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

The orange orb merges with this, causing the vortex to glow of its own accord in a bright blue and orange light.

In the corner, Cat’s body erupts in an eerie, almost otherworldly glow, as a wispy white and peach-colored energy encircles back and forth around her, like some sort of energetic cocoon.

“Good. This is good. Now, it is of critical importance that you should use your athame to direct her raised life force back into her body,” Abigail says, pointing to the knife still clutched in Colton’s hand.

Nodding, I turn to him. “Colt, the knife.” I flip my hand over, flicking my fingertips with my request.

He places the knife in my outstretched palm, and I point it toward the vortex of blood and light. Under my breath, I whisper, “Please, please work.”

The blood heeds my command, reaching to the tip of the knife until it almost comes into contact with the steel. Flicking my wrist, I aim the vortex of blood and light toward Cat’s body on the floor beneath the stairs.

It rushes forth, shooting through the open space between Colt and me, and straight at Cat’s body. Unlike the vision Abigail showed me, where the body was covered in a white sheet, Cat’s mangled vessel rests on the floor unhindered. The blood vortex enters her slightly agape mouth and instantly the wispy white and peach veil of energy transforms into a cocoon of blood red.

The three of us stand slack-jawed as we take in the scene unfolding before us.

“Oh my god,” Dominic whispers, taking a step backward. “This is so friggin’ awesome.”

“Let’s just hope it works,” I mutter, refusing to look away.

The crimson glowing cocoon that is Cat’s body continues to radiate until the entire room shifts to a blinding orange light. Then, just as abruptly as it began, it pulls back like an explosion in reverse, as the energy and light pulls entirely into her body. Like a candle snuffed out, the light disappears.

“Is anything happening?” Colt asks, craning around to get a better view. “Is she…”

I shake my head, turning to Abigail. “I don’t know?”

Abigail doesn’t say a word; instead, she simply holds up a finger.

“Give it time,” Dad offers, entering the basement from the final step. He was so quiet, I didn’t even realize he had arrived.

The space falls eerily silent; the only sound permeating the stillness is our ragged breaths as we practically hold them in.

“It doesn’t look like—” Colton begins.

Suddenly, Cat’s chest begins to rise and fall. Then, cracking and pops reverberate off the stone walls, as if her broken bones are mending themselves. Her right arm angles itself backward, then twists around, until she places her hand on her torso.

“Holy shit,” Dominic mutters under his breath. “It’s like watching a horror movie, but in real life.”

“Let’s hope that’s not how this ends,” I say, unable to look away from the scene.

Please don’t be a zombie, or a revenant…whatever.

Sputtering out blood and bile, Cat rolls over, clutching at the dirt on the floor.

Colton races for his sister. “Thank you, thank you, Autumn, you have no idea…” his words trail off as he drops to his knees and takes Cat in his arms. Despite the bloody mess, he clutches her tightly, rocking back and forth.

My own desperate grief washes away, replaced instead by relief—and joy.

I did it.

We—did it. Cat’s alive.

Abigail catches my eye, a slow smile spreading across her lips. She nods as if reading my mind.

Leaving the circle, I stand behind Colton and Cat for a few moments, allowing the two of them some time. Dominic also hangs back, his eyes wide, but there’s more to it than that, I think. He knew I could do this, and it was his way of proving it to me, too.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, finally kneeling down beside Cat.

“I—” Cat begins, then clears her throat.

“Don’t talk if it hurts, it’s okay. We’re here,” Colt offers. “You need some time to heal.”

She swallows hard, nodding to him. Closing her eyes, she leans into his chest.

Colton’s eyes flit to me. “Autumn, how does this work? Will she need the hospital?”

I shrug. “I don’t honestly know.” I turn to Dad, hoping he’ll have some answers.

“She’ll need rest. Lots and lots of rest,” he says, raising his eyebrows knowingly.

The look on his face prompts my mind to flash back to my childhood memories of this place. Being locked in my room… Suddenly, it all makes sense. It wasn’t to keep me from going anywhere. It was so I could heal.

Cat swallows hard, eyeing each of us. She finally manages to say, “Why are we here? What…happened?”

“Do you remember anything, Cat?” Dominic asks, finally risking to edge nearer.

Cat shakes her head. “Not really. I remember—” her eyes go distant as she tries to recall, “—I remember driving out to the trails, but…”

“Something ran out in front of us. Do you remember?” Colt whispers.

Cat shakes her head. “No, I don’t.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he says, shaking his head and pulling her close again. “I’m so glad you’re back. I thought I’d lost you…”

Cat closes her eyes again, allowing her head to rise and fall with the inhalations of her twin brother.

“You did good,” Dad says, walking up behind me.

Taking a deep breath, I stand up to give the twins some space.

“I didn’t know I had that in me…” I whisper, walking to the other side of the room.

“There’s so much in our history, Autumn. Our legacy has always been shrouded by secrets, but I didn’t want to inundate you. Not as a child, and certainly not when I’d just gotten you back to the manor. But it’s time that you learn everything…” he says, his voice trailing off. “You know, when you returned to us, all your mother and I wanted in the whole world was for you to have a normal life after everything. More than anything, that’s what I wanted for you, because I know what kind of toll this gift can take.”

I glance up.

“We can talk more about it