Page 140 of Love & Heart Braking

A thought occurred to me. I thought of one other item on my alliance agenda. “Hey, maybe you could help me with something then. I need to get a message to someone, but she’s trapped, and the people trapping her can’t hear the message or know it reached her.”

Vera pursed her lips. “I see. You have several options from a witch perspective. Dream conversation would require the effort of a coven. If secrecy is in order, that isn’t optimal. There’s astral projection. I could manage this alone at a full moon or solstice. Or a message can be blinked to her in combination with scrying to check she’s alone. This is simple magic, and I could do it alone at any time.”

“Could you do it for me?” I asked her.

“I would like some way to make reparation. I’d be happy to do so.”

I tilted my head. “Vera, I’m super impressed with how diverse your emotions are.”

She flushed brilliant pink. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I don’t suppose you could come by Yearning Hearts after work?”

The witch paused. “Will the detective be there?”

My stomach swooped. After the conversation with Kiki and Vera, I wouldn’t have time to call the station again until later. If Devereaux had been taken by the twelve, the precarious hold I had on everything would slip. I had no idea what I’d do. I couldn’t see our connection. “No, he’ll be at work.”

The slight tension eased from her shoulders. “Then okay. I’ll come.”

“Is there something wrong with the detective?”

“No, no,” she hurried to say, then bit her lip, “but if we’re discussing it, then perhaps you wouldn’t mind a quick word in his ear to tell him how I’m helping you? I can’t do what he wants either. Tell him that too.”

My eyes narrowed. Suddenly Vera wasn’t seeming so emotionally diverse. “And what is it that he wants you to do?”

She checked the coast was clear then leaned very, very close. “Give a statement. About the T-W-E-L-V-E.”

Did the witch realize most people could spell? “I see. What’s stopping you now that you have your license?”

Her gaze trailed to the oracle.

“I see,” I said softly. “I bet your magical license is a pale comparison to what they could take now.” I touched her arm. “And you know they will, Vera.”

The witch paled.

Because she knew that was the truth. Like me, she offered the twelve something that made her invaluable—sheer power. They’d never let her roam free.

“It’s time to decide what side you want to be on,” I told her. Hoisting my basket higher, I nodded. “See you tonight.”

31

I palmed the beeper in my hand.

Four calls to the station. Devereaux hadn’t been in all day. He wasn’t at mine either. It could be nothing. He could be doing something super important. Using this beeper would have him drop that and rush back to my side. In an hour, he’d finish his double shift and be home. If everything was okay.

Forcing aside my worry, I slid the beeper into my pocket.

The doorbell rang.

Vera walked in, her usual black witch’s garb of a severe cut in place. Guess the orange was only for Viderum. “Cerys.”

I gestured to the love seat. “Vera. Thanks for coming.”

“We arranged it. I am here.”

Silly me. I pulled down the blind across the bay window followed by the others. “What do you need?”

She slid a case on the coffee table. “An unprepared witch is a dead witch.”

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