After four cupcakes, I was feeling stuffed and moved outside to get some air. I opted for the backyard. It had been a mess of late because a professional landscaper was putting in a lily garden — not for the baby, but for the mother they’d lost — but it was finally open again.
The air was pungent with the smell of flowers and I smiled when I saw the huge batches of multi-colored lilies. Each child had selected a different color to memorialize their mother. Cormack also added one. Aisling and Griffin even picked a special lily to plant in their daughter’s honor. The garden was massive ... and unbelievably beautiful. It took my breath away.
I walked to the closest section and leaned over to study the blooms. Because the Grimlocks did nothing small, Cormack went all out when it came time to order flowers to make sure they had the best stock money could buy. He’d spared no expense ... and it had been worth it.
I loved my parents. I didn’t remember them as much as I would’ve liked, but I still loved them. My loss was different from the Grimlocks’ loss. The children were all older when Lily “died” in the fire. The second time they lost her was almost more painful. The garden was a way to put that pain to good use.
I was just about to head back inside and gather Braden for our research session when the overhead sky lit with lightning. Storms weren’t in the forecast and it was too early in the season for heat lightning.
So, where had this come from?
I watched again as the lightning flashed. It was close — right on the other side of the garden close — and the hair on my arms stood on end as I took a step back toward the house. The storm had seemingly come out of nowhere and felt dangerous. Being outside to bear witness to it was probably a bad idea.
I stepped under the protective overhang a few seconds before the rain started. It was heavy, sounded and smelled normal, and yet I remained unnerved.
Another flash of lightning had me staring at the far end of the garden. It was longer than it was wide, each Grimlock’s addition to the garden being showcased in a different area. Another flash caused my heart to jump.
I told myself it was a normal storm, yet I had trouble believing it. Where was the thunder? Why had it come out of nowhere?
I watched it for a long time. Nothing happened. It didn’t abate. I finally went inside. Even once safe from the elements, though, I couldn’t shake my unease.
Something didn’t feel right. Things were going to get worse before they got better. I don’t know how I knew that, but it felt like an inescapable fact.
The ride was about to get rough.
Sixteen
I woke before Braden, which wasn’t unusual. He was a heavy sleeper. I could’ve poked him until he opened his eyes — he wouldn’t have minded — but instead I got up. I was restless.
Instead of hanging around the room and risking disturbing him, I headed out. Grimlock Manor was so massive it had various wings. Braden was in a wing with Redmond, which seemed unnecessary because they were the only two still living in the house with their father, but they were tight and I got the feeling they were creatures of habit. They liked being around one another.
I headed for Aisling’s wing of the house. Technically it belonged to her and Aidan, and they both had their own places. Aisling and Griffin essentially spent half their nights under Cormack’s roof these days — with his full blessing — because of the baby. Aisling was worried she thought like a man and that would make her a poor mother. That was on top of the fear that rooted in her heart when an abomination with her mother’s face came back and tried to kill her.
In truth, Aisling was nothing like that woman. Everyone saw it but her. She claimed she was over it, but occasionally a furtive fear took hold and she couldn’t shake it. I had no doubt she would settle eventually. Until then, she wanted her father and brothers close ... and they were more than happy to oblige.
I heard a voice in the hallway, causing me to slow my pace. It was early and the Grimlocks liked to sleep in until at least seven o’clock. I couldn’t help but wonder what would have them up so early. Then I realized the voice was coming from the nursery.
I stopped in the door and poked my head in, grinning when I saw Griffin with the baby. He had her on the changing table, was clearly unaware that I was present, and was having a conversation with her.
“You couldn’t have waited thirty minutes before you started shrieking, huh?” He didn’t sound upset. “You get that from your mother. Thirty more minutes and everybody would’ve been happy. You’re too demanding to let that happen, though.”
The baby gurgled as he coated her with more powder than was probably necessary.
