Aric shook his head. “Burn it down.”
“What if it starts a forest fire?”
“Be careful when you do it,” Aric said. “Burn it fast and control it.”
“You act as if I magically know how to do that,” I grumbled, groaning when I saw Cissy trying to get to her feet. “I’m bad at controlling that stuff.”
“Try,” Aric ordered.
I blew out a sigh and focused on the house, sucking in a breath and letting loose with a long whoosh. I could feel the power leave me and slam into the house, a million pieces splintering into a multitude of directions and causing Aric to shelter Sami’s head.
“Good grief, Zoe!”
“That was cool,” Sami said. “Wow.”
The murmuring stopped, and I wasn’t the only one to notice.
“What did you do?” Cissy growled, rolling to her knees and staring at the house. The top was gone … as were the walls … and most definitely the windows. Oh, who am I kidding? The entire thing was gone and fiery splinters landed everywhere.
“If that starts a big fire you’re in trouble, Zoe,” Aric said.
“Whatever.”
“What did you do?” Cissy raged, scrambling in my direction. She caught me off guard, knocking the air out of me when she tackled me to the ground. My head hit the earth hard enough to cause an echo, and for a moment everything going on around me appeared to be happening as if from a great distance.
“Mom!”
“Sami!” Aric’s voice sounded as if it traversed a long distance before getting to me.
I shook my head to clear the ringing, my mind jumbled as I tried to remind myself that Cissy was still on attack. Wait … why wasn’t she attacking?
“Oh, my … Zoe!” Aric’s voice was shrill, and when I finally turned my head in his direction I saw an amazing sight.
Cissy’s hand was outstretched in my direction, as if she was going in for the killing blow. Sami’s hand was on her wrist to stop her, though, and the point where Sami’s fingers made contact with Cissy’s wrist smoked and turned black.
“Zoe!”
“I see it,” I said, struggling to my knees. “Sami … I … let go.”
“I can’t.” Sami was tearful as Cissy tried to pull away from her. Sami’s anger was too great, though, and Cissy’s arm was charring and flaking even as my twelve-year-old struggled to let go.
“It’s okay,” I said, sucking in a breath as Cissy screeched her disapproval to whatever gods she believed in. The demon witch fell silent as I finally found the courage to do what needed to be done. I grabbed Sami’s hand, whimpering as my flesh burned at her touch, and wrenched her arm free from Cissy’s decaying body. “Oh, let go, Sami!”
Sami pulled back, terrified tears rolling down her cheeks as I cradled my arm to my stomach. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said, fighting off tears. The skin on my arm was black.
“Oh, man. It’s okay, sweetie. Mom will be okay.” Aric gave Sami a wide berth before hurrying to my side, dropping to his knees and gasping as he widened his eyes. “Oh, baby. That’s bad. Okay. You need to heal yourself.”
Great. Like I hadn’t figured that out myself. I was in too much pain to muster that sort of power.
“You can do it,” Aric whispered, wrapping his arms around my head and pressing my forehead to his chest. He knew I was in terrible pain, and he was trying to protect Sami from the ramification of her fiery temper. “I love you. You’re going to be okay. Heal yourself.”
I pressed my eyes shut and focused on my arm, letting everything else fall away. Aric continued to hug me as he swayed back and forth on his knees. He never ceased whispering encouragement.
“You’re going to be okay. You’re going to be okay. Heal yourself. Come on. Heal yourself.”
“Aric?”
He stilled. “What?”
“I’ve already done it,” I said, causing him to jerk his head back. “Stop giving me a pep talk, okay?”
Aric barked out a hoarse laugh, just as a bolt of lightning streaked through the sky. A rumble of thunder followed in short succession. “That should take care of the fire,” he said. “Let me see your arm.”
The skin wasn’t perfect. It was shiny and red. By morning it would be fine, though. I risked a glance at Sami and found her openly weeping. “It’s okay. I’m okay, Sami. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I burned you.”
