Chapter 219

“Follow the power back…” I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, I was back in my apartment. I stood from my chair and ran to my room. I pulled out my lockbox and grabbed my book. I flipped through the pages manically, one page after the other, until I found it: a tracing spell. I read down the list and checked the time. It was late, but I was sure I could find what I needed at a superstore.

I pulled out my phone and called Toya. “Hey.”

“Hello?” Her voice was exhausted, but I needed her. “It’s late. I was just about to turn in. What’s wrong?”

“I need your help.”

Instantly, I could hear the shift in her voice. “What’s wrong? What do you need?”

“You know the issue I was having with my wolves?”

“Yeah…” She was hesitant, and I wanted to laugh.

“I’m actually under attack, and they were trying to deal with it themselves instead of telling me, because they are stupid. I need supplies for a spell.”

“Holy shit.” I could hear her spring up. “Like magic?”

I laughed then. “Yeah. Like magic.”

“Wendy!” she called, and I nearly choked on my spit. “It’s time!”

“Time?” I asked, but the two women were a whirlwind.

I heard Wendy come running. “Magic time?”

I coughed. “Toya!”

“I’m sorry!” she cried. “But I didn’t bring it up. Wendy kinda figured it out a while ago.”

I sputtered. “What?”

“Wyn’s ears are better than almost any wolf I have ever met. The first day, she heard the shift in the room, and every day since.” Toya rushed through her explanation. “A few months ago, before you told me, she pulled me aside and explained her feeling that you were dropping a shield, like those human sci-fi shows. And I pushed her off. I told her she was crazy, but then she started watching. Last month, she told me she thought you were a shaman, but that you had power.” She slammed a door. “And then you told me, and I walked into our apartment, and she jumped up screaming. When I asked her what the hell she was talking about, her exact words were, ‘Amy just told you she had magic, right? I can tell by your face. I knew it.’” Toya sighed, but Wendy giggled.

“Sorry Aim. You aren’t as stealthy as you think you are.” There was a ding, and then the two women were walking through my front door.

I was momentarily stunned because I obviously forgot to lock my door in my exhaustion. But they were carrying a box. “What is this?”

“Magic supplies.” Wendy grinned. “I have been randomly squirreling stuff away since I figured it out, in case this happened.”

“You’re kidding.” I jumped for the box as she shook her head. There were candles, a couple odds and ends, a shallow metal bowl that I lifted with a raised eyebrow.

“I figured we could use it to hold a fire. It shouldn’t melt.” She just smiled and chuckled in disbelief.

“You, Wendy, are amazing.” She preened at my words.

“I know, right? She thinks of everything.” Toya wrapped her arms around her and squeezed.

I finished looking through the box and grabbed my book again. We were still missing a few everyday herbs. “We still need to run to the superstore.”

“The superstore?” Both women turned to me, and I nodded, pointing to my book. Toya lifted her brow, and Wendy bit her lip.

“I know you are saying something when you point at the rock in your hand here, Aim, but I don’t think either of us gets it.” Toya tilted her head in confusion, looking at my hands, and I nearly smacked myself.

“This is my Book of Shadows. It holds the spells of my family. I’m going over the ingredients, and there are some random herbs we are missing, and we should be able to find them at a regular store: thyme, rosemary, stuff like that.”

Wendy sighed. “I was hoping I could see it, but I just see a rock too.”

I handed her the book, and I watched as her eyes flickered through some emotions. Confusion was first, unease, and a flash of something uncomfortable like greed, but that cleared quickly, leaving utter disbelief. “Holy shit.”

I nodded as Toya took the book. “Give me the rock.” I cracked a smile as her face went through everything Wendy’s just did. “Holy goddess, it is a book.” She looked up at me. “I can feel the power from this thing. It’s ancient.”

I nodded. “Yes.” I held out my hands, and she stepped closer.

“It calls to us. Did you know that?” Toya whispered as she slid the book into my waiting arms.

“What do you mean?”

“The book.” Wendy nodded. “When we held it, it whispered to us—the power it could give us—almost as if it was testing our loyalties.” Toya nodded.

“It’s powerful. I don’t think you should show anyone other than us.” Toya bit her lip. “Not even the others.”