Page 125 of Dream Weaver

And, yikes. A dragon shifter. At least he was an ally, judging by Abby’s tone.

Ingo appeared next, running past Mike to tackle Harlon. Harlon raised his hands, but Ingo threw him to the ground and whipped out a pair of handcuffs that shimmered with magic.

I exhaled a little. Whatever had just happened, it was under control now.

Two more people emerged from the house — Pippa, and a shorter figure in pink pajamas that matched the stuffed rabbit she held by one ear.

“Claire!” Abby cried.

I floored it, following the shortest route to the house. Mike looked up in alarm, then waved to let us pass.

Abby hit the ground running before my car came to a full stop. When she reached Claire, she fell to her knees and hugged her daughter tightly.

I sagged a little. Safe. They were both safe.

I pushed open the car door, ready to run over and join them. Then I stopped. Abby and I had already said our goodbyes. Well, sort of. And anyway, the message had been pretty clear. She didn’t have space for me in her life.

She can make space,my bear insisted.Just ask her. Beg if you need to.

But bears and witches didn’t mix. They couldn’t.

Says who?my bear rumbled.A bunch of old-timers who’ve never seen, let alone gotten to know, a witch?

My mind ran through all Abby’s interactions with Claire. With me, too. The bossy, bitter part was just her outer layer. Beneath that, she was all heart.

A lot like a bear,my inner grizzly said.

I pictured Abby laughing. Touching. Opening up to me, then shutting down completely.

I gulped. Life with Abby truly was a roller coaster.

A pretty thrilling one,my bear whispered.

“Cooper?” Pippa broke away from Abby and Claire to motion me over.

But Ingo yelled at the same time, and I turned that way, because subduing Harlon was the priority. As I ran toward them, a woman appeared, sprinting for the main house. The sister, Erin, I gathered, hurrying to check on everyone there.

Further proof that Abby didn’t need me. I continued toward Ingo.

Then a horse whinnied, and things went downhill fast.

“Domino!” Claire called from the porch. I glanced back, seeing her run to check on the horse.

Alarms sounded in the back of my mind. Claire…the horse…the corral, with its aluminum fence…

Something about it felt off, but I couldn’t understand why.

Then it hit me, and I whirled to cut her off.

“Claire! Stop!” I yelled.

She kept running, too focused to register my words.

“Stop! Stop!” I yelled.

I could see it now — Claire jumping to the corral fence, then climbing to perch on the top rail. But she wouldn’t make it that far. Not if my hunch was right.

By then, she was only a few steps away from the fence. I was a little farther but speeding in quickly from her left.

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