Page 57 of Midnight Sun
Peter tugs at his wrist, and Jamie stumbles after him. The smell is everywhere, making a headache form behind Jamie’s temples. Jamie fumbles for his mobile, his fingers slipping uncooperatively over the screen. Somehow he’s sure he can’t let Peter see what he’s doing. He might be making a horrible mistake, but he can’t help himself. He hits send before his senses cloud over.
Chapter 14
Thorfinn
Finnfumbleswithhistie, growling in frustration. The stupid thing just won’t stay in place.
“Jamie, could you please help me to get this thrice be damned tie in place?” he calls. No answer. Jamie is probably busy getting changed after Finn ruined his suit. Finn saunters into the bedroom. “Jamie?”
A wave of unease washes away the warm afterglow Finn has been basking in, leaving ice-cold dread in its wake. The bedroom is empty, as are the living room and kitchen. Jamie is nowhere to be found. Adrenaline floods Finn’s veins. Where could Jamie have gone? And why? He couldn’t have been taken against his will without Finn noticing, could he?
Finn dials Jamie’s number, but the call goes directly to voicemail. Shit. He calls Dagur next. His brother picks up on the second ring.
“Finn?”
“Jamie has vanished,” Finn says without preamble. “We were getting ready for a party, but now he’s gone without a trace, and–”
“Calm down,” Dagur rumbles. “We’re going to find him. Did you try to call him?”
“His phone goes straight to voicemail.”
“Did he take his keys with him? His wallet?”
Finn didn’t think about looking for these items before. “Wait a minute, I need to check.” Finn rushes into the hallway. “They’re gone.”
Finn’s heart sinks. Jamie wouldn’t just leave him without a word, would he?
“Breathe, Finn,” Dagur says. “Did you sense anything out of the ordinary?”
“Nothing.” Finn slams his fist against the wall in frustration. “Does that mean he just left?”
“It means someone lured him away.”
Finn’s head is spinning. “But Edmonton is dead.”
“His fingerprints weren’t on the photo.”
“An accomplice?” Finn asks.
“Or the real culprit all along.”
“Shit. I need to find him.”
“I’ll contact my colleagues in Reykjavík. They can keep their eyes open for Jamie.”
"That's not enough," Finn grits out. "I'm going to look for him myself. Let me know when you find something."
He hangs up in the midst of Dagur’s goodbye. Finn is already running down the stairs to the weapons cabinet where he usually stashes his swords. Now it also contains the spell book. It doesn’t take Finn long to find the right page.The Ritual of Love.He starts to read.
Finn feels physically sick with worry. But he has to concentrate on finding Jamie. Even if most of the text is obscure to Finn, he still realizes that the spell book describes in great detail a ritual that can make an unwilling person fall in love with the caster. It lists all the items necessary to conduct the ritual, candles and trinkets, and a summoning circle made of black stone. Finn hesitates.
He remembers visiting the ruins at Selatangar with his brother and sister when they were teenagers. A desolate lava field littered with the remains of hovels made of black stone, most of them barren circles, the roofs long gone. Could this be the reason why the boy who tried to pick Jamie up at the airport was instructed to bring him there? Could the stalker be trying to get Jamie there right now?
Finn frantically scrolls through the pictures he has taken to find the one showing the boy’s number.
His phone pings before he can dial.
Jamie has shared his live location with you.