Is that the first time you met? In Summerland? I ask, seeming to remember Rayne saying something about Damen helping them, not the other way around.
Damen shakes his head, eyes on mine when he says, No, that was just the first time Id seen them in a long time. We actually go way backall the way back to Salem.
I look at him, jaw dropped, wondering if he was there during the trials, though hes quick to dispel that.
It was just before the trouble started, and I was only passing through. Theyd gotten into some mischief and couldnt find their way homeso I gave them a ride in my carriage and their aunt was never the wiser. He laughs.
And Im just about to make some crappy little comment, something about him spoiling and enabling them from the very start, when he says, Theyve suffered an extraordinarily hard lifelosing everything theyve ever known and loved at a very young agesurely you can relate to that? I know I can.
I sigh, feeling small and selfish and embarrassed that I even needed to be reminded of that. Determined to stick to the practical when I say, But whos going to raise them? Hoping it will seem like my concerns are far less about me and more about them. I mean, with all of their unmitigated weirdness, not to mention their totally bizarre history, where would they go? Who could possibly look after them?
Were going to look after them. Damen rolls onto his side and makes me face him again. You and I. Together. Were the only ones who can.
I sigh, wanting to turn away, but drawn to the warmth of his all-encompassing gaze. Im just not sure were fit to be parents. I shrug, hand moving over his shoulder, getting lost in his tangle of hair. Or role models, or guardians, or whatever. Were too young! I add, thinking its a good and valid point, and expecting just about any reaction but the laughter I get.
Too young? He shakes his head. Speak for yourself! I have been around for a while, you know. Plenty long enough to qualify as a suitable guardian for the twins. Besides. He smiles. How hard can it be?
I close my eyes and shake my head, remembering my feeble attempts to guide Riley both in human and ghost form, and how I failed miserably. And to be honest, Im just not sure Im up for it again. You have no idea what youre getting into, I tell him. You cant even begin to imagine what its like to guide two headstrong, thirteen-year-old girls. Its like herding catscompletely impossible.
Ever, he says, voice low, coaxing, determined to ease my concerns and chase all the dark clouds away. I know whats really bothering you, believe me, I do. But its just five more years until they turn eighteen and head off on their own, and then well have the freedom to do whatever we want. Whats five years when we have all of eternity?
But I shake my head again, refusing to be swayed. If they head off on their own, I say. If. Believe me, there are plenty of kids who stick around the house long after that.
Yes, but the difference is, you and I wont let them. He smiles, eyes practically begging me to lighten up and smile too. Well teach them all the magick theyll need to gain their inde pen dence and get by on their own. Then well send em off and wish em well and go somewhere on our own.
And the way he smiles, the way he gazes into my eyes and smooths my hair off my face makes it impossible to stay mad, impossible to waste any more time on a topic like this when my bodys so close to his.
Five years is nothing, when youve already lived for six hundred, he says, lips at my cheek, my neck, my ear.
I snuggle closer, knowing hes right, despite the fact that my perspectives a little different from his. Having never spent more than two decades in any one incarnation makes five years spent babysitting the twins seem like an eternity.
He pulls me to him, arms locked tightly around me, comforting me in a way I wish could last forever. Are we good? he whispers. Are we finished with this?
I nod, pressing my body hard against his, having no need for words. The only thing I want now, the only thing thatll make me feel better is the reassuring feel of his lips.
I shift my body so its covering his, conforming to the bend of his chest, the valley of his torso, the bulk near his hips. Hearts beating in perfect cadence, vaguely aware of the slim veil of energy pulsating between us as I lower my mouth to hispressing and pushing and kneading togetherweeks of longing rising to the surfaceuntil all I want to do is infuse my body with his.
He moans, a low primal sound coming from deep within, hands clutched at my waist, bringing me closer til theres nothing between us but two sets of clothes that need to be shed.
I fumble at his fly as he pulls at my tee, breath meeting in short, ragged gasps as our fingers hurry as fast as they can, unable to complete their tasks quickly enough to satisfy our need.
