“A privacy spell,” Andie said to me, and I nodded.

  Beatrix smiled and folded her hands over her crossed legs. “Now for story time. The Abbott family was rumored to be the sixth original family, but they remained elusive from the other five. They spread out and hid amongst the humans instead of banding together like most covens did at the time. Because of that, there is very little information available, but Junie prepared me more than I realized for this day.”

  Andie tensed beside me. “How so?”

  Beatrix snapped her fingers and a small book appeared in her grasp. “With this. She gave this to me as a gift three years ago. Not too long after we found out about your mother, in fact. I didn’t think anything of it then. I didn’t even really care to read the words, but Junie said it was one of her favorite tales and that I needed to give it a try.”

  She brushed her fingers over the aging tan cover.

  “It’s supposed to be fiction. A book written by a human for entertainment, but after learning what I have about Andie, I can see the truth in the words. Do you have the citrine stone with you?” Beatrix asked Andie.

  My mate got up from the couch and grabbed the box we’d dropped off before going to Beatrix’s house earlier. “Right here.”

  She raised a brow. “And I assume the candle is there?” Andie nodded and handed over the box, and Beatrix smirked. “You’re still one-upping me from the grave, Juniper.”

  Beatrix dug through the box and Andie sat back down next to me. “What are we supposed to do with the candle and stone? Junie said she hoped Andie would never have to use it,” I said wearily.

  The old witch muttered to herself for another minute before she answered. “Yes, but Junie didn’t know that Andie’s necklace was going to be stolen. She’s only half the witch she’s supposed to be, and without her whole self, she can’t control what’s inside her on her own. The candle and stone will help provide another temporary solution. One we couldn’t rely on without knowing what I know now.”

  Beatrix grabbed the candle, book, and stone and handed them to Andie. “You’re going to cast your first official spell, and it’s something you have to do on your own, but I will guide you as far as I can.”

  Andie bit her bottom lip, looking over the three items. “And we’re doing this now?”

  The witch raised a brow. “Would you rather wait?”

  My mate’s head shook furiously. “No.”

  “I didn’t think so. Let’s head to the power stones, and we’ll get this started.” Beatrix was headed toward the door, but I stopped her.

  “What exactly is ‘this’?”

  She turned back to me. “Andie is going to unleash her full syphon power. She has to control the energy before it controls her. Only then will she understand who she truly is. My words can’t do that for her.”

  I looked down at Andie. “Are you ready for that?”

  She gripped my hand. “A part of me doesn’t want to be, but I know this is right.” She placed her other hand over her chest. “I can feel my family here, feel them guiding me in this direction.”

  I stroked her cheek. “Then I’ll do whatever I can to support you.”

  Andie leaned against me as we walked toward the door. “Just you being here is more than enough.”

  19

  ANDIE

  Thirty minutes later, I worried Foster was going to destroy the book Beatrix had given me. Even though it was supposedly fictional, and we mostly only skimmed until we got to a certain chapter, the words often hit too close to home, making both of us overly tense.

  When we read the chapter together about unlocking my syphon power and it mentioned the heroine’s energy being “ripped to shreds” in order to unlock a “great power,” Foster’s jaw ground tighter and tighter together.

  “Are you sure this is the only way?” he asked Beatrix.

  She was setting the candle up in the middle of the three stones that would serve to contain the magic I was going to unleash.

  When she glanced back up, her eyes were bright, and she nodded. “I wouldn’t risk Andie’s life if I thought otherwise.”

  Foster snarled. “Are you saying she could die?”

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward me. I placed both hands on his chest and waited until I had his full attention. His breathing was heavy, and his eyes were darker than normal.

  “I’m not going to die,” I stated.

  His left eye twitched. “You don’t know that.”

  “Yes, I do, and so do you. We have everything we need, and this is the only path forward.”

  His glower deepened. “I don’t like it.”

  “I know you don’t, but I appreciate you being here anyway and not asking me to stop doing this.” I didn’t think I would have gone through with the spell if he had walked away. I needed his support more than anything else.

  Foster let out a heavy sigh. “I’m not being helpful. I’m sorry. It was harder to read those words than I thought it would be.”

  Beatrix peeked her head between us. “Want me to make you not worry so much?”

  I chuckled. She seemed a little too excited about her offer.

  “Not fucking happening,” Foster bit out.

  Beatrix huffed. “Well, then. Let’s get started. We need the full sun for the citrine stone.”

  My hands pulled Foster’s head down until I could reach his lips. “I love you,” I murmured before kissing him.

  “I love you,” he replied, his words less edgy than before.

  Before he could get worked up again, I stepped away and headed toward the power stones. The citrine stone was next to the candle on the small, wooden table. Both exuded heavy energy that had my pulse racing and skin feeling like it was being poked by a million needles.

  “Start with the spell,” Beatrix said from outside the stone circle.

  I nodded. I knew what I was supposed to do. The words from the book had penetrated into my mind, and I had them on repeat. I wouldn’t screw this up. We only had one shot at getting it right. The candle only burned once.

