Page 56 of Sophie's Ruin

Celeste wasn’t alone. A young witch with thick red hair stood up from the sofa when I walked in. Her bright green eyes widened as she took me in.

“I’m not telling you,” Celeste said, also rising to her feet from the sofa.

“Damn it, witch, I need to know!” I demanded again, my deep voice booming in the small living room.

“Why? So you can go after her alone again? We were supposed to devise a plan?—”

“I have a plan. It is to save Sophie.”

“Seeing how you have returned without her, your plan is not working,” Celeste pointed out.

“Itwillwork. I just need to talk to her again. I’m the only one who can make her see reason.”

“And what if you don’t?” Celeste challenged.

“I will not even consider that possibility,” I bit out.

“Well, you should. Sometimes, they are too far gone and cannot be saved.”

They?My brows knitted in confusion.

“She will never be too far gone. I willalwaysbring her back.”

Celeste shook her head, her expression grim.

“You are as blinded by your love for her as she is by her love for you.”

My frown deepened. What Celeste was saying sounded a lot like she wanted me to give up on Sophie, and I would never give up on her.

“Just tell me where she is. Please.”

“No,” the witch said, unyielding. “Amelie and I are going to the village to gather a few more witches, and then we are going after Sophie. If we are able to bring her here, you will get a chance to try and convince her to see reason and accept our help.”

“She will not come willingly.”

“I know, that’s why I’m going to bring others with me.”

“So you can force her into submission?!” I raised my voice as my heart sank. I couldn’t bear the thought of them hurting Sophie…or worse.

“We’ll do what’s necessary.”

“No! Just…” I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. “Let me try one more time.”

“We can’t afford for you to try again. Her power is dark and dangerous. It has to be contained before it’s too late. The longer we wait, the more powerful she will become.”

“At least let me come with you,” I begged.

“No. Wait here and hope that we can bring her back,” Celeste said, her tone final.

She looked at the young witch then and nodded—a cue for them to leave. I stood frozen in place, feeling utterly powerless as Celeste disappeared from the living room. The other witch remained behind, and when our gazes locked, her emerald eyes were full of sympathy and understanding.

“She’s on the Durand Estate,” she whispered quickly before she glimmered out.

28

SOPHIE

The Tear pulsed on my chest, casting a pale-blue glow into the night around me as I stood before the Durand Estate, the mansion ominous and dark. My shadows had brought me here. Yvonne had not hunkered down somewhere as Emeric and Lena had done. She was waiting for me inside her clan home, and I couldn’t decide if I found that admirable or extremely foolish.