Keegan snorted. “Yeah. And this doesn’t even rate high on the list. I’d think you’d be up there with your fiancé, not stuffing your face.”
“Ex-fiancé.” She swallowed another huge bite.
“Sure. For now.” Keegan leaned back. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”
“Don’t count on it. Cade and I have too much history.” Hilda glared at him as she shoved a huge spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. She deserved to have a pity party. If going to hell didn’t entitle her to a few moments of self-absorption, what did? She’d cry her tears, then come up with a plan to move on. It couldn’t be that hard to figure something out.
Keegan shook his head. “This is why you suck at poker. You’re too transparent.” He shoved a hand in his back pocket to pull out the largest wad of money she’d ever seen. Her eyes widened, but he only shrugged. “I’m a dragon. Humans bring me stuff. I sell most of it.” He tossed a handful of hundred-dollar bills her direction. “Money’s not worth much, but this will get you started until you can save up some things to barter. You’ll need stuff. Can’t imagine you had any reason to save up money as a ghost.”
She had no clue what to say. A part of her wanted to leap across the table, wrap her arms around his neck and thank him a million times over. But he wouldn’t appreciate it; nothing would shut him down faster. So instead she took the money, shoved it in her pocket and passed him the ice cream.
“Thanks,” she mumbled with her mouth full.
He shrugged. “Sure thing.”
They sat in silence, enjoying the company. Then Keegan sat up, grabbed the ice cream from her hand and shoved the lid back on. Racing across the room, he practically threw it in the freezer. He’d just returned to his seat when Brenna stepped into the room. Hilda grabbed the spoons and hid them beneath the table. She grinned as Keegan gave her a thumbs-up.
Brenna didn’t notice. She made a beeline to the coffee pot, not stopping until she had a full cup in her hand. “So are you going to attack me again, or are we good?”
“I remember everything now, if that’s what you’re asking.” Hilda stretched back in her chair, conscious of Brenna’s eyes on her. “But I’ll still go after you if you deserve it.”
“Noted.” Brenna joined them at the table. “It scared the hell out of me when that demon banished you. Then, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find you. If it wasn’t for Cade, you’d still be stuck there.”
“But I’m not.” The memories of the failed attack came flooding back. “What happened to Agnes?”
“We lost her.” Brenna took a long drink of her coffee. “She sacrificed herself so we could complete the spell. We wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t. Ga’loh would have killed all of us.”
“And the cure?”
Brenna glanced at Keegan. “We got it, but not like we planned. Lucy was able to take what we got from the demon and create an antidote. Keegan put it in the water system.”
“Thank God.” Hilda sat back, relieved.
“It’s not over yet,” Brenna said. She sat forward, elbows on the table. “We weren’t able to test it, and there were consequences.”
“The humans aren’t dead. What’s the issue?” Hilda asked.
Brenna grimaced. “The cure modified their DNA. Some of the humans are…different.”
Great. She knew time passed more slowly in the Void, but it’d only been a matter of weeks. And yet they’d managed to make mutant humans, in that short of a time. Fantastic. “Are they dangerous?” she asked.
“Not yet,” Keegan replied. “The jury is still out. But they can hold their own with the demons, so that’s something.”
“True.” Hilda rose to her feet, stretching her stiff muscles as she walked across the room. Brenna followed her, cornering her near the coffee pot.
“I’m going to have to get used to you having a body,” Brenna said. “It’s weird.”
“What do you think it’s like for me?” Hilda replied. “I’m freakin’ out.”
“You could be a hunter now. You were one before, even though you didn’t want to admit it. Seraph could swear you in as soon as you’re better.”
Hilda closed her eyes. There was nothing she’d wanted more than to officially be a hunter. As a ghost, she hadn’t met the criteria. She’d screwed around, pretended it didn’t matter, but it had been a blow. “I’d like that,” she whispered, cursing the emotion in her voice.
