Bound

by Christina Garner

  “It was that bad?” Kai’s voice was softer now too.

  “It was worse.” Sarah would never be able to articulate the horror of the experience.

  “Okay.” Kai touched Sarah’s face. “I get it. I was wrong.” Sarah’s racing pulse slowed. “And I don’t want to fight, but I still have to ask—now what?”

  She knew what Kai was asking, but she didn’t have an answer and was beginning to think even if she did, she couldn’t share it with Kai.

  “Now I’m going to let my best friend have the first day of peace she’s had in a long time.”

  Eden and Quinn had spent the entire day together, and Eden hadn’t felt the urge to bolt once.

  “Are you sure you got enough?” Quinn’s tone was teasing as he held up the empty pizza carton. She had crushed five slices and didn’t feel the least bit bad about it.

  She patted her belly. “For now.”

  They settled onto the couch, and Eden snuggled into his chest as Quinn flicked on the TV.

  She didn’t know how long she had before Bes’tal pushed forward. Before the lost souls with their terrible hunger consumed her from the inside. She’d spent the day determined not to think about it. She’d become good at ignoring the voices in her head—apparently, even her own.

  Images flashed on the screen, but Eden wasn’t paying attention. She couldn’t hide from the truth forever, and the truth was that she needed a plan. A plan that did not involve Sarah, or Quinn, or anyone else who could get hurt.

  By the time the movie ended, she was no closer to a solution. The TV screen went dark, and Quinn led her to his bedroom.

  He took his time as he slipped off her shirt and explored her body with his hands. Eden slid a tentative hand along his cheek, acutely aware of how long it had been since she’d done so. Being with Quinn had become a means to an end. A way to put out the fire that raged inside her. But tonight, there was no fire. There was just Quinn. Quinn and an ocean of peace that crested into the most beautiful and satisfying wave.

  Later, as they lay together in tangled sheets, Eden traced her finger along Quinn’s chest while it rose and fell with the rhythm of sleep.

  There was nothing she wouldn’t do for this man. This man who had stayed by her side through the worst of everything, and who deserved only the best.

  Her phone vibrated on the bedside table, and she reached with care to retrieve it. The peace of the day disappeared, and her stomach clenched as she read the text.

  Alex—Do you seriously think I don’t know what you’ve been up to?

  Chapter 25

  “How does she know?” Sarah heard her voice go up an octave.

  She’d been pacing laps in her bedroom since the group text Alex had sent to her and Eden.

  “What does she know?” Eden’s voice through the phone was barely a whisper but intense all the same.

  Sarah heard the rustle of clothing and could tell Eden was getting dressed.

  “What do you mean?” Sarah had just assumed Alex knew about the ritual.

  “We have more than one plate spinning right now.” Sarah heard the scritch of a pen upon paper. Eden was probably leaving Quinn a note, explaining her late-night departure. “What if Paige ratted us out?”

  Sarah hadn’t considered it. “I don’t think she’d do that. Why would she? She’d be in as much trouble as us.”

  “Please,” Eden said. “Alex would offer anyone, including the devil himself, immunity if it meant she could boot us from Coventry House.”

  “But it would mean her lessons would stop. Paige wanted to learn.”

  Sarah heard the soft close of the door, and when Eden spoke again, her voice was louder.

  “Maybe it’s not that. I’m just saying it’s possible. Paige has been partying a lot. Who knows what she’d let slip while she’s drunk?”

  Sarah couldn’t argue the point. She’d been wondering if it was time to have a conversation with Paige about her drinking.

  “Paige couldn’t have found out about Bes’tal, though. I mean…how would she have? I haven’t said a word.”

  “Of course, Sarah. I know you would never do that.”

  Would Kai?

  Sarah hated herself for thinking it. She hadn’t spoken with Kai since their fight earlier, but however angry she might be, Kai was loyal. She wouldn’t go behind Eden’s back, let alone Sarah’s.

  “What then? Do you think someone spotted us at the black market?” Sarah kicked herself for not thinking of wearing a disguise.

