“He’s only got one shot left,” Ceri said, her face practically pressed against the window.
“The odds of him making the shot are––”
Tommy elbowed Deward. “Good. They’re good odds.”
The pack went silent after that, watching the pixie close in with bated breath. Woggy pulled the rubber band back as far as was possible without snapping it. His big, bulging eyes narrowed as he focused in on his target. The old pixie darted left then right, then shot up into the air.
Woggy followed the quick movement, moving his left leg back to brace himself. With a rage-filled squeak, the pixie flattened his wings to his back and dove. Woggy released the pebble.
Tommy’s fingertips dug into the window-sill as he watched the pebble fly up, up, and smack dab into the center of the attacking pixie’s forehead.
The old pixie dropped like a stone as Woggy leapt out of the way, hitting the ground with a thud and lying still in a small, gray heap. Woggy froze, watching him with his slingshot clutched to his chest. After one breathless moment, the pixie’s leg twitched and he jerked back to consciousness. He pushed himself upright slowly, keeping an eye on Woggy.
The old pixie was a darker gray than the others. A scar slashed through his wide lips and his wings were notched and torn from old battles. He rose and limped toward Woggy, who brandished his empty slingshot like a sword. Then, he did the last thing Tommy expected. He yanked the leaf off his necklace and dropped it at Woggy’s feet with a firm squeak. Woggy stared at the leaf, then looked at the other pixie, big eyes widening in surprise.
Woggy lowered his slingshot, then signed friend. The other pixie cocked his head in confusion, but awkwardly repeated the motion. The leader then turned to leave but Woggy squeaked, stopping him in his tracks. He turned back in confusion and Woggy signed friend again, then grabbed the leaf and ripped it in half.
All the gathered pixies squeaked in shock and horror, their wings flapping excitedly. The leader’s lips curled back in a growl until Woggy held out half the leaf to him. He looked at the leaf, then looked at Woggy, who signed friend for a third time.
Something like understanding dawned on the old pixie’s face and he took half the leaf, clutching it to his chest. He limped forward and Woggy held still, holding onto his own leaf. The old pixie squeaked, then very carefully licked the top of Woggy’s head.
“Ew,” Genevieve muttered.
Ceri smacked her on the arm. “Shhh, this is a beautiful moment.”
Woggy returned the gesture, his long, slimy tongue wiping away the blood on the pixie’s head. The leader repeated the sign for friend, seeming to finally get the connection.
Behind them, the other pixies began squeaking and swooping through the air in celebration. The ones that could still fly at least. Many of them were a bit worse for the wear.
Tommy let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. This was the best birthday present ever.
Chapter 78
DEREK
Derek had never really looked at the moon before, not like they did. Whatever their connection to it was, it seemed worshipful. All day they’d been full of energy and talking about their run that night.
He watched them shift while trying real hard not to think about the fact that his sister was naked. It was easy to watch Ceri instead. She was currently twirling in the middle of the yard, her face turned up toward the sky, and her skirt billowing around her. It was the first time he’d seen her really smile since she had been taken.
“Come on,” Ceri said, holding her hand out to him with a brilliant smile.
“What?”
“Come run with us!” She started walking backwards toward the pack and they all looked at him expectantly.
“We can’t keep up with them.” He felt out of place. He wasn’t part of the pack. They had welcomed him but it wasn’t the same.
“You can keep up with me,” Ceri insisted.
The wind danced through her curls and the moonlight highlighted the soft curve of her cheeks. She was looking right at him, into him. There was no way he could say no to her right now. Probably not ever.
He set his drink down and jogged after her. Amber took off at a run toward the tree line, a howl rising up that each pack member echoed. Ceri grabbed his hand and dragged him after her. She lifted her head and howled too, completely carefree.
He laughed and tried to howl too, but it came out more like a strangled yell. She laughed anyhow and tightened her grip on his hand. Their feet flew over the forest floor as the pack darted around them. Tommy was like a puppy, yipping and tripping over things. The black wolf, Genevieve, was so fast he could barely see her sometimes. She raced ahead with Amber, winding through the trees.
Something stirred in him as he ran with them. It was faint, but it felt like family. Ceri looked back at him, her blue eyes sparkling with pure happiness, and he knew he wanted to stay with them forever.
Chapter 79
CERI
Ceri stared at the ceiling and wondered what the hell she’d been thinking. Well, she knew what she’d been thinking. She’d nearly died, been tortured, and had almost given in to the dark side. That and the full moon had made all sorts of things seem like a good idea.
Derek’s snore turned into a snort and he shifted in his sleep, throwing his arm over her chest and burying his face in her neck. She sighed. Last night had been nothing short of perfect but now she had to deal with the consequences. Maybe they could try this…whatever it was. The damage was already done so she might as well enjoy it while she could. Or maybe that would make it worse.
She wished she could just go back to sleep and be blissfully unaware of all of this but sleep was no longer an option, not with her mind running through worst case scenarios like a hyperactive hamster on a wheel. Maybe if she got up and hid in the bathroom he’d just go back to his room and they wouldn’t even have to talk about it.
