Chapter 279

• Mica squared her shoulders. “You seem to be laboring under the delusion that I’m not smart enough to see through that bullshit. But thank you for talking—now we have what we need. Elin!”
• Elin, in her wolf form, leaped from inside the pit back to its edge. She had placed the bottle on top of the stele while the demon was distracted. His face twisted in fury, and he howled as he beat his fists against the air. They seemed to hit an invisible barrier, but salt sprayed forward.
• The candles were lit. The four women joined hands, creating a second circle around the demon. They all started to chant the words of the ritual in unison, clutching at each other’s hands.