Five minutes later, I stood on the sidewalk of Alderwood street with my car parked behind me. In the daytime, the branches overhanging the street would have given this row of perfectly manicured gardens and houses a quaint feel, but the shadows cast over the road left me with chills.

I scooped my necklace from my pocket and held it out in front of me. Once the crystal steadied, I asked, "Which direction is Connor in?"

This time the pendant swung left to right and made me think I was standing on the wrong side of the road. I hopped over the curb and headed to the other side, watching the charm change directions as I did. It now swung back and forth.

There were two other cars parked on the street, neither of them were Connor's. With no traffic passing by, only the glow of a few porch lights lit the darkness. I passed seven houses before I decided to stop for directions again. This time, the charm's swing wasn't as strong. I must have passed it.

I double backed to the stone-gray house, then at the edge of the path that led to the entrance, I held out my necklace.

"Which way to Connor?"

This time the metal chain in my hand swung toward the charcoal door in front of me. How bat-shit crazy am I being? Would he think I'm stalking him?

Being in real estate, it was likely this was just one of his client's homes. I glanced at my car. It wasn't too late to turn around, but the black door drew me forward. I needed to know what was going on, especially after everything he said last night. I jammed my necklace back into my pocket, marched up the stairs and leaned on the bell.

I took a step back and shoved my hands into my pockets. A click of a deadbolt broke the silence. The door squeaked open, and a woman with chamomile blonde hair stood in the entrance way, not just any woman--Rachel.

Her lips curled, and she crossed her arms. "Well, you do have some nerve, don't you?"

I stood there with my mouth hanging open.

Images of her tarot cards flashed in my head. Pictures of the nursery, her pulling the tarot card, the broken cup, her toting the cake into her house--this house.

I covered my mouth with my hand. Oh God, I'm going to be sick.

She narrowed her eyes. "He never told you, did he?"

Images flowed off her, Connor yelling he was done with her manipulative crap, done with her, and there was a reason he didn't live here anymore. She offered up an apology and a piece of cake. The last picture was of Connor lying on the floor.

Oh God, what have I done? What had she done? If she hurt him, I was going to rip her apart.

"That little cake of yours? Best money I've ever spent." She snatched her coat and purse from the hook on the wall. "As for Connor? He's all yours."

She stepped outside to brush past me, and I grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

"What did you wish for?"

She pursed her lips like hell would freeze over before she'd tell me. If there was any hope to reverse the spell, knowing her wish was the key and she was going to let me know whether she liked it or not.

"Something tells me you know what I'm capable of." I glared into her wide eyes. "So, I'm only going to ask one more time. What did you wish for?"

Her face turned ashen, and she licked her lips. "That if he truly loved someone else, he would just choke on the cake and go to hell," her voice tremored as she spoke.

"No..."

My grip loosened and she tore down the stairs out onto the street. I didn't care. My legs felt like they were going to collapse beneath me. Using the doorframe to steady myself, I crossed the threshold and staggered down the hall.

The words, if he truly loved someone else,

repeated in my head. I rounded the corner at the end of the hall. Connor. His cheek pressed against the wooden floor boards. His body was unnaturally still. Broken pieces of china and cake dotted the floor.

I collapsed beside him and wiped the crumbs from his lips with my trembling fingers. "I'm so sorry, Connor. I never..." A sob overtook me, and I hugged him close.

I tried to swallow the baseball-sized lump in my throat. The air thinned until I could barely breathe. I brushed Connor's chestnut locks from his face and kissed his forehead.

I did this. I meddled, and this was the result. I sniffled and got to my feet. I needed to fix this.

I tore into the kitchen and threw open cupboards until I found a box of salt. I slammed it on the counter and kept frantically searching. In a junk drawer, I retrieved the matches and marker I needed. When I stood up, a familiar manila envelope greeted me on the counter. It was the tarot card she selected when she purchased the cake. Without even opening it I had a feeling I knew which card it held. I snatched it up and headed back to the other room with my items.

I took the marker and drew a large pentagram on the wood floor, then dragged Connor inside the circle. I scrambled around the house until I had five white candles in my arms, then placed them at the tips of the star. Then in one continuous motion, I poured the salt out in a large circle at the edge of the pentagram.

After dusting my hands off, I ripped opened the envelope. The death card. It pictured a sullen reaper who had already turned away, mocking me and my stupidity for not having seen her play me. I stepped over the salt protection barrier and lit the first two candles.

''I light this for the air we breathe.

This one for the water we need.''

I lifted the third candle, lit the wick and placed it back down.

''I add this flame to get fire.

This one to ground man's desire.''

I bent over and touched the floor to symbolize earth. Then I lit the last candle and held high above my head.

''Lit to mark our moon's phases,

yearning sight beyond what hazes.''

