A Book of Spirits and Thieves (Spirits and Thieves #1)(98)

Her eyes widened. He knew she believed him.

Valoria had a hand in his true birth mother’s death. And Maddox knew with a deep certainty that he would have a hand in Valoria’s.

Just as he was ready to unleash the remaining darkness inside him and crush her throat completely, she turned into water before his eyes. Her liquid form splashed to the ground, breaking free of his mental grip before it gained speed and gathered itself up into a funnel and disappeared into the sky.

“Maddox!” Becca screamed.

He whipped around. Becca had been able to dodge the monstrous spirit while he’d been occupied with Valoria, but it had finally cornered her.

He searched the ground for the ring but couldn’t see it anywhere.

“Curse it, I need something silver,” he growled. “Now.”

The book lay on the ground next to the pulsing gate of shadows. He ran to it, stared down at the bronze hawk on the cover, and held it up in front of him like a shield.

“Spirit! I summon you to me,” he snarled. “Get away from her right now.”

The mutated spirit froze. With a screeching, deafening roar, it flew toward Maddox in a single stream of darkness, then crashed into the book’s front cover, disappearing into the metallic hawk.

“So it does work with more than just silver,” Maddox muttered to himself. “That’s good to know.”

Now what?

Better to be safe than sorry, he thought, then hurled the heavy book into the central eye of the gateway. As it hurtled through, the shadows swirled faster, growing smaller and smaller until what remained of the stolen magic broke free from the wheel and returned to Maddox like an obedient pet ghost.

Maddox ran toward Barnabas and pulled him from the mud pit just before he went under completely. Together with Barnabas, who was coated up to his neck in mud, they helped free Sienna and Camilla. The sisters embraced, sobbing in each other’s arms.

“Maddox,” Barnabas began, panting from the effort. “We must speak.”

“Agreed. But hold that thought.” Maddox turned. “Becca, come here.”

She was in front of him in a heartbeat, her face aglow with both horror and relief. “That was incredible,” she said. “I’m so proud of you!”

“Thank you,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Thank you so much for believing in me.”

Her smile was so bright that it made him ache. “Anytime.”

“I have a gift for you.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Really? What?”

He held out his hand. A swirl of shadows, like a tiny storm cloud, hovered over his palm.

Becca’s gaze snapped to his. “But the gateway closed. I saw it.”

He shook his head. “That gateway wasn’t for you. I believe this is enough magic to send you back to your home, but I can’t hold on to it for long.”

Her blue eyes, now filled with pain, met his. “I wish I could have more time with you.”

“Me too.”

But I have to let you go.

A shimmering tear slipped down her cheek. “I’m going to miss you so much. I’ll never forget you, Maddox. Never.”

His throat was so tight it hurt to speak. “Hurry, Becca. I can’t hold on to it for much longer.”

She nodded and pressed her hand against his.

His gaze snapped up to hers in shock. He could feel her hand in his, warm and real. Flesh and blood.

“What is this?” she asked, breathless.

A smile curled up the corner of his mouth. “Magic.”

He brought his other hand to the nape of her neck, beneath her silky braid, and pressed his lips against hers, breathing her in. Tasting her mouth, which was even sweeter than he’d imagined it would be.

And suddenly, as quickly as her earthly form had materialized, it was gone. His arms were empty, and he opened his stinging eyes to confirm it.

“She’s gone,” he whispered hoarsely.

Barnabas gently clasped his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“She . . . she needed to go.” He tried to nod, to remind himself this was the only truth there could be. “This isn’t her real home.”

“Doesn’t make it any easier.”

No, it definitely didn’t, he thought, his heart a lead weight in his chest.

“Just so you know,” Barnabas said after a lengthy silence between them, “I loved your mother. I loved her with all my heart and soul. I would have done anything to save her. When I lost her, I focused on trying to keep you safe. Part of that involved me having to go into hiding, so I found a place for you where I thought you’d be taken care of and grow up to be happy. I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry for what? For wanting me to be safe and happy?” Maddox shook his head. “Don’t apologize for that.”

“It didn’t work out the way I wanted it to. I’ll understand if you never want to see me again.”

“That would probably be the wisest decision. You’re a horrible influence.”

“Yes.” Barnabas nodded solemnly. “Yes, I am.”

Maddox knew he needed something substantial to take his mind off the fact that he’d just lost the girl he loved. A girl he’d never see again.

No, he thought fiercely. One day, I swear I will find you again, Becca Hatcher. I believe in happy endings, just like you do.