Page 4 of Discovered Magic
Laszlo’s eyes reflected his disappointment. “Come on, man. Don’t make me out to be the bad guy here. Tell her. We searched and searched. We scryed. When our magic was restored, Liz and I went up there with you and did everything we could to clear the peaks and hold back the inclement weather to get a better view.” Laszlo placed a hand on Wilder’s shoulder. “Tell her there was no trace. We found a few deceased climbers, but none were Abbie.”
Shutting his burning eyes, Wilder nodded, acknowledging the truth.
“Ebba, Sweet, I’d never forbid you to do what you think is best,” Laszlo said. “Hell, you’d castrate me if I tried. But the risk is great for zero chance at a reward.”
Wilder should’ve let his brother have the win, but he couldn’t. Lifting his gaze from his coffee mug, he cleared his throat and said the one thing he knew they couldn’t ignore.
“I dreamed she spoke to me through Ebba.”
2
Silence followed Wilder’s announcement, and his heart hammered with dread as he awaited a response.
Finally, Castor leaned in, pale-blue eyes narrowed consideringly.
“What are you thinking?” Laszlo asked.
“I’m intrigued by the mystery, and I’m bored enough to help.” Castor grinned and slapped the table. “Count me in, Thornes!”
Wilder blinked. The unexpected offer cracked open his chest, warming what had been frozen before. With the thawing came hope. He couldn’t say with one hundred percent certainty how a Traveler’s magic worked, but if the man could somehow alter time…
He inhaled a ragged breath, forcefully pushing down the desire to sob his gratitude.
Laszlo shot him an assessing glance, then turned his focus on Ebba to judge her reaction as he spoke. “I’m sorry for being a dick, Wilder.”
She didn’t move, and her expectation hung on a raised brow.
“And I’m sorry for saying you’re being ridiculous, Sweet Ebba,” he added. “I’m scared for you.”
A soft smile curled her lips. “Was that so bad?”
Laszlo held his fingers an inch apart and shrugged.
“I have questions,” Castor said, suddenly all business. “The first one is for you, Wilder. Was your girlfriend a witch? If so, why didn’t she teleport?”
“No, but her mother was. She never knew her father, but I suspect he was incredibly powerful in his own right.”
“Why?”
“It wouldn’t have mattered,” Laszlo cut in before Wilder could answer. “Anyone near us that day had their magic subdued. Had she been a witch, and she was within touching distance, she couldn’t have teleported.”
“But she fell down a mountain,” Castor said. “At some point, she’d have been far enough away to save herself.”
Wilder didn’t answer. He’d wondered the same thing a thousand times.
“Can we talk to her mother? I’d like to get a sense of who Abigail was.” Castor sipped his coffee before adding, “At the very least, if I’ve ever encountered the mother or your girlfriend, I may be able to travel back to that time. Possibly warn one or both.”
And finally, he was given the first inkling of how the Traveler’s gifts worked.
“Do you remember every face you’ve seen?” Ebba asked the question on Wilder’s mind.
“Yes. Every interaction, too. It’s a curse,” the Traveler replied.
“What if we speak to Death?” Laszlo suggested. “She’s your son’s mother, right? She might help locate Abbie on the other side.”
Wilder’s heart slammed in his chest, and he recoiled from the idea she wasn’t alive.
“Abbie’s not dead!” The denial was torn from him. “I’d feel it. Here.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “She’s not dead.”
