“Yeah, I already figured out that part.” He lifted his hand and his fingers burst into flames. “Guess he didn’t get them all.”
“No, that would be impossible unless he killed you. Lucky that you escaped.”
“Lucky?” Tell bit off a curse. “Lucky isn’t quite the word I’d use, Dad.”
Seneca’s mouth twisted in a frown. “It was a miracle, quite honestly. Akhar was powerful and given the energy he stole from you, a serious threat to all of us.”
Tell rolled his eyes. “Where’s Sylvie?”
“Home. I sent her to tell Rhia we’re alive.” Wystan drew his bowie knife from its sheath. He grabbed the end of Tell’s sheets and proceeded to clean the blade. “Akhar’s finished, but it leaves a mess trying to figure out if there are other demons in the Gray Lands who’d like to try the same thing.”
“I’m not going back there.” An edge of fear slid out. “Every one of them knows what I can do and I’m not giving them another chance to kill me.”
“I wouldn’t ask that. For now, you’re safer here than in the Gray Lands.” Seneca glanced down at Dochi. “Eban is perfecting a new talent of his own.”
“What?” Tell eyed his brother. “What the hell else kind of weird shit is happening?”
“That thing you do, reading minds?” Eban smiled. “Turns out I can almost do it. Well enough that we think we can trust Nebo.”
“You trust that thing?” Tell closed his eyes. “It comes near me and I’m sinking every bolt I have into its hide.”
Except he’d lost them in that cave. All his weapons were gone.
“I wish you wouldn’t.” Seneca’s voice was soft, persuasive. “He does want to help. We need him if we’re going to rid you of the curse.”
He sat up straighter. Hot anger sparked through him. “No, we don’t, because Sandra told me the book is here. It’s in Berner somewhere and I’ll rip this town to pieces if I have to. Dochi will help me find it.”
The dream or vision or whatever it had been was already fading. She hadn’t given him a single clue about where to find the book.
“Dochi helps,” the minion said. “Whatever Master Tell asks of him.”
“You’re glowing.” Wystan pointed the knife at Tell. “You better settle down.”
“I have some right to be upset. I’ve been through a lot the last few days.” Heat throbbed in his fingertips as he shot to his feet. “And since this is my house, if I want to burn it to the ground, I guess I can.”
“Tell, don’t.” Eban held up his hands. “We want to help.”
“I’m about tired of people saying that.” His fingers exploded with fire. “It’s time for the three of you to—”
“Tell!” Sylvie pushed the door open. “This is your family. What are you doing?”
The flames flickered and shrank. “You’re supposed to be at home.”
“It looks like it’s a good thing I’m not.” She stepped inside and closed the door. “What’s going on?”
Seneca’s mouth opened, then closed.
“What?” Tired of drawing stares, Tell glowered at his father.
“She made you calm.”
“I don’t want to hurt Sylvie. As for the rest of you…” He shrugged. “What of it?”
“Your mother had a similar effect on me. When she was around, I didn’t feel as though I needed to destroy everything in sight.” Seneca shook his head. “Being with her made my powers weaker. She kept me…happy.”
“What?” Tell snorted. “You’re saying Sylvie is some kind of demon-power snuffer?”
Seneca’s brow furrowed. “Your own demon-power snuffer, if you like that phrase. I’d guess she doesn’t have that effect on your brothers.”
“Why?” Sylvie asked. “Why would I be able to block Tell’s powers?”
“Dare I say love?” Seneca’s face opened with a smile. “Love is the most powerful force on earth.”
Her face turned lobster red.
“What?” Wystan’s grip slackened and his knife landed, point first, in one of the floorboards. “She’s not in love with Tell.”
“Who gave you the right to decide who Sylvie can love?” Tell demanded.
“Both of you shut up.” Sylvie stepped between them. “Of course I love him. He’s my best friend. I grew up in his shadow. It doesn’t mean…that.”
Eban cleared his throat. “This is good news. As long as Sylvie is with him, he’s less likely to blow up and murder all of us. The solution is keeping them together.”
