I’m not a fan of Thane’s indirect answers, but I’m also not interested in talking any more for fear of being questioned, so I sit quietly, unable to relax in the slick leather seat. The only sound in the cab is from air blowing through the vents. It hits me in one continuous stream, freezing patches of skin. Any other time, I might reach up to close the vent or turn it away from me, but the chill blast gives me something to train my thoughts on rather than the scenario that might play out if we fail to find Lily’s soul before it’s exchanged with someone else’s.

Thane isn’t lying when he says we aren’t going far. He pulls left onto Main and drives about half a mile out of town before turning down a slim, makeshift road crowded with trees and brush. I’m not prepared for the fact that it leads to a cemetery. My body’s already reacting to the energy suck straight ahead. It’s like my soul wants to come out of my body, and my heart throbs sickly in my chest. I hate cemeteries.

“What are we doing here?”

“We have an appointment.”

“In the cemetery?” My voice sounds shrill in my ears.

Thane gets out of the car, and I scramble after him. If there’s one thing I hate more than graveyards, it’s being alone in them.

I hurry to catch up with him. “You never said who we were meeting here!”

“We’re meeting a witch,” he says.

“A witch?” I try not to let my voice rise, but I’m not successful. Thane looks amused. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Obviously because of the way you just reacted.”

“How is a witch supposed to help us find Lily?”

“They are just as connected with the dead as you are and even more capable of finding a soul. Besides, she’s the only witch I trust, so we’re going to use her.”

“What’s this witch’s name?”

“A name won’t help your prejudices,” he says.

“I’m not…prejudiced!”

Thane gives me the side-eye.

“Okay, I guess I am a little prejudiced, but you can’t blame me. The only witches I’ve ever seen are in movies.”

A small smile graces his lips. “Trust me, this witch wouldn’t waste time with threats and flying monkeys. She would have poisoned you within seconds of seeing you.”

“That’s not magic. That’s murder.”

“Who said there is a difference?”

“If you’re trying to make me feel better, you’re doing a miserable job.”

“We’ve established that I’m not the warm and fuzzy type. If you want this sugarcoated, you’ll have to talk to Shy.”

“I think we already established that I don’t trust Shy.”