Page 183 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

“Okay, let’s do this.”

We returned to the living room, where the Galtain family waited expectantly.

“I have a plan,” Lennox declared. “A way we can both have the journal. I’m going to conduct a duplication spell—that way I can leave you with the original journal and I can take the duplicate and still get my sister back.”

“You’re going to conduct a spell?” Silas looked between the two of us, brow furrowed.

“You’re a witch,” Malina breathed.

“Half witch,” Lennox confirmed.

“Holy stars,” Silas remarked. “How?” Lennox quickly explained her history, before listing off the ingredients she needed to complete the spell.

Malina and Silas scurried around the kitchen, finding each of the items Lennox needed and placing them on the small round table in the center of the kitchen.

Once everything was assembled, Lennox set the book in the center of the table while she mixed the ingredients together before igniting them with her flames.

“Don’t be alarmed.” She looked at the couple. “The book will appear like it is burning, but I assure you it’s not. It’s part of the spell.” Lennox returned to her work, sprinkling the smoldering ingredients over the book.

The edges of the leather curled as the ashes spread over the book. Lennox placed her hand over the smoking book as she closed her eyes, mumbling the spell under her breath. Flames erupted around her hand, the book dissolving to ashes under her hold, but the flames remained contained, appearing to not even touch her skin.

Malina gasped as the book disappeared, grasping Silas’ arm as she continued watching Lennox work.

Smoke clogged the air, Lennox’s burning hand disappearing behind its veil. The smoke dissipated when Lennox stopped speaking and brought her hand back to her side.

When all the smoke was gone it revealed two identical journals sitting side by side.

“How do you know which is which?” Silas asked.

“This is the original.” Lennox picked up the book on the left and handed it to Silas. “I can tell because I conducted the spell. Otherwise, it’s near impossible.”

Silas turned the book over in his hands, examining it and the duplicate. “Marvelous,” he murmured. “Thank you.”

Lennox smiled tightly. “I wish we could stay longer, but we should go,” she said. “I hate to rush out of here so quickly but?—”

“No,” Malina interrupted. “You need to go. Go get your sister back.”

“Thank you,” we both told them as we donned our coats. “We owe you.”

“You owe us nothing,” Silas said. “Keep leading us strongly, our queen.”

“And come back and visit with that sister of yours when this is all over,” Malina added.

Lennox stilled in the doorway before looking over her shoulder at the couple.

“I will,” she promised.

The cold wind stung my cheeks as we exited the house.

Surely an hour had passed and Luciana would be here soon. This weather chilled me to my bones, despite trying to use my flames to warm me. Lennox hugged the duplicate journal to her chest as we made our way to the clearing.

“You did a good thing in there,” I told her.

“I tried,” she mused. “I still feel like shit though.” She sighed and she pulled her coat tighter around her neck. “I hate asking them for anything.”

“I know but—” Sheheld out a hand to silence me.

“Do you feel that?” I strained my ears against the howling of the wind.

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