I unclench my fists, swallowing hard. “Fine.”
Spinning on my heel, I race back to the house, grabbing my purse and keys.
When I get back to the driveway, Mom is sitting in the driver’s seat of Blue, with the door wide open. “Pass the keys. You’re in no condition to drive.”
I don't have the willpower to argue. I toss the keys and race around to the other side. By the time I take my seat, the ambulance is starting to pull away. Mom takes off after it, staying right on its tail.
“How is this happening?” I whisper, fighting back the return of tears. “I don’t know what to do.”
“I don’t know if there’s anything you can do, sweetie. We need more information,” Mom says, reaching out and placing her hand on my arm.
My eyes widen with her words and I reach into my front pocket. I tug out my cell phone and dial the one person I know who might be able to see what’s happening—Diana Hawthorne.
The phone rings twice before she picks up. “Hey there, Autumn. Now’s not a—” she pauses for a moment and sighs. “Oh god, Autumn. I’m sorry. I know this is important, but I’m right in the middle of something dire, too.”
“But I need your help,” I plead.
“I know you do. I’m so sorry to have to say no to this. I know it’s a shitty thing to do, but you’re going to need to turn to someone else.”
“Someone else? Who the hell else has any sort of insights about the future?” I cry.
Mom takes the final turn to the hospital, rounding the corner a little too quickly. My insides clench as I grip the handle of the door.
“Call Dominic. He’s the best one to help you,” she says. “Shit, I gotta go. I’m sorry, Autumn. Call Dominic.” She hangs up without even saying good-bye.
“Dammit.” Without thinking, I close my fist and punch the dashboard.
Pain vibrates through my hand, but for a moment, there’s clarity in the discomfort. She’s right. If she’s unable, or unwilling, to help me—then I need to follow her advice. I’ll need to call Dominic.
The ambulance pulls into the emergency room port and Mom pulls into one of the first spots near the main entrance doors. As soon as the car is no longer in motion, I grab my purse and hop out.
Mom curses something behind me, but I don’t stop to let her catch up. I need to get inside. I need to be with Wade.
I rush up to the main desk, waiting for the slight, blond woman to get off the phone. It only takes a moment, but it’s long enough for me to be annoyed.
“Can I help you?” she asks, her voice calm and almost melodic.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “Yes, I need to see my boyfriend. They just brought him in the ambulance.”
The woman’s fingers click against the keyboard as she turns her gaze to the monitor in front of her.
When she’s taking too long to say anything, I spit, “His name is Wade Hoffman. He can’t be alone—he doesn’t have any family. It’s just me.”
“And you are?”
“His girlfriend,” I say, a little too loudly.
“I’m sorry—”
“So help me, if you tell me I can’t be with him because I’m not married to him, I’ll punch your goddamn nose,” I yell at her, practically climbing over the counter that separates us.
Mom reaches out, tugging me back. “Autumn, let the woman do her job.” Her words are powerful, pulling me back from the edge of total insanity. I turn to look at her and she tips her chin and says, “Breathe.”
The adrenaline coursing through my veins begins to wane and I’m suddenly dizzy with exhaustion.
“No one is allowed in while they assess the patient. Relatives or not,” the woman says, settling back into her seat, relief clear across her face. “If you can just take a seat while they try to figure out what’s wrong, that’s the best thing you can do for your boyfriend right now.”
My shoulders slump as Mom grabs hold of them, turning me to face the seating area. “Thank you, dear. We appreciate it,” she says to the lady behind the counter.
Mom guides me to the small alcove with uncomfortable-looking seats. The space is decorated with soft pastel colors and fake plants—clearly trying to bring as much calm to the waiting process as possible, but it falls flat.
“Sit down, Autumn,” Mom says, pointing to a seat near the window.
I shake my head, walking out of her grasp as she takes her own seat. Instead, I pace in front of her, unable to shake the anxiety rolling through me.
“No, I need to call Dominic,” I say, turning from her and pulling out my phone again.
