Chapter 86

Ann got up and went over and set the book on the end of the table. They were putting the ones that weren’t helpful there. She turned around and looked at Teegan, who sat on the floor with stacks of books all around her. Turning, she found Kat perched on the large windowsill, her head down, reading through a book. “Anything?”

Teegan looked up and shook her head. “Nothing is popping out like Brother Kale suggested.”

“Reading through random books isn’t doing anything.” Kat jumped off the ledge. “I mean, I have a few ideas for a great skin lotion now, but nothing is jumping out and telling me how to shut them down.”

Ann looked at the books all over the room. She’d kept all of Wes’ separate from the ones that the brothers brought them, but overall, none of them were very helpful.

“We need a new plan.” Kat set the book on the same end of the table that Ann had.

“I agree.” Teegan got up and put the book she had beside Kat’s.

Ann nodded. “Wes said intent and what’s in our heart matters.” She sighed. “I think he’s right. We’ve done well with unplanned things.”

Both nodded.

“Let’s figure out what we want to accomplish exactly, and then we’ll go from there.”

Kat scoffed. “Right, because reading a billion spells isn’t working.”

“We want to stop them from using magic ever again.”

Ann bit her lip and studied Teegan. “Alana paused it; maybe we can do something similar, only stop it forever.”

Teegan nodded. “I’ll be able to call the elements for help.”

Kat grinned. “The energy at the lake is crazy. Calling anything there will give us a major boost.”

Ann couldn’t argue with that. The few hours they’d spent there had rejuvenated her like nothing else, and they hadn’t really done much other than stand in the water and touch the sand. It was a beautiful place filled with ancient energy.

“I think we need to figure out a way to make sure it’s just them.” Teegan looked at them. “Just Celia, Bonnie, and Liset.”

Kat frowned. “You think that John guy and Aiysha will try to help them then?”

Teegan sighed. “I wouldn’t put it past them.”

“I agree.” Ann nodded. “That should be first.”

Teegan hugged her waist. “Lee will have wording to accomplish that.”

“Okay, we’ll talk to him about it tonight.” Ann looked at the pile of books again.

“I think you still need to lead. Even if Teeg calls the elements, we’re more focused when you do the talking.”

Ann cringed. “No pressure there.”

Teegan smiled at her. “You’ll do fine.” She sobered and looked at Kat. “I don’t know about you, but I still want to feel Lee’s connection if possible.”

“What do you mean?” Ann looked to see Kat nodding.

“When I needed a boost—” Teegan sighed. “—when Celia was choking me, without using her hands, Lee was able to send me that bit of extra energy I needed to break it.”

“Yeah. Mitch can do that too, for me.”

Ann bit her lip. She had no such connection to Wes. “Okay—” She tapped her hand on the top book. “So, we need to keep the connection but stop their groupies from helping?”

“That’s definitely a wording task that Lee will understand.”

Ann was going to have to pick his brain when they got here. “So, if we hold your connection, stop the groupies—” She looked from one to the other. “What next?”

“Binding their magic for good, so this doesn’t have to be repeated in three hundred years.” Teegan blew out a breath. “That’s the main goal, right? To not have to do this again, or some distant relative having to go through this.”

“Yes.” Kat nodded. “That should be our end game.”

Ann looked at the books. “I think we’ve been overthinking this.” She motioned to the pile on the table. “Let’s put all these back and go outside and enjoy the day.”

“A little R and R to settle us before the big moment.” Teegan smiled. “I like that.” She chuckled. “The men will make it all tense when they get here.”

Kat grinned. “Mitch says the guys were a little stressed out doing your jobs.”

Ann gave her a wide-eyed look. “You talk to him?”

She shrugged. “A few texts back and forth.”

Teegan picked up a stack of books. “Tell me more. How stressed? Like we should all get a raise and more time off, stressed?”

Kat laughed. “Maybe.”

“That could work for me.” Ann sorted through the pile nearest her so she didn’t have to run back and forth from the shelves. “I would have more time to paint and actually do things with this magic I’ve had to hide my whole life.”

“That will be neat. Using it without worrying about evil jerks tracking us down.” Kat grabbed some books off the table.

“Yes.” Teegan laughed. “Did I tell you I accidentally changed the color of my eyes when I tried my first spell unsupervised?”

Ann stopped and looked back at her. “You did what?”

She nodded. “I had to call for help to fix it.” Teegan laughed. “That’s why I never say it out loud when I’m reading through them.” She grimaced. “For fear, I’ll do something else.”

“Wait.” Kat came rushing over to her. “We can do things like that?”

Teegan nodded.

Kat touched the top of her head. “My hair. Could I straighten my hair?”

“Permanently?” Ann glanced at Teegan. “Your curls are part of what makes you, you.”

Kat rolled her eyes. “No. Probably not forever, but I’ve tried everything to straighten it, and it never works.” S he patted the bouncy curls. “It’s like they’re resistant or something.”

Ann shook her head. “Let’s get through Sunday, and then we’ll work on your hair, okay?”

Kat grinned. “Deal.”