“Nothing exciting.” He zipped up the bag. “Run-of-the-mill demon attack.”
“You do realize what’s run-of-the-mill to you is more excitement than most people see—or want to see—in a lifetime, don’t you?”
“Most people,” he said. “But not you.”
“Yeah, but unlike you, I don’t seek out that type of thrill.”
“You sure about that?” Ash flashed her a sideways glance.
“Very,” Eden replied. “Give me boring any day.”
“And you don’t think it’s telling that you call demon attacks exciting and normal life boring?”
She was going to ask him not to twist her words, but had he?
“Whatever you call it, I’d be more than happy not to be running for my life.”
“Sure,” he said. “But for how long?”
“You think I like this?” Eden made a sweeping gesture. “Always looking over my shoulder? Never feeling safe?”
“I think your eyes just lit up even saying that. I’m not suggesting you’ve liked everything that’s happened—of course, you haven’t. We’ve both lost people…” Pain flashed on his face then disappeared. “But the fight. The fight lets you know you’re alive. It gives your life meaning.”
Eden turned and pressed her back against the window of the bus so she could look at him straight on. “Are we talking about me or you?”
“Both. We aren’t as different as you think.”
“Bes’tal said that to me.” The words were bitter in her mouth. “Right before I killed him.”
Ash held up his hands in surrender. “Forget I said anything.”
But Eden couldn’t forget. As the silence stretched, her mind wandered to places she’d rather it not go.
Finally, she spoke again. “Now that the seals have been found, what does that mean for you?”
“I don’t know.” He said it quietly, as though the question weighed on him. “It was the duty I was born to. I don’t know anything else. I’m simple that way.”
Eden’s lips twitched into a smile. “I don’t think anyone would call you simple.”
“Does that make me complex like you?” He tilted his head, and Eden laughed at the reference.
It was what she’d said to him outside the cave, demanding answers he wouldn’t give. She’d been so mad at him, less than thirty minutes after he’d saved her life.
“Layered,” she replied. “At the very least.”
She glanced down at his hand and found herself longing to slip hers into it. When she looked up, Ash’s eyes held hers.
Over the loudspeaker came an announcement from the driver. They were halfway through their crossing. Twenty more minutes to go.
Eden sighed and popped her ears.
She glanced over at Ash, but the moment was broken. He flashed a tight smile and looked away.
Chapter 33
The sound that escaped Eden’s lips was half groan, half sigh. A groan for the stiffness in her legs and a sigh for the relief she felt stretching them. They’d arrived in Ostend and would have thirty minutes to walk around.
She and Ash filed off the bus with their fellow passengers, heading first toward the restrooms. If Eden could avoid the lavatory on the bus for the entire journey, she wouldn’t feel robbed of the experience.
Once finished, they broke off on their own.
They strolled toward the harbor, following its lights. Eden glanced sidelong at Ash, noticing with some degree of satisfaction that for all his talk of not being cold or needing a proper coat, he’d buttoned his new one up to his chin.
Ash caught her looking. “What?”
Eden pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. “Nothing.”
They crossed the street and found themselves walking amongst rows of sailboats and yachts. Not another soul about—the late hour and the cold a deterrent for anyone who wasn’t partway through an epic bus journey.
Ash glanced at his phone. “We can stay fifteen minutes, then we should head back.”
Eden nodded in agreement and tried to soak in her surroundings. True, she was on the run from a god, but she was also in Belgium. Who knew when she’d be back? Before long, they’d be cutting through Germany. She at least wanted to feel Belgium for these few minutes before she had to leave.
They strolled in comfortable silence until Eden had to speak. “Not to spoil the moment, but we’re finally alone, and something has been bothering me.”
“What is it?”
“How do Agamon’s followers even know I exist?”
They turned and started down a dock as Ash considered.
“If his followers are hunting you, it’s at his direction. We’ve heard reports that his touch on the world grows stronger.”
Eden’s flesh pebbled. “Stronger, how?”
“You said the Av Rek demon…Bes’tal. He broke one of the seals?”
“He crushed it in his hand like it was nothing.” The pain of that moment, of realizing it wasn’t a portal key she could use to send him back where he’d come from, flashed in her mind.
“The stones were supposed to be indestructible, but Av Reks are…strong.”
“Tell me about it.” Eden had nearly died trying to beat him.
“When Agamon was first captured, his prison was solid. He had no contact with the outside world at all. But over the centuries, the structure of his confinement became more porous. About twenty years ago, he gained the ability to communicate with demons. Sporadically at first, then more often. A few weeks ago, we got word he could now touch the minds of his human acolytes. We believe it’s what led to the seals being stolen.”
“A few weeks ago…” Eden swallowed. When Bes’tal crushed the stone. “I did this.”
It had been her spell that had gone awry and allowed Bes’tal to enter this world.
“You didn’t.” Ash laid a hand on her shoulder. “This isn’t anyone’s fault but Agamon’s. Even the witches who helped him in the first place…what other options were they left with? They did what they had to do, just like you. Like me. We’re all stained by our choices. That doesn’t mean we can avoid making them.”
His eyes held hers, and Eden was keenly aware of his hand still on her shoulder.
