Page 81 of Spell Ya Later

“At first, by force.” She collapses in the chair as if all the energy escaped her body at once. “Because I knew if I left you girls, Peter would never forgive me. I believe I will see him again, and I want to be worthy of that moment.”

It’s honest. Too honest, if the painful thumping of my heart is any indication. Part of me understands—couldn’t imagine putting one foot in front of the other without Noah. But part of me, the daughter, can’t rationalize why my own mother has to force herself to keep going for me.

She heaves a heavy breath. “It was awful in those first few years. But breathing has gotten easier as I’ve gone on. I haven’t done anything right since Peter died, but I’m in a better place than I was.”

“You didn’t leave. That was right, at the very least.”

“At the very least.” A weak chuckle leaves her.

“It’s sundown,” I say, watching the sun dip below the buildings. “We should get going.”

“Hazel.”

I turn to my mother as I stand.

She stands as well, taking my hands in hers. “I will not let anything happen to Noah. It doesn’t matter the price, I promise you he won’t be harmed.”

My brows furrow. “Mom?”

“Let’s go, girls!” Grandma calls.

Mom squeezes my hands and drops them, going to Grandma.

It seems that any time I think I get a handle on my mother, she always pulls a twist. Why do I feel like she knows more than she lets on?

“Hazel!” Grandma snaps. “Come!”

“I’m not a schnauzer,” I grumble, following her out of the back door regardless.

We walk to Grandma’s car, the air crackling with magic burning under the surface.

Laura scoffs as we sit together in the back seat. “What? No broomsticks?”

“Would you prefer to ride one? It can be arranged.” Grandma’s eyebrow raises in the rearview mirror.

“You’d have to pull it out of your ass.”

“You first, dear.”

My forehead falls against the cool glass of the window.

I just want Noah. I hope he’s safe, I hope Draven hasn’t...Shit. Images of Noah beaten, bruised, strung up, and worse flit across my mind. Draven only said he wouldn’t kill him, but he said nothing about hurting him in the meantime.

“Hurry, please,” I whisper.

Chapter 30

Peanut

The world blurs as the car passes through suburbs, city streets, and finally rows of warehouses and alleyways. Somewhere in this maze is Noah and as we approach, the buzz prickles across my skin. Calling me to him.

“Faster,” I almost whimper as a shock rushes through me. He’s not okay. He needs me.

The car slows instead. “We’re here.” Grandma nods at Mom, grasping her shoulder tightly for just a second.

It’s rare to see a moment of intimacy between them. So rare that sometimes I even forget they’re mother and daughter.

No more words are spoken as we exit the car in front of the warehouse. It’s set off from the rest; a pang of familiarity causes my heart to clench. Memories threaten to fully break through the block Mom placed on me, just like when I first entered the shop. Memories of how I lost my father, in the same place I may lose Noah.