“I thought—” I stop, shame rising hot in my cheeks. I’d thought if I defeated him, I’d be a hero. That there’d be no reason for me to stay in that motel any longer and I could go back to Ravenfall.

That maybe I could stay.

Anna’s expression softens, and I wonder if she knows what I’m thinking without asking. She might not be telepathic, but she’s gotten to know me more over the last couple weeks than anyone has in a long time besides my family.

“It wasn’t you, Colin,” she says gently. “You didn’t kill the Jabberwocky.”

“What?” I listen in shock as she explains about Gran and the wraith that possessed her, how Fin never left the Otherworld after Liam wounded him.

“Kaden killed the Jabberwocky,” Anna finishes solemnly. “Fin never took control of you. It was all a trick to get you out of the house so his wraiths could get to you. The more Ravens they kill, the weaker the Shield will be on Samhain, and the easier it’ll be for Fin to destroy it.”

Elaine gives me an apologetic smile in the rearview mirror. “We’re so sorry, Colin. We’re so used to taking everything my mother says as scripture that we got ahead of ourselves. We’re glad to have you back.”

It wasn’t me. I wasn’t the problem.

I slump in my seat, suddenly boneless, and my next breath feels like the first in years. As the warmth and woodsmoke scent of the car hit me, so does the relief. It sweeps through me, carrying away the adrenaline and fear that drove me into that parking lot.

“What about my powers?” I ask. “At the costume shop—”

“That was my fault.” Anna bows her head. “I wanted to draw something in your journal for you, but it locked me out. I panicked and thought if I gave it back to you, it’d be fine, but I guess it messed with your connection. I’m sorry.”

“Anna,” Elaine chastises, and she winces.

That was why I hadn’t been able to open the journal. I hadn’t failed at using my powers at all, but I’d been so quick to doubt myself, I didn’t stop to think of other possibilities.

I let out a heavy sigh of relief. “It’s okay,” I say, because it is. “It’s fixed now, and you were only trying to help.”

She turns and smiles at me in the rearview mirror. “So were you.”

She means leaving and trying to face Fin on my own. Both of us wanted to do something useful, to help, but we’d tried to do it alone when we should have leaned on each other.

I focus on that thought as we trace our way back to Ravenfall and up the long, forest-lined drive to the mismatched house.

Max is waiting for us on the porch.