“I just know you’re going to turn all my hair gray before you’re five,” he continued, oblivious to the fact that he had an audience. “I bet your grandfather had a full head of dark hair before your mother came along. That’s what he says anyway.”
I left them to their father-and-daughter bonding and continued down the hall until I heard additional voices. These came from Aisling’s room, which gave me pause. If Griffin was in with the baby, who was she talking to?
“I don’t see why he’s being such a pain. There’s nothing wrong with peach-colored tuxes.” Jerry had one of those voices that is not only distinctive but carries. He’d clearly taken advantage of Griffin’s absence from the bedroom to bend Aisling’s ear about his upcoming wedding.
“I think peach tuxes are a great idea,” Aisling enthused. “You look great in peach.”
“Right? Although, let’s be honest. There’s no color I can’t carry off.”
“Avocado green.”
“Oh, I wore pants that color once and I don’t think I looked nearly as bad as you pretend.”
“You looked like something that had been thrown up.”
I felt guilty eavesdropping, but there was no way I could move past Aisling’s room without her seeing me. Instead, I decided to suck it up and at least offer them a morning greeting. Aisling didn’t appear surprised when I poked my head in.
“Good morning.”
She smiled brightly. Her hair was a mess, sticking up in a variety of directions, and she was dressed in an oversized T-shirt. “Morning. What are you doing up so early?”
“I couldn’t sleep.” I shuffled into the room because it seemed to be expected. “I saw Griffin with the baby. He’s dousing her in powder.”
“Yeah, he goes overboard.” Aisling snickered evilly. “He thinks if he puts enough powder on her she won’t smell like crap. He thinks she should always have that new baby smell. I warned him things are going to get worse before they get better and that he’s wasting powder, but he doesn’t care.”
She wasn’t worried, so I figured it wasn’t my place to lodge my opinion. A little extra powder never hurt anybody. “What are you guys doing?” I eyed the open magazine on Aisling’s lap. “Are you talking about wedding stuff?”
“We are,” Jerry confirmed, patting the bed. “Come join us. If you agree on the peach tuxes, I think Aidan will have no choice but to give in.”
I acquiesced out of sheer curiosity, and when I got comfortable next to Aisling and she tapped the page so I would know exactly what they were looking at, it took a great deal of effort to hide my horror.
“Oh, well, those are ... distinct.”
Aisling wriggled her eyebrows, letting me know that she was in agreement. That begged the question of why she was encouraging Jerry to bully Aidan into what could only be described as pastel nightmare formal wear.
“They’re awesome.” Jerry’s gaze was on the catalog, so he missed our exchange. “I look good in peach. Tell her I look good in peach, Bug.”
Jerry was the only one who could get away with saddling Aisling with a nickname like “Bug.” I’d heard the story of when they were kids and she tried to save ants from her brothers and a magnifying glass — and I was still confused how the nickname came into being — but their friendship was so warm and hilarious that it somehow fit.
“He looks awes
ome in peach,” Aisling said automatically. “That should be his official color.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous.” Jerry made a face. “You know that powder blue is my official color. But that’s too ridiculous for a wedding. It will make everyone think of Easter ... and I don’t want people hunting for eggs when they should be admiring me.”
“That’s a very good point,” Aisling agreed. “Send Aidan in here and I’ll tell him the peach tuxes are a good idea. Go get him now.”
Apparently eager to get his way, Jerry was on his feet in two seconds. “We’ll be right back.”
I watched him go, curious, and then turned to Aisling. “You don’t really like that tuxedo, do you?”
She squinched her face up into a hilarious expression. “Of course not. They’re godawful. I like messing with Aidan, though.”
Ah. I should’ve realized that was what she was doing. I assumed she was simply telling Jerry what he wanted to hear. “Aidan should have a say in what he wears for his own wedding,” I offered. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to stick up for him, but he was often overpowered by Aisling and Jerry, so I felt he needed the backup.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about Aidan,” she reassured me. “He won’t wear a peach tux no matter what. It will cause a big fight ... which will be funny. I’m always in the mood for watching other people fight.”
