I glanced past her, and studied the three women sitting cross-legged within a protection circle drawn in chalk in the loading bay's concrete driveway. Sweat beaded their skins and their expressions were intent.
"How is it going?"
"We're close." She glanced at Azriel. "Actually, you couldn't have timed it better. We need to weave an echo of your energy into our threading spell so that you can cross through it unimpeded."
"What do you wish me to do?" he asked.
"Take my hand."
He did so. One of the women in the circle raised a hand; Rozelle clasped it, her fingers glowing slightly as she breached the barrier of the protective circle. For several seconds nothing appeared to happen; then the air began to hum with energy and electricity began to dance from Rozelle to Azriel and back again, forming a circle that looped around and around for several minutes. Then it faded.
Rozelle sighed and released Azriel's hand. "Just a few more seconds, and we should be finished."
I nodded but couldn't keep still, and began to pace instead. Azriel merely crossed his arms and watched the witches impassively. I wished I had half of his calm. Right now, my stomach was so full of knots it was getting painful.
Then the witches in the circle sighed and rose. The oldest of the three stepped from the circle and stopped beside Rozelle.
"It has been completed," she said, her voice etched with weariness. "The reaper's energy has been woven into the spell surrounding this building. He may move about within freely, but must keep to flesh."
"Thank you," I said. "We appreciate —"
"Stop this person," she cut in. "And that will be thanks enough."
"We plan to."
"Good." She waved a hand toward the broken roller door. "You should enter and exit from that point. It was the weakest section of the spell, and therefore the easiest place to create our doorway."
Azriel pressed two fingers against my spine, ushering me forward. I crawled into the loading bay yet again, then rose, dusting the dirt off my jeans as I scanned the area. Nothing had changed, and I couldn't smell the shifter's presence.