Then I spotted a small piece of paper about the size of a postcard. I snatched it off his pillow and grinned at the sight of his elegant handwriting. My pulse fluttered. I bit my bottom lip and read his words that said ‘Rest. Your dogs wanted out, so I am taking them. Be right back.’

A giddy little giggle bubbled up my throat. I squealed and kicked the blankets off me before I jumped to my feet. I’d been sleeping in my clothes the last few days to ensure I wouldn’t be caught fighting our enemies in my pajamas, but I still felt the need to put fresh clothes on. I made quick work of swapping out my black jeans and sweater for dark-blue jeans and a navy-blue sweatshirt. Then I crawled back in bed and pulled the sheets that smelled like him up and over my head until I was in a cocoon. My heart was in a happy little bubble and that scared me.

And then my rune stone bracelet flashed in a pink wave. Out of sheer habit, I wrapped my fingers around the bracelet. Everest’s face filled my thoughts immediately. Lights and colors flashed in my eyes and then all of a sudden, I stood in the backyard of Coven Headquarters. All three of my dogs were running and playing with Olli and Squishy. That black iron fence Kessler had put up around the house was clutch. Now they could run loose and wild while remaining safely home. Albert wasn’t with them, but I figured he wasn’t leaving Braison’s side ever again. I smiled and watched them all play. Since we got here to Eden, my dogs had been so beyond themselves happy that they were barely with me. I kept finding them in other bedrooms. They seemed to want to be with Olli and Squishy at all times, and I was just happy they were happy.

I took a deep breath, and that warm cinnamon scent of Everest wrapped around me. I wasn’t really out here. I knew that. I knew this was an astral projection, and not only because I knew I hadn’t walked out here . . . but also because I couldn’t feel anything. I’d been paying attention to the details for when I was just projecting and when I somehow sent my whole body to a new place. The waning gibbous moon—-or half—-moon as I liked to call it—-shined its light down on me without a cloud in sight, and yet I had no shadow when I should have. The cool breeze that couldn’t decide if it was winter or spring should have made me shiver, yet I only saw it brush through the tree branches.

So why am I here, stones?

“There you are,” Saber’s voice sliced through the silence of the night.