“When? Where was I?” Cat demands.
“It was after your accident. We had just gotten you back,” I say, exhaling all of my pent-up energy. I want to reach for Wade, to comfort him, but I can’t do anything with my damn hands behind my back. “I thought he was just relieved—and it was an accident. I didn’t think he really meant anything by it.”
“So, while my grandpa died, and his sister nearly did, he was making the moves on you?” Wade says, shaking his head and turning toward the house. “Unreal.”
“It didn’t mean anything,” I repeat warily.
Colton’s expression is a mangled mess of agony. “But I thought…” he mumbles.
“So, if I’m getting this right, Colton, you’re confessing to the summoning of the revenants?” Blake says, reaching for his handcuff keys.
Colton’s dark eyes dart to Blake, defeated. “Yes.”
“Is this at both the Windhaven and Mistwood Point cemeteries?” Blake continues.
“Yes.”
“All right.” Blake unlocks the cuffs, releasing my hands and walking over to Colton. “Mr. Gilbert, you’re under arrest for criminal resurrection. You’ll need to come with us.”
Colton nods his head, turning around and bringing his arms behind his back so Blake can put the cuffs on him.
“But—this doesn’t make any sense,” I say, shaking my head. “Colton, you’re an elemental witch. You can bend earth to your will. How could you summon people? I thought—?”
“As luck would have it, elemental witches who get their power from earth energies can resurrect bodies,” Diana says, eyeing her nails like they’re the most interesting thing about this afternoon. “But Gemini Twins—see, their power grows exponentially when they feel threatened.” She turns her discerning gaze to Cat and quirks an eyebrow.
“You knew, didn’t you? My arrest was all just a ruse,” I say, shaking my head. The adrenaline rush is starting to wear off and I can’t believe anything I’m hearing. It’s like I’ve stepped into an alternate universe.
Diana shifts her gaze to me and smiles sweetly. “I wouldn’t be world-renowned if I didn’t figure it out. Besides, I promised I’d take care of you, didn’t I?”
I raise my eyebrows in agreement. Part of me is flooding with relief…but the other half is hurting for Colton. He’s not a bad guy—far from it. But his feelings clouded his judgment.
“What’s going to happen to him?” I ask, suddenly scared for him.
Diana tips her head. “That’ll be up to him.”
Blake steps around Colton, so he can open the back door to the SUV. “If he cooperates, we might be able to get his sentence lightened. So, I hope you’re ready. You’re gonna need to help us undo this mess, kid. ”
Colton nods, refusing to look up to any of us.
“The spellwork isn’t going to be any fun, that’s for sure,” Diana mutters, practically prancing over to the vehicle.
Colton’s eyes widen as he glances to Diana, but he doesn’t say anything. What was the spell like to raise the dead in the first place? Was it like the resurrection I performed on Cat?
Blake points to the seat and Colton promptly sits down.
As Colton’s door clicks into place, Cat springs into action. “Hold on. I’m coming with you. I’m not letting him go alone.”
Before any of us knows it, she’s hopped into the back seat alongside her brother.
Diana nods, as if totally expecting her outburst. She looks to each one of us before saying, “Well, it’s been a blast, but it looks like we all have our work cut out for us. See ya around, kids. Good luck. I trust you’ll be able to get this next step done.”
With that, she hops into the passenger side and closes the door. The black SUV speeds off, leaving Wade, Dominic, and me in a stupor.
Rubbing at my left wrist, I turn to Wade. His expression is distant as he eyes me wearily.
Taking a deep breath, I say, “Wade, I know you’re probably…”
He cuts me off, raising a hand. His jaw clenches and his voice is tight. “Not now, Autumn. It’s not the time. We still need to find my grandpa.”
I blink back my regret and bite my lip to keep it from quivering.
What have I done?
Dominic’s eyebrows raise and he steps forward, taking the lead. “Alrighty—on that note…let’s get moving. It’s almost dark. Like I said, he’s out that way, but I don’t know for how long.”
I nod, unable to form any words that could relieve the tension that’s settled between my heart and stomach. Instead, I look over my shoulder as the SUV vanishes from sight.
How did I not see what was happening with Colton? Had I just realized how deep his feelings were, maybe I could have prevented all of this… Was I just too wrapped up in my feelings for Wade to see the truth? Or worse…was I too afraid to face Colton’s feelings because I already knew? It’s not like the kiss hasn’t been weighing heavily on my mind since it happened. Yet, I chose to ignore it and try to let it slide so I could pretend like it never happened.
A horrible truth erupts in the pit of my stomach. Not only have I let Wade down…I let down Colton, too. Had I been honest from the beginning, none of this would have happened.
This is all my fault.
Chapter 23
A Death Wish
“So, not to be a complete moron or anything—but have you thought about how you’re going to restrain gramps once we find him?” Dominic asks, flipping on the flashlight from his phone.
I shoot Wade a sideways glance and he shrugs. “Guess we’ll deal with that once we get there.”
“Reassuring,” Dominic mutters, stepping out in front and taking the lead.
Cringing internally, I’m right there with Dominic. The last time we were near Wade’s grandpa, he was pretty spry for a dead guy. And damn scary.
“We handled him just fine last time. I’m sure we’ll be able to handle him this time,” Wade says nonchalantly as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “Besides, he’s
