Page 59 of Wicked Witch of the Wolf

“What’s that mean?”

“I’m not sure. Time me, okay? In case I can’t pull out on my own.”

“How long?”

“No more than five minutes.”

I knelt in the center of the stones, placing my palms flat on the soil. My hands disappeared into the earth, followed by my wrists and forearms.

“Do you think the soil misses you?” Ida asked gently. “It always seems to hold onto you so tightly—like it’s afraid of losing you.”

Her words rang in my ears as I closed my eyes and reached for Red’s delicate roots. They were so thin I had difficulty finding them. I was dangerously close to losing him forever.

Magic sparked from my fingertips. I sent as much as I dared into the dry, wispy ends. I’d need to conserve magic if I intended to confront Desmond today, but I gave as much as I could spare to Red.

And I felt it instantly. The barest hint of a connection. I built on that connection, concentrating on the power flowing out of me and into the roots.

“Betty? Betty, wake up. It’s been almost fifteen minutes now.” Ida’s voice brought me back to the present.

“Felt like seconds.” I withdrew my hands and opened my eyes.

My partners stared at me. Fennel had a backpack strap in his teeth. Cecil’s purple hat was packed so full the tip stood up straightinstead of slouching, as it usually did. Ida was on her knees beside me. All three looked worried.

Ida and I helped each other to our feet. I shook the earth off my clothing and watched with a fascination that never got old as the soil on my hands and arms vaporized and sank hotly into my body, sending frissons of power boiling through my veins.

I scooped up another handful and refilled the pouch I kept in my jeans pocket. The soil and I might not be fully connected, but it had saved my life before. I sent a supplication to the goddesses that it would do it again.

Three deep lines appeared between Ida’s eyes. “Take me with you. You’re going to need backup.”

“You’re right. I do need backup.” I indicated the house with a nod. “Please keep watch over Maya. Because if Desmond takes me down, you’re her last line of defense. The protection spell on the park should hold steady for another two months. You’ll be safe for that long. I recommend getting out of town way before then, though.”

“I hate it when you say stuff like that,” she muttered.

“Yeah. Me, too.”

The boys and I piled into Ida’s LTD. Ronan’s truck was too noticeable. Ida’s boat-sized sedan was the sort of car you should notice but almost never did.

“Guys, we’re going in half-panicked with the barest hint of a plan. It’s dumb, and if anyone else suggested it, I’d laugh in their face. But that’s how we’re rolling today.” I stared down at Fennel and Cecil, who’d belted themselves into the front passenger seat. “You are under no obligation to help. This is going to get dangerous. If you want to bail, now’s the time to do it. No hard feelings.”

My partners gave me the same offended expression. Maybe I should’ve been worried they were starting to react alike, but I’d used up most of my worry on whatever Cecil had loaded into his hat and Fennel’s knapsack.

I only hoped whatever it was, it wouldn’t go off in the car.

“All right then. Let’s do this.”

I pulled out of the lot and headed for the farm roads that would lead us into the back side of La Paloma. For once, I didn’t get stuck behind a tractor or combine, for which I was grateful.

“We need to make sure there aren’t any innocents around before you bust out the explosives, Cecil. And you’re wearing yourprotectcharm, right, Fennel? The hex bags are still in the house. I’m susceptible and you might be, too.” I glanced over at Cecil, who was playing a game on my cell phone. Without looking away from the screen, he flicked a small, pressed-glass charm hanging from Fennel’s collar.

“Okay. Right.” I returned my full attention to the rutted, old road as we zoomed past a sugar beet field. “Your first job is to clear the bags out. I’ve got a null bag in my tote.”

Cecil chittered a response I understood.

“You’ve got one under your hat, too? Nice. You can never bring too many null bags to a witch’s house.” I forced a smile. “Maybe I should have that embroidered on a pillow.”

Fennel shimmied out of the seatbelt and slapped a paw on the radio knob. KLXX played E.L.O’s “Mr. Blue Sky.” It was such a happy song.

Why did it make me feel like crying?

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