“They’re big on scorched earth.” She fiddled with the zipper on her purse. “It’s part of the reason I had to leave.”
“So it turns out the rumors are true then, I guess?”
“Totally. I should have left a long time ago.”
Quinn’s apartment was small and made no bones about belonging to a bachelor.
He made up the sofa but insisted that Eden take the bed.
“It’s a gentleman thing,” he said when she protested. “Please just take the bed.”
Quinn laid out a t-shirt for her to sleep in.
“I’m out here if you need me.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Eden stripped off her clothes and pulled on Quinn’s shirt, taking comfort in its embrace. She settled into bed, still numb with shock. In the space of a few hours everything had changed.
Her biggest regret was Sarah. She’d have to find a way to make it up to her.
She reached down for her jeans on the floor and pulled a small totem out of a pocket. She turned it over in her hand studying it in a shaft of moonlight. Such a powerful little thing and worth every penny. Useless now, but it had done its job.
Eden had taken precautions not to get caught but had always known it was a possibility. So along with the ingredients for the blank slate spell, she’d bought this little item. A one-time-only, one-spell-fits-all shield against magic. Incoming magic, that is.
She might not have Coventry House anymore, but she did still have magic.
Contingencies were key.
Chapter 21
Sunlight warmed Eden’s face, and she woke with a smile. How long had it been since that had happened?
In the living room Quinn was already up, drinking coffee on the sofa. “How did you sleep?”
“Like a baby.” She went to the kitchen and poured herself a cup then took a seat next to him. “What are your plans for the day?”
Quinn looked at her strangely. “Adoption fair at the shelter. We both signed up to help out, remember?”
“I did? Oh, right. I guess with everything going on it slipped my mind.”
“That’s understandable.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I’m gonna jump in the shower. We need to leave in thirty.”
“Actually, I might...skip it.” Eden took a sip from her mug.
“Really?” Quinn turned back. “But you were so hopeful about finding Bella a home. Wasn’t that couple driving down to meet her?”
“They are,” Eden said. “But the other volunteers will be there. I need to move into the dorms.”
“Right. That makes sense.”
“Want to help me?” Eden said. “I’m the worst at power tools, and I think I want some shelves.”
“I can’t, sorry. They’re expecting me at the shelter—one of us should show.” He disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door.
Eden put her feet up on his coffee table and drank her coffee, thinking about all the cool ways she could decorate her room.
Quinn promised to send pictures from the adoption fair, and the two said goodbye, Eden heading over to the registrar’s office to figure out where she would be living.
She got her housing assignment, but before she left, the man behind the desk made sure to point out that her funds had been pulled and that she would be responsible for her own tuition next semester.
“No problem,” Eden said. “You’ll get it.”
Carolyn had said she had the potential to be one of the most powerful witches in decades—how hard could an alchemy spell be? Especially now that she wasn’t limited in what she could learn—or how fast.
Her room was on the ground floor. That tickled something in the back of her brain, but she couldn’t quite place it.
She entered to find her things had been unceremoniously dumped onto the bed. Carolyn had the expulsion process down to a science.
Her new room was a single. At one time that would have made her happy, but now it just made her miss Sarah. She had to find a way to make things right between them—she just wasn’t sure how.
Eden trusted Sarah with the truth, but would it be selfish to tell it? She was still a member of Coventry House.
Unless she wants to break off and make a new coven with me...
It had taken Sarah hours to fall asleep, and when she woke, it was to a world she didn’t recognize. Pieces of her had been ripped away. The Eden piece. The Kai piece.
She curled into a ball and pulled the covers up over her. She couldn’t bear to look at the empty half of the room.
Her phone chimed, and she reached for it, her heart sinking when she read the text from Kai.
We should talk.
Sarah deleted it with a swipe then went to her contacts and deleted Kai completely.
She couldn’t talk to her ever again. Sarah had never really believed it when her mother said gay people recruited, that they could tempt you into their lifestyle, but now she knew it was true. What other explanation was there?
Sarah was straight. She’d always been straight. She’d never once thought about having sex with a girl.
A small voice reminded her that she’d never thought about having sex with boys, either. Not in any way that hadn’t made her queasy.
It doesn’t matter, she told herself. I’m a lot of things—even a witch. But I am not gay.
After picking her way through breakfast, Sarah found Carolyn in the greenhouse gathering herbs. It was heated year round and outfitted with special lamps so Coventry House always had a fresh supply of the most commonly used plants.
“Sarah,” Carolyn said when she entered. “I’ve been expecting you.”
“You have?” Sarah asked.
“You want to discuss Eden.” She snipped an elderberry plant. “You feel I was too harsh in my punishment.”
Wouldn’t take the gift of prophecy to see that coming.
“Eden belongs here,” Sarah said. “You’ve said it yourself—she’s the strongest of all of us.”
“She had the potential to be.” Carolyn made another snip. “And now she’ll do no one else any harm.”
“But what harm did she do?” Sarah asked. “Who was it that got hurt?”
