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Chapter Nineteen

The drive back home was short even though it felt endless. The snowy landscape flew by outside, everything draped in sparkling white. Her mother sat in the window seat this time, dozing on and off, and Fee was wedged in the middle. Theo’s thick thigh was pressed against hers and she thought she might scream in frustration.

She didn’t have the energy to take Theo in circles today. She barely had the energy to not climb into his lap and straddle him while he was driving.

Having her mother in the mix certainly didn’t help matters. Normally, Fee was happy when Runa flitted back into her life. Her mother was … a lot. But in small doses, she was fun. She would sweep into town every few months or so, and they would catch up, chat, and giggle about their exploits while they had been apart, and then her mother would be off again.

Theo had never understood it, this relationship that came and went like the rain, but it worked for her and Runa. Fee had basically been on her own since she was a teenager, but she liked it that way. Not that she was ever really alone. Her aunties and nymph sisters were never far away.

And right now, all Fee wanted was to be by herself in her little treehouse in the grove. She needed time alone, time away from Theo to process everything that had happened in the last two days.

She needed time to think.

Without Theo’s intense gaze giving her goosebumps and without Runa’s knowing smiles.

Unfortunately, she didn’t get her wish.

As soon as they were within five miles of Maple Hollow, Rafe texted saying everyone was meeting at the bar to regroup and re-strategize. And she was too far in now to stop pretending to be helpful. Maybe she could talk to Gert. Maybe she could end this whole charade and just tell everyone the truth.

They dropped Runa off at the grove and by the time they got to the bar, it was packed, bursting at the seams with concerned townsfolk.

Her aunt was nowhere to be seen but they found Rafe and Ruby at a table with another couple. Fee recognized the blonde woman as the granddaughter of a local witch. She didn’t know the man, but he gave her a friendly smile as they approached.

“You’re back,” Ruby said when she saw them. The gratitude in her eyes was just another kick to Fee’s guilty conscience. “Sorry you guys got stuck in the storm.”

“Sorry we don’t have better news for you,” Theo said.

“These are my friends, Callie and Sawyer,” Ruby said. “I don’t think you’ve met.”

“My grandmother buys tea from you,” Callie smiled at Fee in recognition.

“Yes, that’s right,” Fee said with a grin. From what she could remember, Callie’s grandmother came to her for a certain tea to help get her … desire back, so to speak. But Fee figured Callie didn’t want to know that about her grandmother.

“We have Callie to thank for the snow clearing today. It took most of her energy, but the sun is shining.” Ruby shot her friend another grateful look.

Ah, so the granddaughter was a witch, too.

Fun.

Fee would have to find a time to talk to her when all of this Lena excitement blew over. Fee loved witches.

“So, what’s the plan now?” Theo asked, looking around. It seemed the search parties had doubled since the last time they were all here. Fee got jostled from behind by the crowd and Theo slung a protective arm over her shoulder.

Rafe watched with an arched eyebrow. It made Fee wonder just how much Theo told his brother. Had the two been confiding in each other? As adorable as she found that image, she didn’t love Rafe knowing her business. Especially that type of business.

“Some people are going to go out on snowmobiles today,” Ruby said. “No one could do much yesterday because of the storm.”

“And no one has heard anything?” Theo asked.

“No. Nothing. And Knox still isn’t back,” Rafe grumbled.

“Do you still think she’s with…” Theo trailed off, his gaze flicking from Callie to Sawyer like he didn’t know how much he should say in front of them.

“I still think it’s the Highlanders, yeah,” Rafe said. “But we can’t go into their territory without the help of Knox and the pack.”

“That’s what I fucking said two days ago,” Theo grumbled.

“And now I’m agreeing,” Rafe grumbled back, and Fee had a hard time not laughing at the absurdity of it all. She really needed to talk to Gert.