  I took a steady breath and soaked in the love and support I could feel through the bond from Foster even with the barriers between us. He was terrified, but he was doing his best to support me, which was more than enough.

  Our gazes locked for the longest second of my life. My heart filled with his affection, easing the last of my anxiety, and I closed my eyes.

  My hand rose and hovered directly over the candle that I didn’t need to see with my eyes. Its energy was so powerful that there was no way not to know where it was.

  I pictured the flame I wanted to light the candle, and magic traveled down my arm and out of my palm until heat started coming back to me. I pulled my hand back, holding both arms at my sides, and kept my eyes closed with my head tilted down.

  I repeated the spell in my head once more before saying the complicated words out loud.

  “Luxis confractem trans sepermindus. Reliquous corpiem animen.”

  With every word spoken, the heaviness around me intensified until I felt as if the stones were closing in on me. My eyes stayed closed, and lights began to dance behind my lids. My legs swayed, and I was certain I’d fallen over, but then the ground disappeared out from under me. I hoped it was just the spell taking effect and not something that was actually happening to my physical form.

  The freefall lifted my spirits, and I realized I wasn’t falling at all. I was rising up, though to where, I had no clue.

  “Andie Bishop, daughter of Aspen Abbott Bishop and Henry Bishop. You are entering into a realm in which you don’t belong. We will grant you access only this once. If you attempt to return here again, we will not send you back to your earthly form. Do you understand?”

  A multitude of high-pitched voices echoed around me, but I still couldn’t see anything, and the book didn’t mention anything about traveling to realms that I didn’t know about.

  “I understand,” I said with a steady voice, even though my insides were churning like a tornado.

  As soon as the words had left my lips, I fell to the ground again and lights blinded me. I blinked rapidly until a form came into view, one I thought I’d never see again.

  “Mom?” My voice was a whisper while I fought back tears, trying to be sure I was truly seeing her and not going crazy.

  She bent down, her red hair falling just past her shoulders and her bright-green eyes filled with so much love that bored into my soul.

  “Hi, baby girl.” Her hand reached out, and I placed mine in hers. Her skin was fair, almost translucent, and cold compared to mine.

  “Where am I? How is this happening?” I asked, glancing around. We were surrounded by white fog, and I couldn’t see anything else. I couldn’t even sense anyone else, not even Foster.

  “You’re in the witches’ ether. A place where we can communicate with those still living, but we’re only allowed here on rare occasions, and the living almost never enter. Today is special, though.”

  She smiled at me, and I couldn’t contain myself any longer. I threw myself at her, wrapping my arms around her neck and squeezing tight. Her form was solid, and her returning hug felt so real.

  My throat burned with rising emotions, but I kept the tears at bay. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  She stroked my back. “I’m sorry I left you. I wish things could have been different, but I’m so proud of the path you’ve chosen and the woman you’ve become. Seeing you with Foster has made your father and me so happy to know you have him watching out for you. Not that Beatrix and Charlie wouldn’t have done a great job. It’s just different with a soulmate, as I’m sure you’ve grown to understand.”

  I nodded, grabbing and squeezing both of her hands after pulling back from the hug to see her face that was so much like my own. Her fair skin, the subtle slope of her nose, high cheekbones, they were all reminders of myself when I stared at her, missing her more than ever, even though she was right in front of me.

  “Not that I’m not grateful to see you, but why am I here? Why isn’t Dad or Aunt Junie with you?” I glanced around again, double-checking I hadn’t missed anyone.

  “Only an Abbott is allowed to help you through this process. Just like Juniper helped you receive her magic, only those who are needed get to interact with the living in such a way that we’ve been blessed to do.”

  I bit my cheek. “Will I ever get to talk to Dad?”

  She smoothed the crease between my eyes with her thumb. “I don’t know, but I hope you know how much he loves you and how sorry I am that I took all of your memory of him from you.”

  “I know, Momma. It’s okay.”

  She sighed and nodded. “We don’t have much time. We must finish the spell before the flame goes out on the candle. Are you ready?”

  My head shook, and tears burned in my eyes. “When we’re done, I’m going to have to leave you and might not ever talk to you again. Not like this.”

  Mom held my face between her hands. “I’m always with you when you need me, baby girl. We all are. And one day, a long, long time from now, we will see each other again. Don’t you worry about that. Just concern yourself with living—because the world needs your light in it.”

  A few tears leaked down my cheeks. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too. More than the moon and stars.”

  My heart soared. “Tell Dad and Aunt Junie I love them, too.”

  She nodded. “Though they already know. Now, shall we?”

  Mom’s hands lay palm-up in front of me. I took a shuddering breath and placed mine on top of hers. “Ready.”

  “You’re going to do exactly as you read in the book. It might not have told everything that was going to happen, but it prepared you for the steps that need to be taken. Your physical form will do what it’s supposed to as long as your mind doesn’t fight the magic. And when we’re done, you’ll open your eyes to find yourself back where you belong. Okay?”

  My gaze traveled over her face again, memorizing every angle and blemish and freckle. I never wanted to forget her or this moment. “Okay.”

  “Close your eyes and expel the magic from your body. Every ounce you can find, send it into the ether,” she said softly, her hands vibrating beneath mine.