“Thankfully, no one. She’s very lucky she didn’t seriously injure herself, though I suspect she may yet suffer the consequences of her actions.”
“What actions? What did she do?”
“She cast a spell.” Carolyn set down her shears. “A dangerous one. I don’t make the rules, but I am duty-bound to enforce them.”
“So you didn’t want to her kick her out.”
“Do I regret losing any witch, with magic all but disappearing from this world? Do I wish Eden hadn’t forced my hand?” Carolyn looked regretful as she slid her thumb and forefinger down an elderberry stem, stripping it of its leaves. “What’s done is done. Eden made her choice. It is for us to accept and move on.”
Eden’s Coventry House spell book had been taken, but she’d snapped pictures of its pages. She swiped through them but then had another idea.
That first night at Coventry House, she’d seen Nicole do something at the party—a glamour. She hadn’t known it was magic at the time, but she’d felt something. If she could just remember...
Eden looked in the mirror, passing her hand over a small blemish on her chin. When nothing happened, she tried again. By the tenth unsuccessful attempt she was annoyed—magic feeling out of reach and the tiny, red pimple mocking her.
Oh well. Maybe glamours aren’t my thing.
She was about to grab her concealer but thought better of it, instead levitating it over to her. Except it didn’t levitate, just shook fitfully inside her makeup case.
“Oh, come on.” Eden yanked the bag all the way open.
But even unobstructed the concealer did nothing more than rattle around.
Eden held out her palm.
“Illumino.”
That spell had never failed her—not since the first time she’d tried. Exce
pt this time her glowing orb was pitiful and after a few seconds disappeared completely.
What was happening? Had Carolyn taken away her abilities? Or was it a byproduct of her own spell? Acid burned her stomach. She’d been willing to sacrifice Coventry House but not her skill with magic.
She pulled a slip of paper from her pocket, where she’d tucked it right before doing the blank slate spell.
I’m not naive enough to think that changing a memory won’t change other things and not all of them for the better. But please, blank slate Eden, don’t ever reverse the spell. Whatever problems you have, they are nothing compared to the nightmare I was living. I was a danger to myself and others. I beg you, don’t reverse the spell.
Eden tacked the note to her new bulletin board. She had a feeling she’d be referring to it a lot.
An hour later Eden was still struggling with illumino when she got a text from Quinn.
Up for a hike? Bella didn’t get adopted, and we could use some cheering up.
She replied that she was and would meet him outside in fifteen minutes.
Quinn was downstairs waiting when she bounded down the steps. Bella jumped up, her tail wagging.
“Whoa!” Eden stepped back. “Easy, girl.”
“She’s just happy to see you.” Quinn reined Bella in.
“Yeah, but she has to learn manners.” Eden patted Bella on the head, wishing she’d thought to bring hand sanitizer.
“Where are we headed?” Eden asked as they drove.
“Just a mile or so down the road. There’s a trail that leads to a stream.”
Once at the trailhead Bella leapt from the car and bounded around in a circle as wide as her leash would allow. Eden jumped back to avoid getting tangled up in it.
“Want to walk her?” Quinn held out the leash.
“I’m good,” Eden said.
His expression was quizzical, but they set off on the path.
The hike was a mild one and led to a meandering stream that they followed for another mile.
“I thought you might be missing some time outdoors,” he said as they walked. “I remember you saying how much you liked hiking.”
“Definitely.” Eden swatted a mosquito.
I’m not sure I like it all that much...
The stream emptied into a small pond, and they stopped, taking a seat on a boulder.
“Have there been any leads in Hannah’s case?” Quinn unclipped Bella from her leash, and she started sniffing everything in sight.
“Not that they’ll tell me.”
“I still can’t believe something that violent happened here, of all places,” he said.
“I know. This is the last place you’d think that could happen.” Something itched in the back of her brain, but she didn’t dwell on it.
“First that little girl, now Hannah...” His voice trailed off. “I hope this doesn’t sound completely insensitive,” he said. “But it’s kind of focused me, you know? Made me think about what’s really important.”
His eyes held hers.
“Yeah,” Eden said. “I’ve been doing that lately too.”
Quinn reached up, caressing her cheek with his thumb. When he kissed her he tasted like peppermint, his mouth hungry against hers.
Icy water splattered them, causing them both to spring back in surprise. Bella had taken a dip in the stream and now gleefully shook herself dry.
“Bella!” He laughed and brushed water from his arm.
Eden felt less than charitable but smiled as she wiped her face, hoping the greenish tinge to the water didn’t indicate some kind of flesh-eating bacteria.
“Well that was refreshing.” He clipped the leash back onto Bella’s collar.
“That’s one word for it.”
Back at the shelter, Quinn kissed the top of Bella’s head, and Eden said, “See you later,” before closing her back in her cage.
On their way out, Quinn signed up for a dog-walking shift and held out the pen for Eden.
“I’m actually gonna see how this week goes,” she said. Quinn looked surprised so she added, “Just with the move and everything, I want to make sure I’m settled before I commit to anything.”
