Page 74 of Wicked Witch of the Wolf

“Anyway, I don’t mind helping. Might feel good to whip out the old powers after all this time.” Her voice turned serious. “How dangerous is it out there?”

“According to Alpha Lydia, the rats who were here before detected no magic.”

“And that’s a good thing, right?”

“Maybe. It might also mean the witch in there is good at hiding his magic. Desmond isn’t that kind of witch, so he likely has help. My guess is Aldrich Redding. He’s got the skill—or maybe CarolinaFoster. Billy Lopez doesn’t have the juice, and neither does Gordon Lu. The latter is a healer and the former is, well, Billy.”

“Yeah, I can’t see Chela Lopez’s son helping a guy like that.”

“Me neither, but as the weakest coven member, he might not have a choice.”

“I don’t like this, Betty.”

You and me both.“I’ll be fine. Keep watch over Maya. If anything happens to me, send her off with Alpha Lydia. The rat pack will keep her safe.”

“If I have to do that, I’m going to come barreling after you.”

“Don’t you dare. If this guy is strong enough to take down six rats, three witches, a magic cat, and survive Cecil’s explosives, you’re going to need to stay as far away as you possibly can. Be good, Ida.”

“Don’t tell me something like that,” she snapped.

“Oh, don’t worry. I doubt he’s that strong.”

“Of course he isn’t. You could kick his butt six ways from Sunday with one hand tied behind your back,” she said. “I meant the part about being good. You know that’s not something I’m capable of.”

We ended the call, and I set the phone to silent.

I could’ve pulled the LTD around to the front of the house. I wasn’t going in as a surprise—my happy ass was storming through the front door. Still, I kept the car parked where it was for Ida’s sake. Cecil’s explosives had serious range.

There was another reason for my parking spot, too. One that had nothing to do with the LTD.

Before I faced Desmond Mace, I needed to take a contemplative little walk.

Though it was chilly, I shucked off my jacket and tossed it into the car through the driver’s side window. My shirt was a sleeveless, black cotton tee. Then I pulled off my shoes and socks. I wasn’t worried about stepping on anything. Once I was on the soil, it wouldn’t matter.

I used an elastic band to secure my hair in a ponytail then took along, deep breath and headed into the overgrown alfalfa field with Cecil and Fennel to my left and right, respectively.

Electricity drove up through the soles of my feet. It was fiery hot—what I assumed walking on hot coals felt like—but I held my ground. Literally. When I felt like I could move again, I began the trek through the field. As I walked, dust plumed up in a cloud that superheated and steamed into my skin.

I ground my teeth against the pain.

Magic dumped into my bloodstream and bulleted to my heart to be pumped out to the rest of my body. A sparkling silver light enveloped me, and the rallying cry of my ancestors emanated from deep within my soul. I might not have been one hundred percent connected to my own soil, but I had to be doing something right, because I was worlds beyond where I’d been even a month ago, when I’d scoured the flesh from my stalker’s skeleton with a handful of dust and a lot of rage.

By the time I emerged from the field, I felt as if I’d been stuffed into an oven and baked on low heat. Sweat poured down the sides of my face and my spine. It soaked my top and the waistband of my jeans.

“Meow?” Fennel sounded a mile away, yet I could clearly see him beside me.

If Cecil made any noise, I didn’t hear it. Both of them looked up at me, waiting for the plan.

“I’m going to take down any defensive spells the witches cast on the house. Wait until I’m done to start looking for them. Stay out of sight of enemies.”

Cecil’s purple hat bent back like Fennel’s ears did when I pissed him off.

“Look, I know you know all that. It just makes me feel better to say it, okay?” My patience was wearing thin, but I kept my voice even and calm. “Remember the plan. Once everyone’s clear, you have my permission to reduce this house to sawdust.”

He let out a snide snicker and his hat poked straight up. I resistedthe temptation to compare it to anything, because the only thing that came to mind wasn’t something I wanted to think about in regard to Cecil.

“Make sureeveryone’s clear first. Got it? You have to wait.”

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