  “We’ll drive ourselves nuts trying to figure it out.” Eden sounded breathless, as though she were jogging. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Don’t answer her texts, and don’t go meet her in the basement until I get there. Whatever she says, we don’t admit to anything else unless she has hard proof. Nothing, Sarah. We’ve got to keep it together. Got it?”

  “I got it.”

  But as Sarah hung up and waited for the inevitable, she wondered how she was supposed to keep it together while everything was falling apart.

  Eden found Sarah at her desk, knee bouncing up and down and seeming as though she was about to face the guillotine.

  “We need to work on your poker face.”

  Sarah took a breath, and her frown relaxed a fraction.

  “Better,” Eden said, sitting across from her. “Listen to me, Sarah. Whatever is about to happen, it’s on me. Do you understand? Whatever Alex knows or thinks she knows, none of this has anything to do with you.”

  “Eden—”

  “I mean it, Sarah. Whatever this is, it’s bad enough that Alex summoned us here in the middle of the night. She’s going to expel me. We have to assume that’s true. But there is no reason for you to go down too. Everything you’ve done has been to help me. You don’t deserve to be punished for being the best friend I could ask for.”

  “‘We admit nothing.’ That’s what you said.”

  “That’s right,” Eden said. “But she may not need an admission. If that’s the case, this is on me. You can say I forced you with magic.” She strode toward the door.

  Given more time, Sarah would argue. She’d want to fall on a useless sword. Eden hoped the lack of time to think might make Sarah agree with her by default.

  They crept down the stairs and paused in the basement antechamber.

  “I love you, sister. Whatever happens, remember that.”

  Sarah’s eyes grew wet as she squeezed Eden’s hand. “I love you too.”

  They kept their hands clasped as Eden opened the door. Whatever this was, they would face it together.

  Chapter 26

  The basement ritual room was dark, save for the glow of candles in the center of the room.

  Eden crept forward, her hand still wrapped inside of Sarah’s. Alex was nowhere to be seen.

  No sound but their own footfalls. They reached the ring of candles and stopped.

  “She’s toying with us.” Sarah’s tone held irritation, and Eden was glad. Sassy Sarah thought well on her feet.

  “She’s finally getting what she wants. Why wouldn’t she savor it?” Eden murmured.

  “And what is it I want?” Alex popped from the shadows in between them, causing Eden and Sarah to jump apart.

  “What you’ve always wanted,” Eden said, regaining her composure. “Power.”

  “It does have its perks.” Alex stepped forward and turned around to face them. “For instance, I can send two simple texts and poof, a couple of first years appear in the basement.”

  Eden was glad Alex was being so…Alex. Anger was an effective antidote to fear.

  “That must be so satisfying.” Sarah’s jaw set. “For someone like you.”

  “You, at least, used to have a modicum of respect.” Alex addressed Sarah but jerked her head toward Eden. “She’s a bad influence.”

  Neither woman spoke.

  “Nothing to say?” Alex quirked an eyebrow.

  “I wasn’t aware there’d been a question.” It seemed Sarah wasn’t going to
play this game any more than Eden.

  “Let’s get down to it then, shall we?” A ball of light blossomed above Alex’s palm as she walked toward a far corner.

  Eden and Sarah exchanged cautious glances and followed her.

  “I told you I know what you’ve been doing.” Alex held the ball of light so it illuminated black streaks of soot on the wall. “Or not been doing.”

  Eden’s mouth worked. What was she—

  “Our shifts!” Sarah spoke in a relieved rush. “Our shifts,” she said again, this time eyeing Eden. “We’ve missed our turns at cleaning.”

  Eden blinked, forcing her features still.

  It had been decreed that the basement would not be repaired magically. It was to be worked on by hand, by each of the sisters at Coventry House. Alex had done the scheduling, and in a twist surprising to no one, Eden and Sarah’s turns always fell at the most inconvenient times.

