24

Karin received another call from Rob later that morning. "I have it."

"Good. When can I expect you?"

"Sometime tonight. But don't wait up for me."

She smiled to herself. "Wouldn't think of it. By the way, have you heard from Rissa?"

"Not recently, why?"

This was bad. "She called a few days ago, and wasn't herself. I think Blackwell's shade was driving."

Rissa was far weaker than the two of them. "Then she has no chance. Did you look for her?"

"Of course! She was nowhere to be found, and she didn't show up for work."

"So where is she? Aren't you supposed to see everything?" Rob's faintly mocking tone failed to raise her ire.

"Not with those close to me."

"Doesn't take a psychic to know how this will unfold, K."

Karin reached for her coffee before putting it down when a wave of nausea hit her. "Should I call the police?"

Rob made a rude noise. "Surely you jest. Even if they had half a clue, we can't draw attention to this."

He was right. "Then we'll use a locater spell."

"Do those ever work?"

Karin suddenly remembered why she disliked her brother. "I suppose you have a better idea?"

His laugh was jarring. "Not at the moment. But let me think on it."

"You do that," Karin said tartly, before clicking off her phone and tossing it into her bag. With a sigh, she got to her feet before her stomach twisted violently and sent her heaving lunch into the trash.

It felt like the longest day of her life, and by the time the final bell rang, Cassie was ready to curl up and sleep forever. She dodged Adam by staying after school to help Sally prepare for an upcoming fundraiser. They talked quietly as they planned, and the sun was setting by the time Cassie left school. The parking lot was empty, which was just how she liked it.

Her time with Adam had been extraordinary, but it also scared her. She'd nearly lost control with him, and she couldn't afford to do that. There were too many unanswered questions, and immersing herself in a relationship would be a distraction. Not that she thought of Adam that way, but he was passionate to his very core. They'd burn like a supernova, and incinerate everyone around them. The Circle might be bound, but it seemed to have little effect on the energy between her and Adam. As he'd twined and twisted his lovely, elegant body around her, light bulbs had popped and crystals had shattered in the chandelier. At that moment, they were close to the edge, until that moment when she had pulled back.

And now she feared she must retreat even further, if only to give herself some time. She'd always been a loner, and even though she'd had her share of hook-ups, none of them had ever amounted to anything. This time was different, and she wanted it to matter. She also didn't want to rush things, even if her traitorous libido told her to jump him.

She drove home slowly, and her heart broke when she Adam's truck parked up front. He had the cabin light on and was obviously studying as he waited, so intent in his reading that he didn't see her right away. She was halfway out of her car before he snapped to attention and ran up to her. "Are you OK? I was worried."

He leaned in to kiss her and she turned her face aside. "I can't do this right now."

His gorgeous smile faded. "I don't understand, Cassie. Tell me what's wrong."

Cassie gulped as raw emotion closed her throat. "Nothing...everything."

"Is this about Jake?" The uncertainty in his voice nearly did her in.

She shook her head. "It's about me, Adam. I need to learn what it means to be a Balcoin, and what that entails for the Circle. With all that's happened, I'm not sure I can focus on anything else right now."

Adam's eyes looked thoughtful, shuttered slightly by his luxuriant lashes. "Let me help you, Cassie."

"Only if I ask for it, OK?"

His hand touched her shoulder. "You're not in this alone."

Cassie covered his hand with hers and squeezed slightly. "Thanks." She saw that her grandmother was home and added, "I should probably go in. See you later at the house?"

His face fell. "Sure. Maybe we can drive there together."

Her only response was a nod as she moved swiftly up the walk to check on Jane, whose rare appearance at this hour meant she hadn't reported in to work. That spelled trouble, and whatever Rob Balcoin planned on doing better happen soon, or it would be too late.