by Lila Kane
“And she told you to come here?” Myra glances around, her wide blue eyes taking in the forest and the back of the hotel.
“Yes.”
“She was trying to help you stop Logan,” Myra concludes.
We walk around a large tree and my shoes crunch on fallen leaves and branches. The closer we get, the more I can feel Logan. It’s muted now, and must be vanishing because we haven’t had as much contact in the last twenty-four hours, but I can still feel him.
“It’s probably not going to make a difference,” I tell Myra, “but we got off on the wrong foot. Your brother wasn’t up front about what was going on and I did what I had to do.”
She presses her lips together, but doesn’t say anything.
I stop by the familiar boulder and take a breath. “We’re here.”
“Where?” Myra asks.
“He’s inside the cave.”
Cheyenne gives me a look. I know she can tell how Myra’s feeling. I wonder if she can sense my feelings, too.
So far my mother’s been quiet, but when I finally look at her, she’s smiling at me. A sympathetic smile like she understands I had to do what I had to do to deal with Logan.
I swallow and look away. “Let’s just…” I sigh and step to the large rock. “Let’s do this.”
Ryan and Cheyenne help me roll the rock away. Sunlight streams across the opening, but beyond the magical border is darkness.
Myra steps forward. “Logan?”
“You can’t go in there,” I say.
She purses her lips, looking my way. “Sorry, witch, you can’t tell me what to do.”
“Hey,” Ryan starts.
“It’s fine.” I lift my chin and tell Myra, “I’m not forbidding you to go in there. I’m suggesting you don’t considering it’s full of amethyst and once you go in, you can’t come out.”
“She’s right,” a voice says from the opening.
Logan stands just beyond the entrance to the cave, hand propped against the stone wall. His cheeks are taut, but he’s playing it off like he isn’t in pain.
“Logan,” Myra gasps.
He holds up a hand. “Stay out there.”
Myra turns to me. “Get him out of there.”
“Hell, no,” Ryan says. “This is a compromise. You can’t start making demands‒”
“Get him out of there!” Myra yells, starting toward me.
Ryan steps in her path, but it’s Logan who speaks up. “Myra, sweetheart, you need to calm down. This is just a misunderstanding.”
Her chest is heaving when she looks over at him. I’ve heard him speak to her like this before. Like a completely different person. Like someone who cares. He spoke to me like that once, too, when I told him about the boy I had accidentally set on fire. He can be kind when he wants to.
“You’re trapped in a cave, Logan.” Myra looks to me, eyes pleading. “Let him out. Please.”
My heart twists. I glance at my mom. I expect her to shake her head. To tell me no like Ryan keeps doing. Instead, she inclines her head. “Talk to him. Work it out.”
Ryan sighs next to me, but I nod. She’s right. We need to work it out.
“We want to make a deal,” I tell Logan.
He straightens, considering this. I expect a joke or a flat-out refusal. But he doesn’t do either. He steps back and gestures to the cave. “Come on in.”
Chapter 5
“What time is it?” Logan asks once I step inside. “My watch stopped.”
I spot the water bottle I brought him yesterday lying on its side. It’s empty. Guilt overwhelms me again for not returning last night. Especially when Logan leans against the wall, slowly sliding down until he’s sitting again.
I check my watch. “Nine.”
He blows out a breath. “Shit. I was supposed to work today.”
“Sorry.”
His laugh is weak. “Sure.”
I swallow and look around. I really am sorry, even though I shouldn’t be. I guess we all did what we had to do.
“Why did you bring Myra here?” he asks.
“She wanted to know where you were.”
“And what’s this about making a deal?”
“We told Myra if she gives us back my Book of Shadows and my mom’s Book of Shadows, we’ll try to help her.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “Help her.”
I nod. “We can try to figure out a spell. We’ll find something to help her.”
“I was already helping her.”
“But there are other consequences,” I start.
“Don’t you think I know that?” Logan growls. He gets to his feet, more slowly than normal, but it’s still faster than a human. He steps closer to me. “I know there are consequences, but losing my sister is the worst one of all.” His chest heaves with a few long breaths. When he meets my eyes again, he’s calmer. “You know how that feels, Willow. What would you have done to save your father?”
The question hits me right in the heart. I still miss my father. Every day. And I would have done anything to save him.
Before I can answer, Logan reaches out and grips my arms. Gently. “What if you can’t do a spell? What if it doesn’t work?”
I open my mouth to tell him I don’t know, that we have to try, though, when Ryan appears at the opening to the cave.
“Get your hands off her.”
Logan barely spares him a glance. “This is not your fight, Shifter. Willow knows what she’s doing.” He returns his attention to me. “Get me out of here.”
“You have to give me the books back.”
“Done.”
“Willow,” Ryan warns, his voice echoing in the expanse of the cave.
I keep my gaze locked with Logan’s. “You have to work with us‒or at least stay out of the way.”
His jaw clenches.
“He’s not going to do those things,” Ryan says.
I look over. “Ryan, please. We have to try to work together.”
He mutters something I can’t make out and walks away.
“Moron,” Logan says.