“I … it was an accident, Sami. You didn’t know that would happen. You were trying to help.”
“But … .”
Aric pressed a quick kiss to my forehead before dragging me to a standing position. He then strode over to Sami and scooped her up. “Sami, you did good. You saved your mom. She healed herself. We’re very proud of you.”
“I want to go home,” Sami sniffed, fat tears sliding down her cheeks. “I want to see Trouble. I want to see Grandma and Grandpa.”
“We’re going home,” Aric said, glancing around before focusing his gaze on me. “Is that it? Is everything handled?”
I tilted my head to the side and listened. There was nothing. Katie’s body was already breaking apart in the building wind and Cissy wouldn’t be far behind. “I think we’re good.”
“I know we’re good,” Aric said. “Come on. We’re going home.”
“I want ice cream, too,” Sami said.
“We’re all having ice cream,” I said. “Then Dad is going to owe me a big massage when we’re alone tonight.”
“Oh, gross!”
I HEARD screaming from the house the moment I dropped the dome, and broke into a run, leaving Aric to handle Sami as I raced up the steps and threw open the sliding glass door.
Helen and James jumped when I appeared, giving me a long look before Helen scowled. “Where have you been?”
“Killing half-demons, wraiths and kids with fangs,” I replied. “Oh, I saved your granddaughter, too. Yay, me!”
James held up his hands in a placating manner. “She didn’t mean that,” he said. “She’s just … we have a situation here.
“I see that,” I said, making a face as my eyes locked with Paris’ terror-stricken eyes. “You just couldn’t wait twenty-four hours, could you?”
Paris’ brown hair was soaked with sweat and someone had propped her against Heath on the floor to get her comfortable. She was in a nightgown, her knees bent and the soles of her feet pressed to the floor. She was clearly in labor.
“This is all your fault,” Paris spat, infuriated. “I could’ve been in a hospital with awesome drugs if it weren’t for you. Look at me! I’m giving birth on the floor.”
“You’ve never looked better,” I deadpanned.
“What’s going on?” Aric asked, walking into the room with Sami in his arms. “What’s … oh, my … vagina!”
“Nice,” I said, bursting into hysterical gales of laughter.
“Don’t look,” Paris shrieked.
“Wow!” Sami’s eyes grew to the size of saucers as she fought Aric’s grip and tried to climb down from his arms. She’d apparently forgotten about her need for ice cream. “What is that?”
“It’s the baby’s head,” I said, pressing the heel of my hand against my forehead. “Why didn’t you guys take her to the hospital when this started? It’s too late now. She’s going to give birth on the floor.”
“Cool,” Sami said. “Can I film it for class?”
“Absolutely not,” Aric said, blindly reaching for Sami’s head – and missing every time – as he stared at the ceiling. “This is not for you to see. We’re going to the kitchen for your ice cream. I … where are you?”
“We can have ice cream whenever,” Sami complained. “I want to see the baby. Wow! Did I look like that when I was coming out?”
“Pretty much,” I said dryly, resigned. “I didn’t look at it from that angle, though.”
“Neither did I,” Aric said. “I refuse to look at it now.”
“Stop being a baby,�
�� Sami chided. “Birth is a natural thing. They have videos all over YouTube.”
“You’re banned from the computer!”
“Leave her alone,” I instructed, sinking to my knees in front of Paris. I had no doubt I would be the one delivering the baby. I was the godmother, after all. I’d fought off evil and saved the day. Why shouldn’t I add doula to the mix? “She might as well enjoy what’s about to happen.”
“Enjoy it?” Aric’s voice was shrill. “Are you kidding me? She can’t see this. She’ll be warped.”
Tears streamed down Paris’ face as another contraction wracked her body. She was so far along the baby would be here any second.
“She won’t be warped,” I said. “It’s a … miracle. She’ll never forget her surrogate cousin being born.”
“Yeah, but … .”
“And it’s also going to be the best form of birth control ever for an almost-teenaged girl,” I added.