“In a circle?” She cringed.
Tell shook his head. “We’re not binding ourselves into a circle. This is ridiculous. You’re all guessing. None of you can prove any of this.”
“You can’t disprove it,” Seneca said.
Wystan tucked his knife away. “No, I don’t like it. Rhia’s not going to let her baby sister stay with Tell day in and day out. It’s not right. I promised my wife Sylvie would be safe in this town and I aim to keep that promise.”
“I’m not afraid, Wys.” She met Tell’s gaze. “I said I’d do anything to help him. I meant it.”
“Do you feel calmer with Sylvie at your side, son?” Seneca rested his hand on Tell’s shoulder. “Be honest.”
He should lie and let Wys take her home. Tell swallowed. “Yes.”
“Nebo wishes to continue to search for a solution. We have no idea what we’re facing here, but if we can suppress Tell’s powers and protect him from demons who wish to steal those powers, the right thing to do is let Sylvie stay with him.” Seneca looked at Wystan. “I understand your concerns, truly, but this is for the good of Berner and everyone here.”
“Rhia’s going to kill me.” Wystan hung his head. “There’s no room for an extra person at the house.”
“Mine either,” Eban said. “It’s not safe there anyhow. What if someone comes looking for Tell while the kids are home? I’m all for protecting him, but I think he needs to be hidden in a place no one would think to look.”
Sylvie curled her hand around Tell’s. “We’ll stay in the rooms above my shop. I’d already live there if it wasn’t for Rhia insisting a young single woman shouldn’t live alone.”
“I can’t ask you to do this.” Guilt pounded at Tell. “People are gonna talk. They’ll think you’re a floozy and hate me for making you one.”
“I don’t care. I’m worried about you.” Her glasses made her eyes seem bigger. “Let me do this.”
Tell rubbed his forehead. “What if we’re wrong and Sylvie has nothing to do with why I can’t get all fired up? If I hurt her?”
Wystan’s face was grim. “Simple. I’ll kill you if I can keep Rhia from it first.”
Death might not be the worst thing he’d faced. Tell nodded. “Fine, but you do it. I imagine Rhia could come up with a few creative ways to torture me before she lets me slip from the mortal coil.”
“Doesn’t even read and he quotes Shakespeare. Demonic, I tell you.” Eban flashed a smile. “I’ll send Beryl Rhia’s way. She’s not going to take this well. I have pity for you, little brother.”
“Don’t pity me. You’re asking a lot of Sylvie.” He sank down on the bed again. “Poor girl will be ruined before the day is out. I’ve already made her former fiancé lose his mind. What do you think will happen to her?”
“Nonsense. I’ve known you so long that if I was going to come out the other side crazy, I’d already be there. Come on, let’s get you to the shop. Everything will work out. I have all that sewing to do and you need more rest.” Sylvie tucked her hand under his arm. “You know you’d do the same for me no matter what anyone thought.”
No sense denying it. Still, who would take care of her if he turned into a full demon?
“Dochi will care for both of you, Master.” The minion grasped his pant leg and a handful of Sylvie’s skirt. They popped ou
t of his house and into the dark upstairs of Sylvie’s shop.
* * * * *
Sylvie lit a lamp and placed it on a crate in the corner. “It’s not much. I hardly ever come up here.” A glimmer beside the box caught her eye. “Oh, scissors. I was looking for those last week. I might need them up here now.”
“We gonna sleep on the floor?” Tell pushed the toe of his boot through the dust. “I hope someone thinks to bring us blankets.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s meant to be lived in. I thought of that when I picked this shop, but Rhia wouldn’t hear of it then. I have a whole chest full of blankets and things if Wys can convince Rhia to bring them. It’s not going to be an uncomfortable experience. A little boring for you, maybe. You might have to take up reading after all.”
Tell’s eyes lit up. “Dochi, those books I asked you to fetch?”
“Of course, Master.” The imp disappeared.
