Chapter 91

Ann could feel the connection to Kat and Teegan. She could also feel three other tethers that she knew were from the men. She smiled at Wes. “I think Bridget stacked the deck in our favor.”

His smile was brief. “You know we can’t directly be involved.”

Kat ran past him and jumped toward Mitch. He caught her and hugged her. “You don’t need to. I can feel it, and it’s like an energy drink times one hundred.” Kat laughed.

Teegan chuckled. “While I don’t have her enthusiasm, I agree.”

The hair on Ann’s arm tingled. They weren’t alone. She turned slowly until she could see five people walking down the darkened trail. She didn’t know the man walking with the three descendants, but the woman she did. “Your girlfriend is here, Wes.”

He growled. “Not my girlfriend.”

Leland scoffed. “Not even close to a friend.”

“Who is the man?” Teegan moved closer to him.

“John Norman,” Mitch said with zero emotion in his voice.

“Don’t even worry about them,” Wes whispered. “Once Teegan casts the circle—using the words we discussed—” He looked at Teegan. She nodded. “Only direct descendants can use their magic.”

“What about—”

Mitch hugged Kat against his side. “Ours is connected to yours. There’s no breaking that. We can’t use it, but we can…”

“Amp ours up.” Kat exhaled quickly. “Yeah, we got this.”

Images and words were moving so fast through Ann’s mind she felt lightheaded. It couldn’t be from Bridget, but it was as if a hidden door was just revealed and opened. Her mind settled as fast as it had started. She gasped and looked at Wes and then Leland. “It won’t work what we planned. It’s not enough.” She squeezed her eyes shut so she could sort through the magic inside her head—that she hadn’t even realized the day before. “I know what we have to do.” She whispered and then spun around to look at the men. “Do all of you have a pocketknife or some kind of knife?” She was met with confused looks, but they all nodded. “Blood.” She said in a hushed voice. “When I say, score your palms and place your hand on the ground.”

“That sounds like an infection.” Kat moved over closer to her.

“We need to as well.” Ann quickly went over and picked up her bag. She started digging into it. “Alana sealed it with the blood of three.” Finding the small blade, she turned and looked at Wes. “Bridget used that same blood to bind all of us.”

Teegan squatted down and started digging through the large satchel Wes brought with him. “Will it bind their magic forever?”

Ann bit her lip and glanced at her. “I think it will.”

“That works for me.” Kat accepted a small knife Teegan held out to her. “Not having to do this for the rest of my life is good.”

“Can you hold the barrier if you’re amplifying our energy?” Ann hugged her bag to her chest and watched Wes. She didn’t want anyone in danger.

“With the storm that’s been forecasted and our spell from earlier—there won’t be anyone hanging around the lake tonight.”

Ann nodded. “Okay. Good.” She blew out a deep breath, hoping the building tension inside her would go with it.

“How will we know when to cut out hand?” Teegan stepped away from the bag, clutching a small dagger. She looked down at her skirt and then tucked the blade into the waist of it.

Ann closed her eyes and tried to focus enough to figure out what a signal would be. It had to be something she wouldn’t accidentally do before it was time. “Not actions,” She whispered and then looked at Teegan. “I’m going to end this.”

Teegan nodded. “Hopefully we do.”

“No.” Ann rolled her eyes. “That’s the signal. When I say, I’m going to end this.”

“Right.” Teegan looked over at Leland.

He gave her a reassuring smile. “Just keep them distracted until the three of you summon enough energy, and then Ann can do her—” He shrugged. “End it.”

“Good plan.” Kat rolled her head from side to side and started bouncing as if she were a boxer about to step into the ring. Her curls couldn’t catch up to the changing directions.

Ann smiled. It was the perfect amusing thing she needed to see right now.