“Oh, I’m going to be sick,” Aric muttered. “Sami, you’re not having sex until you’re thirty – and even then we’re going to have to negotiate. Do you understand?”
“Stop freaking out.” Sami was unbelievably calm as she stared at Paris’ lady parts. I was impressed. “He’s coming.”
I shifted my eyes to her, surprised. Paris had no idea if the baby was a boy or girl. They wanted to wait until … well … now. “He?”
“Can’t you hear him?” Sami whispered.
“Hear him?” Heath was dumbfounded. “Is he talking?”
“He’s excited to come here,” Sami said. “He’s also worried it’s going to be cold, so we’ll need a blanket.”
“I already handled that,” Helen said, holding up a stack of items I set aside before everything hit the fan. It was some of Sami’s baby things I thought Paris might like. Of course, I thought the baby might be a girl, so a pink blanket somehow seemed inappropriate now.
“He’s coming,” Paris said, gritting her teeth as she gripped her knees.
“Push,” I ordered, leaning forward and putting my hands under the baby’s shoulders. I had no idea what I was doing, but instinct took over. “Push hard.”
“Here he comes,” Sami said, clapping. “Can I name him?”
“No,” Paris growled. “I … oh!”
“Oh, I’m going to pass out,” Aric said.
The sound of an infant crying filled the room as Paris’ son joined the family with a loud scream. He was cute. Well, kind of. Once the gunk was cleaned off he would probably be very cute.
“It’s a boy,” I said, my hands shaking as I handed him to a sobbing Paris.
“I can’t believe it,” Paris cooed, her pain forgotten. “You’re finally here.”
“Good job, Zoe,” Aric said, his hand resting on my shoulder. “That was amazing.”
“I’m glad you approve,” I said, forcing a smile. “Now I think I’m going to pass out.”
Thirty
“Move over.”
“You move over.”
“Move over or I’ll move you.”
There was no way I was moving over. “Just climb on top and do what you want to do.”
Aric chuckled as he slipped his arms under my legs and shifted my body so he could get comfortable on the chaise lounge with me. It was a beautiful spring day, the sun shining brightly as it beat down on my bare arms. “You’re so much work.” He kissed my cheek anyway and sighed. “Paris and Heath called from the road as they promised. Everyone is doing well, and they’ll call again when they get home in an hour.”
Two days after the birth of their son, who still didn’t have a name, Paris and Heath happily packed up their belongings and headed home to get the new addition settled in. We promised to visit them in two weeks. Most new mothers aren’t as giddy as Paris – the pain and all – but I gave her the gift of my healing hands. You couldn’t tell she’d ever gone through a traumatic birth.
“That’s good,” I said, resting my cheek against Aric’s chest. “I saw you and your dad take off into the woods this morning. Did you check out the house?”
“We did,” Aric confirmed. “The storm blew away any evidence that could tie it to us. We took care of any bodily remains. There wasn’t much, in case you’re wondering. If the cops do come around, we just have to lie.”
“I love lying to cops. I haven’t been able to do it in years. You just made my weekend.”
“You’re a funny girl, Zoe Lake-Winters.” Aric tweaked the end of my nose and blew out a long-suffering sigh. “I’m exhausted. You were right the other night. We’re old.”
“We’re older,” I said, parroting his words back to him. “We just take longer to recuperate. Speaking of that, when are your parents leaving?”
“Soon,” Aric replied. “I think they’re excited to get away from us.”
“Do you blame them?”
“Oh, I don’t know, I think we’re a fun couple,” Aric said, laughing. “I’m just glad it’s over.”
“I am, too, although … .”
Aric arched an eyebrow. “Although what?”
“I don’t want to be a downer, but I don’t suppose you checked to see if Cissy parked a car out at the house, did you?”
“We looked for a vehicle and didn’t see one,” Aric replied. “My guess is that it’s somewhere in the woods, close to the house but not easily visible. I’m going to leave that one for the cops.”
“I wonder what will happen with the husband,” I mused. “He has to be worried sick.”
