* * *
I knew there was a chance all my magic would be gone by sunrise.
I loved my magic, I wanted to hold it, but this had to be done. It was the only way I knew how to stop all of this and find peace for myself—peace for all of us.
“Druella?” Theseus called out to me when I returned to the library, time moving forward once more. He stood in the same dark jeans, a button-down shirt, and a gray sweater on top of it, holding the black ledger Taelon had given him. Meanwhile, both Taelon and Lucy were no longer in the room.
“How long did I disappear for when I opened the book?” I asked him.
“An hour,” he replied, looking me over. “You’ve changed. Showered even? I was waiting for you to appear again, but it seems as if you’ve already done so?”
“I froze time. I needed time.” My jaw clenched as I thought of all I had seen.
“What did you see?”
“Nightmares,” I bit back, shaking as the anger and rage flowed through my veins. “All my nightmares. But I’m going to change it. It’s going to be okay.”
“It is not. You are trembling.” He frowned and put the book in his hands down as he came over to me. “What is wrong, my love?”
I thought I was calm. I thought I had bottled up my pain and anger, but it was still there, just waiting to spring forward.
My chest was tight.
“Druella, tell me what it is?” he pressed, reaching up and cupping cheeks as I bit back tears. But I was not going to let them fall.
I said I was done. And I was done.
“I need you to trust me, Theseus, and get out of here. I will follow, but I need you to go first.”
“If you think I am just going to accept that, you do not know me well enough.” He frowned. “Tell me what is happening. I will help, and then we can leave together.”
“You can’t help me, Theseus. This is between the coven and me. I have to do it alone.”
He shook his head. “You are my mate. There is no such thing as alone. You may be a powerful witch, Druella, but you cannot take on your whole coven by yourself.”
I stepped back, pulling my hands from his face. “Watch me.”
With the flick of my hand, I froze him.
“Druella!” he snapped but was unable to move forward. “Stop! Undo this!”
“If I do, you are going to follow after me and get hurt—”
“It doesn’t matter if I’m hurt, Druella!”
I nodded. “It does matter if it distracts me. I only have one shot at this. When it’s over, we will be together. I promise, and we can go where you want.”
“Druella…” he begged, shaking his head. “Please—”
“I love you! I swear.” I smiled before closing the door on him. Holding the doorknob, I pictured the place I wanted to go—I could see it with all clarity, from the kitchen stools to the cream walls and lavender-scented candle. When I opened the door, it unveiled Simone’s apartment. I stepped inside, and the door closed behind me. I walked to her desk table where above were photos of all of us. Me and her especially, arms locked together, screaming in terror because of the horror movie we’d watched, Tate knowing and catching the moment perfectly.
One of many ninth circle movie nights.
I could hear all the arguing as if it were really happening—Rue wanting a thriller, Fiona wanting a comedy, the guys wanting action, and me wanting something cheesy and romantic. All of us were talking over each other as if we hadn’t agreed beforehand what movie we were going to watch. But we always ended up watching a movie Adelaide had picked.
“How was it that Adelaide always got to pick the movies?” I asked, feeling Simone behind me. I turned to face her and saw the bruises and cuts all over her arms and face. Her shirt was tattered, and the smell of burnt fabric overpowered the scent of lavender. Her eyes glared at me with such hatred and anger that I wouldn’t be surprised if anyone doubted we were once the closest of friends.
She took a single breath, and a second later, she threw a bolt of lightning in my face, which I grabbed and crushed with my hands.