His hand twitched, and I took it in mine.

“Did you hear that? The ambulance is on its way. They’ll heal you right up, and I swear I’ll kill whoever did this.”

“Boys,” he managed to get out. “Protect them.”

“I will.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

I took a frantic glance around. Where the hell were his kids?

“You guys can come out now.” I closed my eyes when there was nothing but silence. I’d terrified them a few hours earlier, and now their dad was dying in front of them.

“I know I scared you today, but I’m here to help. Your dad wants me to look after you.”

I returned my attention to Gary. Pride shone in his dull eyes. He’d instructed them to hide, and they were doing exactly as he’d said. He flicked his eyes to my left and I peered between the shelves lying on the floor.

The store was a wreck. Someone had almost killed Gary, and they’d ransacked his store. I turned back to Gary. His face was so broken it was almost impossible to recognize him. But his terror was clear. My instincts roared at me.

I needed to get the kids out.

I grabbed my phone, hung up on the operator, and called my sister.

“Evie. I need you to get to Gary’s now. Do you know where it is?”

“Next to that tattoo parlor everyone loves, right?”

“Yeah. I need you to take his kids and keep them safe for me. Can you do that?”

I knew she could. Despite my hatred of the witches, they’d always protect children.

“Of course. I’ll be right there.”

I hung up, and a tear slid from Gary’s eye as he stared silently at me.

“Who did this to you?”

He opened his mouth, and his eyes rolled back in his head as he passed out. Fuck. I turned and crouched next to the shelves in the direction he’d flicked his eyes.

Nothing. For a couple of kids who were like hurricanes every time I entered this store, they were now so quiet it was as if they weren’t here.

I cracked my shield and sent out a tiny tendril of power. There. In the corner of the store. I picked my way over the weapons and spells that littered the ground, ducking around the few shelves that were still standing.

Nothing.

I frowned. “Are you boys invisible?”

A tiny squeak, followed by a hushed ‘shhh.’

They were in the wall somehow. I ran my fingers over it, looking for some kind of trigger. Then I cracked my shields again.

It was warded. Heavily. Gary had paid a pretty penny for such a good ward. I didn’t have time to hesitate. I pulled out my Nim Cub, sliced my arm, and lifted my hand.