I wanted to know about that.
I sat up, suddenly relieved, relaxed, and revived. “Thank you,” I said. “I’m so grateful for your help,”
“Based on what we could see during the healing,” Katrina said, “your power that makes you a firefly has a maximum vibration level, which you exceeded when you were under attack and in fear.”
“What does it mean in plain English?” I asked. “Human English.” I clarified. “Like am I going to die soon or am I going to lose my powers? What’s really going to happen?”
“Negative way to look at it,” Lady Albright said with a smile. “Why is it people never wonder if it’s going to make them more powerful or if it is going to enrich them? Why do they always think the worst?”
“I’m sorry,” I said with all my heart. I knew it wasn’t like me to be negative. “I’m still coming to terms with the loss of Caroline.” My heart was heavy, wounded, and drained all at the same time.
“It takes time,” murmured Katrina.
“Can we be done with this now?” I asked, motioning at the crystals and the incense. “Can I go?”
“It can be over whenever you say it should be over,” Lady Albright stepped back, the glow of light and energy surrounding the circle of witches dimmed and faded into nothingness.
“So, I’m healed now?” I asked.
Lady Albright shook her head. “I know you’ve got other things you want to do.”
“True,” I nodded, sitting up and scooting off the table.
I ran quickly up the stairs when the doors opened to the main room. I saw Magnus standing there. I immediately flinched. I had been in love with this man. Well, as in love as you can be when you’ve only known each other for a few months, but people have built lifetimes with others, just knowing them a few days. So, who could tell?
Whatever we had, though? That was definitely over. What he did was unforgivable. What he was doing right now was really quite pathetic. Cringing away from Ryder as they sat in the corner talking.
I looked over at Ratchet, who was looking at the map of the rifts. It was hard for me to read it. I had to be honest about that. It wasn’t as easy as it was for everybody else, but Ratchet didn’t even seem like he was looking at it. His eyes were glazed over, and he was staring at it with some sort of curiosity.
I placed my hand on his shoulder, startling him to attention.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
His eyes sprang into focus for a brief moment as he stared at me, and then he turned back to staring at the rift. “Everything is just peachy cupcake.”
“Well, I’m glad you think so, because from where I’m sitting, it doesn’t really seem quite like that.” I ran my hands through my hair and tugged on the ends of it, glancing covertly over at Magnus.
“Don’t worry. He won’t stick around long.” Ratchet nodded toward Magnus. “He never does.”
Ryder and Magnus’s voice were raised in anger as they debated something.
“Let’s just hope Magnus isn’t trying to convince Ryder to let him stay,” I said.
“Ryder wants to go into Undirheim and get Caroline back,” Ratchet said. “It’s a fool’s errand. Magnus is trying to stop him.”
“You’re impossible,” Magnus said to Ryder. “There’s no way you will get her out of there alive.”
I moved slowly over toward them, feeling like I was walking up to a pair of fighting dogs, but knowing they needed something other than testosterone in the middle of them to help smooth things out.
“Ryder is not going anywhere,” I said, looking at Ryder pointedly.
“Stay out of it, Laney,” Ryder growled.
“I’m not staying out of anything,” I said. “You guys can sit here and pretend you knew Caroline and yeah you were married to her and everything, but the reality is that you guys live in the shadows and she and I lived in the light. She was my best friend and there’s only one way we’re getting her back and that’s with me involved.”
“Oh, hell, no,” Magnus said, shaking his head. “That’s never going to happen.”
“You lost any opportunity. You had to make any claims or decisions on me the minute you stole their wedding rings and hightailed it to Cade,” I said. “So, please spare me the lines of bullshit. I am going to do what I want to do.”