She found it hard to remember why she’d ever been so interested in animals.
“Sure.” He set the pen down. “Makes sense.”
“What time do you get off work?” Eden asked when he dropped her off. “Maybe we could hang out.”
“It’ll be late,” he said. “And I’ve got an early day tomorrow. But I’ll text you.”
He leaned close, but instead of the kiss she expected, he did little more than brush his lips against hers.
Eden climbed the steps to her dorm and turned around to wave, but Quinn was already pulling away.
Chapter 22
On Monday Sarah ate lunch in a new spot. She’d found another hawthorn tree, but it wasn’t as good. None of this was any good.
She hadn’t done anything wrong, but she was the one paying the price.
“You haven’t returned my calls.”
Startled, she looked up to see Kai. Even seated she fought the urge to bolt.
“I don’t want to talk to you.” Sarah packed up the rest of her sandwich.
“Yeah, I kinda picked up on that.” Kai squatted down. “I’ll leave you alone, I promise, but first I need to apologize.”
“Apologize?”
Hope surged in Sarah’s chest. It was all a mistake—Sarah had misunderstood. Or maybe Kai had just gotten carried away. If Kai wasn’t gay they could still be—
“You told me your family was religious,” she said. “I guess I just didn’t realize...”
“Realize what?” Sarah stiffened.
“How repressed you are.” Sarah’s face hardened, and Kai quickly added, “But listen, it’s okay—”
“What?” Sarah sputtered, her voice sounding shrill in her ears. “You think there’s something wrong with me?”
Sarah shoved her things into her bag and scrambled to her feet.
Kai sprang up. “No. Damn it, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. There’s nothing wrong with you.” She put a hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “You don’t have to be ashamed.”
Kai’s touch made Sarah weak, and she stepped back to avoid giving in.
“You’re trying to trick me. You want me to be like you.”
“I don’t,” Kai said. “I promise. I just want you to be you.”
“I am me.” Sarah backed away. “And I don’t ever want to talk to you again.”
The last time Sarah had run away, but this time her steps were measured.
Why did she have to pay for the sins of others?
Eden waited for Sarah in her usual lunch spot, but she never showed. She’d given up and was heading toward the library when she spotted her, crossing the quad and looking grim.
“Sarah.” Eden jogged over to her. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“You are?” She looked relieved but on guard.
“I am. I—” Eden had worked out what she would say but found herself tripping over the words. “A lot of what happened at Coventry House is a blur, but I remember that we were friends. That you’re my best friend.”
“Is that right?” Sarah’s expression darkened. “You’re my best friend?”
“That’s how I remember it,” Eden said. The best lies are mostly true.
“If we’re such good friends, why did you bail on me?” Sarah crossed her arms.
“I didn’t bail on you, just Coventry House, and I-I don’t remember why, exactly.” This was going to be harder than she thought. “But I’m sorry. I’m sorry I had to leave, and I’ll do anything I can to make it up to you.”
“Make it up to me?” Sarah voice rose. “How about you make it up to me by leaving me alone?” She spun on her heel.
“Wait, Sarah, I—”
“No.” She turned back. “You made your choice. Live with it.”
She stalked off, leaving Eden stunned.
&
nbsp; This was not part of the plan.
Eden decided to cheer herself up by heading to The Grind. Quinn was working the counter, and he smiled broadly when she entered.
“Hey, you.” He leaned over the counter to give her a quick kiss. “Need a caffeine fix?”
“I need a you fix,” Eden said, surprised by her own boldness.
Quinn smiled. “I think I can arrange it.” He turned to his coworker. “Okay if I take my break?”
She nodded, and he took Eden’s hand and led her outside.
Once they rounded the corner he gave her a proper kiss—the kind she’d daydream about later.
“I’ve got a surprise for you.” He pulled something from his back pocket.
“What is it?” Eden took the paper. She loved surprises.
“I got us memberships to the local nature conservation club,” he said. “They do trail restoration and cleanup.”
“Cleanup?” she said.
“Yeah...” He studied her reaction. “On our first date we talked about taking care of the planet because we only had the one, and when I mentioned this place you said you’d like to join. Did I...totally make that up?”
“No,” Eden said quickly. “You definitely aren’t making it up. I did say that.” I just have no idea why... “It’s really thoughtful, and I can’t wait to go with you.”
Relief washed over Quinn’s face. She kissed him but was distracted, wondering why she used to be so obsessed with saving everyone and everything.
Chapter 23
The next several days were a disaster.
Eden texted Sarah twice but hadn’t heard back. She didn’t dare try again. None of the other girls who’d left Coventry House had tried to stay in contact—she had to be careful not to raise any suspicions. If Sarah went to Carolyn, it wouldn’t be hard for her to figure out that Eden had blocked her attempt at altering her memory.
That she even thought Sarah would tell on her to Carolyn spoke volumes about what had happened to their friendship. Eden was desperate to make it right but didn’t know how.
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