Mom’s eyes widen, but her mouth snaps shut as I place the phone to my ear.
Again, the phone rings a couple of times before Dominic answers. “Let me guess, Autumn’s in trouble again.” He chuckles softly under his breath for a moment.
My throat goes dry as I try to form the words to relay the importance in this mission. I know I suck already. I don’t need to be reminded that I only call when I need help.
Dominic waits for me to respond, not even offering to search the future to see why I’m calling.
“Dominic, something has happened to Wade. Diana can’t help me,” I finally say.
“So you thought you’d call me,” he says. “I love being a last resort. It makes me feel super special.”
I roll my eyes, walking away from Mom and looking out the window on the opposite end of the waiting room. “Wade could be dying and there’s something supernatural going on with him. Diana thinks you’ll be the best one to help with this. That’s why I’m calling you. I hate that it seems like I only call when I need something—”
“Because it’s true?” Dominic interjects.
“Even if it’s true, it doesn’t make this any less important. Wade’s mark—the one his father gave him—is infected or something. We’re at the hospital now. He’s in the ER and I…” I break off, fighting the tears and the quiver in my voice.
Dominic sighs. After a long pause, he says, “Okay, I’ll help you figure out what’s going on with loverboy. But you’ll have to do me a favor first.”
Chapter 12
Life, Death, & Metamorphosis
My mouth drops open in utter incredulousness. “You have got to be kidding me?”
I tell Dominic my boyfriend is in the actual emergency room, possibly dying for all I know, and the only thing he can think about is what he can get out of it? Unreal.
“Nope, that’s the deal or no dice,” he says, his voice like cold steel. “I’m sick of being the gopher and last resort in your little world. I have needs, too, and you can help with those needs.”
My stomach rolls at the way he says the words and my mind automatically goes to a worst-case scenario. “What are you talking about? What needs?” I hiss, clutching the phone close and praying my mom doesn’t have supersonic hearing or something.
“I know you’re not big on the whole Windhaven Academy thing anymore, but I’m trying to level up. The new semester starts in a couple of weeks and I want to go into it as powerful as possible,” he states matter-of-factly.
I shake my head, unable to process a thing he’s asking about. I’m talking life and death and he’s talking leveling up his abilities. Why am I even surprised?
“You are the most ridiculous, self-centered—” I spit.
“Cut the crap, Autumn. You’re the only one who can help me with this,” he says, cutting off my tirade. “It’s fortuitous timing you should come to me right now.”
“What in the hell do you need?” I snap, unable to hide the venom in my words.
For a long, silent moment, I hold my breath, waiting for him to explain himself.
“I need you to bring me back,” he finally says, his words barely louder than a whisper.
“What?” I say, narrowing my eyes and glaring at the fake hibiscus plant in the corner.
“Look, here’s the thing. I need to level up my psychic powers. As great as they seem to everyone else, they’re nothing more t
han parlor tricks, really. But in order to trigger a metamorphosis like this… I need to face death,” he says calmly.
“Level up? Metamorphosis? What kind of bullshit is this? You’re not a damn butterfly, Dominic. You better not be pulling my chain. This is not the time for that if you are…” I warn.
“If I can trigger the metamorphosis, it means my abilities extend further, into the realms of the ancients. It’ll help not just me, but you, too, by the sounds of it,” he says. “It’s not really all that complicated to understand.”
I gape at the wall, walking away from where I was standing to pace again. “That’s the most ridiculous reason to die. You realize that’s what this is, right? Haven’t you seen Flatliners?”
“I know what it sounds like,” he retorts. “But it’s not a game.”
I roll my eyes. “Pretty sure it wasn’t a game in the film, either…”
Dominic grunts. “Look, you have your thing and I have mine, dammit. Every time you’ve needed me, I’ve been there and helped, haven’t I? Why is it so hard to believe that maybe I have something you can help with? What’s the deal, Autumn? You can take, but you can’t give? Or do you only help the Gilberts or that angel boyfriend of yours? Is that it?” he fires back.