“I thought you said he was a dumbass?”
“Yeah, well … I still don’t want someone looking for their wife and child in the hopes of finding them alive when they’re long since dead,” I replied. “There’s nothing we can do about that, though.”
“No, there’s not,” Aric agreed, tightening his arm around my back. “What do you want to do today?”
“I’m pretty sure this is me peaking.”
Aric barked out a laugh. “I’m right there with you.”
The sound of little feet drew our attention and Sami shuffled closer, James trailing a few feet behind. She looked conflicted.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. She’d spent the last two days vacillating wildly between excitement over seeing the birth of the baby and guilt over burning me. My arm was completely healed – which helped tremendously – but I figured only time would fully fix that wound.
“Grandpa said that they were leaving but he would take me to town for ice cream first,” Sami said. “I … can I?”
We hadn’t let her wander far from us since the event. I was pretty sure she felt smothered.
“I don’t see why not,” Aric said. “That will be a fun hour or so with your grandparents before they go.”
Sami brightened. Obviously she thought we would shoot down her request. “Really?”
“Absolutely,” Aric said. “You’re going to need your strength because we’re going to start training you this afternoon.”
I stilled. We’d talked about that, too. I wasn’t keen on forcing Sami into training I refused to embrace myself, but in the end I agreed with Aric. The odds of her being more powerful than me were high. She needed to learn control, especially because her magic was coming in fast waves.
“What kind of training?” Sami was intrigued, despite herself.
“We’re going to work on you being able to do things when you want to do them, rather than having them just happen,” Aric said. “You still didn’t do anything wrong. Mom is okay.”
Sami nodded.
“See,” James said, poking her side. “I told you that they would say yes and they weren’t disappointed in you.”
“We’re not disappointed in you, Sami,” I said. “We’re proud of you. You held it together and helped save everyone. You also helped deliver a baby.”
“Why didn’t you have another baby?” Sami asked.
Now was so not the time for that discussion. “Because we decided to have one perfect child and stop there.”
&nb
sp; “What a great answer,” Sami deadpanned. “I don’t believe it for a second, but I guess that’s none of my business.”
“Probably not,” Aric agreed. “Where is Trouble, by the way? If you’re going to town we need to make sure he gets outside for his bathroom breaks. Now that things have settled down, we have to train him, too. He’s going to be your responsibility.”
“He’s sleeping on your bed.”
“Of course he is,” Aric muttered. “I just know I’m going to end up doing the bulk of the work with that dog.”
“You’ll live,” James said, resting his hand on Sami’s shoulder. “Come on, little missy. Let’s get your ice cream and leave your mom and dad to laze about. They’re getting old and need their rest.”
I scorched James with a look before waving to Sami. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but she seemed happy as she skipped along at her grandfather’s side. Once they were gone I shifted my eyes to Aric. “We’re childless for an entire hour. Whatever should we do?”
Aric arched an eyebrow. “I thought you were tired.”
“I’m getting a second wind.”
“I love that about you,” Aric said, rolling on top of me and tickling my ribs. “Tell me you love me.”
Oh, I hated this game. “I love you,” I sputtered, trying to wriggle away from him.
“Tell me I’m the handsomest man in the world.”
“You’re very handsome,” I gasped. “Stop!”
Aric ignored me. “Tell me I’ve ruined you for all other men because none of them can ever live up to my good looks and muscles.”
“Oh, now you’re just grasping at straws,” I said, laughing as he kissed my neck. “Fine! You’ve ruined me for all other men.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Aric said, grabbing the back of his shirt collar and stripping it off. “Prepare to be ruined, woman.”
“Omigod!” Sami’s face was a mottled red when Aric and I glanced up.
“I thought you left with your grandparents,” Aric barked.
“I came back to ask if you want ice cream.”
“I want that stuff with the bubble gum in it,” I said.
“Just get me whatever,” Aric said. “I’m not picky.”
Dying Covenant: The Complete Series Page 26