Sarah—I’m on my way over.
If Sarah knew how to fly, she’d have flown to Quinn’s apartment. That’s how much she needed his help. And only his help. He was the only one she could trust with this information, if for no other reason than because of how much he loved Eden.
One shuttle ride and a short walk later, she banged on his door.
“Whoa, take it easy.” Quinn opened the door. “What is it? Has something happened to Eden?”
“It’s what isn’t happening we need to worry about.” Sarah marched past him, stopping short at the sight of Kai. “What’s she doing here?”
Kai and Quinn exchanged a glance, and Sarah’s stomach dropped.
This was a mistake. She shouldn’t have come here. She couldn’t trust Quinn any more than the rest of them.
She backed up. “Never mind.”
She spun on her heel, but Quinn held fast to her arm.
“Sarah, stop, please. What is it? Tell me what’s happened.”
Fury burned in Sarah and filled her eyes with hot tears. “No. You’re one of them.”
“One of who?” Quinn asked.
“Don’t act like you don’t know.” She yanked her arm from Quinn’s grasp. “Eden is lucky she got away from you.”
Kai turned to address Quinn. “Do you see what I mean?”
She was trying to act concerned, but Sarah wasn’t fooled. Kai was enjoying this.
“This is what you wanted all along, isn’t it?” Sarah spat. “For me to fall apart without you? Well, I won’t. I told you—go back to your boring ex and leave me alone.”
Instead of engaging, Kai raised an eyebrow at Quinn.
“Yep.” The word had barely left his lips before he spun and locked arms around Sarah.
Her mind reeled. What were they doing? What was going on?
Lightning bolts danced at her fingers, and she was about to send enough electricity into Quinn to down an elephant. But then Kai was there, looming in her vision.
“I’m sorry about this.” Kai held something in her hand—a medallion the size of a quarter dangling from a chain.
There was that mock concern again. Maybe Sarah would zap her first.
Kai pressed the medallion to Sarah’s heart, and there was nothing but pain.
Chapter 41
By the time Eden stepped off the bus in Targu Mures, she’d forgotten what fresh air felt like. She sucked in a huge breath, filling her lungs and marveling at how sweet it tasted.
She’d stretched her legs at various stops on the journey by walking the length of the bus, but now she took long strides, eager to be far away from its confines.
It was almost midnight. The only view she got of the town was courtesy of the faint glow from the lamplights dotting the street.
“This way,” Ash directed. “Someone is picking us up.”
Eden followed after him.
“There she is.” Ash picked up his pace, heading toward an older white car, stained with rust.
A woman with auburn hair leaned against its frame. When she spotted Ash, her eyes lit up. “Pasha.”
Pasha?
The woman slapped Ash’s shoulder then pulled him into a tight embrace.
“Isabella,” he said. “It’s good to see you.”
“And you.” She spoke with an Eastern European accent, her voice smooth and deep.
“This is Eden.” Ash moved aside, and Eden stepped forward.
“Pleased to meet you.” Eden held out her hand.
“Same.” Isabella ignored her hand and pulled her into a hug with as much affection as she had Ash. “We are happy to have you.”
Coming as she was, bringing danger and needing help, Eden hadn’t expected such an enthusiastic welcome. She hoped the rest of the village felt the same.
“We’ll need to do something about that.” Isabella addressed Ash but nodded toward the area on Eden’s chest that had been marked.
“That’s why we’re here,” Ash replied. “We need to see the delagati.”
“Good luck with that. They’ve been locked in conclave for days.”
Isabella grabbed their bags and rounded the car toward the trunk.
“What does that mean?” Eden asked under her breath.
She had come halfway across the world on the promise that if she came, these people would help her.
“Just that they’re having a private meeting about something. Don’t worry.” He brushed the back of his hand on her forearm. “I promised they would help you, and they will.”
Isabella rejoined them and gestured to Eden. “You should ride up front. The road is winding and not so good on a stomach unaccustomed to twists and turns.”
Eden smiled with appreciation and hoped Isabella didn’t notice her teeth were clenched.
She’d had enough twists to last a lifetime.
Chapter 42
White heat seared Sarah’s insides.
Kai and Quinn were going to kill her, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Images of the harbinger and her certainty of betrayal flashed in her mind. Magic was nothing but a mirage in the distance…a promise of salvation never to materialize. Everything was out of reach but the pain.
And then even that was gone.
“Sarah.” The voice was soft at first, then more insistent. “Sarah, wake up. She shouldn’t have been out this long.”
“How does the medallion feel?” A man’s voice.
“It’s not hot anymore. That’s supposed to mean it worked.”
The medallion.
Sarah’s eyes flew open and took in the sight of Kai hovering over her, Quinn just behind.
“You tried to kill me.” Sarah’s voice was the scrape of sandpaper.
She sat up and reached for a spell.
Kai and Quinn exchanged uneasy glances.
“She shouldn’t be paranoid anymore.” Kai touched the silver medallion to Sarah’s skin, but this time, instead of heat, all she felt was cool metal.
Sarah shoved Kai’s hand away.
“It’s not paranoia if it’s true.” She pushed herself up onto unsteady legs.