“I can feel you overthinking this,” Derek said. His voice was rough from sleep. He smoothed his fingers through her hair and the tension in her muscles relaxed slightly.
“I just––”
He quickly put his fingers over her lips, then pushed up on his elbow so he could look at her. “You don’t owe me anything because of last night. I’m not going to pressure you. You said you didn’t want to date me, so unless you decide you’ve changed your mind, let’s not rehash all that.”
She pulled his hand down so she could reply. “You’re being way too accommodating.”
He grinned and tugged on a lock of her hair, winding the curl around his finger. “I learned the hard way that there’s nothing worse than chasing after a girl that doesn’t want to be with you. I’m not doing that again. However, if you just need a distraction every now and then, I can certainly accommodate that.”
She smacked him but couldn’t help but grin. “This is a slippery slope. It’s going to end in disaster.”
He flopped back down on the bed beside her and dragged her over on top of him. “Then we should have fun along the way.”
Winding his hands through her hair, he tugged her down for a kiss. She quickly pushed her hand in between them, covering his mouth, and wiggled her fingers, casting a quick spell. He flinched and grimaced at her.
“What the hell was that?”
“Breath freshening spell.” She grabbed his head and closed the distance between them, letting his lips distract her from the worries in her mind. As his hands slid down her back, she melted into his embrace, letting her fingers trace the muscles in his arms. He was already in her bed after all, she might as well enjoy him while she had him close by.
Chapter 80
EVANGELINE
Her life fit into a backpack. The one she’d tried to steal that Tommy had instead given to her when he’d heard she was leaving.
“Are you okay?” her mother asked, putting an arm around her shoulders.
“Is it weird that I’ll miss them?”
Her mother smiled and tucked a loose
strand of hair behind her ear. “Not at all. I think it’s the closest I’ve seen you come to having friends.”
“Oh gods, don’t make me sound so pathetic,” she said, zipping up her backpack and swinging it over her shoulder.
“Then don’t look so pathetic,” her mother said, clapping a hand on her back. “We’re getting a fresh start and you know they’ll stay in touch however they can. Especially that boy.”
She glared at her mother and held her finger up to her lips emphatically, shushing her. “They can hear you.”
Her mother laughed as she hurried out of the room, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. As she headed down the stairs the front door opened. Kadrithan was hovering behind Amber in his ridiculous little, red devil form.
A man and a woman walked in. The man was tall and lanky with a slight stoop to his shoulders. He had on a baseball cap that was pushed back with black curls spilling out beneath the brim.
“Ms. Hale, Asshole Demon,” he greeted the two of them in turn with a nod. His wife or whoever she was, smacked him on the arm.
Evangeline had to hide her laugh behind her hand. She already liked them. Anyone who literally called her uncle Asshole Demon was her hero.
“I’m Katarina, and this is my idiot lover, Charlie,” she said, shaking Amber’s hand. Her accent was Russian but she looked like she was half elf. Her ears were lightly pointed and her hair had a hint of pastel blue to it.
“Nice to meet y’all,” Amber said, shaking her hand with a smile.
Eloise walked past her and hurried over to meet their new hosts. They were apparently being driven over the border, then flown to somewhere in South America, the location to be disclosed once they were there. Her uncle had promised her beaches and no strangers, so she hadn’t complained. Honestly, it sounded like a paradise right now.
A mass of blonde curls suddenly blocked her view as Ceri wrapped her up in an unexpected hug. “I know we weren’t all that close, but I wish you well.”
“Thanks,” Evangeline said, pulling away. The rest of the pack gave her a brief hug as well, wishing her luck.
Charlie grabbed her mother’s suitcase and headed out toward the car.
“We’ll see you at the car,” Katarina said with a gentle smile. She had a calming air about her that Evangeline had come to associate with elves. Except for Thallan. That asshole was insane.
Kadrithan followed Katarina outside, discussing some detail about their journey with her. Evangeline sighed and followed. As she stepped outside, Tommy stopped her, shutting the door behind him. He looked a little awkward. She could actually feel his nervousness through the mark, which was an odd sensation.
“Do you know how long you’ll be gone?”
She shrugged. “No clue.”
“Alright, well, keep in touch.”
Acting on impulse, she put her hand over the mark on his chest and looked up. “I’ll see you again, don’t worry.” She felt like an idiot right away but it was too late to take it back.
He smiled and placed his hand over hers. “Maybe you can come visit every now and then like your uncle.”
Shuddering in horror, she shook her head. “That’s way too creepy. I’ll just text.”
He laughed and dragged her into an unexpected hug. “Ok, that works.”
They parted and she hurried to the waiting car, looking back over her shoulder one last time. The pack had not been what she’d expected. They’d been good, even to someone like her who didn’t fit in anywhere.