I ease from his grip with a glare. “You got yourself in this mess. So be a big boy and get yourself out. You have to cooperate. And I promise I will try to help Myra. Faye will, too.”
He sighs. I can tell it’s as much because he’s weary and in pain as it is his reluctance to play along. “I will try to cooperate. But the shifter better stay away from me.”
I point at him. “No guarantees. Now let me concentrate.”
He leans against the wall again, scuffing his foot on the floor of the cave while I try to come up with a quick spell to get him out of here. I step to the exit of the cave. I see Ryan pacing in the distance. Cheyenne is talking with Faye and Myra has her arms folded, staring at me.
I ignore her and close my eyes before whispering, “Unblock this path, set Logan free, as I will so let it be.”
A soft breeze flutters my hair. I step back and look at Logan.
He takes a few slow steps to my side. “Is it done?”
“I think so.”
Everyone watches as Logan puts one foot in front of the other. He catches himself on the rock outside of the cave, and then he’s out.
Ryan walks back over, wariness in his eyes.
Myra nearly knocks Logan down with her hug. He runs a hand over her dark brown hair and soothes her with a few words I can’t make out.
When she finally pulls back, he says, “We’re going to fix this, okay?”
She nods.
“If you need those books now, I can get them for you,” Logan says. “They’re at the house.”
I glance at Cheyenne. She shrugs. “You can take some time,” I tell Logan. “We can get the books later.”
A hawk swoops overhead, shrieking as it passes a tree. Ryan rubs a hand over his eyes briefly before turning to me. He digs in his pocket, grabs his keys, and presses them into my palm.
“Take my truck. I’ll be back later.”
“
But‒”
He races away, disappearing into the trees. I meet Cheyenne’s eyes. He’s shifting every day now. And a hawk? Is that even possible?
“It’s fine,” she says, coming to my side. “Let’s get back. Take the day to recoup.”
She’s right. We do need a day. But Ryan…
“Why is it happening more now? Because we’re all here?”
“All of our powers are getting stronger,” Faye says with a nod. She gestures to Logan. “See? He’s already better.”
She’s right. Logan is lounging against a tree, looking bored. And not in pain at all. He lifts his eyebrows at me with a grin.
I roll my eyes. “Let’s get out of here.”
No one argues, they all just turn toward the hotel.
Willow…
I glance back to the cave. It’s Selena’s voice in my head now, soft and appealing.
Something touches my elbow and I straighten.
“Willow?” Logan asks. He follows my gaze. “What is it?”
I shake my head, but my stomach is unsettled. It seems like Selena’s with me all the time now. What if our link is stronger like with Ryan and Logan? But that link is fading and the one with Selena’s feels like it’s getting more intense.
“You should drive me home,” Logan says.
I frown. “No. Go with Myra.”
“I want to talk to you.”
“Last time you said that, it didn’t work out so well for me.”
He holds out his hands. “I’m not going to do anything. I promise.”
“Why should I believe you?”
He gives a low laugh. “Because Myra made me promise and she’ll kick my ass if I break that promise.”
I glance at his sister, who’s picking her way through the brush and trees. She looks so fragile, I highly doubt she could kick anyone’s ass. But Logan does seem to respect how she feels.
“Why don’t you talk to me while we walk?”
He smiles. “Because I want privacy.”
“Again, I don’t think that scenario would turn out the best for me.”
I spot the hawk again, swooping low over the path we’re walking. Or is that Ryan keeping an eye on us? I wish he’d just talk to me, tell me what’s going on. Let me help him. We’re all in this together, and he was understanding with the fire and my inability to control it.
“It’s not just him, you know,” Logan says.
“What?”
Logan tucks his hands behind his back as the parking lot comes into view. “Your mom’s right. All our powers are getting stronger‒and changing. Ryan’s not the only one dealing with it. You are, too. So am I.”
“What are you talking about?”
I must be tenser than I’m letting on because Cheyenne slows her walk and looks back at me. “Everything okay?”
Yeah, I guess she must be able to feel my emotions, too. Who knew that werewolves were empaths? But maybe she couldn’t do it as well until I came and the original four being in town at the same time started the reversal of the binding spell.
“It’s fine.” I jingle Ryan’s keys. “I’ll take Logan home and grab those books if you don’t mind bringing my mom back to her house.”
“Girl.” She sighs, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “You seriously need to take a step back and sort out your priorities.”
I squirm under her arm. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re taking on too much.” Her gaze flicks to Logan. “It’s a lot, even for a witch.”
My mom gives a slight nod behind her.
Before I can say anything, Logan chimes in. “I agree.”
“All right, listen, I don’t need your opinions on my choices. You”‒I point to Logan‒“get in the truck before I refuse to take you home. And you”‒I look at Cheyenne‒“don’t need to tell me I’m taking on too much. I don’t have a choice. So keep your opinions to yourself or I’ll‒I’ll cast a spell on you.”
Cheyenne snorts, and I see Myra’s smile behind her before they all get into their cars. I wait until they drive away before giving a heavy sigh. Instead of getting in, Logan lingers by the door.
