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

heightening every ability. Whatever magic protects this space from Dominic’s abilities seems to have accepted me as one of its own.

The pathway to where I need to go emerges in my mind, like a holographic Google map only I can see. No longer scared about where to go or how to get there, I follow my instincts and the direction being unveiled for me.

The deeper we go, a strong fragrance of frankincense greets us. At first, it’s just a hint, but quickly overpowers any of the earthy scents trying to permeate the space. With each step forward, more torches ignite while others go out. Occasionally, there are paths that lead off from the main tunnel and sometimes torches even light up, as if tempting me to venture off from the path. However, my internal compass continues to guide me and I follow its calling, ignoring all others.

We walk for a good fifteen minutes, taking a number of turns. While I know I’m on the right path here beneath the ground, I’ve lost all direction to where my house is on the property. My only hope is that my experience with Abigail earlier won’t fail me.

As I take a final left turn, Wade’s grandpa and I leave the darkness of the tunnels and emerge into the large circular room I had seen in my vision. Walking into the space, Abigail awaits, hovering just off to the side with an expectant smile on her face. In the center of the room, the grimoire rests on the pedestal as if awaiting my summons.

“Abigail, it’s time. I need to know how to put the revenants to rest,” I say, looking over my shoulder at Wade’s grandpa, who has mimicked my halt.

She nods, eyeing Wade’s grandpa as she points to the grimoire. “The spell is not difficult, but it requires your utmost attention. You must bless the soulless and inter them so their bodies may finally be at rest. Should your attention slip, even but a little, it would be most dreadful.”

I walk over to the book with grandpa in tow. Looking over the open pages, the anxiety I felt before blossoms again inside my stomach. I still can’t read the pages…

“What do I need to do?” I ask.

“Are all of them within the catacombs?” Abigail asks, her eyebrows furrowing.

I shake my head. “No, not yet. We’re working on it. They’ll be here soon.”

Abigail’s expression cools, but she tips her head in acknowledgement. “Let us try on this one first. I will walk you through the words and help you with their saying. You shall find once the words are spoken out loud, they will become a part of you, making each interment easier.”

“That sounds good,” I say, letting my shoulders relax and my gaze fall back to the book.

“Sorry, but I can’t let you do that,” a woman’s voice hisses from the shadows.

Chapter 25

Fetch

My head jerks up and my eyes search wildly for the source of the words. Without feeling the need to stay hidden, Cat slinks from the shadows, crossing her arms behind her back.

“Be cautious,” Abigail warns, moving closer to me.

I narrow my gaze, shaking my head. “How…?”

For some reason, my brain doesn’t seem to want to make sense of seeing her here. Alarm bells ring like they’re announcing Armageddon, but the best I can do is gawk at her.

A sly grin spreads across Cat’s lips, and she takes another step closer. “It is a bit miraculous, isn’t it? I never in a million years thought I’d find my way through this maze. Fate has a funny way of delivering, doesn’t it?”

Confusion swirls around inside my brain like a caged bird and I can’t help but wonder what in the world is going on. The last time I saw Cat, she was leaving with Colton. I highly doubt she’d leave his side unless—

My mouth drops open. “Was there an accident? Omg…you’re not…” I take a step toward her, my heart thudding haphazardly in my chest. I can’t bring myself to say the final word, just in case it could be true.

Abigail moves quickly, coming between me and Cat. “Guard the revenant,” she says as she passes me. “Be gone, foul thing. You are an unholy abomination and not welcome in this sacred space.”

“I’m hurt, truly,” Cat says, pressing her right hand to her heart and taking another measured step inside the room.

“Abigail,” I sputter, unable to make sense of anything going on here. “This is my friend—you helped me save her.”

Glancing over her shoulder, Abigail shakes her head. “This is but an echo of your friend, a remnant of her soul which needs to be reclaimed. Surely you can feel it?”

My eyes widen as I peer from her to Cat.

This isn’t Cat? The real Cat?

Suddenly, all of the odd exchanges I’ve had with her over the past few months come into focus. Things have felt off from time to time—but I couldn’t put my finger on why. Not to mention when Wade and I saw her on the side of the road…

“What is she?” I say, taking a step back and forcing Wade’s grandpa to shuffle behind me.

“A Fetch,” Abigail says, keeping her eyes trained ahead of her. Without looking behind her, she raises a finger and points to the grimoire. “It is of utmost importance that you continue your work. Quickly.”

“But I can’t read it—” I say, fumbling my way back to the book. “And what the hell is a Fetch?”

“See, this is a predicament we’re in here, ladies. An impasse, actually. I’ve been working very hard to destabilize things and I can’t have you putting it all back the way it was before,” Cat’s doppelgänger says, her voice painted with thinly veiled fury. “I want more.”

“The Fetch must have come into being at the time of Ms. Gilbert’s resurrection. It has been known to happen, though I know not why it would have done so for her,” Abigail says, refusing to divert her gaze from Cat. “I know