Page 65 of November Reign
“Okay.”
“Make the call.”
It was kind of humiliating, calling while Damon was listening in and pretending to be unconscious. I made sure to look in my camera before starting a video call. Sufficiently rumpled, I thought.
“Hey, lover. Look at you! Who did that?” Rather than look upset, like Thyme would, Basil looked practically gleeful.
“Got half of what you wanted.” I turned the device towards where Damon was lying on the ice covered grass. He had to be freezing!
“Good. Can you get the book?”
“Yeah. They have it locked away, but I can open the safe.”
“Okay, I want you to meet me by the docks in thirty. Will your spell last until then?”
“Let me worry about him. Text me the address. See you in thirty minutes. Don’t be late.”
I went to end the video call but Basil stopped me.
“Oak?”
“Yeah?”
“Well done. I’m looking forward to having you back.”
“I’ll be happy to be back.”
I hung up the call. “Bastard,” I muttered.
Damon took that as his cue to jump to his feet. “Where are we going?”
My phone dinged with the location. “It’s one of his family’s businesses. This is a set up, right?”
“For sure, but we’ve got this.”
We walked back to the mansion together to get the book.
“Shit!” Damon pointed towards the house where Aster stood at the door. “Make it look convincing!” He whisper-yelled at me before he took off running.
I chased him. Fuck! This was a shit show already. He was nearly there! Putting on a burst of speed, I tackled him to the ground where I heard a crack. Damon yelled and thrust his elbow back into my face, cutting my lip. I shoved his head at the ground with a muttered sleep spell.
Our brief tussle ended with me lying on top of him in the driveway, both covered in dirt.
“Basil sent me to help you,” Aster said as she sauntered towards me. Figured she’d be on his side. I struggled to keep my loathing off my face. Fucking traitor.
“Gotta get the book. Watch him for me?” With my magic, I put him in the car, undoing the sleep spell. “Stay asleep,” I muttered so only he could hear. There was no way I was leaving him vulnerable with her.
“Sure thing,” she called as I raced past her into the house.
The library with the safe was at the back of the house where the others planned to wait.
“Aster is a traitor,” I whispered as I went to the safe. The others gave no reaction. “Once I have the book, I’m going straight to the car. Basil’s at the docks.”
“The shipping company?” Thyme asked in a low voice. His face was paler than usual.
“Yeah. Get everyone there. We’ve got maybe twenty minutes now and it takes that long to drive there. Hela, watch the house.”
“I’ll portal everyone who’s here. We’ll get a good vantage spot.” Barr stood, ready to move out. It took him a second to open the door to the docks. Our allies would meet us there.
