded.
Exhaustion swept through her like a tidal wave.
Keller must’ve sensed her change in energy levels, for he held her closer.
“I think it’s time we all go to bed,” Keller said. “Tomorrow is going to be…interesting.”
“I’ll stay up and keep watch,” Garret offered. “If that shifter got close enough to figure out where the house is, he’ll come back with help. I want to be awake when that happens.”
“Thank you, Garret,” Holly said.
“I’ll relieve you at dawn,” Loch offered. “I’ll be up anyway.”
Garret nodded his thanks.
After bidding everyone goodnight, Holly made her way up to her room, wondering why she was so good at making a mess of everything.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN—Holly
Dusk fell as Holly and Johnny climbed into his truck.
“Why did we wait until so late in the day?” Holly asked, eyeing the dark forest nervously.
“Witches are nocturnal,” Johnny explained.
“Oh!” Holly’s brows shot up. “Yeah, I probably should’ve been able to puzzle that one out for myself. Edwina showed up at midnight, but I thought that was to set the mood.”
“It was.” He chuckled. “Witches love their aesthetic.”
“Witches and I have that in common,” Holly joked.
Johnny started up the truck and backed out of the winding driveway.
“I never expected witches to live in a place accessible by car,” Holly mused. “Granted, I never expected witches to exist at all, yet here we are.”
“Oh, they live deep in the forest. We’re going to the stones first.”
Holly tipped her head. “Why?”
“Remember how I told you it’s incredibly taxing to shift from form to form?”
Holly nodded.
“I’d greatly prefer not to walk into a witch den drained from raw shifting two days in a row.”
“That’s what you call it?” Holly sputtered, trying to reign in her laughter. “Raw shifting?”
“It’s not the best term, but can you think of a better one? You’re not even a shifter! Who are you to judge?” He laughed.
“I’m the vessel of the Maiden. I have every right to judge my shifters.”
“And I have every right to pull over and tickle you until you can’t breathe.”
“Tickle me?” Holly grinned. “That’s your big, scary threat?”
“Have you ever been tickled to the point of passing out? It’s worse than torture.”
Holly looked at him with narrowed eyes. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
“No!” Johnny said too quickly. “I’m not. I swear, I’m not.”
“Somehow, I don’t believe you. I’ll be sure to test that theory when you least expect it.”
“I thought the Maiden was the embodiment of peace and mercy? That doesn’t sound very merciful.”
“The Maiden is actually one tough cookie.” Holly nodded. “She believes peace and mercy are the best way to maintain the balance between the natural and unnatural worlds. If bloodshed and war were the better way, I’m sure she’d be all for it.”
“Interesting. She’s always been depicted as a gentle, mothering figure.”
“I’m sure she’s exceedingly gentle when those in her charge aren’t misbehaving.”
“You make us all sound like naughty children.” He chuckled.
“You’re the one who called her a mothering figure.” Holly shrugged.
“Because she will be a mother one day soon.” Johnny smiled at her from across the cab. “Or, her vessel will be, at least.”
Holly placed a hand on her stomach.
“It’s so weird to think about,” she said. “I don’t hate the idea. Isn’t that weird?”
“Not at all,” Johnny assured her. “Sure, the circumstances could be more orthodox, but you’re not wrong to be excited.”
“Oddly enough, the circumstances are what makes me the most excited. You can’t tell me that’s not weird.”
Johnny furrowed his brow. “Explain, please.”
“This is how I look at it.” Holly shifted in her seat so that she could face him head-on. “When the baby is born, it’ll be born into the biggest support system anyone could ever have. It’s written in the stars that the child will be destined for greatness. It sounds like once I have the baby, I’m set for life. I’ll be able to raise my child in peace and safety.”
“When you put it like that, you’ve got every reason to be excited.” Johnny nodded.
“I’d like to think that the baby will have a huge family. Not just a biological father, but three unofficial ones who will love it, too.”
Johnny glanced at Holly. “You’d want to keep whoever you didn’t pick to bear your child in your life?” he asked.
“I think so.” Holly looked away, feeling uncertain. “Right now, I can’t imagine