  I did as she asked, searching every crevice inside myself and forcing the energy out. The more I let go, the weaker my legs became, but the gentle connection with my mom kept me upright and anchored in place.

  “Press the stone to your chest with your left hand,” Mom whispered.

  My mind pictured the table in front of my physical form, and I reached out, grabbing the citrine.

  “Very well. Now, drain the stone. Replace what you’ve given to the ether with the power you feel inside your hand.”

  This part had been in the book, and this was where I was supposed to be “ripped to shreds” before being turning into an all-powerful being. I tried to tell myself I wasn’t afraid, but that was a lie.

  Fear tore through me, but it didn’t control me. I knew what I needed to do, and I trusted my magic to keep me alive.

  I pictured a tether between my chest and the citrine. I latched on to the stone, wrapping the tether several times around its smooth surface. Once the connection was secure, I yanked hard until it felt like the stone was penetrating my skin.

  The rock was a part of me now. I pulled on its energy, taking whatever it had to offer, even when my skin began to burn and flames licked around the glowing, yellow stone.

  Everything seemed like it was going fine until the rock began to crack. The more fissures that began to form on its surface, the more they began to appear over my skin.

  My insides burned, and I wanted to force the foreign energy from my body, but my mom was right there, reminding me to be strong.

  “This will not break you unless you let it. You are more than this spell. You are mightier than the sun, my daughter.”

  I squared my shoulders and forced my head back, staring up into the sky, not actually seeing anything other than the bright light of the magic tearing me to pieces.

  Suddenly, I felt the need to spread my arms apart, breaking the connection to my mother. When that happened, the sun’s full strength blasted into my chest. I cried out.

  My soul shattered into a million glass shards, blasting across the ether.

  I was lost in the world that I didn’t belong in, but I wasn’t gone. The ether couldn’t claim me. Not today.

  With renewed determination, I called my magic to me. I brought my power to where it belonged, and with every strand of energy that came back, a piece of my soul returned with it.

  Different, but still me.

  Mom’s voice echoed around me in a whisper that smoothed the last of my cracks. “You did it, baby girl. Just like I knew you would. Remember, we’re always with you. Whenever you need us. We love you more than the moon and stars.”

  I tried to respond, to open my eyes and see her one last time, but I was sucked from the ether without warning. My body felt like it was folded in half, and I wrapped my arms around myself until I could hear shouts.

  Slowly, I unraveled myself and forced my eyes open. The world above me was dark, and I was lying on the ground with the candle beside me. There was maybe a half-inch left, and the flame flickered out just as soon as I reached for it.

  “Andie?” Charlie’s hoarse voice called.

  I turned until I could see her, confused as to why she was there and I couldn’t see Foster.

  Then I heard the howl. A mournful one that pierced my chest.

  I got to my knees just as Foster appeared. His eyes were wild and nearly black.

  Beatrix stepped in front of him. “You can’t go in there until she comes out on her own. We’ve already been over this.”

  “I’m okay, Foster,” I said, practically shouting since he was snarling at Beatrix. “Just give me a second to find my feet again.”

  Beatrix didn’t seem afraid, but Charlie was side-eyeing my mate as if he’d done serious damage while I’d been out.

  When I got to my feet, I nearly fell back down, but I reached out to steady myself on one of the stones. My palm felt like it was on fire, and I yanked my arm back. “Rude.”

  “Those three rocks saved your life. I wouldn’t insult them,” Beatrix said.

  Speaking of rocks, I couldn’t see the citrine stone anywhere, but that was something to worry about after I went to Foster.

  I forced my feet to move forward, and when I exited the perimeter of the stones, a wave of energy washed over me. The Earth, Beatrix, Foster, Charlie. Each one had a different taste and called to me. I wanted to inhale them all, but I knew that I couldn’t. I didn’t want to hurt my family. I wouldn’t let myself become a monster.

  “Very good, Andie.” Beatrix praised me, moving out of the way.

  Foster closed the distance between us and had me in his iron grip. “I thought you died.”

  “I think I did for a minute there,” I said lightly.

  Beatrix chuckled. “Or hours. It’s been almost twelve hours since you lit that candle.”

  Holy shit. It had felt like twelve minutes, not hours, with my mother.

  Foster didn’t let me go and his rough voice whispered in my ear. “Where did you go?”

  I tried to pull back so I could see him, but he wouldn’t let me budge. Charlie and Beatrix came around the other side, keeping a distance, but I could at least see them with my head turned against Foster’s chest.

  “The book left out a few key parts,” I explained. “I went to the ether. My mom was there. She helped me fill in the missing pieces.”

  Foster tensed beneath me, and his hold loosened ever so slightly.

  “And Junie?” Beatrix asked.

  I shook my head. “Mom said only an Abbott was allowed.”

  Charlie swiped at her cheeks with ferocity. “If you could quit almost dying, that would be great.”

  My heart felt for her. “I’m sorry, but I think I’m done now.”

  I went on to tell them what had happened with my mom and the ether, all while Foster stayed silent, holding me against him.