“You’re tense,” he says.
“Excellent powers of observation,” I snap.
He only smiles and steps closer. “I see what I see.”
“Just…stay where you are. In fact, get in the car. And stay on your side.”
When he doesn’t move, I get in the driver’s seat and fumble with the seat to scoot it closer to the pedals.
Logan hops in. “You want me to drive?”
“I’m sure that’s exactly what Ryan wants, for you to drive his truck.”
“The guy’s not here‒doesn’t matter what he wants.”
I glare at him and find the lever to move the seat. “He can’t help it, okay? He‒”
I break off and start the car. I have to adjust the mirrors and the steering wheel before I can even back out and the entire time Logan looks at me curiously, waiting for me to continue.
“What?” Logan asks.
“Nothing.”
“Come on, it’s something. What’s going on? Trouble in paradise?”
“Seriously?” I ask. I drive out of the hotel parking lot. “I’ve known him a week.”
“I’ve only known you that long, and already I can tell he’s not right for you.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper. “This conversation is ridiculous.”
He chuckles. “Have dinner with me. It’ll make you feel better.”
I squeeze the wheel so tightly my knuckles turn white. It’s even more insane because he’s right. Dinner with someone‒doing something normal‒would make me feel better. And it’s a lot easier to talk to Logan than it is to Ryan.
“You just got out of a cave. Your sister is sick,” I remind him. “Maybe you should stay home.”
He looks out the window and doesn’t respond. The trees get thicker the closer we get to his house. It’s a warm day, but there are clouds piling overhead and starting to obscure the sun.
I turn into his drive and park behind Myra’s car. She’s already gone inside and I wait for Logan to get out.
He doesn’t.
He turns to me in his seat and snatches my hand before I can do anything. “I wouldn’t have hurt you.”
“What?”
“I just wanted the spell undone for Myra. By the time Ryan and Cheyenne got involved, I figured the only way to get you to listen to me was to take you to my house. I wasn’t going to hurt you. I was going to let you go.”
The sincerity in his voice, in his gaze, makes me nod. “I know.”
His fingers are warm and strong around mine and he doesn’t look like he’s been trapped for hours in a cold, dark cave. He looks like the Logan I first met. Dark, charming. A little dangerous for sure. But also understanding. Like he knows me better than he should considering I’ve been in Shadow Hill such a short time.
When I try to pull my hand away, he won’t let go. “Ryan doesn’t understand you like I do. I can listen if you need to talk. And about dinner‒”
“Logan, I’m not going to have dinner with you.”
He flashes a grin and brushes his thumb over my knuckles. “I know. It’s a little too intimate. We’ll do something else instead.” He releases my hand and opens the door. He gets out, but turns around briefly. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”
“No, I‒”
Logan closes the door on my response and sends me a short wave before strolling to the house. I grit my teeth and put the truck into gear.
I am not going anywhere with him tomorrow.
But still…I’m kind of curious where he plans on taking me.
Chapter 6
I was so flustered by Logan yesterday, I didn’t even get the Book of Shadows from him. He kind of has that effect on me, though, making me lose my train of thought. Making me get so caught up in him I can barely think.
While I’m making coffee, I text Ryan. Everything back to normal
?
I pour sugar and creamer and even fix myself an omelet but still don’t hear anything from him. If he’s up and heading to work he probably would have gotten in touch. Maybe it’s for the best. We’re not exactly seeing eye-to-eye on things lately.
I hear a knock at the door. Smiling, I walk out of the kitchen, and then freeze. I thought it might be Ryan, stopping by before work but instead, I see someone with dark hair and sunglasses on the other side of the door.
Logan.
I debate whether or not to duck back into the other room and hope he thinks I’m not here when he says, “I know you’re in there.”
Sighing, I walk to the door. I open it just slightly. “My car’s out front. That gave me away, right?”
He pulls off his sunglasses and smiles. “No, I could hear you.”
“Liar.”
“I told you my powers are getting stronger.” He tries to peer around me. “Can I come in? Or are you…with someone?”
“I think you’d be able to hear them too, if I wasn’t alone.”
He flashes another smile. “Good point. Can I come in then?”
“Hell no. You think I’d actually invite you inside my house?”
“Come on, Willow. I thought we got this all worked out. No more kidnapping and taking hostages. You’re safe around me. In fact, you were before, but‒”
“That’s enough, Logan. What do you want?”
“I told you I was coming by.” He runs a hand through his hair and sighs. “You forgot already. You really are stressed, aren’t you?”
“I’m not in the mood for jokes, Logan.”
He leans in, peering between the small slit in the door. “You look like you need to get out. I can wait for you on the porch if you won’t let me in.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” But I do want to get out. I want to get away from shapeshifting and my mother and witchy books for a while.
He flashes another smile, relaxed again. “Now you’re lying. I promise to be on my best behavior. And you need a history lesson about your ancestors. Even better, you can use it for your article. You’ve got to work on that, right?”
He’s right. I have to work on that. And I need the history lesson. And it looks warm and sunny outside and Logan’s eyes are sparkling with mischief and laughter.