I cringe at his words, but let them sink in. He’s right. He may be reluctant at times, but he’s always helped when we needed him. It’s just that his timing sucks ass.
“Fine,” I say, dropping my shoulders in defeat. “I’ll help you.”
What other choice do I have? I don’t know if the doctors will be able to locate the source of Wade’s infection fast enough and I’m not about to wait around for him to die.
“Excellent. How soon can you be here?” Dominic asks, his tone brightening.
My eyes widen and I look around the waiting room. My mom’s concerned stare reaches me and I shudder. “I can’t come to you. I’m in Mistwood Point. Wade’s in the ER here.”
“Well, how do you think you’ll bring me back, then?”
“I don’t know, Dominic. But I’m pretty sure we can make it work.”
“Hell, no. I thought you’d need the resurrection room’s energy. And maybe even Abigail to make this work. It’s not like you’re super adept at the whole resurrection thing yet. I’d feel a lot better if you had some damn backup. I don’t wanna die and stay dead, for crying out loud,” he says, raising his voice.
“Fuck,” I curse. My eyes slam shut, and I run my hand over my forehead. “Fine. Fine. I’m on my way. Meet me at the manor in two hours.”
“No—no. You need to meet me at my house first,” he says, sighing. There’s something strange hidden in his tone, but before I can tell him where to shove it, he mutters, “I don’t have a car right now.”
My face pinches tight and I fight the urge to say that’s karma for carving up my bumper before we ever met. Instead, I say through gritted teeth, “And why is that?”
Silence meets me for a moment. Just when I think I’m going to tell him where to shove it, he says, “It got repossessed, if you must know. Not everyone is as well-off as the mighty Blackwoods.”
My mouth pops open and a pang of guilt stabs me in the side. As much as he can rub me the wrong way, Dominic has clearly been going through his own shit—and I had no idea. I’m such a shit friend.
“Sorry, Dom. I didn’t know,” I say.
“Whatever. We got our own lives. Can you come get me or not?”
“All right, your place it is. Be ready.”
“I was born ready,” he retorts.
“Yeah, and on that note…” I hang up the phone, rolling my eyes.
Inhaling slowly through my nose, I take a beat to consider my options one last time. Because, let’s face it, is this really the best use of my time? What if shit goes sideways and I can’t bring Dominic back? What if he comes back…wrong? It’s not like things were super-stellar with Cat when I brought her back. Part of her soul split off and became a Fetch, for godsake.
But on the other side, I don’t know how I’ll find the information I need to help Wade if I don’t. This is clearly magical or supernatural in nature. And if Diana can’t help me, Dominic really is my next-best option.
Plus, if I leave now, there’s a chance I can get all the information I need in just a few hours. It’s likely Wade will be in there for a while anyway and time is of the essence. I can’t just sit here in this hospital waiting for someone to help him or…
Shuddering away the thought, I rush over to my mom.
The place between her eyebrows scrunches as I approach. “Where are you going?”
“The manor. I have someone who can help me. Well, help Wade… But I need to be there in person,” I say, trying to keep my tone light.
“Now’s not a good time, Autumn. You really shouldn’t drive when you’re so upset. It’s not safe,” she says, her tone as cold as ice.
At least she hasn’t used her “mom voice” yet.
“I know. It’s not ideal. Trust me, if there was any other way, I’d be doing it,” I say.
She stands up, shaking her head. “No, I should drive. You really shouldn’t be alone right now.”
My eyes widen at the prospect and I shake my head. “No, Mom. It’s fine—I’m fine. I need to take care of this on my own.”
“What about the Moirai? If they come for you while you’re separated—”
“Mom, this is Wade. It’s a risk I have to take.”
Her eyes narrow. “You’re pregnant, Autumn. It’s not just your life you’re putting in jeopardy.”
Again, I flinch at her words. She’s totally right, but I’m backed into a damn corner and I have to take control of something.
“I won’t be alone for long. When I get to Windhaven, I’m picking up Dominic. He’s going to help me figure out what’s happening to Wade,” I say, trying to sound reasonable.