The candles flared in unison. I dropped into a cross-legged position on the floor and maneuvered Connor's head into my lap, stroking his cheek.

''Wise Goddess, I beg you hear our plea,

return things to what they should be.''

Then I struck the final match and burnt the tarot card.

Silence. I dared not even breathe.

A chuckle echoed throughout the room, and the flames soared once more. The sound of thunder boomed and shook the house, and the space filled with light. I squinted and shielded my eyes as I watched her take form. It was the goddess of magic herself--Circe.

The raw power surrounding her laced the air, giving it a metallic taste. Although her eyes were creepy sapphire blue and had no pupils, I couldn't drag my sight from her flawless beauty. Even the flowers in the vase next to her paled in comparison.

The edges of her mouth turned up into a coy smile, every bit the lioness playing with her prey. "My young daughter. You called?"

She knew damn well I did. "I seek your help."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Her silky hair washed over her shoulders like liquid gold as she pranced around us, brushing the skirt of her dress along the edges of the salted circle.

"So handsome," her voice poured like sweet honey. "Too young to die, don't you think?"

Her words stabbed at my heart, and my eyes threatened to spill over. I guarded my words with care, or I might share Connor's fate.

"That's why I desired an audience with you." I fidgeted with a button on his shirt.

"That's not all you desire..." her voice trailed off into a giggle, then she vanished and reappeared on the other side of the room.

"You're right--it's not." I cast my view to the freckles covering the bridge of his nose and then back to her.

She ran her finger along the back of the couch. "Let me see if I have this right."

Her hand smoothed the fabric of her bodice, changing the color of her dress from pale gold to wedding dress white. The hem of her gown floated along the floor, swaying as she walked. "I upheld your wish, and now you're displeased with the results?"

Another tear slipped down my cheek, and I sniffled. "It was my mistake, but Connor paid the price."

"Yes, he did. The only thing that boy was guilty of, was loving you. He'd split from his wife long before you two even met. Look here, Rachel even signed the divorce papers." She pulled out some legal looking documents from beneath the cake box and waved them at me. "I guess she meant it when she said, 'he's all yours.'"

She had a way with words that made me feel a thousand times worse. It was like she jammed another sword into my heart.

She gave me a sideways glance and raised an eyebrow. "I assume you're looking for me to right this wrong, or I wouldn't be here."

"You can do that?"

"I can't bring him back if that's what you're asking. But there is something that you might be agreeable with."

She snapped her fingers, and the room beyond the pentagram burst into flames.

I gagged and covered my mouth. The thick stench of burnt flesh and sulfur coated the air, making me cough.

She'd dropped us into hell and all its fury. Tortured screams echoed around us, and hands thrust through the flames only inches from my feet. The intense heat melted the candles into waxy puddles.

"Or Connor can stay in this sea of flames forever." She snapped her fingers once more, and the room returned. "It's up to you."

"You've made your point. What do you want?" Not that it mattered what she asked of me, I would've paid any price to have him back.

"To unite two lovers, of course." Her eyes flashed a bright emerald green.

Why would she do that? She wanted something, or she would have sent one of her minions to deal with me. But what?

"You said you couldn't bring him back."

"Good girl." She tossed me a smile as if her student had finally caught on. "You're right, but I can save him. I'll tell you what I'll even toss in that you get to see him."

"Every day?"

She tilted her head to the side as if she was pondering the request, then gave a shrug. "Sure, why not."

It sounded too good to be true. Why would the goddess agree to all this?

"You need something."

"I do." A grin spread across her face. "An enforcer. My last enforcer's contract," she paused as if looking for the right words, "has expired. A few covens need a reminder of who's really in power. Their magic flows from me, not the other way around."

"But why me?" I licked my lips and brushed Connor's cheek with my fingers. "It's not like I'm the strongest or most talented witch in your midst."

She giggled, and her dress shimmered from white to rose pink. "Talent has nothing to do with it. I can provide you with abilities beyond your imagination with a wave of my hand. It's training you to use your talents that takes time. That's why a contract with you is so enticing."

"Sorry, I don't follow." I rubbed my forehead, trying to figure out what she was referring to.

"If you want to save a soul, you have to give a soul. Your contract would be indefinite."

I hugged my elbows tight to my chest. "I'll die?" my voice cracked.

"No--you'll become immortal, and the last Enforcer I'd ever have to train," she said like being her pet dog, obligated to do her bidding forever was a good thing.

"And Connor?"

"He'll become a Shade, and will be free to roam the underworld for all eternity in human or wolf form. He'll avoid suffering the depths of the pits and be able to protect himself." She brushed a lock of hair from her face and folded her hands.

I glanced down at Connor, feeling like my heart had been ripped from my chest. Lilly was right--he was the one--and there was no way I was leaving here without him. I stepped over the salt barrier and stood in front of her.

"Deal."