AISLYNThe shadows behind me choke the room.

The witch’s magic lunges, sharp, fierce, and protective.

The temperature plummets so fast that frost blooms on my window.

So Ashlyn knows.

She knows the witch tried to warn me.

She knows the spell over Elliot is cracking.

She knows I’m not as helpless as she hoped.

Which means she’s afraid.

Good.

Fear looks beautiful on her.

“I’ll repeat myself,” I say, voice soft, deadly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

A slow inhale on the other side of ...