The other man nodded.“Or not to touch Julian.’
“She’s also marking the hunters, I think. They’re stronger, but also dead set on their orders,” Scarlett said, rubbing her wrist absently. She was still disturbed by the memory of Marlee Montgomery mindlessly attacking her, saying again and again, You have to stay. The mistress wants you to stay. They had never been more than acquaintances, but she knew Marlee was smart, well-spoken, and independent.
“Did she try to mark you?” Julian asked her, frowning.
Scarlett shook her head. “No, but I was only there a short time before you all showed up.”
At that, he spared a faint smile that warmed her heart. “How is Jonas recovering?” Julian asked.
“Having a rough time,” Paris said. “But if you hadn’t slowed his fall, they’d still be scrubbing his brain off the expensive tile, so I’d count him lucky. Kristina’s staying at St. Anthony’s for extra protection just in case.” He glanced at his phone. “So far, no obvious sign of Armina or her apprentices. Shoshanna?”
The witch nodded and gestured across the table to Misha Volkov. “Misha and I have been doing our best to survey, but it’s not exactly a science. We both have limited range, and I can’t put a perimeter around the whole city.”
“But you have to assume she’s going to retaliate,” Scarlett said. Her mouth went dry when the others all turned to look at her. “Whether it’s against you or me, she’s certainly coming.”
“Yeah,” Paris said. His blue eyes met hers, and he wore a frown that she didn’t entirely understand. He didn’t look angry; was he sad? It was an odd look. He glanced down the table to Shoshanna. “What about the curse?”
Her brow furrowed. “We can talk privately about it if you prefer.”
“It’s fine,” Scarlett said. She cleared her throat. “If you don’t mind me interrupting…thank you for helping me. I can’t pretend to understand this whole situation, but…thank you.”
“I told you that you’re part of our family,” Paris said. “Like it or not.”
She laughed weakly. “Right.”
“I still can barely get close to you,” Shoshanna said, shaking her head. “I have some ideas, but I also suspect that given what they’ve told me about…the past…I suspect that something will happen on your birthday. Right now, it seems that your curse is actively protecting you.”
“It’s making sure she lives long enough to play Armina’s game,” Paris said.
Cold dread prickled down her spine. “I’d rather not play,” she said weakly.
“We have an idea,” Shoshanna said. “But it’ll take a little more time to prepare.”
“And what about Kova?” Scarlett asked. “Are you going to help him?”
“He wants us to prioritize you,” Misha said.
She shook her head. “Help him. He’s been bound to her for a long time. And if you break her spell, then he can probably tell you anything you want to know about her.”
“Seriously?” Paris asked.
“Seriously. If you’re telling me that she’s killed me…or past versions of me, or whatever this is, after my birthday, then there’s time for me,” she said. “And you’re saying you need more time to prepare anyway.” She looked at Julian, who looked as if he’d just heard the worst news of his life.
“Scarlett, we need to focus on you. Kova will understand,” Julian said.
“How much longer do you need before you can crack her open?” Paris asked.
Misha cleared his throat. “I’m going to create a bloodstone using a particularly potent…” He trailed off with a sheepish smile. “I need to draw Scarlett’s blood, distill it, and then probably another full day of work. We can give it a try in two more days.”
“Then you have plenty of time to help Kova. How long do you need?” she asked.
The two witches exchanged a look, and then Shoshanna said, “We can try tonight if we get home soon.”
“Then do it. But I want to be there,” Scarlett said.
Olivia raised her hand, reminding Scarlett of her classmates in school. “What about Carrigan Shea? If he’s in the city, we need to have everyone on alert.”
“I assume he got away with Armina,” Paris said with a grumble. “I was trying to pry one of those black-eyed drones off of Safira and didn’t see him.”
