Page 59 of Haunted Hearts

“He took her, Kai fucking took her. I’m going to kill them both.”

Her face shifts and her shoulders relax. “Did she tell you?”

“She left a fucking note.”

It’s quiet for a moment before she starts laughing; I turn to her.

“Is that fucking funny?”

“Yeah, it kind of is.” She wipes a tear from her eyes as she looks at me with a smile. “Do you understand why you are even mad?”

“I can’t get ahold of her.”

“Did you consider the fact that maybe she wants privacy?”

“She didn’t discuss it with me ahead of time!”

Gen crosses her arms and shifts her stance as she raises a brow. “Would you have let her go if she did?”

“Irrelevant, they could have fucking said something.”

“So you’re mad you don’t have control,” she says softly, trying to comfort me.

“You’re acting like you have no idea what’s at stake. I have no clue where they went. If something happens, I can’t help.”

“I imagine if even you can’t find her, she is probably fine. I get you are worried and it’s been your job to keep her safe, but you aren’t the only one who is capable of that anymore.”

I turn to her, meeting her eyes. “What do you know about Kai?”

She shrugs her shoulders casually. “I know he has magic, I can feel it. He has a strength to him, and I can feel his love for her.”

“Yes. He does care about her, but I don’t like the idea of not being there if she needs me. I get that she isn’t happy here, but it’s safe.”

“You’re worried about her, that’s normal.” She places a hand on my shoulder. “Have you considered the fact that she isn’t that little girl who needs saving? From what I’ve seen, she is far more capable than both of us put together.”

“She is, but it doesn’t take much for her to lose control. One bad mood swing and she could kill someone, or herself.”

“She isn’t a prepubescent teenager, Cade; what makes you so afraid of it?”

“It’s complicated, but the gist is that it’s hurting her. Her body can’t handle it.”

“What the fuck?” She takes a step back.

“You understand,” I say, my voice low. “If she is in a situation where she is forced to use her magic, she could die.”

Gen stares wide-eyed, when my phone begins to ring. A private number—it must be Ben. I quickly answer.

“They’re mobilizing. I don’t know if they have your location or not, but I can confirm they don’t have a witch with them. If we’re going to get to Rosa, it needs to be now. Have you spoken with Genevieve?” His words make my heart drop into my stomach.

I don’t see how the Covenant would be mobilizing without even a general location. Jack has always been able to cover our tracks perfectly, so I doubt they have our exact coordinates. That wouldn’t be possible unless there is some kind of element we haven’t considered.

It could be magic, but if our systems were hacked, I’m going to wring Jack’s neck. Regardless, they’re on the move, we need to have a strategy. Calli not being here may actually be a blessing, considering.

“Yes, I’ve been experimenting with one of her protection spells, and it was successful. Are you still at the last known location?”

“Yeah, Rosa seems to have no plans to leave the Commonwealth, not anytime soon at least. You got the means to travel?”

This could work to our benefit. If they are coming here—then Rosa will be vulnerable.