“I do have some reading to catch up on.” The words were no sooner out of his mouth than Dochi reappeared with a towering stack of books. The spines were tattered and moldy. Ancient texts—or old copies—that hadn’t seen the light of day in years.
“What is all this?”
“Any text Dochi could find containing information about name curses. Set ’em down anywhere, Dochi. We’ve got a bit of housecleaning to do before I can start in.”
“Yes, Master.” Dochi grunted as he dropped the books. “I will help.”
“’Course you will. I suppose you can turn yourself into an abbeylubber at will.”
Sylvie pinched her lips together. “Quit pestering him. He’ll be useful.”
“You’re saying I won’t.” Tell put his hands on his hips.
“I’ve seen your idea of a clean house. I’m not impressed.”
“And I’ve seen your shop when it looked like a storm hit it. Material and thread everywhere. It’s scary as hell.”
Sylvie gritted her teeth and counted to ten. “Tell, we’ve been alone for five minutes and we’re already arguing. Let’s calm down and try to see eye to eye on this.”
“Dochi’s not a pet. We’re not a family. We’re not playing house here, Princess, no matter how cozy things are going to get.” His face flushed red. “Father might think this is the best idea, but it’s not going to hold. The demon will break free and when it does, bye-bye Berner.”
Her stomach flipped. “Listen to yourself. That’s not the attitude of the man I know. You’ve always seen the best in a bad situation. Don’t let the demon tell you what it wants you to believe.”
His shoulders dropped. “Shit, Sylvie.”
Crying had never solved any problems for her, but the urge to give in hit her. Poor Tell, so lost and confused when he was used to being in charge of his destiny. Of course it made him cranky. Putting up with him in this mood wouldn’t be easy, but he’d tolerated her when she was upset too.
“I’m going downstairs to put a note in the window to let everyone know the shop will be closed for a while. I’ll get the broom and dustpan. You sit down and don’t worry about a thing.” She directed him to another empty crate. “I’m sure Rhia will be here soon with some things to make it more comfortable up here.”
“I’m sorry. This is… Nothing is going the way I thought. I’ve spent the last eight years searching for some way to get rid of the curse and I haven’t turned up a single damn thing that’s any use.” Tell gripped her hand. “Then I had a dream about Sandra. She said the book she used is here somewhere. Maybe one of these is it. Or maybe I’m making the whole thing up.”
“You’re not making it up. The answer is out there somewhere. We’ll find it.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Have some patience.”
His lips curled up. “The only thing you’ve ever been patient with is that sewing machine downstairs. Why should I listen to you?”
Her heart fluttered. She’d waited years for him to notice she wasn’t a child anymore. If you only knew. “Maybe I’ve grown up.”
His gaze roamed over her. “Can’t argue that.”
“None of that talk or Rhia will kill both of us.”
“Nah, just me. She might have her kids to look after now, but she never got over worrying about you. You’ve been her responsibility too long.”
“Poor woman never had a break. She went straight from raising me to Sammy and that thing he does with calling animals.”
“She loves it. Loves you. How could anyone help it?” He tugged her down beside him. “You can’t help but love some people.”
Sylvie licked her lips. “I think that proves it.”
“What?”
“Proves you’re not being taken over. If you were, you couldn’t love anything.” She leaned closer. “Give me a list of all the things you love.”
If I were one of them, we’d really set the world on fire. Maybe living with him wasn’t her best idea. Sitting so close to him, all she wanted to do was touch every inch of his body. Kiss him, try out the things she’d read about in the book about sex she kept under her mattress.
He hesitated, lips parted. “Do I have to?”
“Yes.”
“My crossbow and bolts.”
A pang of disappointment struck her. “Go on.”
“Wystan and Eban, on certain days.”
The pained looked that crossed his face made her laugh despite her heartache. “I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to hear it.”
“I loved my mother, although I barely remember her.” He lowered his gaze. “She had soft, gentle hands. I remember her soap and sometimes I swear I can hear her singing. Mostly when I’ve been out on the trail too long.”