  This? This is why she’d gotten them out of bed and scared them to death? What kind of psychopath—

  “If you won’t respect me, you will respect Coventry House.” Alex bent down and grabbed a bucket. She thrust it into Eden’s arms. “You’re not done until the entire wall is spotless or the sun comes up—whichever comes second.”

  She tossed a scrub brush at a bewildered-looking Sarah.

  “Have a good night, ladies.”

  The orb winked out, and Alex was swallowed by shadows.

  Still dumbfounded, Eden stared at the empty bucket, then at Sarah, who was likewise focused on the scrub brush as though it were an alien object.

  Then they both burst out laughing…longer and harder than they had in a long time.

  Chapter 27

  Sarah scrubbed soot from the basement wall, Eden doing the same beside her.

  “This is so stupid.” Sarah almost tossed her scrub brush in disgust. “I thought we were done being hazed once we got the red robes.”

  “Alex is nothing if not on-brand.” Eden blew a strand of hair out of her eyes and stepped back to inspect her work.

  “You can say that again.” Sarah rubbed hard at a particularly stubborn spot. “Not the best way to end your first good day in a while.”

  Eden gave her a sidelong glance. “Not the worst either.”

  Sarah smiled. “Fair point.”

  They could both be in shackles halfway to being stripped.

  “How about you? Did you go to class or spend the day with Kai?”

  Sarah redoubled her effort on the spot. “Class. Kai and I are…I’m not really sure, to be honest. I guess we’re going through something.”

  “Something like what?” Eden stopped cleaning and faced her. “Something about me?”

  Sarah faced her but didn’t meet her eye. “It’s…you adjacent.”

  “I’m sorry.” Eden’s face twisted with regret. “I hate to think I’m causing trouble between you two.”

  “You’re not.” Now Sarah did meet Eden’s gaze. “Not really. It’s us. Something has been off ever since that night. I can’t really blame her—she almost died. In her mind, magic is the problem.”

  “And in your mind?”

  “Being a witch is who I am now. Magic comes with the Sarah package.”

  “Do you think she’ll learn to accept that?”

  A lump formed in Sarah’s throat. “She has to. I didn’t wait my whole life to find her just to lose her now.”

  How quickly Kai had become indispensable. Losing her would be like losing a limb.

  “Then don’t give up,” Eden said. “Make her understand.”

  As a sliver of sun cut through a gap in the velvet curtains, Sarah resolved to do exactly that.

  The sun was cutting the sky when Eden and Sarah stumbled, bleary-eyed up to their rooms.

  “Are you going to class?” Sarah asked with a yawn.

  “After cutting yesterday, I’d better.” Eden stifled a yawn of her own and wondered if anyone had made coffee yet. “How about you?”

  “Bed for sure.” Sarah paused at her door. “Eden?”

  Eden turned back.

  “We still need to talk.” Sarah appeared cautious. “About what’s next.”

  “I know.” Eden had hoped to put it off but knew she couldn’t. “Tonight?”

  “Tonight.” Sarah suppressed another yawn. “I should be awake by then.”

  Eden entered her room and stopped short.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Paige looked at her quizzically. “We had a practice session. Where’s Sarah?”

  Eden scrubbed a hand through her hair, vaguely remembering a promise to Paige that they would practice that morning.

  “Sleeping. Or about to be. Alex texted us at midnight and made us scrub walls all night.”

  “She did what?” Paige sounded incredulous.

  “It’s Alex. Are you all that surprised?”

  Eden and Sarah had certainly been surprised, but in the best possible way, all things considered.

  Paige made a sound of disgust in the back of her throat. “Just when you think we’ve reached peak Alex, she outdoes herself.”

  “I’ve got to get to class,” Eden said. “Is there any way we can do this later?”

  Paige wrinkled her brow. “I don’t have any other free time before I leave for Thanksgiving. I need something to practice while I’m gone.”

  Sarah had been right. Paige wanted to learn battle magic too much to ever spill their secret.

