26
Savannah
I gaped at the pages of symbols and incantations that Laurel had spread on the table. “I don’t think I can do this.”
“Nonsense,” Laurel said. “Don’t be intimidated. We’re sorcerers, not mages, so we cast with our souls, not with books and overly complex spellcraft. These are just notes to help you see how the spells work together. But you won’t have to memorize much—you have to feel it.”
“It feels like this is going to be complicated.”
She shook her head. “Sorcery is about intent and willpower. Even if you’re not perfect with the spell, as long as you know exactly what you want, you will achieve it.”
As long as I knew what I wanted…but did I really want to chain my wolf?
Aunt Laurel took my hand. “Savy, you’re headstrong and have more force of will than just about anyone I’ve ever met. It’s time you put that strength to use.” She slid a page across the table and tapped it with her fingers. “Now concentrate as if your life depends on it, because it very well might.”
An hour later, my brain felt like a lemon smashed in a press.
“I think you’ve got it,” Laurel said.
I rubbed my temples. “God, I don’t think I even remember my own name anymore. My head is swimming.”
“Oh, I know it’s a lot to download, but you need to understand how it works. How to bind and unbind. They’re two sides of the same coin. Do you think you can do it?”
I squeezed my eyes shut. I could see each page of notes perfectly in my mind. I’d always had amazing recall, but this was putting it to the test.
Sweat slicked the palms of my hands.
This was going to be the most horrible thing I’d ever done—betraying my own wolf. But I had to. No matter how much the risk or how she might resent me, I was almost certain that she would hate me more if I did nothing, if I let the Dark God turn her into a weapon against my family and friends.
Even now, when I looked at my aunt, I could still see her lying in the hallway at home, covered in blood.
Had that been his influence, even back then? How long had he been pulling my strings, subtly manipulating my actions?
It had to end.
I rose. “I think I’ve got this. Let’s do it now, while I’ve still got my nerve.”
Laurel led me to the small office where Jax, Sam, and Casey were waiting. Jaxson’s eyes instantly locked on mine, and I nodded. It’s time.
His expression was hard and impatient, and unfortunately, it didn’t seem like he’d cooled off much.
“We’re ready,” Laurel said in a hushed voice.
“Finally!” Casey belted. “I was getting so tired of these two yakking on about wolf stuff.”
“I don’t think you stopped talking for more than a minute the entire time,” Sam moaned.
Jaxson stood and took my hand, and we all followed Laurel into her “workshop” downstairs. Prickles skated along my skin as I gazed across the black stone floor that was elaborately etched with runes.
The last time I’d been inside was just under a month ago, for demon training. Man, how had my life gotten so complicated? I thought it had all been too much then, but now I was so in over my head that it felt like I was on a one-way trip to the bottom of Lake Michigan in concrete boots.
Laurel strode across the room and set her cloth satchel down, taking out a brown glass bottle and a burlap bag.
“What the hell is this place?” Sam asked, looking around the room. Between my nerves and Jaxson’s simmering anger, the tension in the room was combustible.
“Laurel’s workshop,” I whispered.
Jaxson took it all in, resentment evident on his face. “You’ve been here before?”
I shrugged, ignoring his burning gaze. “Once. She summoned some demons to teach me how to use my magic.”
“Wonderful,” he said dryly.
Laurel started walking, flicking her bottle and spraying droplets of liquid on the floor.
Sam began to move around the edge of the room, and Casey was beside her in a second. “Don’t touch anything.”
“The only thing I’ll be touching is your balls when my boot connects with them,” Sam growled.
“Feisty.” Casey smirked and turned on his heel.