Sparks danced at her fingers. Kai noticed and held up a hand.
“Easy, Sarah. Let me explain.” She took a step backward.
“Go ahead, tell me why you want me dead.”
The more Sarah repeated the accusation, the more ridiculous it sounded. Broken up or not, Kai would never hurt her.
“You were sick.” Quinn stopped forward. “We were just trying to help you.”
“Help me?”
“Sarah, think.” Kai took a tentative step toward her. “Think about some of the things you’ve been saying the past few days. I can only imagine what you’ve been thinking…”
“What I’ve been thinking?”
Sarah’s memory of the past few days was a jumbled mess, but she recalled something about Kai and her ex-girlfriend, which made no sense because that ex lived across the country now.
“I don’t understand.” Sarah let the sparks fizzle and sank to the sofa.
“You’ve been acting…off.” Kai sat next to her. “I thought it was stress, but then you got a little…more off…and I knew there had to be something else to it. Quinn was the one who suggested it might be supernatural.”
“Just kind of playing the odds.” Quinn shrugged. “Especially since the whole town seems to have gone crazy. Then I remembered what you told me about the crack in the ground and thought it might be related.”
“We’ve all been affected.” Kai placed her hand on Sarah’s knee. “It’s why I was harsher than I needed to be about everything—especially Eden. I’m sorry.”
“And I spent a half a day convinced Eden was hooking up with that Ash guy.” Quinn snorted. “That was when I really knew I’d lost it. Kai and I went to the magic shop in Haverland. The woman said there’s been an increase in dark energy since last Friday.”
“When Eden left…” Sarah’s thoughts were starting to catch up.
>
“Right,” Quinn continued. “She sold us that medallion and said it would help, and it has. No more crazy jealous guy.”
“And I feel better too. That’s when I realized why you’ve been acting so crazy. If the bad mojo is coming from that crack, no one was closer to it than you.”
“Except Alex…” Sarah said.
“That’s the only part I can’t figure out.” Quinn knitted his brow. “Why wasn’t Alex affected the way you were? She was with you when you went back to the cavern. You both had equal exposure to the source of the…infection.”
“He’s right,” Kai said. “If anything, Alex has been nicer lately. A week ago she would have never told us about the Council coming—”
“But they’re not.” Sarah stood, realization dawning. “Alex being nice is her being off.”
“The Council isn’t coming?” Quinn narrowed his eyes.
Sarah’s words tumbled out. “That’s what I was coming to tell you. I overheard her talking to Davida as if everything was fine. When she told us they were on their way—that they were already looking for Eden—it was a lie. They have no idea she’s even missing.”
The color drained from Quinn’s face. “I’ve been doing nothing to find Eden because I was afraid I might screw something up, and I knew they had a better chance. I could have—”
“Later.” Sarah strode to the door. “We have to deal with the Eden situation later. Right now, we have to find Alex.” She glanced back at Kai. “Bring the medallion.”
It was time for Alex to burn.
Chapter 43
Isabella had not exaggerated. The road they traveled was more winding than Eden had ever experienced. Front seat or no, her stomach lurched at every hairpin corner.
“You’re looking a little green over there.” Isabella’s tone was more teasing than mocking.
“I’m told it’s my color.” Eden braced herself to lessen the impact of another curve.
“We’re almost there,” Ash said from the back seat.
Thank the gods.
Eden couldn’t even focus on the scenery; she could only see as far as the headlights.
Isabella continued her lecture on the history of the region, and Eden tried to concentrate but was preoccupied by the effort not to vomit. They crested a hill and made one final turn.
“Here we are.”
Soft, glowing lights illuminated the walled village. Even at night, Eden could see it was charming. From her vantage point, she spied mostly cottages with a handful of taller buildings in the center of the hamlet.
Isabella had barely eased to a stop before Eden exited the car. She’d thought nothing could be worse than the bus ride. When would she ever learn to stop jinxing herself? Situations could always get worse.
“The cottage you shared with Ani is open. I assume you remember the way?”
“It hasn’t been that long, Iz.” Ash grabbed their bags from the trunk.
Eden was going to offer to take hers, but she felt weak with nausea, and he seemed content to carry both.
“I’ll leave you to it then. Sleep well.” Isabella gave a mock salute and set off on a winding path that swallowed her in darkness.
“We’re over there.” Ash led the way down a dirt path dotted with small lights.
They walked along a row of stone cottages. The air was cold and helped to revive Eden. By the time they’d reached their destination, she was feeling herself again.
Inside, their cottage was warm, thanks to burning logs in the fireplace.
“I’m surprised they left that burning with no one here.” Ash slid their bags from his shoulders and onto the floor.
“Someone is here.”
Eden jumped and turned to find the source of the voice.
A woman in her thirties emerged from the kitchen. An air of authority radiated from her. When she spoke again, it was in a foreign tongue. Eden couldn’t make out the words but thought she heard concern in her tone.
“English, please, Magda. So Eden can understand.”
“Yes, of course,” Magda replied, turning to Eden. “I was telling Pasha that you are both safe now from Olivia. When he contacted me about her visitation, I made sure our wards were strengthened.”