And just as Ive unbuttoned his jeans and start to slide them down, I realize weve gotten so close, the energy veil was pushed out.
Damen! I gasp, watching as he leaps from the bed, breath coming so heavy and fast, his words are clipped at the end.
EverIm He shakes his head. Im sorryI thought it was safeI didnt realize
I reach for my tee and cover myself, cheeks flushed, insides aflame, knowing hes right, we cant take the riskcant afford to get caught up like that.
Im sorry tooI thinkI think maybe I pushed it away and I bow my head, allowing my hair to fall into my face, feeling small and examined, sure Im to blame.
The mattress dips as he returns to my side, the veil fully restored as he lifts my chin and makes me face him again. Its not your faultII lost focusI was so caught up in you I couldnt maintain it.
Its okay. Really, I say.
No its not. Im older than youI should have more control He shakes his head and stares at the wall, jaw clenched, gaze far away, eyes suddenly narrowing as he turns back to me and says, Everhow do we know if this is even real?
I squint, having no idea what he means.
What kind of proof do we have? How do we know Romans not just playing us, having a bit of fun at our expense?
I take a deep breath and shrug, realizing I have no proof at all. My eyes meeting his as I replay the scene from that day, all the way to the end where I add my blood to the mix and make Damen drink, realizing the only proof I have is Romans extremely unreliable word.
Whos to say this is even legit? His eyes widen as an idea begins to form. Romans a liarweve no reason to trust him.
Yeah, butits not like we can test it. I mean, what if its not a big game, what if it is legit? We cant take the riskcan we?
Damen smiles, rising from the bed and heading for my desk where he closes his eyes and manifests a tall white candle in an elaborate gold holder, a sharp silver dagger, its blade pointy and smooth, its handle encrusted with crystals and gems, and a gold-framed mirror he sets down beside them, motioning for me to join him as he says, Normally I would say ladies firstbut in this case
He holds his hand over the glass and raises the knife, placing the edge to his palm and tracing the curve of his lifeline, watching his blood flow onto the mirror, pooling, coagulating, before closing his eyes and setting the candle aflame. The wound already healed by the time he passes the blade through the blaze, cleansing, purifying, before handing it to me and urging me to do the same.
I lean toward him, inhaling deeply as I quickly slice through my flesh. At first wincing at the sharp stab of pain, then watching fascinated, as the blood pours from my palm and onto the mirror where it slowly creeps toward his.
We stand together, bodies still, breath halted, watching as two ruby red splotches meet, mingle, coalescethe perfect embodiment of our genetic makeup joining as onethe very thing Roman warned us against.
Waiting for something to happen, some sort of catastrophic punishment for what weve both donebut getting nothingno reaction at all.
Well, Ill be damned Damen says, eyes meeting mine. Its fine! Perfectly
His words cut short by the sudden spark and sizzle as our blood begins to boil, conducting so much heat a huge plume of smoke bursts from the mirror and fills up the aircrackling and spitting until the blood evaporates completely. Leaving behind only the sheerest layer of dust on a burnt-out mirror.
Exactly whatll happen to Damen if our DNA should meet.
We gape, speechless, unsure what to say. But words are no longer necessary, the meaning is clear.
Romans not playing. His warning was real.
Damen and I can never be together.
Unless I pay his price.
Well. Damen nods, struggling to appear calm though his face is clearly stricken. Guess Romans not nearly the liar I accused him of beingat least not in this case.
Which also means he has the antidoteand all I have to do now is
But I cant even finish before Damens cutting me off. Ever, please, dont even go there. Just do me a favor and stay away from Roman. Hes dangerous, and unstable, and I dont want you anywhere near him, okay? Just He shakes his head, and runs his hand through his hair, not wanting me to see how distraught he really is and heading for the door as he says, Just give me some time to figure things out. Ill think of a way.
He looks at me, so shaken by the events hes determined to keep his distance. Manifesting a single red tulip into my newly healed palm in place of a kiss, before heading down the stairs and out my front door.