“Just know that Cade joined up. Seraph’s already sworn him in.” Brenna paused, not meeting her eyes. “Is that a problem?”
It was, but what good would it do to bring it up? If anyone would understand, it was Brenna. To say Brenna’s relationship with Gray was complicated would be an understatement.
“Was it worth it?” she asked Brenna, unable to help herself.
“What?”
“Everything you went through with Gray.” Needing to do something, she reached up and pulled a coffee cup from the cabinet.
“Definitely.” Brenna leaned against the sink. “And we’re still going through it. I’ve learned to accept there will always be something. But we’re a team. We face it together.”
“You were singing a different song when I left.” Hilda grinned. Her last memory of Brenna and Gray together was a blur of sharp weapons and yelling.
“I’m not saying he’s not a bastard sometimes. But I love him. It’s not everything, but it counts for a lot.” Brenna downed the remainder of her coffee and placed the cup in the sink. “If you still love Cade, you’ve got a lot of soul searching to do.” She squeezed Hilda’s arm. “I’m here if you want to talk. You know how to find me.”
“Thanks.”
“As touching as this is,” Keegan interrupted, “I’m out of here.”
“Me too. I’ve got to check in with Seraph and get my orders. He said something about checking out a deviant compound he thinks has gone rogue.” Brenna turned back before she left. “I meant what I said. If you need to talk, find me. I always have time.”
“I will. Promise.” Hilda waved her off. About halfway through their conversation, she’d started to feel strange. Something was off. And she was pretty sure she knew what it was. She’d lied earlier. She remembered traveling through the Veil with Cade. As they’d moved through, she’d felt the displeasure of the Guardians. Their magic had wrapped around her in an attempt to pull her back inside the Void, but Cade’s magic had been too strong. The Guardians had failed. She’d never imagined they’d come after her here. But after her conversation with Cade, she wasn’t so sure.
Chapter Eight
Cade couldn’t stop thinking about Hilda. Nothing helped, not flipping through Seraph’s files on the deviant attacks, or doing push-up and sit-ups until he passed out on the floor. He couldn’t get her image out of his head. It was enough to drive him insane.
He didn’t know what he’d expected. Maybe for her to see the ring, slip it on her finger and confess her undying love. That would have been nice. Anything but saying she was going to pawn it. And then to say he needed her to treat him like a god just because he wanted to be a priority in her life.
Damn it. He struck the wall with his fist, bloodying his knuckles. He had no idea how to fix this. And he needed to fix it fast, because something was wrong. They hadn’t come through the Veil undetected, and, even now, he could feel a hint of alien magic in the boarding house. The Guardians were keeping tabs on them until they decided if they were going to act. Hilda could ignore it all she wanted, but he knew she felt it as well.
Determined to fix the mess he’d made, he stepped out into the hall and almost ran into Hilda. She was plowing down the narrow passageway, lost in thought, until their near collision.
“Watch out.” She tried to push past him, but he grabbed her arm to hold her in place. She gave him an exaggerated sigh. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” he said as
he maneuvered her into his room, kicking the door closed. “We need to talk.”
“I think we’ve talked enough.” She planted herself against the closed door, arms crossed. “I came up here to check on Carina.”
“Of course you did,” he said with a shake of his head. “And here I thought you were coming to make up.” Even though her eyes flickered with rage, he couldn’t stop himself. “Do you not think you did anything wrong?”
“Why does that even matter? I just got back from the Void. Are you so selfish that you want me to put blinders on to everything else except for you? God forbid you not get enough attention from your long-dead fiancée. Poor Cade. You’re so damn neglected.”
“That’s not what I’m saying at all.” He stalked her across the room. “I love you, damn it. I want us to be together.” The words had spilled out, and now there was no way to take them back.
She stared at him like a deer in headlights, eyes unblinking, mouth hanging open. “You love me?”
