‘I need to find the other Order witches. We’re going to try to triangulate our magic to see if we can locate any power surges in the area. It’s a long shot but we have to try something.’ The Ipsissimus passed a hand over his eyes. ‘This is so fucked up.’

Startled by his swearing, I flashed him a smile. ‘Hey, it’ll be fine. We’ll find out who the necromancer is and turn them into a corpse long before I need this. No problemo.’

He didn’t smile back. ‘I’m counting on you.’ He paused. ‘We all are.’

Chapter Nineteen

I gave myself a moment after the Ipsissimus left and then, telling myself that it was only because I had to save the world, I made my way outside. Both Brutus and Winter were there, seemingly in the middle of some kind of argument.

‘She needs peace, Brutus. She needs to sleep.’

‘Food.’

‘I’ll get you food. Just let me check on Ivy and then I’ll find you some tuna or something.’

Brutus yawned and raised a paw in my direction. ‘Food.’

I shrugged at him. ‘I don’t have any. I’d suggest you go to your new friend for some but I suppose he’s still being interrogated.’

Winter turned in surprise then gave an irritated frown when he saw me. ‘You need to lie down. I can handle the investigation.’

I smiled at him. ‘I’m not going to let you steal all the glory, buster. Not after all this work.’

He wasn’t appeased by my light-hearted answer. ‘I won’t have you collapsing on me, Ivy. You look bloody awful.’

‘Well, thank you very much.’

He gritted his teeth. ‘It’s not a criticism.’

I crossed my arms. ‘It sounded like it.’ I couldn’t let Winter bundle me back off to bed. Not now. ‘You keep complaining that I’m too lazy. Now I’m taking action and you’re still complaining. I can’t win.’

He drew in a breath as if unsure of himself. ‘I’m worried about you.’

I waved an airy hand around, hoping I didn’t look as nauseous or exhausted as I felt. ‘I’m absolutely fine.’ I pulled my shoulders back. ‘We can’t hang around. We have to find who’s behind this.’

Winter’s eyes narrowed. ‘You must have hit your head. This definitely isn’t the Ivy Wilde I know.’ I let out a fake laugh, which only served to increase Winter’s suspicions. ‘What’s going on, Ivy? What exactly did the Ipsissimus want?’

I had a ready-made answer – and one which I was sure would prevent Winter from probing further. ‘He asked me to join the Order. Said that I’d done enough to prove myself and that I’d be welcomed in with open arms. I wouldn’t even have to begin at Neophyte again.’

He stared. ‘And you want to do this? I thought you were determined not to go near the Order with a barge pole.’

‘I am. And that’s exactly what I told him. He said that if I helped you find the necromancer and put a stop to his crimes, he would leave me in peace.’