Chapter 34
My knees buckle as the weight of Gazannol’s words hit me. Aria’s there to catch me, despite everything I’ve put her through tonight.
“I—I thought you were behind it all,” I stammer. “I was so sure.”
I took a psychology elective in school and read about a phenomenon called confirmation bias in my textbook.
People have a tendency at times to interpret information in a way that supports their existing theory.
All the Elders were so sure that the Hightowers were nothing but trouble, so I searched for clues that would confirm their suspicions.
When all along, mortals were the ones who’d declared war on our coven.
Aria hoists me to my feet. “You didn’t know.” For the first time, there’s a warmth in her eyes. “But the people responsible are still out there.”
And they have Orion and Joelle.
I grab my phone and dial Orion’s number. It rings and rings. When I call Joelle, the line goes straight to voicemail. I text them both, but I already know they won’t—or can’t—respond.
“I don’t even know who it could be…” I trail off as Mike Dupree’s lapel pin comes roaring to the forefront of my mind.
“Aria, does your family’s crest look like this?” I pull up the photo of my drawing and describe what I saw in my scrying mirror.
“It’s very close,” she says. “But our family bird is the raven, not the hawk, and our crest is black, not maroon. It’s not ours.”
The scrying mirror didn’t falter. I asked who was responsible, and it told me loud and clear.
I wasn’t seeing the Hightowers’ crest. Everything clicks into place.
To my knowledge, most of the victims had one thing in common: They ate baked goods right before they were sickened.
And what is Mike Dupree’s latest real estate endeavor? A partnership with Sweet Dreams Bakery.
“If someone were to bake the demon’s blood into food and feed it to people, what would happen?”
Aria’s eyes widen. “Nothing good, that’s for sure.”
Mike Dupree is behind it all. He really would stoop that low to beat Gramps in the city council race. I’m not sure how he found out about the coven, but that’s something I can ponder after I save my brother.
“I have to go.” I turn to leave and then remember that across the city, Gramps might be turning Aria’s grandmother into a living statue. “Oh shit, you need to go too!”
I quickly explain our two-pronged approach, and Aria’s expression grows stormier by the second.
“Don’t worry about them. I’ll handle our grandparents.” Her eyes bore into mine. “Give me your number, and I’ll text you the coordinates.” My phone dings as soon as she hits send. “The chances of you finding your brother and your friend alive are dwindling by the minute. So go!”
She doesn’t need to argue any further. I take off sprinting through the doors. Malik yells out to me, and I screech to a halt. “Give me your keys,” I demand.
“What?”
“I don’t have time to explain. I’ve gotta go!”
He pauses with the keys in his hands. “I don’t know where you’re going, but let me go with you.”
“No, absolutely not.” I glance over my shoulder at Aria. I can’t entirely trust her yet. “I need you to go with Aria to stop Gramps and the rest of the coven. I’ll be okay.” Before he can argue any further, I snatch the keys from his hand and race out of the bookstore.