Chapter 383

Everyone turned in horror as Carly stood in the grass, white eye blind to the world, voice too deep for a freshly seven-year-old child. Rick turned back to me because the goddess had left my body, and we were once again alone. “Is that who I think it is?”

Carly chuckled in a voice that sounded like she was grown. “If you are asking if I am the Shaman, I am indeed.” She turned to me. “High above us, where the stars can reach, the secret you are searching for has taken root.”

Something in my chest loosened. Something my soul figured out, but my brain was still trying to catch up. “What do you mean?”

“You know.” She smiled, and then I watched her start to fall. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, and before she could slam into the ground, I caught her.

“Holy shit, you caught the shaman?” Rick paced.

“Abby is playing with the shaman?” Shelly looked confused.

Ternen, sweet Ternen, just looked at us, “Who or what is the shaman?”

Everyone froze for a second, and then everyone, including the newly awakened Carly, laughed. I think the comment broke through everyone’s heightened emotions and brought us all back down.

Wendy, Toya, and Abby all came out of the cabin and walked up to the laughing crowd. “Everything okay?” Toya sounded worried.

I nodded. “Why?”

Toya pointed to Carly. “The girls were playing with the dolls, and this one sprinted from the room.”

Carly wiggled to get down from my arms. “I felt a vision coming on, and I needed to be with Amy when it hit.” She looked up at them. “I’m sorry if I scared you.”

Wendy crouched down with a smile. “It’s okay, sweetheart.” She tickled her side, earning a giggle. “We understand that your power pushes you to do things. We just worry, is all.”

Carly hugged her and then turned to me. “You remember my words?” I nodded. “Good.” Then she turned to Abby. “Do you want to go back to play dolls?”

“Yes.” Abby danced in Toya’s arms.

“Hold your horses, girls.” My mom’s voice carried from the porch.

We all turned in surprise. “Ma?”

She laughed. “Morgan and Shannon are gone. The house is locked up, and I came through with dinner.” She waved us over. “Come on and eat, and then we can figure out our next steps.” She walked back into the house.

“Morgan left the house?” Toya lifted her brows.

I nodded. “You missed the bomb that dropped today.” Toya and Wendy looked intrigued. “I’ll tell you later.”

“Porch wine?” Wendy offered.

I nodded. “Porch wine.” I winked as we all turned and headed to the door.

“Porch wine?” Shelly caught up to me.

I laughed. “Yeah, after Carly is in bed, the three of us will catch up on the porch with a glass of wine. Toya started calling it 'porch wine' after the first night.” I slipped my arm around hers. “When you are here, you are more than welcome to join us.”

“Oh I can’t.” She shook her head with a chuckle.

“Why the heck not?” I shook her lightly.

“Because I have Abby.”

I snorted. “Rick will be here, and she will be cured by then. I’m sure the man you mated can handle her for one night.”

She looked at me through her lashes. “You promise?”

I distractedly nodded. “Promise what? That he can handle his kid for a night? Goddess, I freaking hope so.” I laughed.

Shelly chuckled with me as we went up the porch steps, but she shook her head. “No. About Abby being cured by then?”

I pulled her to a stop before the door. “The only reason I’m not curing her instantly is because Vince would feel it, or whoever he had do the curse. It’s connected to the caster, and if any die, or the curse is lifted, they are instantly alerted.”

She quivered in my arms. “I can’t lose her.”

“And you won’t.” I squeezed her.

“Mommy, come on. Grandna Ainsley made lasagna and garlic bread.” Abby bounced on her toes.

I looked at her. “Is lasagna your favorite?” She nodded. “My mom makes the best lasagna ever.” Abby looked at her mom.

“I think my mom does.” I smiled.

“Well, I guess we have to find out. Tonight, we will have my mom’s, and maybe soon, we will get to have your mom’s.”

She grinned, and we headed inside. But instantly, something felt off. I left everyone downstairs as I made my way upstairs. Nels and Megan’s hackles were up. I started to run, but something was wrong.

I ran to my bedroom and realized my mom had left the connecting doors open in her haste to come over with her hands full. I went to close them, but I heard something scraping against metal.

I slipped through the doors, closing them as I went, and made it to my bedroom door when I heard it again. A soft scrap of something against my lock. I spun the lock and wrenched my door open.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?"