This airstrip was one of them, located in a large, overgrown field. No one lived nearby, and it was surrounded by a dense cluster of forest.

She called Sarah again. “I’ve got the place.”

“Tell me everything you can.”

Rapidly, Molly filled her in while she pushed the Volvo to a higher speed. It helped to have a destination in mind.

Sarah said, “Excellent. Have they fallen behind at all?”

She checked mentally. “A little. Not by much.”

“What’s your best guess?”

“I’ve still got only about fifteen minutes’ head start.”

“Go faster,” Sarah told her. “I’ll update the others. I love you.”

“I love you too.” She hung up.

Her phone rang again. She was going forty over the speed limit and couldn’t take her eyes off the road, so she answered without looking.

“Molly,” Josiah said. His voice was hoarse and gravelly. “Where are you?”

Her pulse leaped with gladness and surprise. “You got a phone. What are you doing up?”

“One of my coven woke me. We had two people watching the motel. They said you knocked out your police escort. They’d checked into another room and ran out in time to see you drive off. They tried to follow, but they lost you. What’s wrong?”

“An old friend wanted to get together, and I was stupid.” Using broad, quick strokes, she sketched everything in. “I can’t shake the spell, and I don’t dare stop until I get to the airfield.”

“I’m on my way. Keep your phone on and tuck it somewhere, like under a bra strap against your skin. It’ll give me a focal point until I get there.”

Pressing her phone hard against her ear, she listened to him breathing, oddly comforted by the sound. “Even if you break every land-speed record on the books, you’re not going to make it in time.”

“You don’t know that,” he said fiercely. “I’m coming. In the meantime, hide if you can. I can use our connection as a conduit to place some defensive spells on you.”

Biting her lip, she considered that. Much like medicines, spells often interacted with each other. Sarah called it relative contraindication. It was possible Josiah might do more harm than good if he happened to throw a defensive spell that counteracted any of the offensive spells she’d been practicing.

“Don’t throw any spells on me,” she told him. “But I’ll take any strength you and your coven are able to send my way.”

“I’ll give you everything I’ve got.” Lifting his voice away, he said to someone else, “Get Richard on the line. I need to talk to him.”

She was so focused on him she almost missed her exit off the highway. Signaling, she swerved right just in time and shot onto a two-lane country road. This one was winding, wet, and dark, and it forced her to slow down.