Witch's Pyre (Worldwalker 3)

“This will fit Caleb,” Rowan said, holding up a pair of jeans.

“These will fit,” Lily said, correcting him. “Jeans are plural.”

“I always wondered why,” Rowan replied, a quizzical smile on his face. “It’s one article of clothing.”

“Yeah, but there are two leg holes.”

“Nope,” Rowan said, shaking his head. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“You know what? It doesn’t,” Lily said, a smile dawning on her. “It really doesn’t make any sense at all. We should just start calling them jean.”

Rowan cocked his head, letting the sound of the word marinate, and pulled a face. “That doesn’t sound right.”

“It sounds awful.”

“Jeans it is.”

They went back to shopping, both of them smiling to themselves. Rowan had pretty much kept to the rule of staying several feet away from her unless he was saving her from imminent danger, but now Lily found herself edging closer to him. After catching her doing it a few times as they walked side by side down the aisles, Rowan didn’t move away. They filled the cart, each item they placed in it giving them the chance to be in the other’s personal space and, occasionally, even touch.

They selected nondescript clothes with no labels or bright colors, black backpacks, and hoodies. They loaded up on snacks and water for the drive, stopped at a gas station, and then went back to the house to pick up the rest of the coven.

Rowan and Lily followed the sound of laughter. The other end of the wraparound deck had an infinity pool where the coven was enjoying the summer sun. Past the pool, a grill stood off to the side by a fire pit that was surrounded by several teak deck chairs. A brick-red umbrella mushroomed cheerfully over the outdoor eating area, framing the scene, and drawing the eye out into the endless blue where sky met water.

“All that’s missing is the dog,” Lily said, recalling Rowan’s dream of California.

Rowan’s head snapped around. His smile was sad as he shook his head. “That’s not the only thing that’s missing.”

He left her with Juliet and Tristan hanging between them, their ghosts pushing Lily and Rowan apart with invisible hands.

“Tell me you bought me something cooler than this,” Una said as she held up a cardigan.

Rowan laughed under his breath. Sorry, Una, but even you have to blend in while we travel. This is a big risk we’re taking, he said in mindspeak.

But less risky than trying to travel in your world, Lily added, in case Rowan was gearing up to say it was too dangerous. He didn’t, though. Nor did he grumble about Lily taking risks that he didn’t want her to take. There were no safe options anymore, and no conscionable way to stay on the sidelines.

“We’d better get our stuff together and go,” Rowan said.

“Don’t you want to take a quick swim?” Tristan asked him as he paddled around.

Rowan looked at the pool, and then out at the ocean and horizon that blended seamlessly with its edge—aqua to azure to sapphire to the clouds. “No,” he said, his deep voice rumbling in his chest.

The coven took turns cleaning up and changing into their new clothes. Caleb checked and double-checked the car and the supplies.

“You know, if we’re missing anything we can stop pretty much anywhere and get it,” Breakfast told him.

“I’m just looking,” Caleb said defensively. “I want to know what we have and don’t have.”

“Forget it, Breakfast,” Tristan said, smiling. “Caleb lives to worry about supplies.”

“You know, there are so many great trails in Yosemite,” Miller said, joining them. “It’d be a shame for you to miss out on them.” He was trying to sound casual, but the attempt only made him sound more desperate.

He looks strung out, Una said in mindspeak. I feel bad for the guy.

Don’t, Lily told her. He’s much better off without us.

Miller was still waiting for some kind of acknowledgment of his offer, but no one spoke up. There was no delicate way left for any of them to say that he wasn’t invited, so they just ignored him and kept packing.

“Thanks so much for all your help,” Lily said to Miller as they were preparing to leave. “Tell the guy”—she gestured to the house, indicating its owner—“that we said thank you.”