The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

knew, didn’t you? My arrest was all just a ruse,” I say, shaking my head. The adrenaline rush is starting to wear off and I can’t believe anything I’m hearing. It’s like I’ve stepped into an alternate universe.

Diana shifts her gaze to me and smiles sweetly. “I wouldn’t be world-renowned if I didn’t figure it out. Besides, I promised I’d take care of you, didn’t I?”

I raise my eyebrows in agreement. Part of me is flooding with relief…but the other half is hurting for Colton. He’s not a bad guy—far from it. But his feelings clouded his judgment.

“What’s going to happen to him?” I ask, suddenly scared for him.

Diana tips her head. “That’ll be up to him.”

Blake steps around Colton, so he can open the back door to the SUV. “If he cooperates, we might be able to get his sentence lightened. So, I hope you’re ready. You’re gonna need to help us undo this mess, kid. ”

Colton nods, refusing to look up to any of us.

“The spellwork isn’t going to be any fun, that’s for sure,” Diana mutters, practically prancing over to the vehicle.

Colton’s eyes widen as he glances to Diana, but he doesn’t say anything. What was the spell like to raise the dead in the first place? Was it like the resurrection I performed on Cat?

Blake points to the seat and Colton promptly sits down.

As Colton’s door clicks into place, Cat springs into action. “Hold on. I’m coming with you. I’m not letting him go alone.”

Before any of us knows it, she’s hopped into the back seat alongside her brother.

Diana nods, as if totally expecting her outburst. She looks to each one of us before saying, “Well, it’s been a blast, but it looks like we all have our work cut out for us. See ya around, kids. Good luck. I trust you’ll be able to get this next step done.”

With that, she hops into the passenger side and closes the door. The black SUV speeds off, leaving Wade, Dominic, and me in a stupor.

Rubbing at my left wrist, I turn to Wade. His expression is distant as he eyes me wearily.

Taking a deep breath, I say, “Wade, I know you’re probably…”

He cuts me off, raising a hand. His jaw clenches and his voice is tight. “Not now, Autumn. It’s not the time. We still need to find my grandpa.”

I blink back my regret and bite my lip to keep it from quivering.

What have I done?

Dominic’s eyebrows raise and he steps forward, taking the lead. “Alrighty—on that note…let’s get moving. It’s almost dark. Like I said, he’s out that way, but I don’t know for how long.”

I nod, unable to form any words that could relieve the tension that’s settled between my heart and stomach. Instead, I look over my shoulder as the SUV vanishes from sight.

How did I not see what was happening with Colton? Had I just realized how deep his feelings were, maybe I could have prevented all of this… Was I just too wrapped up in my feelings for Wade to see the truth? Or worse…was I too afraid to face Colton’s feelings because I already knew? It’s not like the kiss hasn’t been weighing heavily on my mind since it happened. Yet, I chose to ignore it and try to let it slide so I could pretend like it never happened.

A horrible truth erupts in the pit of my stomach. Not only have I let Wade down…I let down Colton, too. Had I been honest from the beginning, none of this would have happened.

This is all my fault.

Chapter 23

A Death Wish

“So, not to be a complete moron or anything—but have you thought about how you’re going to restrain gramps once we find him?” Dominic asks, flipping on the flashlight from his phone.

I shoot Wade a sideways glance and he shrugs. “Guess we’ll deal with that once we get there.”

“Reassuring,” Dominic mutters, stepping out in front and taking the lead.

Cringing internally, I’m right there with Dominic. The last time we were near Wade’s grandpa, he was pretty spry for a dead guy. And damn scary.

“We handled him just fine last time. I’m sure we’ll be able to handle him this time,” Wade says nonchalantly as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “Besides, he’s outnumbered three to one.”

“Didn’t know there was a rule on the number of people it takes to wrangle a dead guy,” Dom mutters.

The sunlight has all but dwindled and the March evening chill has settled in. Pulling my coat in tighter, I shudder against its bite. My toes are already aching from the cold.

Unable to calm my mind, I let my thoughts tumble around like they’ve been put into one of those gemstone tumblers and it’s been left on too long. I can’t help but worry about Colton and what’s going to happen to him now. But I’m also apprehensive about what we’re up against.

One piece of the puzzle has fit into place—we know who’s been behind the attacks. But what had Abigail said? We still need to get all the bodies into the catacombs and consecrate the cemeteries to stop them from continuing to rise. It feels like a huge expanse we’re trying to cover, and I feel totally unequipped to be able to handle it. I must not be the only one, either. Both of the guys continue walking without much in the way of discussion.

“How much farther?” Wade finally asks, pulling his collar up to protect his neck.

Dominic points ahead of us. “See that hill over there? What’s back there?”

I peer over his shoulder, trying to get a better look. From here, the only thing I get the sense of is how creepy the trees look in the light of his phone. It reminds me of The Blair Witch Project. I’d rather be doing anything else.

“I don’t see anything…” I say, moving forward with even less enthusiasm.

“Yeah, me either. But I keep getting the impression he’s out that way,” Dominic says.

“Isn’t this where we