by Melissa Haag
“No. I’m not going to kill her just to save myself. It doesn’t make sense. We punish the wicked. How is killing her not going to be wicked?”
“It will be. But it doesn’t matter. That’s how we’re made. You have to kill her, Megan.”
“Never.”
The call went dead. I made a face and looked up at Oanen.
“I hate to say this, but I told you so. She's useless.” I thrummed my fingers on the counter, trying to think of what I wanted to do next.
“The smartest move would be to get out of New York now,” I said, mostly to myself. Then inspiration struck.
“My mom isn't the only one who knows things.” I glanced at Oanen. “The guy who shall not be named also knows stuff. Maybe he knows something—”
“Stop right there. We are not tracking him down so you can ask him for advice. You seem to be forgetting that he stole you.”
“He borrowed me to clear his name. And, he returned me unharmed.”
“He didn’t return you. He left you broken and burned in a pool of your own vomit.”
“That pool wasn’t there when he left.”
“I don't care.”
I huffed an aggravated sigh.
“Between your jealousy and my fear of killing my grandma, which one wins?” I asked.
Oanen’s expression cracked.
“Fine. We'll check out his house tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? What's wrong with today?”
“I barely survived yesterday,” Oanen said. “Give me some time to recover. I just want to keep you here where it's safe. Twenty-four hours of just us. That's all I'm asking.”
“Okay, but you better be ready to entertain me. I don't do bored.”
Gold crept back into his gaze.
“I’m sure I can think of something fun to do.”
* * * *
I woke with a stretch and a smile. True to his word, Oanen had kept me very entertained the day before. Coed showering was now my new favorite sport. He'd been careful not to touch anything that would hurt, which meant we hadn’t done a whole heck of a lot. But what we had managed had been amazing.
When we ran out of warm water, there had been movies to entertain us. And lots of couch snuggling. I was glad he’d asked for twenty-four hours. We’d needed it.
I looked at the clock, saw it wasn't yet 6 a.m., and rolled over with a smile, ready to tell him he still had two hours left. My smile faded when I saw his spot was empty. I stretched out a hand and felt the sheets were already cold.
Getting out of bed, I went in search of him. However, the condo was empty except for me and a box of cereal that had been set out on the counter along with my phone. I picked up my phone and saw a message from Oanen and another from Eliana. I read Oanen’s first.
I brought the phone out here so it wouldn't wake you. Went to find Zayn. I’ll call when I have him, so you can talk to him on the phone. Stay in the condo.
I smiled slightly and debated whether or not to call him out on forgetting our whole sticking together promise. I decided it wasn't worth it. I knew his reasons for leaving me behind. The condo was the safest place for me because of the spell to keep stuff out. Staying here also kept me a healthy distance away from the guy who stole me. This time, my grin widened at Oanen’s jealousy. I’d never admit it, but it was cute when it made him protective. Just not when he got overbearing with it.
I opened the other message from Eliana.
My mom is free but not leaving.
Swearing softly, I dialed Eliana’s number. She picked up right away, despite the time. But, that didn’t necessarily mean anything. I wasn't even sure what day of the week it was anymore.
“What do you mean she's not leaving?” I asked. “Does she have a choice?”
“Apparently she does now,” Eliana said.
“What does that mean?”
“Adira thinks she is seeing a positive change in me with my mom being present. She also thinks I look healthier. I don't look healthier; I look angrier. The Council obviously can't tell the difference. I think they're confusing me with you.”
I laughed softly.
“Give them hell, then,” I said.
“Oh, I plan to.”
“So, other than your mom staying, how are things back home?”
“Not too bad. I found some brownies who were willing to take Piepen in. He was a little upset by it, but I think he's adjusting well. I'm planning on visiting him later today. And, Elbner is making great progress on your house. For being such a grumpy, unkempt thing, he sure has that place looking nice. He's even started scraping the loose paint off the outside.
“Wow. I'm impressed,” I said. “He knows that it’s winter, though, right?”
“It doesn’t seem to bother him.”
“Other than that, anything new?” I was dying to blatantly ask about Fenris but didn't want to tip my hand if she wasn't aware yet.
“Nothing worth talking about,” she said quickly.
I smiled into the phone. If she wasn’t ready to admit it, that was fine.
“How about you?” she asked. “Is it true that a druid was involved in the deaths?”
“Yes. That would be Zayn. He’s not wicked, though. That much I could sense.”
“Be careful around him, Megan. It's not safe to trust druids.”
“It's not safe to trust most of us,” I said.
“Isn't that the truth.”
After we hung up, I poured myself a bowl of cereal and turned on the TV. I managed to waste an hour that way then went to take a shower. Getting clean just wasn't the same without Oanen’s help. When I was done, I went back to the phone and checked for new messages. Nothing.
Deciding to be the needy girlfriend, I started a message to Oanen.
“Did you get lost with a GPS? Come and get me. We’ll look for Zayn together.”
I set the phone down and went back to try to find something on TV. Every few minutes, I would glance at my phone. It never buzzed, though.
Close to noon, I finally got a text. Only it wasn't from Oanen; it was from my mom.
Meet me at the Gizzard in 20.
