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

Before I have the chance to open my mouth again, a large black cloud billows open like a tear in reality. As it gets bigger and wider, a man in a meticulously press pinstripe suit steps out. The moment his feet crunch on the leaves in the ditch, the smoky portal collapses in on itself.

His timeworn face bears years of experience, and his dark hair and incredibly light-blue eyes flash around the space. It’s clear nothing about the scene surprises him. Instead, he quirks a dark eyebrow and raises his arms out wide. One by one the tiny orbs of light gravitate to him like magnets being called to their source.

When he has them all collected, he turns to Cat’s orange light. A wave of acknowledgement rolls through me and I shake my head. “No, not that one. You can’t have that one,” I tell him, concentrating hard and refusing to release it from my vicinity.

The man’s eyes lock with mine and a shiver rolls through my entire being. There’s something so familiar about his eyes, yet I can’t completely put my finger on why.

With a graceful movement, he walks closer to me, his gaze never leaving mine. Bending down, he leans in close to my ear and whispers, “I will be back, necromancer. Time is not on your side.”

As I turn to look him in the face, he’s gone—billowing away in a cloud of dark black smoke.

Blinking away my surprise, I return my gaze to Cat’s limp body. The color in Cat’s cheeks has faded and she’s taken on an ashen-gray complexion.

I can’t do this alone…

Suddenly, the answer becomes painfully clear. I know what I need to do—and where we need to do it. My eyes pop open and I stare at Dominic and Colt.

“We need to get Cat back to my house. Help me get her in the car,” I say, relying on my own instincts the way Colton had.

“She doesn’t—” Colt begins.

Dominic shakes his head. “Autumn’s right. We need to trust her.”

“You asked me to do this and I’m telling you what we need to do,” I say to Colton, determination settling in.

“But how do you know?” Colt cries. “What if the time it takes to get to your place makes it impossible to return her to me?”

“There isn’t time to discuss this. Quick, help me get her up,” I say, trying to grab hold of her legs.

Colt and Dominic spring into action, each taking a shoulder and hoisting her body up. Carefully, they place her across the back seat of Dominic’s car. He doesn’t even say anything about the blood soaking into the upholstery.

Taking a step back, I reach for the passenger door and hop inside. Dominic races to the driver’s seat and Colt slides in back, placing his sister’s head in his lap. He runs his fingertips over her forehead and tears begin to slide from his cheeks.

“We’re gonna fix this,” I say, looking over my shoulder at him.

Without a word, or even looking up, he nods.

Dominic speeds away from the scene so fast, smoke kicks up from the tires.

I keep my focus on Cat’s orb, which seems to be straying further and further from her body. As minutes pass by, her essence continues to disperse—like snowflakes beginning to drift from the density of its cloud.

“Almost there,” Dom says, twisting down the last road that brings us to my house.

Closing my eyes, I try to reach out to Cat’s essence with my thoughts.

Stay with us, Cat. Hang on… We’re almost ready… I’m getting us help…

Dominic practically drifts into my driveway, skidding to a stop on the cobblestones next to the front door. Before the vehicle is even turned off, Dom is out the door. He grabs hold of Cat’s feet and starts to gently pull her from Colton’s lap. Colt scoots with her, helping to maneuver her body out of the back seat until Dominic has enough leverage to grab hold of her. The two of them manage to balance her body and I race toward the front door, kicking it open wide to give them space.

As we enter the main hallway, Abigail’s ghost joins us, as if already sensing my impending request.

I’m going to need all the help I can get.

“Come with me. We need to get her downstairs,” I declare, practically running the hallway down to my bedroom. Despite having closed it earlier, the little doorway to the basement is flung wide open in acceptance of its offering.

Abigail is ready for us.

“This way,” I say, pointing to the stairwell.

Dominic and Colt carry her quickly; their footsteps assured and careful at the same time.

When we reach the bottom, I slide the small altar to the side of the room and drop to my knees.

Quickly, I scrawl the same pentacle I saw on the floor from the vision of Warren and Abigail. Flames ignite around the space, not attached to anything, but available as a source of energy and offering their own enchantment. They burn brightly, as if sensing the presence of magic, and maybe that’s truly all it is.

“Set her down over there for a minute,” I say, pointing to the spot under the stairs where the body was kept in the memory, or vision, Abigail offered to me.

The two of them do as I say.

“Colton, I need you to go to my kitchen and grab the salt. Find as much as you can and bring it back here—go!”

Without question, he turns on his heel, racing back up the stairs.

“Dominic, I need you to gather some of Cat’s blood. I don’t need much.”

His eyes widen, but he nods. “Be right back. I’ll grab something from your room to hold it in.”

Not waiting for a response, Dominic takes off running.

My eyes flit to Cat’s body in the corner, then to Abigail. She doesn’t say anything, but nods in acknowledgement.

A moment later, both Colton and Dominic race down the stairs, each of them carrying their items.