“I do, yes.” I frowned as she led me around the corner and into another room full of potion bottles and vials and lots of ingredients. “Are you psychic—Whoa, what is this room?”

“No, I’ve just lived a long time.” Myrtle gestured around us. “This is the Coven’s private apothecary. Where we, they, brew potions and such for whatever needs they have.”

My eyebrows rose. “I have to make potions.”

“Yes, you do. But that is not why you’re here now.” She sat on a wooden stool and began filling a little vial with stuff. “Tell me.”

“Deacon suggested I come down and talk to you. Cooper is going to rummage through my dreams and see if he can make sense of some things. Deacon suggested you give me something for sleep.”

“The Devil understands the subconscious mind better than anyone else.” Myrtle smiled. “I actually had a whole conversation with Deacon in my dream before Tegan called for that meeting, which is why I told her to allow him to be present. And yes, Deacon has been hiding in the shadows of your dreams since you got here. He’s been trying to sort them out too.”

I gasped. “Did he?”

She shook her head. “There are things happening in your mind that I have not seen before, but that does not mean we need worry. Everest will have more answers for us.”

I groaned. “I need him here with us. I can’t handle knowing he’s over there in danger at every moment.”

Myrtle smirked. “Your Everest is not in danger at every moment. Sometimes I wonder who is more powerful, Everest or Tegan. They are equally matched in their trickery.”

“Everest is that powerful?”

“Yes, dear. He is in control and knows how to protect himself . . . and how to attain the freedom he so desperately wants when the time is right.” She stood up and walked over to me, then cupped my face in such a motherly gesture. “Everest is only in danger when you are, for that is when he becomes unstable. If you want to keep him safe, try to remain out of Avolire or away from Lilith’s creations. Here, drink this.”

I took the vial from her hand and chugged it, barely tasting the vanilla flavor. “Because he worries about my safety.”

She nodded. “I know you want him out of there but be patient. You have tasks ahead of you that do not require going into enemy lands. Handle those. That prophecy says release the son, betray the vice. Everest is coming to our side, finally, so it is our job to prepare for his arrival, for it will be ugly once that declaration is made.”

A yawn ripped through my body. I shook it off. “Whoa, that’s a potion all right.”