“They wouldn’t work,” Malory stated and earned a nod of approval from Rowena.

“You understand.”

“I think I do. If this spell . . . is it a spell?”

“That’s the simplest word for it,” Rowena agreed.

“If it’s to be broken, it has to be by us. Women. Mortal women. Using our brains, our wits and energies, our resources in our world. Otherwise, no key opens the box. Because . . . we’re the real keys. The answer’s in us.”

“You’re so close to where you need to be.” Emotions storming across her face, Rowena rose, laid her hands on Malory’s arms. “Closer than any have come before.”

“But not close enough, not yet. And half my time is gone. I need to ask you some questions. In private.”

“Hey, one for all here,” Dana reminded her. Malory sent her a silent plea. “Okay, okay. We’ll wait outside.”

“I’ll stay with you.” Flynn laid a hand on Malory’s shoulder, but she shrugged it off.

“I said this was private. I don’t want you here.”

His face went blank and cold. “Fine, then, I’ll get out of your way.”

With obvious regret, Rowena gave Moe a little nudge to send him along. She frowned at the sharp slam of the door behind Flynn. “Your man has a sensitive heart. More easily bruised than yours.”

“Is he my man?” Before Rowena could speak, Malory shook her head. “First things first. Why was I taken behind the Curtain?”

“He wanted to show you his power.”

“Who is he?”

Rowena hesitated, then when Pitte nodded, continued. “He is Kane, a sorcerer. The dark one.”

“The one in the shadows, the one I saw in my dream. The stealer of souls.”

“He showed himself to you so you would be frightened. There’s no need to frighten you unless you can succeed.”

“Why did he hurt Flynn?”

“Because you love him.”

“Do I?” Malory’s voice thickened with emotion. “Or have I been made to think I do? Is that just one more trick?”

“Ah.” Rowena let out a soft breath. “Perhaps you’re not as close as I thought. Don’t you know your own heart, Malory?”

“I’ve known him two weeks, and I feel as if my life will never be quite right if he’s not in it. But is it real? At the end of my four weeks, will I still feel that way?” She pressed a hand to her heart. “Or will it be taken away from me? Is it any worse to have your soul taken from you than your heart?”

“I think not, for one feeds the other. And I can’t give you the answer, because you already have it. If you choose to look.”

“Then tell me this. Will he be safe if I step away from him? If I close my heart to him, will he be safe?”

“You’d give him up to protect him?” Pitte asked.

“Yes.”

Thoughtful, he walked to the lacquered cabinet, opened it to take out a bottle of brandy. “And you’d tell him this?”