Chapter 81
AMBER
It was almost Thanksgiving. The leaves had all fallen from the trees and it was getting genuinely cold at night. Amber curled her arms around her legs and stared up at the moon. It was waning now, but she could still feel the pull of it in her blood. The wolf shifted in her mind, watching alongside her.
The door opened and she jumped, still easily startled after the week they’d had. Derek walked out and shut the door behind him.
“I’ve finally caught you alone,” he said, raising a judgmental brow.
“Has it been that obvious I’ve been avoiding you?” she asked ruefully.
“Yes.” He walked over and sat down on the porch swing next to her, making the chains clank. “I talked to Bernard and he's not going to evict us. Insurance will also cover the damage to the warehouse. We should be able to open the mechanic shop only two weeks later than planned.”
Amber's shoulder slumped in relief. “Glad to hear it. I’m sorry it’s been nothing but trouble since you got here. I really thought we could just get to work and not have all this drama.”
He raised his brow at her. “I don’t think your life will ever be drama free again. But that’s okay. We've got this, sis.”
“I really hope so but sometimes I wonder.” She rubbed her forehead and sighed. “The no magic zone is different from the others. It’s still expanding, which is freaking everyone out. Selena is still out there, probably murdering people as we speak.”
“I know. We’ll find her and stop her. The police are blaming her and the sorcerer for the no magic spots, so you’ll even have help for once.”
“They still don’t understand how the no magic spots are created or why. Detective Sloan also said the sorcerer we killed couldn’t have been responsible for them all.” She shook her head, frustrated. They may have saved Ceri but the sorcerer had still succeeded.
He’d left his mark on the pack too. Ceri still woke up with nightmares. If Amber moved too quickly, sometimes Genevieve would flinch. She always tried to laugh it off, but Amber knew she had hurt her. Tommy spent every free moment training with Deward like he expected them to go to war at any moment. This wasn’t what she wanted for them.
“What are we becoming?” she asked quietly, regretting the words a little as soon as they left her mouth.
“You’re still who you were before you were bitten. You’re just stronger, faster, and hairier now,” Derek said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
“Am I though?” she asked, turning to look at her brother. “I’ve killed people, and enjoyed it. I almost killed you. Whatever this is, it’s changing me. Maybe it’s impossible to keep from becoming…evil.”
Derek sighed and the smile fell away. He looked out over the yard and pursed his lips thoughtfully. “You’re not a bad person, no matter how much you think you’ve changed. We both saw real evil that night. The wolf inside you is a predator, but you control those urges, and most importantly, you still control your own actions.”
“If there ever comes a moment where I’m not in control anymore you have to promise me that you’ll stop me,” she said, holding his gaze.
“You have me and the whole pack watching your back, Amber. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
She rubbed her hand against the demon mark absently and forced herself to smile at her brother. “I know.”
Chapter 82
KADRITHAN
“Is the girl safe?” Zerestria demanded.
“She is, and she has embraced her potential, finally. She gave one of the wolves her demon mark,” he said, careful to keep his tone even and respectful.
Zerestria slumped back in her chair in relief. She was old, one of the few still left that remembered what it had been like before the Fall. Before the curse. “The girl’s stubbornness was infuriating, but in some ways, I respect her resisting as long as she did.”
“It was foolish. She is the key to breaking this curse, and she put that all at risk just because she didn’t like what she had to do.” He paced the length of the room, only looking up when he noted that Zerestria hadn’t responded yet.
She looked at him with amusement, raising her brow.
“Oh, shut up, she’s nothing like me,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“She has your stubbornness and her mother’s temper. It’s a miracle she’s still alive,” the old woman said, shaking her head with a laugh.
“She might be my niece, but sometimes she’s an asshole,” he said g
rumpily.
“That’s the angel half of her,” Zerestria said with a smirk as she rose from her chair. Her back was slightly stooped with age, but the magic that kept them alive strengthened her frail body. Her long, silver hair fell over her shoulders like a shawl.
As she rummaged through her desk, he wandered toward the window. It used to be beautiful. It had been a paradise.
Now bare trees covered the barren hills, their arms stretching toward an orange sky. The air was dry and still now. There was no breeze. The seasons never changed. When their magic had been stripped from them, it had destroyed this realm.
He closed his eyes, and for a moment, let himself remember their glorious past. His mouth watered at the thought of the sweet fruits he used to pick from the trees. The gardens had been bursting with flowers. He and his sister had spent every afternoon swimming in the cool, clear lakes.
“Kadrithan, we need to get in touch with the others. I need to know if your cousin managed to get a mark on someone actually useful,” Zerestria said, interrupting his pity party. She sealed the envelope and set it aside.
“I’ll go ask in person, I’ve been meaning to check with my cousin as well,” he said, extending his hand for the letter.
Once the dust had settled, a resistance had grown within their ranks. It had been scattered and ineffectual for centuries, but slowly, the elders had begun to work together instead of against one another. A plan had been formed. They hadn’t realized someone like Evangeline would have to play a role until she was about five years old. They’d initially kept her alive just because of how badly the angels wanted her kind dead. His gut had told him she would be important.
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