I could see that. I was about to ask her how often Jerry and Aidan fought — I’d witnessed a handful of loud arguments and I wasn’t sure if they were normal or simply wedding-related — when Jerry returned. He almost looked giddy when he hopped on the bed.
Several seconds later, Aidan strolled in, looking anything but happy.
“I don’t even want to know what you guys are plotting so early in the morning,” he groused, dragging a hand through his onyx hair. “I knew spending the night here was a bad idea.”
“You shouldn’t have eaten so much sugar,” Jerry said pragmatically. “You crashed hard and I was too drunk to drive. It’s really on you.”
“Yes, it’s all my fault.” Aidan offered me a half wave and then focused on his twin. “Jerry says you have something important to tell me and it’s going to change our lives. I have a feeling it’s going to tick me off more than anything else, but lay it on me.”
Aisling was a master at manipulating her brothers. She kept her expression neutral so as not to tip her hand. “Jerry and I have been talking about the wedding and I happen to agree with him on a few things.”
Before she could add to the statement, Aidan extended a warning finger. “I don’t want to hear the word ‘peach’ come out of your mouth. I’m warning you now that I will melt down if you try to talk me into those tuxes.”
He sounded serious, but Aisling wasn’t deterred.
“You know how good Jerry looks in peach,” she started. “How can you deny him the chance to be the handsomest groom who ever lived? I mean ... look how pretty he is.” Aisling grabbed her best friend’s chin and held it in such a manner that Aidan could look nowhere else. “You’ll ruin his life if you don’t reach for the peach rung of perfection.”
“Oh, shut up.” Aidan rolled his eyes. “You’re just doing this to see if you can get a rise out of me. You’re not even good at pretending you’re serious. Jerry, she’s playing you. She thinks the peach tuxes are ugly.”
Jerry turned huffy. “She does not! She knows I look good in peach. Why are you trying to ruin my wedding?”
“It’s my wedding, too, and I’m not wearing peach.”
I knew inserting myself into the conversation was a risk, but I couldn’t stop myself. “Why not let Aidan wear the colors he wants and Jerry wear the colors he wants? I’m assuming Aisling is standing up for Jerry because of the way the family dynamics shake out. She can get a peach dress to match his tux and then all the others can wear dark tuxes to match Aidan. It will probably look nice with the contrast of colors.”
If looks could kill I’d be dead from the glare Aisling shot me. It was clear she had no intention of wearing peach.
“That’s a fabulous idea,” Aidan agreed. “In fact ... I can’t believe we didn’t think of it before. Jerry, it makes sense that you and I would have different color tuxes. Aisling will look great in peach.”
“Wait a second ... .” Aisling shifted and I was certain she was about to change tack. Whatever was about to happen was bound to be hilarious. I never got a chance to see it play out, though, because Griffin chose that moment to return, and he looked harried.
“Everyone needs to get down to the backyard,” he announced. His tone was no-nonsense. “Something has happened.”
I furrowed my brow. “In the backyard?”
He nodded, his gaze immediately going to his wife. “It’s not good.”
NO ONE BOTHERED GETTING dressed. Instead, we raced down the stairs and through the house as a group. By the time we made it to the back patio, the others were already there. Even Cillian and Maya had spent the night because the scholarly Grimlock was up late researching revenants. The look of horror on each of their faces was enough to cause my heart to constrict.
“What happened?”
Braden swiveled when he heard my voice. There was palpable relief on his features. “I thought something might’ve happened to you when I woke and found you were gone. Are you okay?”
I was understandably confused. “I’m fine. I didn’t want to wake you. I ended up with your sister and watched her torture Aidan.”
“Just as long as you’re okay.” He gave me a quick hug and I could feel the defeat weighing him down.
“I don’t understand.” Slowly I turned to look over the backyard and my chest tightened when I saw the reason for the hoopla.