“Thank you,” Eden said. “That’s good to hear.”
“Have you tried to make contact?” Ash asked.
“I thought it better to wait until you arrived.” She glanced at Eden. “What did she claim to want?”
“Mostly, she just tried to kill me.” She felt Ash tense beside her, but now wasn’t the time to sugarcoat.
“And you?” Magda turned to Ash. “What did she have to say?”
Ash shifted, clearly conflicted. “That we weren’t done.”
Magda offered a measuring look. “A ghost does not expect to continue a love affair with a human. I have heard of spirits attempting to call their loved one to the other side, which is wretched enough, but if Olivia made attempts on Eden’s life…”
“Could she be jealous?” Eden asked it as a question, but she already knew the answer.
“I’m sure she is.” Magda’s gaze swung from Eden to Ash in a way that made Eden feel naked. “But I don’t think revenge is all she’s after.”
“What, then?” Ash spoke with urgency mixed with impatience. “Speak plainly.”
“There is magic, deep magic, darker than anything I’ve ever practiced, that would allow a spirit to take over the body of another.” Magda’s eyes grew rich with meaning, and she addressed Eden. “At the moment of that person’s death.”
Eden’s flesh pebbled, and this time she did glance around, wards or no. “You’re saying Olivia wants to…replace me?”
Ash’s eyes blazed. “Olivia would never—”
“Do not lecture me on what your lover is capable of,” Magda snapped. “She is but a shadow of her former self. You have no idea what she might do.”
Ash shook his head as though ridding himself of her words. “It was not in her nature to hurt anyone.”
“Are you willing to stake your life on that?” Magda’s eyes flashed with intensity. “More to the point, will you stake Eden’s?”
“It won’t come to that.” Ash sounded as though he were trying to convince himself more than anyone. “Could Agamon be controlling her?”
“If Agamon had gained the ability to possess people—even ghosts—I would know.”
“Then I’ll ask the delagati about next steps. Do they know we’ve arrived?”
“I’ll send word. You’ll be summoned when they’re ready.”
“I’d be thrilled to solve the Olivia situation,” Eden said. “But honestly, I’m less afraid of her than I am the god that’s hunting me.”
Magda’s eyes came to rest on the skin over Eden’s heart.
“Yes. The mark is the more pressing concern. But neither will be solved tonight. Allow me to retrieve what I came for, and I’ll allow you both to rest.” Magda turned to Ash and held out her hand. “The seals.”
Ash opened his backpack and fished around in the inner compartment until he withdrew the small sack. He placed it in her palm.
She tied the strings of the bag to her belt loop without opening it. “And the other?”
Ash didn’t answer, so Eden did. “I have it.”
“Yes, I know,” Magda replied. “But now, I will.”
Again, she held out her hand.
Eden was wary of getting off on the wrong foot, but not as wary as she was of handing over the stone.
“I think I’ll hang onto it for now.” She tried to keep her features smooth, her tone neutral.
Magda’s eyes narrowed. “You only hold that stone because I told Ash where it could be found.”
“And you only have those eleven because I allowed Ash to take them,” Eden replied. “Plucking them from the circle where I almost died.”
They stood in a silent standoff until Ash broke in. “Magda, please, let us rest. Our families have waited generations to possess all of the seals. S
urely a few more hours will make no difference.”
“A few more hours is fine.” Magda’s smile was tight and didn’t reach her eyes.
Eden wondered what expression the woman would make if Eden decided never to hand over the stone at all.
Chapter 44
“Where is she?” Sarah strode into the common room of Coventry House, Kai and Quinn close behind her.
Paige glanced up from her phone and stopped scrolling. “Where’s who?”
“Alex,” Sarah said. “It’s important.”
There was no telling what Alex might be up to. She clearly didn’t want Eden back and didn’t want the Council to close that evil crack in the ground. Sarah knew Alex wasn’t in her right mind, but why couldn’t her darkness manifest as simple jealousy or paranoia? Why did she always have to be so extra?
“I haven’t seen her.” Paige set her phone down, seeming to catch the vibe in the room. “Skyler,” she called, “have you seen Alex?”
Skyler emerged from the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn. “Yeah, she left half an hour ago.”
Kai stepped forward. “Did she say where she was going?”
“I didn’t ask.” Skyler shrugged and turned to Sarah. “But she looked like she was dressed for more of your spelunking.”
Skyler plopped down on one of the sofas.
“Spelunking?” Kai cast Sarah a confused glance.
“She went back,” Sarah whispered for Kai and Quinn alone. “We have to find her.”
The three hastened toward the door.
They were about to pile into Quinn’s car when Paige raced outside. “Take me with you.” Before Sarah could protest, Paige barreled on. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out something’s up, and around here, that usually means something bad. And if he’s home,” Paige gestured to Quinn, “where the hell is Eden?"
“Are you sure you want to know?” Sarah asked. “It’s dangerous.”
Paige snorted. “What isn’t around here? Besides, we’ve been training for this.”
Kai shot Paige an appraising glance and turned to Sarah. “We could use the help.”
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