“I don’t remember much about mine either,” she said. “Rhia took care of me from the time I was little.”
“She did good.”
“You’re getting off track. What else do you love?”
“I suppose I must have loved my father. Seems like the kind of thing a boy would do. Look up to a man who seemed—who was—larger than life.” His brow furrowed. “I’m not sure how I feel about him now. Some of the things he’s into seem eerie.”
“He’d be sad to hear it. He wants the best for you, I can tell.” She brushed off her skirt. “Well, I’d better get the broom. Maybe we should send Dochi to Lois’s for some food.”
“Wait, I’m not done. There’s one more thing I need to list.” He smoothed hair behind her ear. “I love—”
Footsteps thundered up the stairs. Tell rose and shoved her behind him.
Rhia came through the doorway. Her hazel eyes blazed. “What in the world do you think you’re doing, Sylvia Duke? You can’t move in with Tell and expect me to approve of it.”
Sylvie rounded Tell and faced Rhia. “It’s perfectly innocent. We’re not going to tumble into bed together just because we’re sharing a room.” Her intentions were perfectly innocent. Mostly. She’d have to keep her hands to herself.
Rhia’s brown furrowed. “That’s what everyone is going to think no matter what.”
“I’m not concerned with everyone else. Just Tell and us. You’re not going to sway me on it.” Sylvie squared her shoulders. “So instead of telling me I’m wrong for agreeing to it, you can help instead.”
Rhia glared at him, but her face softened when she looked at Sylvie. “I know you think this is for the best. You’re smart and capable, but given the way you feel about him, doesn’t a little part of you want…” She gestured at him.
“Is that what happened to you?”
“Sylvie, this is an entirely different situation than when Wystan and I got together.” Rhia lowered her gaze. “It was rushed a little.”
“A little? Oh, please. You think I don’t know why you insist Sammy was born early? Everyone in this room knows he wasn’t conceived on your honeymoon.”
Rhia’s face paled. “That’s not true.�
�
“I’m not an idiot, Rhia. You were never afraid of keeping knowledge from me and I know how babies are born, how long it takes for one to develop and—”
“That doesn’t have anything to do with this. Unless…” Rhia reddened and she stared between them. “You aren’t? Not while you were with Jeffrey?”
“No. No, no, no. I haven’t touched her that way.” Tell held up his hands. “I swear.”
Sylvie pressed her hands to her face. Her skin burned hot. “No. This isn’t about sex. It’s about Seneca believing I can keep Tell from burning down the town. We’re not in love.”
Liar. Would he have admitted it if Rhia hadn’t burst in?
Rhia sighed. “You can’t live together like this without people talking. I forbid it. You’ll never find a husband if you shack up with Tell. I’m sorry, but it’s true.”
“I don’t care about getting married right now. Tell’s safety is important.” She wouldn’t let Rhia talk her out of this. “I’ve made up my mind.”
“Would it make you feel better if we got married?” Tell stepped up beside her. “In name only.”
Sylvie’s heart dropped. “What? No, we’re not doing that.”
Wystan came through the door. “The building is still standing, so that’s a good sign.”
Rhia threw up a hand to silence him. She pinned Tell with a hard stare. “Is that what you really want?”
“Father believes Sylvie will keep me from turning. Sylvie won’t leave me alone, we both know that, and you want her happy and married. It’s a wedding or nothing.” Tell shrugged. “There are worse people to be hitched to.”
“But what do you want, Tell?” Rhia asked.
“I admire your sister, Rhia. There’s never been a day I thought I’d have to hide or run away to be rid of her. I liked it when she wanted to be my shadow. I’ll take care of her as much as I can while we figure out how to stop this thing.” His face, words and manner were solemn. “I want her safe and taken care of as much as you.”
Sylvie stomped her foot. “Excuse me, but no one has actually asked if that’s what I want.” She prodded his shoulder. “How about a little declaration of love, Heckmaster?”
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