Monique’s frowned. “I’ve heard of a cloning spell, but I thought it was just a rumor. Those types of spells aren’t real, are they?”
“Oh, they certainly are.” I grinned. “I found the spell in one of my father’s old books.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “Then your dad knows the spell too... and...”
I shook my head, reaching into my pocket to pull out the folded piece of paper that I kept in a locked magical compartment.
She groaned and whacked my arm. “You’ve gotta stop doing that! Books are not to be pulled apart or damaged. It’s just... wrong.”
I laughed at her. “Well, in this case, I think you should admit that it was warranted. I never wanted my dad to know this spell, and I definitely never wanted him to know that I had it. So, I took it, and used it whenever I wanted a little space from my parents.”
The light of begrudging respect shined through in the wry twist of her lips. “Okay, fine. Yes. It’s okay in this instance. Thisoneinstance. Tell me how it works.”
I gave her a quick rundown. The spell meant we could be in two places at once.
“So, we could be getting married in the forest, or... wherever. And we could also be at your dad’s place, rescuing the wolves?” she said, frowning at the paper in my hand.
I nodded. “Yes, that’s the plan. The clone versions of us hang out at the wedding reception, while we rescue Xander and Kyle.”
Monique shrieked a little and bounced on her cushion. “Oh my God, that’s genius.”
“It is.” I smirked at her, until she rolled her eyes.
“Michael!”
“You’re just calling it like you see it.” The laughter faded from my lips. “The thing is, the spell only lasts thirty minutes, tops. Then our clone will just fade out in front of everyone.”
Thirty minutes was a decent amount of time, but would it be long enough for us to find and rescue the shifters?
Monique jumped up and rushed to the kitchen. “I need to make myself a hot chocolate, ’cause I’m starving. You want one?”
“Yes, thanks.” I wasn’t inclined to say no to her at this point. About anything.
“So, we have a plan?” A huge smile decorated her face. She poured milk and chocolate powder into a pan and stirred over a hot plate on her stove. Obviously, she needed the calming task, rather than magicking up a drink which would be quicker and easier.
I leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed my arms over my chest. “We do.”
She turned to me with narrowed eyes. “Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?”
I sighed. “Because there is.”
“Gah! Of course, there is,” she said, reaching for the mugs. “Go on, tell me.”
It wasn’t a simple problem, and I was seriously stuck on the solution.
“Maybe we can hash it out together because I’m a bit at a loss how to fix this particular issue.”
She nodded, poured the saucepan contents into two mugs, then handed me one. “Let’s go back to the fireplace. I’m still a little chilled.”
I took my drink and did what she said. The stress of the day started to weigh on my body as well as my mind.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and magicked away the headache that was building. “Basically, my father has incredibly powerful wards on his house. They alert him about who is at the front door, and when anyone is inside. I don’t know how to disable them, and I don’t know how to rescue the wolves without going inside my parent’s house.”
I took a sip of the drink to calm the worry inside me. What we were trying to pull off was next to impossible, but surely, if anyone could achieve something like this, it was us.
“Hmm... that is a tricky one.” Monique took a sip of her drink, then another. She worried her bottom lip with her teeth, which always made me want to kiss away her worries.
But I didn’t. I magicked up some marshmallows for my drink, then pointed at hers. “You want some, too?”