a's

, out into sunlight that felt like lies. My car keys shook in my han

they

h Moonhaven's front door

oom, side by side on the

ard me, movements too smooth. To

hands. Cold. Why were they so cold?

e out like he was reading from a script. "The

er's shoulders. "They're plannin

er patted my cheek with those cold, cold

red, trying to wake up. "What's wro

they said together. Sam

trangers wearing my parents' faces. "

ck to starin

ehind me. Her books still lined the walls. Her sc

er ghost. "Please. I don't

st enough. It pulled me toward the far wall

ighten

all c

ore. Bound in scales that shimmered between red and gold. Grandm

touched it, the world

. Memories. But

ching. Listening. The soul echo spell, Grandmother's voice whispered in

s lap. This was last night. While I'd been lying in be

none of the warmth I knew. "Three years of preten

ger. "The moonbane I've been feeding her has weakened he

poison that killed magic slowly. Gently.

ade me turn. Magnus Blackthorne entered the study,

n this morning. "The ritual circle is complete. Once she's in position, the

arents?" M

king glass. "They believe what we tell them to believe. After tomorrow, they'll b

break the curse on our

mother's study. I knew every cur

orne curse

ion process once mor

ket. "The ritual pulls the magical essence

owned. "You said

ison sweet. "She needs to burn slowly. From the inside out. Ever

no emotion. None. "As lon

m. "Without it anchoring her, she might be ab

t to vomit. "Keeps touching it like it's precious. I

ion sha

dmother's study, tears streaming down my f

years

f kisses that

ove you" while they

ic from my soul while I screamed. Tomorrow the

as not my

he day I was s