The lily garden was gone. The extravagant memorial they’d all worked so hard to build had been destroyed in the night. It wasn’t just destroyed, though. It was burned. All the pretty blooms were melted, the stalks blackened and the cultivated earth between the rows had been burnt black.
“What happened here?” I was breathless as I stepped forward, rage rearing up and grabbing me by the throat. I didn’t know Lily Grimlock. I’d never met her. I knew her children, though, and the grief they felt was so real it almost swallowed them whole. The garden had been a catharsis for them, a healing, and now it was destroyed.
“We don’t know,” Cillian replied, his voice raspy. “We were just alerted by the butler that something had happened. As far as we can tell, no one heard anything.”
I thought about the lightning from the previous evening. “Maybe it was the storm.”
Cormack slid me a curious look. “What storm?”
I was taken aback. “It stormed last night.”
Cormack glanced at each of his children in turn. “I didn’t hear a storm last night. Did anyone else?” When everyone shook their heads, he turned back to me. “Did you hear a storm?”
“I didn’t hear it. I saw it. I was out here for a few minutes after all the cupcakes. I needed some fresh air. There was a lot of lightning.”
“But no thunder?” Cillian queried.
“No thunder.” That had stood out to me, too, but I’d discarded it. “I thought it was just one of those freak storms that pop up.”
“Obviously not.” Cormack moved his hand to Braden’s shoulder. “It’s okay. I’ll order the lilies again and we’ll get someone out here to fix this.”
Braden didn’t say anything, but I felt his despair. In an effort to offer comfort, I moved to his side and linked my fingers with his. “I know a lot about plants,” I offered. “There might be a way for us to save these. I’ll call my grandfather. He knows quite a few root spells. There’s a chance we can fix this.”
Braden’s eyes were stormy when he turned them to me. “It won’t be the same.”
“Nonsense,” Cormack chided. “They’re flowers. They can be replaced. Izzy is correct. Flowers are resilient. I’ll get the gardener out here this afternoon.”
“I would wait,” I countered, f
ocusing on the closest plants. They looked sick. “I’m not sure what happened, but I think we should wait just in case.”
“Do you think this has something to do with the revenants?” Aisling asked. She had Lily in her arms and looked worried.
“It’s possible,” I replied. “We don’t know enough about them to say definitively. We need to hit the research hard today. I’m needed back at the gate, but a lot of books were delivered to the new library the other day. I’ll start with those.”
“And I’ll head back to the main library,” Cillian offered. “Izzy is right. We should probably wait to fix the garden until we’re absolutely sure the revenants aren’t to blame. We don’t want to put much effort into it if it’s going to happen again because the revenants are still here.”
“Fine.” Braden’s voice was tight. “What should the rest of us do?”
“Look for the revenants,” Cormack replied. “The home office is sending out reaper replacements to pick up our charges today. The rest of us — with the exception of Aisling — will be out in the field looking for clues. I don’t know what else to do.”
Aisling stirred. “Why am I the exception?”
Cormack inclined his head toward the baby she clutched against her chest. “You know why. Also, I think it’s best if everybody spends the night here until we’re absolutely sure this threat is eradicated. We’re stronger together.”
What he didn’t say is that he wanted to make absolutely certain there were plenty of bodies around to protect Lily. He didn’t want his children separated in a crisis, and he was willing to put his foot down to make sure he got his way.
Aisling looked as if she was about to mount an argument, but it died on her lips when Griffin slipped out the back door to join us. If possible, he looked even more upset than he had mere minutes before.
“Do I even want to know what bad news you’re going to drop on us?” Aisling asked, resigned.
“Probably not, but you have to hear it.” Griffin slid his arm around his wife, as if offering her solace before the storm. “I just got a call from the precinct. They have a homicide for me. It’s the neighbor who owns one of the houses you guys searched yesterday. I know because I jotted down all those addresses in case something popped.”
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