CHAPTER 17
The next day, when I get home from school, Havens on my front steps, eyes smeared with mascara, royal blue bangs hanging limp in her face, with a blanketed bundle clutched tight in her arms.
I know I shouldve called. She scrambles to her feet, face red and swollen as she sniffs back the tears. I guess I didnt really know what to do, so I came here. She rearranges the blanket, showing me a solid black cat with amazing green eyes that appears very weak.
Is he yours? I glance between them, noticing how both of their auras are ragged and frayed.
She. Haven nods, fussing with the blanket and raising it back to her chest.
I didnt know you had a cat. I squint, wanting to help but unsure what to do. My dad was allergic, so we always had dogs. Is this why you werent at school today?
She nods, following me into the kitchen where I grab a bottle of water and pour it into a bowl.
How long have you had her? I ask, watching as she places the cat in her lap and brings the bowl to her face. But the cats not the least bit interested and quickly turns away.
Few months. She shrugs, giving up on the water and smoothing the top of her head. Nobody knows. Well, outside of Josh, Austin, and the maid whos sworn to secrecy, but nobody else. My mom would flip. God forbid a real living thing mess up her designer decorating scheme. She shakes her head. She lives in my room, mostly under the bed. But I leave the window cracked so she can get out and wander around now and then. I mean, I know theyre supposed to live longer if you keep em inside, but what kind of life is that? She looks at me, her normally bright sunshiny aura turned gray with worry.
Whats her name? I peer at the cat, keeping my voice to a whisper, trying to hide my concern. From what I can see, shes not long for this world.
Charm. The corners of her lips lifting ever so slightly as she glances between us. I named her that because shes luckyor at least it seemed that way at the time. I found her just outside my window the first time Josh and I kissed. It seemed so romantic. She shrugs. Like a good sign. But now She shakes her head, and looks away.
Maybe I can help, I say, an idea beginning to form. One Im not sure will work, but still, from what I can see Ive got nothing to lose.
Shes not exactly a kitten. Shes an old lady now. The vet told me to keep her comfortable for as long as I can. And I totally wouldve kept her home since she really likes it under my bed, but my moms decided to redo all the bedrooms even though my dads threatening to sell, and now the decorator is there, along with a Realtor, and everyones fighting and the house is a mess. And since Josh is auditioning for this new band, and since Miles is getting ready for his performance tonight, I thought Id come here. She looks at me. Not that you were last choice or anything. She cringes, realizing what she just said. Its just that youre always so busy with Damen and I didnt want to bother you. But if youre busy, I dont have to stay. I mean, if hes coming over or something, I can just
Trust me. I lean against the counter and shake my head. Damens I stare at the wall, wondering just how to phrase it. Damens pretty busy these days. So I doubt hell be dropping by anytime soon.
I glance between her and Charm, reading her aura and knowing shes even more distraught than she seems. And even though I know its not right, ethical, or whatever, even though I know its the circle of life and youre not supposed to interfere, I cant stand to see my friend suffer like this, not when I have a half bottle of elixir sitting inside my bag.
Im justsad. She sighs, scratching just under Charms chin. I mean, obviously shes lived a good long life and all, but still. Why does it have to be so sad when it ends?
I shrug, barely listening, mind buzzing with the promise of a new idea.
Its so weird how like one minute everythings fineor maybe even not so finebut still, youre at least here. And then the nextgone. Like Evangeline. Never to be seen or heard from again.
I drum my fingers against the granite counter, knowing thats not exactly true, but unwilling to refute it.
I guess I just dont get the point. Its like, why should you bother getting attached to anything if, A: Its never gonna last, and B: It hurts like hell when its over? She shakes her head. Because if everythings finite, if everything has a definite beginning, middle, and end, then why even get started in the first place? Whats the point when everything just leads to The End?
She blows her bangs out of her eyes and looks at me. And I dont mean death like She nods toward her cat. Although thats where we all end upno matter how hard we fight.