“As to how Agamon knows about you, well…” His hand was tentative as it brushed her cheek. “I don’t think anyone could be in your orbit and not be drawn to you.”
He leaned in, and Eden could feel the kiss before it happened. She closed her eyes, breathless. Waiting.
Ash dropped his hand. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Eden opened her eyes to find he’d backed away from her.
“What is it?”
“I should have told you before…”
He has a girlfriend.
“When you gave me some of your power. There was a side effect.”
“What kind of side effect?”
“This kind.” He gestured at the space between them. “I know you felt it when it happened—the intensity of the moment. That intensity…lingers.”
“Lingers as in…” Eden waited for him to fill the gap.
“I think you know.” His gaze was rich with meaning.
Eden’s cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment. “You cast some kind of attraction spell on me?”
“It’s not a spell. It’s a side effect of what we shared. It only intensifies what’s already there—makes a bond. And you don’t have to worry, it will fade in a few days.”
“So, you just let me make a fool of myself?” Mortified, Eden wished the Earth would swallow her. “Was that fun for you?”
“I should have told you. I’m sorry. But at the well, there wasn’t time, and after that we lost the stone, and then you were so sick, and I thought I might lose you…” He reached for her hand, but Eden pulled it away. Regret painted his face. “I wasn’t trying to deceive you, and you haven’t been making a fool of yourself. I feel it too. You know I do. The difference is—” He shook his head as thoug
h disbelieving what he’d been about to say.
“Say it.” Eden folded her arms. “Tell me what’s so different.”
He leveled his gaze. When he spoke, it was almost defiant. “My feelings for you were pretty intense before you ever shared your magic.”
Eden’s breath caught. “Oh.”
A loud crack ripped through the moment, and their eyes darted up toward the source of the sound. It was the mast of a sailboat, cracked and about to fall directly on Eden.
Ash shoved her out of the way, and she crashed to the ground. She rolled over to see that Ash had missed being struck.
“What the—” Eden cut off at what she spied atop the deck of the boat—a woman with long blond hair and a flowing gossamer dress, staring down at her with hatred in her eyes. “There!” Eden pointed and scrambled toward the boat.
It had to be one of Agamon’s followers.
“Eden, wait!”
Behind her, Ash sounded terrified. Ash was never terrified. But Eden neither slowed nor turned back. She leapt onto the boat and raced toward the woman who remained stock-still, her eyes alight with menace.
“You want me?” Eden spread her arms as she readied a fireball. “Come get me.”
Her attacker bared her teeth. “That’s the plan.”
The fireball bloomed in Eden’s hand, and she launched it straight at the woman’s midsection. It sailed through the air and into the woman’s chest. And then through it, hitting the water and fizzling out.
Eden’s breath caught. The woman remained whole. Untouched. But the fireball had—
“Eden, don’t.” Ash was beside her now, grabbing her arm.
“She…she didn’t die.” Eden readied another ball of fire—bigger this time.
“If at first you don’t succeed…” The woman cocked her head and spread her arms as Eden had, mocking her.
An even larger ball of fire exploded from Eden’s hand. She had missed last time—she must have. This one was too big to miss. But again, it passed through the woman, this time crashing into the neighboring boat.
Beside her, Ash gaped, seemingly paralyzed. His eyes were wide with shock.
The boom of the ship spun, swinging straight for Eden. She dove out of the way, slamming into the deck. The boom had missed Ash, and thank the gods because still he stood frozen, transfixed.
Thrall.
She’d seen it before with the borahn. Was this a demon or a witch? Either way, she had the power to enchant, though thankfully, Eden was unaffected. If a fireball wouldn’t work…
A ribbon of green light shot from Eden’s hand, snaking its way around their attacker.
“You think to bind me?” She sounded amused. Eden burned with anger. The woman now addressed Ash. “Your taste has…dropped off.”
Now it was Eden’s turn to be struck dumb.
She swung her gaze to Ash. “What is she talking about? Who is she?”
Ash swallowed, his mouth working. “O-Olivia. She’s my…” He turned from Eden back to the woman. “My girlfriend.”
Chapter 34
Sarah entered The Grind and was immediately hit by the aroma of freshly roasted coffee. Quinn was behind the counter taking an order. He glanced up, and Sarah gestured toward a table. He nodded and went back to his customer.
Sarah slid into the booth and pulled out her phone to pass the time while she waited. Scrolling through the local news app, she found a story about an incident of road rage.
Road rage? In Somerland?
She could count the times she’d heard so much as a honked horn.
“I don’t have long,” Quinn said, taking a seat. “We’re still short-staffed from the holiday.”
“I just wanted to check on you. Kai told me about…what Eden said.”
Quinn flinched but shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”
Sarah leaned forward. “Do you think it was some kind of code?”
She’d turned the situation over and over in her mind and landed on two explanations: Eden had been trying to protect them or sending a message. Maybe both.
“Eden and I don’t have a secret code. Definitely not one that involves having Kai dump me on her behalf.”
“So, what are you thinking?” Sarah asked.
“I think she meant it. It just doesn’t matter. If anything, it makes me more determined to find her.”
