“You're welcome, angel. Maybe we'll get to go again someday.”
The word someday landed on Quin’s heart like a sledgehammer, and he closed his eyes while taking a deep breath. When he returned his gaze to Layla, her aura had grown darker, and he could feel her pain as surely as he felt the wind on his face. Walking toward her, he said her name, but she ignored him.
“You know what would be fun?” she asked, searching out Brietta and Skyla, who stared back in sad confusion.
Quin wrapped one arm around Layla’s shoulders, and her aura expanded, making several people gasp as Quin’s arm fell away, his heart and ego bruised. He, of all people, should be able to offer her comfort.
Still ignoring the world and its troubles, Layla walked to Brietta and Skyla and took their hands, leading them away from the others. Facing the lake, she released Skyla and swept a palm through the air, and a vibrant rainbow sprouted from the ground, rising steeply then arching toward the bottom of the slope. The colorful mist landed at the edge of the lake before climbing back up. Then it came to a halt halfway over the water.
Taking Skyla's hand back, Layla glanced between her and Brietta. “Ready?”
“For what?” Brietta asked.
Layla looked to the rainbow, her smile trembling as she blinked back tears. “To run.”
She took off, and her firm grip on Brietta and Skyla forced them to run with her. When they reached the rainbow, their feet found stability upon the translucent mist, so they continued up one side of the spell.
Grant stepped forward and paused beside Quin. “Does she always handle bad news so well?”
Agitated and tense, Quin shook his head as he walked toward the rainbow. “She’s losing it.”
The three witches reached the peak of the rainbow then leapt for the other side, landing on their butts as they slid into the curve at the water's edge. They had so much momentum, they flew right up the other side, and Quin shivered as a chill ran down his spine. He didn’t understand why, but every muscle in his body flexed as he poised to move.
Reaching the end of the rainbow, Brietta and Skyla took flight, but Layla dropped like a stone toward the icy lake.
Quin was halfway down the slope before Layla’s name burst from his chest, but she was winning the race and only a few yards from plunging into the lake. Bending his knees, he made a soaring leap, and his arm hooked her waist as her feet disappeared beneath the water’s surface. His feet went under as well, but he ignored the icy shock and flew higher, flipping her into a cradle hold so he could search her face. Tears flowed from her wide eyes, soaking her flushed cheeks, but she seemed alert and unharmed.
“What in the hell were you thinking?” he scolded, drying her feet and calves.
Layla had no idea what she was thinking. Falling just seemed like the thing to do, like maybe all the terror would disappear when the icy water struck. Maybe physical agony would numb the pain in her heart. Or maybe she was going crazy and thought a bone-chilling dip would bring her back to her senses. But she didn’t tell him any of this, and she couldn’t find any guilt or embarrassment about the senseless fall. All that was left was hopelessness, so she buried her face in her hands and cried.
“Shit,” Quin sighed, pulling her into a hug. “I’m sorry.”
Tucking her face in his neck, he flew to the others. “Who's going back to watch Agro?”
“I am,” Lann answered.
Quin walked over and concealed his grandpa’s body and aura with one hand. Then he concealed himself and Layla. “We're going home,” he announced, and before anyone could protest, he shot into the air.
Chapter 15
On the way home, Layla cried while Quin searched for solutions, but none of his ideas could conquer an army of ruthless killers.
He landed on their deserted lawn and looked around, making sure the enemy hadn’t dropped in. Then he released his concealment spells and carried Layla home. Bypassing the bedroom, he climbed to the turret room and sat on the sofa, hoping the bright room would improve their moods. If any two people needed light shed on a situation, it was them.
Several tense and silent minutes passed before her sobs quieted, and if her aura hadn't been so active, he would have thought she'd fallen asleep. But she was wide awake and filled with dread.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered.
“Me, too,” she squeaked.
Fresh tears moistened his neck, and his entire body contracted, like his skin was shrinking, smothering and crushing his insides. Vanishing her cloak, he worked his fingers into her hair and forced her face from his throat. “It rips my heart open to see you like this.”
“I'm sorry, Quin. I don't know how to fix it. I'm so scared for us, and for everyone else.”