The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 6 by Bella Forrest (books for men to read .TXT) 📕

Alex grimaced. “Fine, then you, me, and Jari will have to go looking for her. I’m not leaving her out there if she’s in trouble—even if I have to go on my own, I will.”

This time, nobody spoke up about joining him. It was clear that nobody had the energy to argue, nor did they want to leave one of their own out there with an army of soldiers after her. If it came to it, Alex knew he could count on them.

A short while later, there was another disturbance at the cave entrance, though the person who entered was not the one Alex had been hoping for. Agatha was standing in the dim light, her wild eyes trying to make out the shapes of Alex and his friends.

“Alex, my darling, is that you?” she asked, rushing to embrace them all, even Helena, whom Agatha had never even met. “Oh my dears, what a to-do! You must all be so frightened. Well, fear not, everything is in hand and old Agatha is here to set things right. I found a little something on my way here that I think you might enjoy,” she added, giving them all a dramatic wink before slipping back out of the cave entrance. She reappeared a moment later, cradling Ellabell in her arms, carrying her with surprising strength.

Alex and Jari rushed forward to take the limp girl from Agatha’s arms.

“Is she okay?” Alex asked, brushing a loose strand of hair back from Ellabell’s face. She looked peaceful, as if she were sleeping, and there didn’t appear to be any visible marks or bruises on her, aside from a couple of scrapes on her hands.

Agatha nodded. “Goodness, yes, she’s quite well. I gave her a little something to help her sleep is all—she’ll be right as rain in no time, my cherubs.”

“Where did you find her?” Alex pressed.

“Hadrian put us up in a quaint little cavern in the middle of the woods. Quite out of the way; you wouldn’t know it was there unless you knew to look, and it’s surrounded by about a gazillion of those pesky boobytraps, so nobody ever bothers with our secret little abode,” she explained, punctuating every few words with a flourish of her hands. “Mind you, poor, dear Ellabell stumbled on us, though not before she’d walked into one or two of those traps I mentioned. She had quite the shock, but she’ll be okay.”

“How did you know to bring her here?” asked Helena, her tone revealing her suspicion of this strange woman.

Agatha grinned. “Aha! I’m a perceptive old coot! I see you, coming and going, thinking this place is a great secret. I come down here sometimes to see who might creep out. I figured you beautiful creatures would be here!” she cried, enveloping Helena in a warm hug that seemed to make the girl extremely uncomfortable.

“Is Vincent with you?” Alex asked, remembering what he’d seen in the gallery.

“Not with me, no, but he got back not too long after Ellabell stumbled upon our cozy wee home. He’s always disappearing off up to the pagoda. From what I gather, he had to do a spot of backside-saving up there today, yes? He sends his apologies, by the way, Alex, for not being able to get you out,” she said solemnly.

Alex frowned. “Yeah, I’ve been wondering why he did that. One minute, Hadrian was there, the next he’d vanished.”

“Goodness, you’re a sharp flint!” Agatha exclaimed, throwing her arms wide. “The thing is, it’s so very important that Hadrian continues to seem like a neutral party, but it’s even more important that he stay alive, given the information he’s been gathering. Of course, if the king thought the bunch of you were in cahoots, he’d decapitate the poor, nervous lad in a heartbeat.”

That, Alex could understand.

“You were saying…?” he prompted, not wanting the old hippie to get too carried away with other thoughts.

“Ah, yes, where was I?” She paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Yes, backside-saving! How could I forget?” she chuckled. “So, Vincent came back just after poor wee Ellabell had her run-ins with the traps, but it wasn’t safe for Hadrian to come himself, otherwise he would have—he’s ever so fond of all of you. All of us are, you adorable cherubs!”

Alex’s heart skipped a beat. “Is he okay?”

“Who, Hadrian? Yes, right as rain! Ooh, what a right old mess you’ve made of your handsome face!” she cried, looking at Aamir. “You must allow me to have a look at that swelling before I go. And you, mademoiselle—something tells me you’re suffering beneath that stoic veneer of yours? Well, you can’t fool old Agatha, no indeed!” she added, swooping down to where Aamir and Natalie sat before they could say a word of protestation.

There were bottles of vibrant liquids and tiny boxes filled with herbs and powders all about her person, and she whipped them out after scrutinizing the pair’s injuries more closely. In a pestle and mortar that seemed to appear from nowhere, the old hippie crushed up a bit of this and a bit of that, dampening it with a drop or two from a few bottles. Once it was blended into a thick paste, she rubbed it on Aamir’s eye, and smoothed it over the cuts and bruises the two of them had obtained during their fight with the soldiers. She even forced Natalie to slather it on her swollen lip, with a warning not to lick it off or she might grow horns. Nobody was sure if the old woman was joking or not—even her cackle didn’t clarify anything.

Once that was done, she put the bottles and boxes away before holding out a single pill in the palm of her hand. She offered it to Natalie, who eyed it suspiciously.

“Swallow this, and that leg of yours will be good as new!” Agatha encouraged.

Tentatively, Natalie picked up the pill and placed it on the end of her tongue. With a grimace,