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Willow

Rose was out in the garden when I got home. It was warm today and she was sitting on a wicker chair reading on her phone.

“Hey,” she said when I got out of my truck.

I walked over and planted a kiss on the top of her blond head, choosing not to ask her how she was feeling because she’d only lie to me and I could see for myself how she was. Pain lined her delicate features, the kind that was bone deep. Seeing her like this broke me more and more each time. “What are you reading?”

She held up her phone, showing me the Nightscape App. Nightscape was a social media app used by mainly witches and shifters to share photos and other information and was magically hidden from humans. “I’ve been checking out the posts from everyone getting ready for the ball tonight.”

“Already? It’s still morning. The peacock parade isn’t for hours.”

Roe shook her head. “These things take time. What are you wearing tonight? Have you made appointments for your hair and nails?” Her gaze slid over me and she winced. “You look…kind of a mess, Wills.”

That’s what you got for having barely any sleep. “No way am I going to that shit show.”

She bit her lip.

“What?”

“You might have to tell Mom that.”

Ah, hell.

“Me and Iris will help, and you know how good Mags is with hair,” Roe said, her face lighting up in a way I hadn’t seen in a very long time.

She looked so excited by the idea, I didn’t have the heart to say no. “Maybe?”

She smiled, her green eyes lighting up even more.

Shit. Just that smile and I was toast.

I left her to her phone and headed inside. Mom was in the kitchen. She was wearing shorts and a floral blouse, and there was already dirt under her nails. Then again, there was always dirt under her nails. Arthur was pouring them both tea. And the invitation to the ball was no longer in the trash but on the counter, right by the hook where I hung my keys.

“Morning, Wills,” Mom said. “How did it go?”

“Tea?” Arthur enquired.

“Hey, Mom, and I’m good thanks, Art.” I leaned against the doorframe. “I have the soul trapped, and the hound’s clubhouse is warded. Unfortunately, there are at least two more souls on the loose.”

Art took his usual seat at the kitchen table, and Mom sipped her drink. “You’ll get them. I have complete faith in you, sweetheart.” Then she eyed me over the rim of her mug before her gaze slid to that damn invitation. “You know you have to go, right?”

“I’d rather not,” I said, which was the understatement of the century.

“All the other Keepers will be there. You need to network. Whether you like it or not, you’re one of them now. A low profile isn’t an option anymore. You’ll also be fighting one of them soon. It’s in your best interest to go. You need to know who won their first trial, who is failing their tasks, what their strengths and weaknesses are. Some will become allies, some enemies. We need to know who we can trust…”

“Okay, I get it. But I’m not sure how you expect me to find all that out in one evening.” Mom was usually Ms. Easygoing. Honestly, I hadn’t seen her like this before.

“You won’t, obviously, but it’s a start. Now we need to get you a dress.”

I sighed. “I don’t have time to go shopping, I need to open the store today.” The store was our main source of income, and I had regular customers who expected us to be open. “Why don’t you go ahead and pick something for me.” I backed toward the door.

“Don’t you dare walk out that door, Willow Juniper Thornheart.”

I kept walking, despite her use of my middle name. “I’ll be back in plenty of time.” Then I bolted out the door and ignored my mother yelling at me to get back in the damned house.

Chapter 11

Willow