I groaned. Oanen had the car. That meant walking the streets of New York. Although it wasn't that far, if I felt anything, I'd be screwed. However, now that Mom was finally willing to meet me, I didn't want to text back asking to reschedule.
After writing a quick note and putting it on the counter, I slipped my coat and boots on and left the condo. Thankfully, when I stepped out on the street, I didn't feel a thing. I was still blissfully numb from the last burn.
Keeping my hands in my pocket and my steps quick, I made it to the Gizzard in the allotted time. A tingle of magic rippled over my skin as I open the door to a quiet and empty interior. I frowned and checked my phone. It was exactly twenty minutes since Mom’s message. I looked around, again, wondering where the hell she was.
The door that led to the back hall opened, and Mom stepped out. She looked me over and crossed her arms.
“Good. You're here. Now, you're going to listen.”
“Me? I should have known you weren’t ready to actually help.”
I turned to leave.
“Oanen’s been gone a long time, hasn’t he?” she asked, stopping me cold. “When was the last time you heard from him?”
I turned slowly, a sinking ball of fear and fury forming in my stomach.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing a loving mother wouldn’t do.” She tossed me a phone, which I caught by reflex. “I gave you motivation, Megan.”
I looked at the phone’s screen and saw Oanen’s red face glaring back at me.
“What did you do?” I repeated, my voice deadly calm.
Through the haze of my anger, I noted four small ovals on his jawline that looked redder than the rest.
“Did you burn him?”
“It was an unintentional side effect of taking him to your great-grandma’s. Having the two of us that close together resulted in—
”
I flew at my mother with a strangled cry, blind to reason or caution. With the back of her hand, she sent me flying across the room.
“Calm down. The picture is proof that he’s alive and well enough.”
I rolled to my feet and plucked a splinter of wood the size of a pencil from my bicep. It snagged on my jacket on the way out, but I barely noticed that or the blood that immediately started to trickle down my arm.
Focused on my mom, I stalked forward. Unlike the last time, I didn’t rush her.
“Fighting me will resolve nothing,” she said, watching me.
“No, but making you bleed will make me feel a hell of a lot better.”
Mom’s eyes flared bright orange as I drew closer.
“Megan Smith,” she said in her fury voice.
I embraced my fury, or what was left of her, and moved fast enough to punch my mom square in the face. Her head barely moved.
“Paxton Smith,” I said in my own fury voice. “Go screw yourself.”
Her eyes grew brighter, and the heat of her anger started to melt the shell of my jacket. The wood floor beneath our feet crackled and blackened.
Scary fast, she reached out and gripped me by my throat.
“I will not lose you to your own stupidity. Get your ass to St. Louis, now, and save your boyfriend.”
She pushed me hard, and I went flying backward again. Barely a second after I landed, I was back up on my feet, glaring in her direction. Smoke drifted in the air between us, a murky blue haze that would have made it hard to see if fire wasn’t slowly consuming my mom.
As I watched, wings sprouted from her back, vibrant twin infernos that folded forward to wrap around her torso in a bold display of yellow and orange. I knew what I was seeing. Her true form. My future true form, clothed in the fires of hell.
Zayn’s comment about us being like daughters to Hades seemed more likely, looking at Mom just then.
The fire wings covering her grew impossibly bright then winked out of existence, taking her with them.
I coughed out some smoke and looked down at the phone still in my hand. The screen had cracked during one of my falls. The fissure didn’t stop me from seeing Oanen’s beautiful, angry face. Or his burns. Rage poked at me again as I noticed how his shoulders seemed stretched back. The image didn’t show why, but I knew she’d bound his arms behind him.
First, Mom took him then tied him to a tree. Now, she wanted me to go save him. Or what? I considered the implied consequence. My family was insane. Insane enough to kill the man who held my heart? Absolutely.
The floor beneath my feet started to smolder.
“Save my boyfriend?” I said softly. “They have no idea what they’ve unleashed.”
Chapter Fifteen
In the smoke-filled room of the Gizzard, my mind raced. Oanen had taken his car to find Zayn. How exactly was I supposed to get to St. Louis? It was a one-day trip if I had a car and could drive straight through without stopping. A bus would be twice that. And the way I was feeling, I’d hurt someone before the bus arrived there. I needed a car.
I could try calling the Council. Or maybe, Oanen’s mom. However, I doubted she’d appreciate that all the secrecy and withheld information had resulted in her son being kidnapped. And, given that my mom and grandma were involved and the Council feared me, I also doubted they would involve themselves in our family squabble.
Ignoring the burning pain in my arm, the smoke that followed me each step toward the door, and my throbbing headache, I left the Gizzard. The cold winter wind tore the accumulating heat from around me and cleared my mind long enough for me to think of another option.
I knew someone else who might help me. Maybe.
I used a ride app on my phone to get a lift to Elizabeth Sias’s address.
The house looked the same—complete with moving curtain to the right as I approached. I pounded on the door, not pretending this time.
“Elizabeth,” I called. “I need his help.”
The door jerked open, and Zayn’s sister stared at me.
“He’s not here.”
I swore.
“Do you have a car?”
Her glaze flicked over my jacket.
