11

The truth would kill Diana, and most likely destroy the circle.

But what choice did he have?

Before Adam could form a thought, Cassie jumped in. "We found the spell which hurt my grandmother."

Diana folded her arms, her dark eyes flashing with suspicion. "You expect me to believe someone in the circle would hex her?"

"Of course not," Adam said, sensing Diana's disbelief and rising hostility. "But the trail led here."

Diana's eyebrows lifted. "You expect me to believe someone used a locater spell and it pointed to my book?"

"Exactly," Cassie said, ignoring Adam's warning glance. "Karin showed us the way."

"Of course she did," Diana said quietly, kicking at the floor in frustration. "First it was Jake's word, now it's Karin and her creepy brother?"

Cassie blanched at the mention of Jake, and Adam fought hard to stop from touching her. "It's not like that, Diana," Adam said carefully.

She directed her glare to Adam. "Then tell me what it's like, Adam."

"We're trying to help Jane. That's what we do, right?" His gentle tone was the one that always calmed her down, but the tense set of her jaw spoke volumes.

"Cut the crap, Adam. Tell me what's really going on."

Adam sighed. "I'm not sure I believe it myself, but..."

"Don't," Cassie said forcefully...only her lips weren't moving. Let me handle this.

He looked at her in wonderment, but all she offered was a tiny shrug. "We're not sure how it happened, Diana, but the inversion spell is in there."

Diana looked between them in confusion. "What's that mean?"

Cassie stepped forward. "Someone tried to make my grandmother forget..."

"But it backfired," Adam said.

Diana looked slightly mollified. "How so?"

Cassie's ragged sigh tore at Adam's heart. "It's destroying her mind. We may be too late to help her."

Diana's anger was long gone as she gathered Cassie into a hug. "I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me?"

Adam dared not look at Cassie when he said, "Because I knew how you'd react."

She cocked her head like she wasn't buying it. "Is that all?"

It was like Diana could see straight through him. "Yeah," he said, not meeting her eyes.

Diana looked at Cassie, obviously giving up on Adam as a lost cause. "Tell me how I can help. Maybe I can help you find out who did this."

Cassie hitched her fingers in her jean pockets. "That would be great, but we have a bigger problem."

Now it was Diana's turn to sigh. "Bigger than someone trying to kill your grandmother?"

Adam could almost feel dark forces gathering all around them. When Cassie didn't answer immediately, he answered for her. "Yeah. Can't you feel him?"

Diana looked at him like he was crazy. "Him?"

Cassie pointed to the shadows in the far corner of the loft. "John Blackwell is alive...more or less."