“Yeah. Feelings like that don’t just die. I never wanted anyone but you, then or since.” He wished he could take the words back. As usual, his timing sucked. “I know you created something here, even as a ghost. I’m not trying to take that away from you. Hell, I’ve already signed up to be one of Seraph’s hunters. You’re stuck with me one way or another.”
“But—”
“You don’t love me anymore.” He shrugged. “I get that. Fifty years is a long time.” It still hurt like the devil. “But I have to know—did you love me back then? Would you have married me?”
Hilda walked toward him. The glint in her eyes made him step back. “Shut up for a second and let me talk.” She moved across the room until they were toe to toe. “I loved you then, and I love you now. I went after the mage that night because I wanted to finish him off, be done with the job so we could start our new life.” She gave a wry smile. “Clearly that didn’t work. I didn’t come back because you deserved better than a half-crazy ghost with an inferiority complex. I wanted you to be happy.”
For a moment, he couldn’t breathe. Ghost or not, he wouldn’t have cared. All he had wanted—wanted now for that matter—was to be with her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him. “How could you think I’d be happy without you? You’re my soul mate,” he said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“I’m an idiot.” She looked up at him with those beautiful, tear-filled eyes, and he couldn’t resist kissing her. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she pressed the full length of her body against his, wrapping her arms around his neck. The kiss deepened, a riot of passion and lust, and before he knew it his hands were cradling her ass, pulling her from the floor to press her hard against him.
“Not that I mind the show, but your other witch is going nuts down the hall.” Keegan’s voice cut through the mindless haze of lust, and Cade released Hilda.
“We’re a little busy,” Cade growled. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t heard the door open.
“I see that. But when I went in to check on Carina, she attacked me. I can’t fight back or she dies. So she’s your problem.” He grinned, giving Hilda a pronounced wink. “Deal with it or listen to her scream. Clearly it wasn’t bothering you before.” The door slammed behind him.
Hilda’s face was flushed with guilt. “How did I not hear her?” She smoothed down her sweater, wiping her hands on her jeans. “I need to go to her. She’s probably scared out of her mind.”
“Don’t worry.” Cade gave her a little shove. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” she murmured as she reached onto her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. She wanted to leap into his arms, push him onto the bed and take full advantage of him. But Carina needed her, and Hilda owed the other woman her life.
Hilda could hear Carina cursing as she stepped into the hall. The air was so thick with fear it was hard to breathe as she walked to the bedroom. When she pushed open the door, the other woman was lying in the far corner, curled into a tight ball. She was trembling so violently the wooden floor beneath her was vibrating.
“Carina?” Hilda walked inside, careful to keep her voice steady. “Are you okay?”
When Carina didn’t move, she moved closer. “It’s Hilda. Can you hear me?”
She shifted, peering through her long auburn hair. “Make them stop. I’ll be good. I won’t try to escape again. I swear.”
Hilda crouched beside her. “What are you talking about? What are they doing?”
“This.” Carina gestured to the room. “It’s screwing with my head. Making me think I’m safe, out of the Void. Make it stop.” She grabbed at her hair, moaning.
“No, Carina. You’re not imagining this. You are safe. We’re not in the Void anymore. Remember I told you about Cade? He pulled us out.” Hilda crouched beside her. She reached out to touch Carina, but the other woman flinched and pulled away. “It’s going to be all right. This is my home. Remember I told you about Brenna? She healed you. You’re going to be fine. No one here will hurt you.”
“No. You’re lying. You’re one of them.” She sat up, eyes narrowing. “Give me your hand.”
Hilda didn’t have any choice but to do what she asked because anything else would escalate Carina’s paranoia. Carina muttered a quick incantation, summoning a blade to her hand. She sliced it across Hilda’s palm, watching the blood well in the wound.
Hilda jerked back, stunned. “Damn it. That hurt.” She tore a scrap from the bed sheet and wrapped it around her hand. “What the hell is wrong with you? You weren’t this screwed up in the Void.”
