Then he stuck out his hand.

Can I borrow your ring?

I glanced at the purple-gemmed ring.

Why do you need it?

I promise I ll give it back,

he said, insistent.

Reluctantly, I took the ring off and laid it in the palm of his hand. He closed his fingers around it and then we said our good-byes and headed our separate ways, hoping when we saw each other again we d have fewer problems instead of more.

After Aislin dropped Laylen and Alex off at my house, we transported over to a Black Magic store called The Evil Side, which I thought was a lovely name. It looked just like one would imagine an evil magic. The windows were tinted with grime and the door had a sinister looking serpent on it. The roof shingles were rotting, the wood paneling peeling away.

Ready for this?

Aislin asked, starting across the parking lot.

I pulled her back, my gaze glued to the store.

I think we should have a game plan, just in case.

We already have one you. Black Magic witches worship you. You re like their God & or Goddess.

Still, I d feel better & I mean, I can already sense the praesidium inside.

Okay.

She swept her hair out of her face.

We ll make sure to stay by each other at all times and if all else fails I ll transport us out of there.

She grinned.

Because I can now do that, no assistance need.

I nodded warily and doing what I was supposed to, I stayed close to her as we headed across the parking lot and into the store. A bell dinged as we entered, the door swinging shut behind us. The air stunk of burnt herbs, smoke, and something else I couldn t place and wasn t sure I wanted to place. The items littering the room made me want to stay in the dark with the inner workings of the Black Magic World. There were rows and rows of jars, filled with yellow liquid and parts that looked like they belonged buried. The statues on the shelves were twisted and torturous and the walls were black, the floor a blood red.

Can I help you?

A tall witch, with golden eyes and hair as pale as snow, appeared in front of us. She looked us over, taking in my wings, then bowed her head.

We re so honored to have a Black Angel in our store. How can I assist you?

Aislin shoved a list at her.

We need everything on this.

The witch ignored her, fascinated with me.

Is that why you ve come to collect the items from this list?

Yeah,

I said self-consciously.

Can you help us?

She nodded, excited I spoke to her. She snatched the list and scurried off to gather the items. Another witch entered from the back doorway, her hair as orange as fire. They exchanged whispers and then the orange-haired one greeted me.

It s a pleasure to have you in my store.

She curtsied.

I m Catalina and if you need anything at all, just let me know.

Okay.

I said and then she frowned, her eyes snapping cold.

She hasn t even transitioned yet.

Then she stormed for the other witch.

That s not a Black Angel, but a mere human with wings.

If only she knew how wrong she was. Still, the pale-haired witch scampered around, collecting the items on the list. Aislin and I roamed the store, not daring to touch anything, but needing to do something else besides stand there. I stumbled across a candle, perched on a shelf, blanketed in a layer of dust. There was a rainbow of colors wrapping around the wax and up the wick. It appeared to be glowing.

What is it?

Aislin reached for it, but I smacked her hand.

Don t touch it if you don t know what it is,

I said, but couldn t seem to take my eyes off the magnificent looking candle either. It was hypnotizing.

It s the Power of Entrapment candle.

The paled-haired witch appeared over my shoulder. She picked up the colorful candle.

It traps the power of a witch inside their own body, at least while the wick burns.

What about other kinds of power?

My hands trembled as I touched the candle.

Does it trap them too? Or is it just for witches.

She shrugged.

I guess it might, but what other power are you talking about?

I shrugged and then Aislin and I traded looks, thinking the same thing.

How much is it?

Aislin asked, reaching to unzip her purse.

Oh, it s only for trade,

she replied.

Catalina only makes trades for things as powerful as this, and it has to be a good trade.

And I m positive you two have nothing I want,

Catalina barked from behind the glass counter.

The paled-haired witch sighed.

Sorry, she lacks people skills.

Frustration burst through me like an erupting volcano.

Are you sure there isn t anything at all we could trade for it?

She eyed us over and I realized neither of us had anything, really. Aislin had her gloves and earrings and I had my necklace.

Oh, that s pretty.

Her fingers inched for the locket my mother gave me to protect me from magical harm.

I stepped back, shaking my head and my wings bumped the shelf.

Not that. Anything but that.

Catalina, come look at this,

she called out, eyes locked on my locket.

This one s got sugilite on her.

Catalina was over in a snap of a finger, grabbing my necklace without asking.

And it s wrapped by silver.

She glanced at the candle and then at me.

You want the candle, give me the necklace.

It s just a necklace.

I clutched onto it for dear life, tugging it from her grasp.

A necklace filled with sugilite! It s a very sought after stone in the Wicca world. After all, who doesn t want protection?

I stared at my necklace, at the candle, and then at Catalina. The look on her face made me think this was no longer my decision. I unclamp the locket and handed it over to her greedy little witch fingers. The paled-haired witch tossed the candle at me and I hugged it to my chest, hoping it d be worth it.

Chapter 28

(Alex)

I wasn t sure if the ring would work on me or not. But I had to try because I needed to talk to him. He knew things. I knew he did. His faerie blood connected with every breed of faerie in the world, including a Banshee. Honestly, I wished I d started with him, and then it would have saved the bargain with Draven and the waste of a trip to Iceland. But what was done was done and there was no use dwelling on the past. I had to focus on the future.

Laylen was giving off a nervous vibe as we stood in Gemma s bedroom, where I knew the dead faerie would be, waiting for her to return.

So what are we doing here?

Laylen looked around at the tan walls, tapping his fingers on his leg.

Were looking for Nicholas,

I showed him the ring.

Why?

Laylen asked, sitting down in the compute chair.

Because he seems like the last person you d ask for help.

He s got faerie blood in him.

I shoved the ring on my pinky, ignoring the fact that it was purple and obviously made for a girl.

He has to know something.

See anything yet?

Laylen asked after a minute of silence.

I shook my head and let out an exasperated breath.

I figured it d only work on her, but I had to try.

I moved to take the ring off, but then I heard a voice and I paused.

Look at you,

Nicholas s voice swept through the room.

Trying to hunt me down for once?

Where are you?

I asked, knowing I had to keep my cool. At least for now.

I m dead,

he replied.

So obviously, I m a ghost, which means I m anywhere I want to be.

I clutched my hands so tight the ring dug into my skin.

Where is she?

Who?

Nicholas asked.

The list of people you two are looking for is endless. I mean, there s Jocelyn and Alana and me.