“That must be it. I’ll thank her.”
Her stare was heavy. Evaluating. “There’s more to your story. Why were you of all people protecting the town sentries? That is not a job for novices.”
“I figured that’s why I’d try. Oscar and his men wouldn’t believe a rookie could pull it off.”
“And did you get to them all? I left when Liberty arrived. She has a way of making life difficult.”
I laughed. “She does. As for pulling it off, only time will tell. Like you say, I’m a novice. At best, it’s a short-term solution. I hope I slowed the men down, at least.”
She came another step closer, once more walking through the ghost. Far from being frustrated, Skye doubled down, belly to the floor.
“I find you interesting, Janelle. That’s why I followed you around tonight.” She tipped her head. “I think I’ll test you.”
I held my hands toward her, palms up. “No thanks. I fail myself. Never did well in school.”
Gildena tried to get closer and failed, relentlessly pushed back by a cold front. “What on earth…? Ah, yes. Dog, show yourself.”
Bixby did as ordered and walked over to my feet. I scooped him up and felt instantly better. “Just let us go, Gildena. You know I have Cassie’s best interests at heart.”
“I can’t do that now, can I? You know too much.”
“I know how to keep a secret. Kept mine for a decade.”
“Even if I trusted you, I don’t trust the Seagrave chatterbox. Plus, it would only be a matter of time before your mom or cousin got into your head. The only bit of Angus’s mischief I actually endorsed was locking up Liberty.” Her head tipped again. “Is it true you got her out?”
I shook my head. “All credit goes to three good dogs.”
Once more she advanced through Skye. “I don’t believe you. And you’ll prove what you’ve got when I take—”
“You won’t take my dog. I’ll happily die first.”
“Oh, I figured. You dog people. I’ll take something less valuable and considerably more irritating.” She crooked her fingers a few times in a summons.
Marli came out from behind me and started walking stiffly toward Gildena. “Janelle?” she said. “What’s happening? I can’t stop.”
Gildena laughed. “Exactly, Seagrave spawn. You’re my puppet and I prefer them silent, so think about your last words carefully.”
Now I had to stop Gildena, because my only plan relied on Marli being able to use her voice.
I ran forward and caught Marli around the middle. “Leave her alone. This is abuse, plain and simple. You’re no better than your deadbeat husband.”
She stopped. And time seemed to stop, too, with a silence heavier than I’d ever known.
And then… “What did you say?”
I slid in front of Marli and shoved her back with all my might. She fell over, taking a couple of reference chairs down with her. “Here’s your last word, Marli,” I whispered fiercely, “Call out the word Skye. As loud as you can. Now.”
Marli’s eyes had glazed and I didn’t think she could get it together. But then she screamed out the name. The ghost dog leapt toward her and in the same moment, I pulled hard mentally. Mid-leap, Skye transformed from ghost to living dog. She landed beside Marli and turned to Gildena, hackles high and fangs bared.
Gildena took a few steps back, eyebrows soaring. “How did you do that?”
“Just good with dogs. It’s my one talent.”
“Well, if that’s it, I’m underwhelmed,” she said, this time backing away from the real border collie. “Time to end this demonstration. Put your wiener dog down. No need for him to die, too. I’ll take the puppet first, and then you.”
I did as she said, and Bixby’s voice seemed far away. My head was an echo chamber, completely devoid of ideas. “Janelle, don’t make me bite you, too. You know what to do. And remember, it’s all about intent.”
When Gildena raised her hand to hurl a curse at Marli, I raised mine as well. The special recipe she concocted for Angus had been etched into my neural pathways and refreshed minutes ago.
At the last moment, she noticed my posture and shifted her aim. It was coming for me.
Did I have enough energy left to defend Marli, the dogs and myself?
I pulled everything I had from my core and then pushed the feeling of explosive—corrosive—power to my fingertips. Drawing my hand back even more, I pictured that force stopping Gildena.
Then I just… let go.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Something hit me hard and knocked me down. I thought it was Gildena’s curse until the black-and-white dog bounced off my chest. Meanwhile, a shelf went over with a thunderous crash that shook the floor. It sounded like the rest followed like dominos. The bookstacks had taken the worst of her hit.
Propping myself up on one elbow, I saw Gildena flat on her back with Skye on top of her.
“Bixby, is she—?”
“Not dead,” he said. “Would that dog be smiling like a fool if she were?”
“Maybe. We just met.”