But Carina was staring into nothing, her eyes wide and unfocused. “How did you do it? I tried so many times,” she whispered.
“I didn’t. Cade and the others pooled their powers and broke through the wards. I promise, Carina, you’re back on the Earthly plane.”
Carina ran her fingers through her hair, tugging at the ends. “I’ve been gone for so long. The coven was in the middle of a war when I was banished. The humans were blowing each other up, and we were killing each other. I’m surprised there’s anyone left. There were rumors the nuclear fallout was going to destroy the air.”
“Holy crap. You’ve been in the Void since the Fall? How are you still sane?” Leaning forward, Hilda squeezed her hand. “This is a totally different century. The war that was going on when you were alive destroyed the Earth. Everything had to be rebuilt.”
Carina rubbed her eyes. “There were so many times I wanted to give up. But I had to get back here. My sisters and I released a demon prince, and I need to banish him.”
The story sounded all too familiar. “Which demon did you raise?”
“Its name was Ga’loh. Why? What does it matter?”
Suddenly it all made sense. “You’re Agnes’s sister.”
“You know Agnes?” Carina sat up. “Is she here?”
There was no sense in sugarcoating it. “She’s dead. She sacrificed herself to banish the demon you freed. They’re both gone.”
“Good. One of us had to do it.” The tears streaming down her face belied her words. “I just wish it had been me.” She paused, an uncertain look on her face.
“What? You better tell me everything. I saved your ass.”
“Actually your boyfriend did,” Carina retorted. “It’s so weird to even think about being free. I’ve wanted it for so long, but it’s kind of anticlimactic.”
Hilda couldn’t help but laugh. “There’s no pleasing you, is there?”
“Oh there is. But I have no idea how to deal with all these emotions. I want to twirl and scream at the top of my lungs. But then you’d think I’m insane.” Carina grinned. “Of course, you probably already do. And maybe I am.”
“Don’t change the subject. There was something you were going to ask about Agnes.” Hilda crossed her arms. “Spill.”
>
Carina stood, walking to the dresser. She peered at herself in the mirror, smoothing down her hair. “If Agnes just died, who is leading the coven?”
Something was up. Something big. “I don’t have a clue. I didn’t even know Agnes was dead until Brenna told me earlier. Why?”
“Agnes was my second. I was the coven leader.” She met Hilda’s eyes in the mirror. “My blood kin started the coven. We’ve always ruled.”
“I hope you’re not planning on marching in there and taking over. They’re mourning Agnes. You need to give them some time.”
“Agnes would have had a plan. She would never have put herself at risk if she didn’t have a successor picked out.” Carina turned to face Hilda. “I taught her better than that.”
Hilda walked toward her, shaking her head. “She was desperate. We all were.”
“It doesn’t matter. Agnes didn’t breathe without a plan,” Carina replied. “Regardless, I need to see my coven. There must be someone left who will remember me. They’ll welcome me back, especially with the threat from the demons. My bloodline is the most powerful—always has been. They need me.”
“So you’re going to do it? Try to take your place as coven leader?” Hilda sank onto the bed. The last thing they needed was infighting, especially among the witches, their strongest allies.
“Not unless they want me. I’m done fighting. After a few centuries, I’m due a little peace.” Carina glanced at her reflection in the mirror. “And some new clothes.”
Hilda laughed. “I can do something about the clothes, but you may have to wait another century for the peace.” She walked to the closet and pulled out a pair of worn jeans and a black tank top and hoodie. “I’ll let the coven fill you in on what’s happened since you’ve been gone, but it hasn’t been pretty.”
“You’re allied with them?”
“Sometimes.” Hilda handed her the clothes. “Agnes’s daughter was Brenna’s friend. We joined forces after she was murdered.”
“I see,” Carina said. “Can you set you up a meeting with them?
Piercing the Darkness Page 6
