My anxiety was already mounting, but Jaxson’s unease and ire pulsed off him like a sun flare, making me even more nervous. I could tell that he was using every ounce of his restraint. He didn’t want me to do this. Hell, I didn’t want to do this. But some part of me, deep down, knew that it was necessary. I had to believe that somehow, Wolfie would understand…wherever she was.
“Casey, set up the braziers,” Laurel said as she finished splashing holy water, or whatever the hell it was, around the room.
My cousin positioned four braziers within the outer circle of runes. He filled each one with honey-colored pieces of kindling, then tossed a handful of sticky crystal gravel on top. Then, with a wink at Sam, he launched four successive fireballs into the braziers. Flames roared to life, licking the ceiling.
Show-off.
Sam scoffed. Casey was definitely enjoying this.
Laurel, who was untying the burlap bag, shot him a sharp look over her shoulder.
“Dirt?” Jaxson arched his brows at Laurel. Holding the bag, she’d begun pouring a thin line of dry dirt in the shape of an oval.
“This is a circle of confinement. It will focus and direct the magic of the spell.” She tossed the empty bag beside her belongings and retrieved several sprigs of dried leaves. Crushing them between her palms, she sprinkled them into the dirt oval.
“We wouldn’t want to accidentally bind your wolves,” Casey added, looking between Jax and Sam with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
A muscle in Jaxson’s jaw twitched, and I placed a hand on his arm before he took a step toward my idiotic cousin. “He’s just joking.”
Still, doubt tugged at me. Images of the files Laurel had on each of the packs in North America flashed in my mind, and my gut twisted.
Laurel glanced in our direction, preoccupied. “You think I’m foolish enough to start a war? Anyway, I doubt I could bind your wolves without your permission. The only reason we were able to bind Savannah’s was because she was a baby.”
“She was helpless, you mean. Unable to object to your sorcery,” Jaxson said sharply.
Laurel squared her shoulders but didn’t take the bait. “You’re here because I allowed you to be here, Laurent. Don’t forget that.”
“You think I’m afraid of you, LaSalle? Just give me a reason to rip out your throat.”
Casey tensed, and flames flickered to life in his palms.
Damn it all to hell.
Sam’s claws slipped free. I knew her well enough by now to recognize by the straightening of her shoulders that shit was about to get real in here.
“Enough!” I stepped forward, standing between the four of them. “You need to put aside your differences. What I’m about to do is messed up on so many levels. I need your support. All of you.”
Laurel sighed and offered Jaxson her palm. “She’s right. This is a dangerous spell. We need our minds focused. I’ll put aside my differences if you will.”
Jaxson looked at her for several long breaths, then finally shook her hand.
Casey took half a step toward Sam, but she turned. “Nuh-uh, fire boy.”
“Let’s get on with this, then.” Laurel locked eyes with me and gestured toward the dirt oval in the center of the runes.
I tightened my hands in fists to keep them from trembling and stepped into place.
“What’s with the creepy circles?” Sam asked.
“For your protection,” Casey answered. “In case things get a little hairy.”
The four of them positioned themselves inside the outer circle of runes. Laurel raised her palms, and two ribbons of light snaked out, moving across the symbols on the floor. They looked remarkably like the ribbons I’d fashioned with my shadows, only hers were made of light. As they touched the strange sigils, each illuminated until a ring of glowing runes surrounded us. The air crackled with magic, a sound curiously like Rice Krispies in milk, and my ears popped.
“This is a circle of protection,” Laurel said. “As long as you’re within it, nothing outside of the circle can harm you. Don’t leave.”
Sam gave me a what the fuck have you gotten us into look.
Laurel pulled a sheet of weathered paper from her back pocket. She unfolded it and glanced at the cursive writing and symbols before placing it on the floor beside her.
My heart thudded. “Notes? Why’d you make me memorize it?”
“It’s been decades since I’ve performed this spell. I know it well, but it never hurts to have the instructions. Are you ready?”
Absolutely not.
I tried reaching out to my wolf one last time. Wolfie? Is this okay?