Trial by Fire

She realized that this was how Rowan could move so quietly and sneak up on her. Thinking she’d give him a taste of his own medicine, Lily silenced her footsteps and moved toward the sound of voices coming from the dining area. She stopped at the same place she’d stood as she waited for Gideon to leave, wondering if Rowan would sense that she was there like he had the night before. She stifled a giggle, imagining jumping out and scaring him.

Rowan and Tristan sat at the table where she and Rowan had eaten dinner the night before. They were drinking tea and speaking in lowered voices. Rowan was dressed in all white—white linen pajama pants and a white T-shirt. She’d gotten so used to seeing him in all black that she was startled for a moment. His hair was tousled, and he looked younger and more vulnerable. He was beautiful. Lily had no idea how he’d become so precious to her so quickly, but he had. She lingered behind the corner, enjoying the rare opportunity of watching the person she adored without him knowing she was there.

“Whatever happened to keeping her out of your head?” Tristan asked, dismayed.

“I didn’t have any other choice,” Rowan said with a tired shrug. “Believe me. I’m regretting it.”

Lily leaned back into the wall, the giddiness she’d felt suddenly chilling and turning to dread inside of her.

“What even gave you the idea?” Tristan asked.

“I thought about how she’d healed her ankle. It was a long shot, but I figured she’d already transmuted energy inside herself using my stone, and it was only one step farther to then pour it back into me.”

“That’s one hell of step, though.” Tristan paused, then his voice dropped. “Do you think she could invade a stone? Take it over without permission?”

“I don’t know. But that is the next step after this one,” Rowan said, allowing the thought to hang ominously in the air. He scrubbed his hands over his face a few times. “We’re in a lot of trouble.”

“Only if she goes bad,” Tristan corrected.

Rowan looked at Tristan, and a tense moment passed between them. “She can work inside another person’s willstone, she imprinted three of her own, and she’s just as convinced that she’s right about everything as Lillian ever was.”

“So what are you saying?” Tristan asked in a low and serious tone. “That we can’t trust her?”

Rowan’s face looked pained for a moment before it grew unyielding. “No. I don’t think we can.”

Lily stopped breathing, too stunned to move.

“But she’s still her own person, Ro, with a completely different background and upbringing. I don’t think we should paint her with Lillian’s brush just yet.” Rowan didn’t answer. “There are things about her that are different,” Tristan continued. “She’s funny. Did you notice that?”

“Lillian was funny,” Rowan replied, a touch defensively.

“No she wasn’t,” Tristan said, rolling his eyes. “Rose-colored glasses, my friend.”

Rowan changed the subject. “Gideon came poking around. Looking for a witch strong enough to catch my attention.”

“One of the prisoners he took from the raid must have talked. Gideon’s been on the warpath looking for a new witch in Salem ever since.”

A thought occurred to Rowan and he stiffened. “The Woven bodies at the cabin. I burned them, but it left one hell of an ash heap. If Gideon hears about them, he’ll know that a witch was involved. A powerful one.”

“We can have Caleb send a team up to get rid of them. How many did you kill, anyway?”

“Over forty. She’s strong, Tristan. Just as strong as Lillian ever was.”

Tristan cursed under his breath. Then he looked up at Rowan and gave him a knowing smile. “How was the claiming?”

Rowan looked down at his tea, frowning. “Too good. And too soon. I wish I could take it back.”

They lapsed into silence. Lily wanted to crawl into bed and never get up again, but it would be Rowan’s bed, and she didn’t want to sleep there ever again. She decided it was no use trying to run away or hide. She took a step, making sure it was audible. Rowan’s head snapped around in surprise.