"We don't have time to wait!" Sebastian shouted. "Look at the necklace! Look at Lilith! She's dying RIGHT NOW and your witch contact might show up tomorrow or next week or never!"
"She'll come," Victoria said, but Nicholas could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
The room fell into tense silence.
Nicholas looked at the necklace again. At how faint the glow had become. At how little time they had left.
"We need a backup plan," Nicholas said quietly.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"What kind of backup plan?" Victoria asked.
"If Elena doesn't arrive in time," Nicholas said. "If the necklace fails before she gets here. What do we do?"
"We push power through the bonds," Sebastian said immediately. "All three of us. Everything we have. Keep her alive with sheer force of will until help arrives."
"And if that's not enough?" Nicholas challenged.
Sebastian's jaw clenched. "Then we find another way."
