Page 118 of A Witch-ish Guide to Protectors and Pendulums

“No. Sorry. I have no idea, but I’ll ask Connor to keep his ear to the ground. I have to go now. I’m starting to wake up.”

“See you soon, then.” She smiled up at me as I bent my energy in to hug her. I fizzled in and out a bit when we touched. Ask me if I cared. Hugging Lily Joy meant everything in this moment. Sooner than I wanted, I let her go, zipping back to Connor the exact way I’d gotten here, but in reverse.

My spirit reentered my body and my eyes popped open. Connor had been shaking me. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Another coven was hit, but Victoria had already gotten the witches out.”

“How do you know?”

“You got a text from Agatha.”

“Agatha? Where is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“She’s my friend. She helped us. We have to make sure she’s okay.”

“Not arguing with you, babe,” he replied, handing me my phone. “Do what you’ve got to do.”

We’d come a long way from him trying to control every move I made. Better for him.

I popped off a text to Agatha.

And I waited…

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

It felt like forever before Agatha texted back. Agonizing minutes passed where I wondered if my friend was safe or not. At least Victoria had gotten the witches out before they’d hit the latest coven.

ME: Where are you?

HER: …

HER: …

HER: Been hiding. Large demon presence. It’s bad, Simone. Been in hiding.

ME: Can you get to MBS?

HER: Don’t know… People going crazy… It’s likeThe Purgeout there.

My mouth literally dropped open. “Connor, are you reading this?”

“Fuck! We need to stick to the plan, get to the archives.”

I text back to Agatha: Going to try something I haven’t before. Bringing you to me.

“Won’t that drain you?” Connor asked.

“Do I have a choice? Agatha can help me. Then I can get us up to the Orkneys.”

ME: Where are you, exactly?

HER: Farmstead outside of Reese.

ME: Get ready.

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