“Same.” Sarah tapped her fingers on the table. “Although, when she gets back, we need to have a serious talk about this penchant for lone-wolf behavior.”
Quinn flashed a sad smile. “I look forward to that day. Any news on when it might be?”
“I wish. Whatever bug crawled up Alex’s butt and made her tell us she was going to the Council, it crawled back out. All she’ll say is that she’s ‘handling it.’”
Quinn exhaled, exasperated. “Eden’s not the only lone wolf.”
Sarah’s mouth twisted into a wry smirk. “If you ever tell either of them I said this, I’ll deny it and turn you into a toad, but those two are more alike than either would ever admit.”
“Quinn.” The lone barista called to him from behind the counter where half a dozen customers waited to order.
“I’ve gotta go. Must be the holidays, but everyone has been extra rude and impatient.” He stood. “Text me right away if you hear anything.”
“I will. Don’t give up.”
“On Eden? Never.” He flashed a smile and hurried back to work.
Quinn’s dedication to her best friend warmed Sarah’s insides. It didn’t make her any less worried for Eden, but it did make her sure that when they found her—and they would—things could get back to normal.
Normal for Coventry House, anyway.
Chapter 35
“She’s your what?”
Eden’s mouth dropped open. She stared at Ash then back at the woman.
“Olivia, what…” Ash stepped toward the woman on shaking legs. “How?”
“Didn’t I tell you our love was forever?” She smiled, her face like that of a porcelain doll.
“You did.” His words came out so soft, Eden almost didn’t hear them.
Eden didn’t know what this was, but she knew this woman—Ash’s girlfriend—was trying to kill her. She cycled through possibilities, trying to figure out how a fireball could pass through her, why the binding had done nothing.
Nearby, the boat she’d accidentally set ablaze burned bright, a tunnel of smoke stretching high into the sky. In the distance, she heard a siren’s wail.
Eden had read about spells that allowed witches to astral project but dismissed that as an answer. Astral projection didn’t allow the one projecting to affect the physical world.
“You’re dead,” she blurted. “You’re a ghost.”
“I needed to see you.” Olivia spoke to Ash, not even sparing Eden a glance.
“How are you here?” Ash stood in front of her. He reached out to touch her cheek, but his hand passed through, and he yanked it back.
“It’s cold, I know.” Olivia’s eyes were filled with regret.
The cold.
The chill she’d felt at the airport and in the wading pool just before the branch had fallen. And just now, when Ash had almost kissed her.
“You’ve been watching us. This whole time, you’ve been watching us.” Eden felt sick. Violated.
“It’s been quite the show.” Still, Olivia’s eyes stayed on Ash.
“I-I didn’t know. I thought you’d crossed over.” Anguish was plain in Ash’s voice. “Why haven’t you?”
Her eyes—which minutes earlier had burned with hate—now shone with love. “I’m not done yet.”
“The hell you aren’t.” A spell had formed in Eden’s mind. The mind that had been imprinted with the knowledge of others more skilled than her.
She stepped forward, readying a weave.
“Eden, no.” Ash spun around, blocking her access to Olivia.
“Seriously?” Eden said. “She’s tried to kill me twice in the past fif
teen minutes.”
“And if it were Quinn?” Ash challenged. Eden still didn’t like him saying Quinn’s name. “If it were him, you’d let me do whatever you’re about to?”
“Quinn wouldn’t hurt you.” Eden squared off in front of him.
“Are you sure of that?” Ash’s eyes flashed.
Quinn wouldn’t kill Ash, but if he’d seen them kiss?
Assuming he still cared, if Quinn had seen that kiss, he’d have beaten the hell out of Ash or gotten knocked out trying.
The sirens grew closer, flashing lights visible in the distance but approaching at high speed. The prow of the boat in the next slip was completely engulfed in flames.
She turned back to Ash. “We have to get out of here.”
Ghosts might not go to jail, but she and Ash would.
Olivia smiled as Ash turned to face her. “It’s all right,” she said. “Go. I’ll see you again soon.”
The way she said it, the look in her eye, chilled Eden more than the presence of a ghost.
Like a wisp of smoke, she was gone, fading into the air. Ash watched as though still unable to believe what he’d seen.
Firetrucks streaked across the parking lot of the pier, their sirens deafening.
“If we’re leaving, it better be now,” Eden shouted above the cacophony.
Her words broke Ash from his stupor. He cast his eyes around. “This way.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her across the deck to the stairs that led to the dock. He held fast as they raced farther down the pier, ducking low and keeping to the shadows.
The trucks screeched to a halt. A glance over her shoulder and Eden saw firefighters jumping from their trucks and deploying hoses. They would be too busy putting out the blaze to worry about who’d set it. The police, on the other hand… Squad cars streamed across the lot.
Ash pulled her up onto the deck of the last boat moored to the pier.
“Stay low.” He took his own advice as he darted across the surface of the small yacht.
He tried the door but found it locked. Ash glanced back at the police, only now arriving. He stripped off his coat and wrapped it around his arm before jabbing an elbow into the glass of the door. Eden kept her eyes on the police, but they didn’t change course.
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