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“Dove?”

“I’m okay, I just…I need a minute,” I said without turning around. If I looked at him, I’d be tempted to run to him, to beg him to hold me, to comfort me. And I couldn’t let myself rely on him for that.

I heard him retreat, and Mom cupped my face. “He’s a good male.”

I looked into my mother’s soft brown eyes filled with hope that her daughter had found someone, the kind of male that she’d never managed to find for herself. “He doesn’t love me.”

She brushed her fingers over my cheek, and sadness filled her eyes. “I’ve had men tell me they love me, then hurt me with their very next breath. Love isn’t what someone says, it’s what they do. Warrick is protective and attentive. When he makes a promise, he keeps it, there’s no BS with him. There will never be that gray area, the shadow of doubt, hovering over you. I’d take that over someone’s declaration of love any day, Wills.”

She was right, of course, but in my heart I knew I couldn’t accept less from him than everything. I wanted it all. I wanted the big love. I wanted to be loved as fiercely as I would love right back.

Warrick couldn’t give me that.

From my experience, not many could, which was why I’d chosen to avoid serious romantic relationships and would continue to do so. I kissed her cheek. “I’m going to check on Roe.”

She nodded, and the sadness in her eyes deepened. “I’m sorry, Willow.”

I paused. “Mom…”

“No, this needs to be said, and I should have said it a long time ago. Because of me, the men I brought into this house, you felt unsafe. You watched out for your sisters when it should have been me. Instead, I put myself ahead of you girls, and I’ll never forgive myself for that.” She closed the space between us and cupped my face. “You’re much smarter than me, my beautiful girl, you don’t need to lock your heart away.”

My throat felt tight, her words hitting me hard. “Mom, I don’t blame you, not for anything.”

She smiled a sad smile. “You are the bravest, strongest woman I know, Willow Thornheart, and the kindest.”

“Mom…”

“Go check on Roe, honey.”

This conversation was hard on her, so I said no more. Instead, I kissed her cheek, and as I turned to leave, Arthur walked in, the concern in his eyes telling me he’d felt my mom’s pain and was coming to take care of her. That was love. What Arthur felt for my mother was the purest, deepest kind of love there was. And not just as a friend, or a familiar. Art was in love with her, and guilt from her past mistakes had Mom paralyzed, afraid to take another chance on love.

I walked out as Art pulled her into a hug, then I headed upstairs. Rose’s room was dark when I walked in. I didn’t want to wake her by turning on the light, but I had to see her for myself that she was okay. So I drew the curtain back a little instead, letting the moonlight in.

She was curled on her side, her hands twisted in the covers, clutching them to her chest. Her wrists and fingers were so thin, so damn frail. Her breathing was erratic, and she shifted restlessly under the covers, like she was in pain.

No, our new gifts hadn’t helped her. If anything, she looked worse than before.

We needed help.

We couldn’t wait for a miracle anymore. None was coming.

I’d put every resource I had into finding a cure, into figuring this out. Our last hope had been the trials. The boost in power. It hadn’t worked. Now we had nothing, and we were running out of time.

There was someone who could help, though, someone who had the money to spread a wider net, someone who had overseas connections, who was literally in the business of witchcraft relics, spelling ingredients, and research. Clayton. He and his mother may have lost some friends here in Roxburgh, but the Whitlocks’ business was global and highly successful.

He could help. He was our last…our only chance at saving Rose.

And if I was going to be with someone who didn’t love me, at least this way, there was no chance of me getting my heart broken.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I quickly sent Clayton a text asking if he was free to meet the next day, before I lost my nerve.

Any sacrifice was worth it to save Rose. I’d do anything to save her.

Anything.

I slid Roe’s covers higher.

I would not lose my sister.