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Nick let out a snort "Nothing is ever that simple for us, unfortunately"

Diana led Max to an eroup "The spirits are out of our bodies," she said "But now they’re in their own, running around free in New Saleet rid of the the floor She looked at Nick specifically

"While you were all possessed, the ancestors were insistent on getting the Book of Shadows," she said "The book reed "If the book is what invited theet the, and Deborah were visibly plotting in their ht use the book to thwart the dark ancestors’ plot

"Then let’s go through the book right now," Faye said "Analyze it until we figure out how to get rid of these bastards"

Cassie’s friends had soer had the book They were all still possessed when she’d handed it over to Scarlett The spell must have occupied all their attention

Only Nick realized the truth "Cassie can’t go get the book right now," he said

Ada one step behind, especially when it concerned Cassie "Why not?" he asked, frustrated

Cassie dropped her eyes "I gave the book to Scarlett I traded it for her help with the exorcism spell"

A deadly silence washed over the roo played so easily into Scarlett’s plan "I’et you all back"

There were atteroup had nosedived

"Well then," Max said unexpectedly, catching the whole Circle off guard with his tone of cooperation "The first iteet the book back"

"Yes" Diana took Max’s hand She practically glowed "That’s exactly e’ll do"

Cassie closed and locked the front door as the last of her friends left for the night

"Alone at last," Adam said

It was finally just the two of theain Cassie took him by the hand and led him upstairs to her room

She dropped onto her bed, and Adam joined her

It suddenly occurred to her how exhausted she was She couldn’t get the sight of those wretched ancestors out of her hty sense of dread, as if she’d sed a heavy stone and it had gotten lodged in her chest

Adalad I’? I never want to let you out of ht"

Adam looked down at his hand, which he still hadn’t moved "I wish it had been me to help you these past few days, not Nick It should have been otten to Scarlett Was that contributing to his shame?

"I don’t want you to think it’s because h," Adam continued "It wasn’t that It was that Absolo them both with her heavy cotton comforter It sheltered them like a tent "I do know that," she said, as much for her own benefit as for Adam’s

The pillow behind Cassie’s head was soft, and her sheets s better

"I want things to go back to nor to do whatever it takes"

"I want that, too" Cassie rested her head on his shoulder "It’s already starting to feel that way"

Adam pulled her in closer "Good"

Cassie closed her eyes to draw out the moment, to listen to his breath and his heartbeat It was a slow and steady rhythm now, and she found her own heart adjusted to ether, perfectly and unconsciously synchronized

They began to doze off that rapped up in each other’s ar to restful sleep and sweet dreams

Chapter 16

"Did you hear what happened at Old Town Hall?"

"I heard it was vandalized And so roup of people They aren’t sure if all the incidents are related"

Cassie was in English class, eavesdropping on Sally Waltman’s conversation with her friend Tina

Sally shot Cassie a knowing look when she realized she’d been listening Cassie returned the gaze and then politely looked away

These stories of robbery and vandalis about si around town in the last few hours The ancestor witches were creating havoc all over New Salem now that they had their bodies back Cassie kept a mental list of it all, and she feared the worst: that the ancestors were seeking retribution for all they’d lost in their lifetimes, all that had been taken fro, Cassie approached Sally as she was packing up her books "I couldn’t help but overhear," she said

Sally scanned the surrounding area to be sure nobody was listening "I knew so was up when your friends attacked me and ambushed the auditoriu into town What’s going on?"

"It’s a long story," Cassie said