“Do you know you’re smoldering and a little bloody?”
“Do you have a car and a change of clothes?” I amended.
She hesitated for a moment.
“Please, Elizabeth. I’m not after Zayn. I spoke on his behalf. What’s going on with me now has nothing to do with any of that. The guy I was with? Someone took him. And I have to get him back.”
“Fine. Wait right here.” She moved to turn away then looked at me again. “Don’t try to come in.”
“I remember what happens. I’ll wait here.”
I watched her disappear into the depths of the house and idly wondered if the magic barrier was keeping the heat in, because I wasn’t feeling anything. I waited and ignored the occasional slow car that drove by.
Elizabeth returned several minutes later with a bag along with a set of keys. The bag she tossed to me. Then, she pressed the button on the fob, and a nice-looking car almost a block away beeped.
“I hope you can replace it if you wreck it,” she said.
“I can’t, but I know people I can make do it. So, you’re covered.”
She smiled slightly.
“Good luck, Megan. Zayn said you were pretty cool.”
I nodded and left, heading for the car. When I reached it, I looked into the bag. Elizabeth and I weren’t close to the same size. She had a lot more height on me. While the pants wouldn’t work, the shirt and jacket would. I stripped down to my bra right there on the street. Someone catcalled.
“Do it again so I can rip your tongue out and watch you eat it,” I said without turning.
No one else watching made a noise. But, I could feel them. I shouldn’t have been able to. Not yet. At least, I didn’t think I should have this soon.
Ignoring the urge to follow through on my threat, I ripped the whole sleeve off my old shirt and used it as a bandage before putting on the new top and jacket. As far as anyone driving past me would see, I looked completely respectable and not like someone who had almost started a building on fire.
I threw the bag and my dirty clothes in the back and got into the new sedan. I didn’t know what druids did exactly, but Zayn seemed to be doing well for himself. Or maybe his sister was a kickass president of some company.
“Nope,” I said starting the car. “Prisoner of her own home. Doubt that works well on a resume.”
I punched in granny-dearest’s address and pulled away from the curb as the map app found me the fastest route.
The dash clock said it was almost two. The map app said I’d arrive tomorrow just before sunrise. I gritted my teeth and pressed the gas pedal until I was going the mandatory five over and hoped that I wouldn’t run into any trouble.
Eight hours and one fueling later, I reconsidered my definition of trouble as I downed a gas station expresso and an energy drink. My eyeballs felt like they were wrapped with sandpaper, which grew grittier the longer I tried keeping them open.
“This better work,” I said tossing the empty can and cup to the passenger floor.
As tired as I was, I didn’t want to stop for even a few hours of sleep. I could feel the annoyance growing under my skin and feared what delaying even a few more hours would do to me when I entered St. Louis.
However, twenty-five minutes later, I was pulled over to the shoulder, peeing in a ditch and still tired as hell. Only, in addition to all that, I couldn’t stop shaking.
“Stupid caffeine. Stupid fury burnout.”
I pulled up my pants and got back into the car just as my phone started to ring. It wasn’t a number I recognized. In the past, that meant nothing but trouble, and my anger over what potential bullshit my mom or the Council was going to throw at me next had me burning through the caffeine as I answered.
“Hello.”
“Megan?
This is Elizabeth. Zayn gave me your number and told me to call. Can you pull over?”
I looked around at the dark stretch of road.
“I already am.”
“Great. Just a minute.” Her voice became muffled. “She’s pulled over.”
A bright, blinding light filled the car.
“What the hell?” I dropped my phone to rub my stinging eyes.
“Sorry, Megan,” Zayn said from beside me. “I haven’t mastered portals without the light flare, yet.”
I blinked several times until I could see him.
“I didn’t know druids could do portals.”
“Most can’t. I’m sorry it took me so long to join you. I had some things that needed my attention before I could break away for a few hours to help you.”
“Help me?”
“Elizabeth said you needed my help.” He reached down and picked up my phone. “I have her. Thank you.” He hung up and handed it back to me.
“If you would be so kind, I’d prefer you delete that number.”
I rubbed my face tiredly, trying to stay focused on what he was saying.
“I just needed a car,” I said, “not you, personally.”
“To get Oanen back from your great-grandmother. I know.”
“Then why are you here? And, how do you know about Oanen?”
He tapped his ear.
“I listen to the whispers. And I’m here because I think you need more than just a car. You’re exhausted. Now, let’s do a fire drill so I can drive for a while.”
I willingly switched places with him, figuring I had a better chance of reaching my destination uninjured and faster if I did so.
“Oanen left to look for you,” I said, when Zayn pulled out onto the road.
“I know. Elizabeth told me. I wasn’t home at the time.”
I leaned my head against the seat and watched Zayn drive. He was handsome enough, but there was something about him that said stay away. I wondered if he was close to anyone outside of his sister.
“You don’t seem to be home very much,” I said conversationally. “Girlfriend? Boyfriend?”
He chuckled.
“Unattached and unavailable,” he said confirming my thoughts. “And, no, I’m not home often. I work a lot, and that’s why I worry about Elizabeth. So why was Oanen looking for me?”