“Dominic Crane?” she says, surprise flashing through her features.
I nod.
“He never could stay away from you,” she mutters, shaking her head. She watches me closely, but surprisingly, tips her head. “Go. I’ll stay and keep you posted if anything new happens.”
“Are you sure you want to stay? It might be a while and you don’t have a car here,” I say.
“I know just about every person in this town. If I need to, I can hitch a ride home. Now, go. But please, for the love of all that’s holy—be careful.” She reaches into her pocket, relinquishing the keys to Blue.
“Thanks, Mom,” I whisper, bending forward and kissing her on the cheek, taking the keys from her.
She wraps her arms around me, clutching me tightly for a long moment. When she lets go, I inhale deeply, stealing some courage in the air between us. Then, I straighten my shoulders and head for the door. I don’t even look back at the unhelpful woman behind the counter or the place where the ambulance vanished into the building.
Instead, I go straight for Blue and get inside. The hysteria that consumed me before has faded into a determination like I’ve never felt before.
I will find a way to save Wade. If it means going to Windhaven and helping Dominic, so be it.
The only saving grace in all of this is that I haven’t seen any red threads surrounding Wade or these events. Maybe it means this has nothing to do with the Moirai. Maybe it’s something else entirely—something that can be fixed, if we just know where to look.
I hold onto that thought as I pull out of the parking lot and put my foot to the gas. It should take me two hours to get to Windhaven from here, but I have every intention of making it there in an hour or less.
My thoughts span from doing everything I can to help Wade as quickly as possible, to organizing the logistics of how to flatline Dominic and bring him back. It’s the most ludicrous balancing act I’ve ever been put in charge of and the irony isn’t lost on me at all.
I mean, what if all of this is really pulling me away from Wade when I should be there with him? He’s no longer an Angel of Death—so that m
eans if he dies, he’s…gone. No coming back and being born again as something else. At this point, even that would be better than this.
Suddenly, a horrible idea surfaces and I bite back my terror. Everything is stemming from his mark. The mark put there by his dad. What if he decided it was time to wipe the slate clean and kill Wade off? Would he do something like that knowing he’d be dead and gone?
Unless, of course, I was there to resurrect him. But as Dominic so aptly pointed out, I’m not necessarily the expert on it yet. I could end up making everything worse.
There’s also nothing to say that any of this will work with Dominic, either. But I guess I’m more okay with him being the guinea pig over Wade, as awful as that sounds.
I just hope that when I bring Dominic back, he’s still got his faculties and is able to do what I need him to. I mean, what if we mess with this bizarre idea of trying to trigger a metamorphosis to make him more powerful, and it backfires?
Chapter 13
Pity Party & Negotiations
The farther I get from Wade, the more my insides scream to turn back around. Instead, I push the panic aside, letting it fuel my foot as I press it to the pedal and drive as fast as I can to Windhaven.
When I reach Dominic’s house, I practically drift into his driveway, coming to a burnt halt. I honk the horn to signal I’m here, but when he doesn’t exit the building fast enough, I hop out of my vehicle and stomp up the steps to his front door.
As I lift my fist to pound on the door, it flies open. “That was fast,” Dominic says, bewilderment splattered across his face.
“I told you to be ready,” I grumble. “Let’s go.” I twist around, shoving both of my hands in the direction of Blue.
“Hang on,” Dominic says. “I have to do something quick.”
I release an exasperated sigh. “I practically broke the speed barrier to get here and now you wanna screw around?”
He shoots me an irritated glance but walks back inside anyway.
Clenching my fists, I scream internally, but follow him. Dusk has fallen and the house is dimly lit with only a couple of small lamps here and there. Dominic walks past the staircase on the right and continues his way down a hallway to what looks like a living room that’s been converted into a bedroom. There are stacks of books, magazines, and knickknacks smattered all over the room. There’s also a small dresser with drawers half open and clothing dangling out of each. The floor is a mess of plates, cups, and liquor bottles.
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