This Coven Won't Break - Isabel Sterling Page 0,97

calculating the velocity of a falling object and invites me to the testing—he wants me to be the one to make the potion airborne.

Technically, any Elemental could do this, but Archer must know what it means for me to finish what I helped start. Mom drives, and between our combined anxiety, the car is freezing. When we get to Archer’s house, the cool October breeze is a warm relief.

Behind me, a vehicle slows and crunches over gravel. I turn and find Morgan and her parents pulling in behind us.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” I say when Morgan steps out of the car.

She pulls her sweater tightly around her and reaches for my hand. “Cal thought you’d want me here.”

Her fingers slide between mine, and though her presence warms my heart, it doesn’t stop the thoughts running through my head. It was easy enough to guess that we’d be testing the potion on Benton, but I don’t know how I feel about taking away his memory. I don’t know what that will mean for the emotions battling inside my chest.

Benton tried to kill me.

He rescued me from his family.

And though he doesn’t want me dead like the rest of the Hunters do, he’d still take my magic if he had the chance.

“It’ll be okay,” Morgan says, tugging me toward the house. “If it doesn’t work, Cal can try again.”

I follow her to the porch, where our parents are waiting. “Ready?” Mom asks, reaching for the front door.

“As much as I can be.” I squeeze Morgan’s hand and step inside.

We find Archer in the foyer, his expression grim. “Alice is watching over Benton. This way.” He leads us to his living room, where Benton is sitting alone on the couch. He looks like he hasn’t slept much since we came back to Salem, but I’m sure that has more to do with his tormented conscience than anything the Council has done. Alice hovers at the edge of the room, her hair in loose waves around her shoulders and her arms crossed. She glances at me briefly but keeps a tight watch over the unbound Hunter.

Benton looks up when we come in, and I catch a glimmer of fear in his eyes. “Hannah.” He stands and steps toward us.

“Sit down, asshole.” Alice squeezes her hands into fists, and she must have taken a sample of Benton’s blood, because he winces as his body bends awkwardly back into a seated position.

“I wasn’t going to hurt anyone,” Benton says, the fear more pronounced now. Power like Alice is using is the epitome of everything he was taught to hate, yet he doesn’t hurl insults at her. “What’s happening? What are you going to do to me?”

The tremor in his voice does strange things to my heart. He tried to kill you, I remind myself, but another voice says, He saved you, too. He’s lost.

Suddenly, I wish I hadn’t agreed to this.

Before I can back out, Cal comes into the room carrying the potion in one hand and a gas mask in the other. He passes the mask to Archer, who accepts it with a tight nod.

“What’s that for?” I ask.

Hopelessness carves across Archer’s expression, there only a second before he hides it away. “It’s like we discussed. Anyone without Clan magic will be affected.” He slips the mask over his head, but he must see my regret, because he tips it back so it isn’t covering his face yet. “This was still a smart plan, Hannah. It’ll buy us the time we need to translate David’s work and create an antidote. The Elders were impressed.”

“That we were.” Elder Keating steps into the room. “Let’s hope our enthusiasm was well placed. Agents.” She nods to Archer and Cal in turn. “Let’s begin.”

“Begin what?” Benton tries to get up again, but he grimaces when Alice’s magic keeps him in place. “What are you going to do to me?”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Hall, this won’t hurt.” Archer turns to me. “Once Cal removes the stopper, I need you to vaporize the potion and ensure he inhales it. You shouldn’t need to use much.”

I nod and reach for the hum of magic in my chest. It still feels like a miracle that it’s working again. The air responds to my call, swirling between us and tossing my hair. “Ready.”

“Here goes nothing,” Cal whispers and pulls the cork loose.

Inside the vial, the potion’s energy is unlike anything I’ve felt before. I worry my power will separate the water base from