Free 13 Secrets by Michelle Harrison Page A

up in amazement. “Rowan!” she whispered. “You’re not seriously considering this? What’s got into you?”
    Rowan opened her eyes and focused on Tino. “I haven’t agreed to anything,” she said firmly. “But if I were to, then I’d have two conditions.”
    Tino cocked his head to one side. “Name them.”
    “One, if I decide to meet this boy I’m under no obligation to go through with it after hearing what he has to say. And two, if I get involved, you let my friends leave with me tonight without doing
anything
to them. I mean it. It’s my fault they’re here, and I’ll take full responsibility if anything should happen to the Coven because of what they know.” She glanced at Tanya and Fabian, then back to Tino. “And that’s the measure of how much I trust them. I trust them with my life.”
    Tino studied the three of them in turn. Rowan stood her ground, but behind her she could feel Fabian trembling, and she didn’t know whether it was from cold or fear.
    “You know,” Tino said finally, “I believe you. And if these two are to keep their memories of us, then I think that could be put to good use.” A strange light had ignited behind his eyes, one that made Rowan’s skin prickle.
    “What are you talking about?”
    “We can use them,” said Tino. “This boy we spoke of is eleven.” He trained his eyes on Fabian. “How old are you?”
    “Thirteen,” Fabian replied in a small voice.
    “And you?” Tino looked to Tanya.
    “Fourteen.”
    “Perfect. If necessary, they can get into the house under the pretense of being the boy’s school friends. If the mother is an impostor, she won’t know any different.”
    “No,” said Rowan, livid. “Absolutely not. You could use me for that, or Sparrow—”
    “Wouldn’t work,” said Tino. “One, you’re both too old to pass for the same age as this boy. And two, you both know and have seen too much.” He nodded to Tanya and Fabian. “These two look the part. They look
innocent
.”
    “You know I can’t agree to it,” said Rowan. “Look, just let them go and I’ll come to your meeting. They don’t need to be involved.”
    “But I want to be,” said Tanya.
    “So do I,” Fabian added.
    Rowan turned on them both. “Don’t start. It’s not going to happen.”
    “I think we deserve a say in what we do,” said Tanya fiercely. “And if it means helping you, then I’m in.” She glanced at Fabian. “We both are.”
    “Tino, a word outside?” Rowan said coldly.
    Tino smiled and opened the door. “After you.”
    They stepped out into the night, leaving Tanya and Fabian alone with the remaining members of the Coven.
    “What time is it?” Tanya whispered to Fabian, after a couple of minutes had elapsed.
    Fabian looked at his watch. “Nearly half-past two. What do you think they’re talking about out there?”
    Tanya shrugged miserably. “Rowan’s probably trying to convince him to let us walk out of this mess. She’s right. We shouldn’t have come. All along she was trying to do the right thing, and all we’ve done is made it harder for her to leave. We should have trusted her.”
    Rowan and Tino returned a few minutes later. “We’re leaving,” Rowan muttered, refusing to look at them. “Now.”
    Tino moved aside as they stepped out of the barn into the chilly night.
    Without a backward glance, Rowan set off quickly, heading toward the gap in the hedge they’d come through.
    “Slow down!” Tanya hissed, running to keep up. She cast a fearful glance back and saw Tino’s outline, perfectly still, outside the barn door, watching them leave. A shudder went through her and she turned back around.
    “What have you done, Rowan?” Fabian asked. “What have you agreed to?”
    Rowan squeezed through the gap. Tanya and Fabian followed. On the other side, Rowan had put the fox-skin coat on and transformed by the time they and Oberon had come through.
    “I’ve agreed to do what he wants,” she said flatly. “I’m