Anneliese POV

The newly painted blue door to the Bloodstone had never looked so appealing. Anneliese tried unlocking it with her brass key, but it wouldn’t budge.

“I forgot about the protective wards!” She raised her crystal wand and made an unlocking motion three times, frantically.

Peering over his shoulder, Patch scanned the street where the lamps were flickering as evening settled in. A handful of townspeople strolled about, including one fruit seller pushing her ...