  “But it doesn’t have to be long,” Paige added. “I’m just stuck on this one part. Get me past the hump, and I promise I’ll leave you alone.”

  Eden wanted to say no, but she owed Paige.

  “On one condition.” Eden answered the question on Paige’s face, “Coffee.”

  By her second cup, Eden was feeling better. Once Paige explained the trouble she was having, Eden saw it would be easy to fix. If Paige was a quick study and Eden didn’t shower, she might make it to her first class on time.

  “Are you going home for Thanksgiving?” Paige asked as she worked. A single, tiny spark erupted from her index finger.

  “Better,” Eden said. “Keep focusing on the way the energy feels.” Paige tried again, and Eden answered her question. “No, I’m gonna hang here. How about you? Are you going home or going to party?”

  She’d heard a few sisters were headed to Florida for a few days of fun in the sun. Overheard, would be more accurate. Eden hadn’t been invited.

  “Just home.” Paige licked her lips as she stared at her fingers. “I’m not really on the party bus anymore.”

  “Oh no?” Eden was happy to hear it. She’d been concerned about Paige’s drinking but wasn’t sure they were close enough friends for her to comment. “When did that happen?”

  “A few days ago.” Two sparks sizzled to life. “I’m not an alcoholic, and I didn’t hit rock bottom or anything. I just realized the drinking wasn’t about Rebecca anymore.” The sparks disappeared, and Paige uttered a frustrated sound. “I still miss her, but the drinking became about numbing myself. I stopped wanting to feel anything—always on the lookout for the next terrible thing, you know?”

  Eden knew all too well. “And now you don’t need to be on the lookout?”

  “Around this place?” Paige snorted. “Are you kidding? We’re walking crash test dummies.”

  Eden chuckled. “What changed then?”

  “This.” Sparks flew from all five of her fingers this time. “Turns out, battle magic is a much better defense against demons than vodka.” She tapped her temple with her non-sparking hand. “Even the ones up here.”

  Having finally succeeded at the first part of the spell, Paige left Eden’s room to go pack.

  Eden pulled on fresh clothes and reflected on what Paige had said, admiring her strength to give up her crutch. Eden had been using Quinn the way Paige used alcohol.

  But Paige’s solution couldn’t be Eden’s. Once the voices returned, if Eden attempted to stay sober, people could get hurt.

&n
bsp; Chapter 28

  “But I thought you weren’t going home for Thanksgiving.” Eden tried to keep the panic from her voice.

  She felt fine now, but how long could that last? If the hunger came back and Quinn wasn’t around…

  The look he gave her was apologetic. “I know, and I’m sorry. But Mom guilt is my kryptonite.” His face brightened, and he gave her a playful nudge. “Why don’t you come? My parents would love to meet you.”

  Eden’s insides warmed, soothing her nerves. “Your parents know about me?”

  She’d, of course, told her own mother about Quinn, but guys always seemed to downplay that stuff.

  Quinn’s cheeks colored. “I may have mentioned you…”

  A grin spread across Eden’s face. “And what have you told them?”

  Quinn slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “If you come home with me, you can ask them yourself.”

  A picture of her meeting Quinn’s parents flashed in her mind. Seeing where he’d grown up, hearing stories of his childhood. She might learn more about the sister he rarely spoke of, her suicide too painful for him to talk about except once. She would be closer to him—closer than when she used him to drown out the voices.

  She loved him, however painful it was to be keenly aware she was an echo of the person Quinn had fallen for. That Quinn didn’t realize it made that truth all the harder to bear.

  Eden longed for that picture with Quinn and his family so powerfully it hollowed her. But she didn’t belong in that picture. Not until she was completely herself again.

  “I can’t.” The words came out as a defeat. “I need to study, and—”

  “Study at my place. Trust me, there’s not much else to do. That town makes Somerland look like a booming metropolis.” He pulled her an inch closer. “Come on. It’s only a few days. We don’t even have to leave tomorrow night. We can leave Thursday morning and still be on time for dinner. I’ll drive us back Saturday if that helps.”