He pushed her back and pulled her chin up. “You’ve never been a distraction. You’re my whole life, Monique. I don’t want anything but you.”
“And to change the Council, but you can’t do that with me by your side.”
“I’ll leave. I’ll quit.” His voice broke. If it meant keeping Monique, he’d walk away even if it disappointed his father.
“No. You need to do this, and I need to let you. Besides, I’ll be traveling. I want to absorb everything fashion to further my career.”
“I’ll come with you. I’ll leave the Council behind.”
Stepping back, she wiped at her face. “You couldn’t even tell me she was here, Erik. You didn’t trust me. And it will happen again. You’ll have to keep your mouth shut about a case. Or I’ll lose someone dear and you’ll refuse to tell me what they want me to hear.”
“If it wasn’t all hate filled rage, I would have shared. Don’t you get that? If she had wanted to tell you how much she loved you, I would have done it in a heartbeat. But the shit she wanted to spew is tearing us apart.”
“I know, but it doesn’t change how much it tears me up to know you wouldn’t even tell me she was screaming at you.”
“You were already hurting. I didn’t want to make it worse.”
“I can’t do this, Erik. Something will always hold us apart.”
“I’ll leave the Council. I’ll tell you next time. Just don’t go.”
“You say that now, but next time…” She sucked in a breath and backed toward the door. “Next time you’ll come to your senses and you’ll be right to do it, but I can’t live like that.”
He closed the distance. “Tell me what to do.”
“It’s too late.” She placed her hand on his chest and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
He slid to the floor as darkness washed over him.
* * * *
Crying, Monique left him in the apartment and took her suitcase. Consuela gave her a talisman in order to put him to sleep. He would have chased her, convinced her to stay. Leaving was breaking her heart, but she needed to get far away before she changed her mind. This was the right choice.
It had to be. She was flying to France, then London and whatever else she could squeeze in before she had to come back for her mother’s funeral.
She stopped at a payphone and loaded it to call Dad. He answered after a few rings.
“Hello?”
“I’ll be back in time for the funeral. I closed the shop. I’m going to tour Europe until then. I’ll probably go back afterward.”
“What about Erik?”
“I left him. He lied to me, Daddy. He wouldn’t tell me Mom came to the house. And sooner or later, he’s going to have to choose between me and his job.”
“He would choose you every time. I know your mother hated that you chose Erik. And as much as I love her, she was always wrong about him. You need to think this through. A break is smart, but he’s your heart. You can’t tell me you don’t love him.”
“I do, and that’s why I’m leaving. I won’t be the reason he leaves the Council, and I won’t be the reason he can’t complete a mission. It’s better this way. Mom was right. He’s more mage than not.”
“You’re wrong. He’s a necromancer, Monique. Even if this program succeeds, he won’t ever be a mage, and I can’t foresee a time the whole of the Silver Council will accept him. Maybe it’s best if he leaves for you. And he would follow you anywhere.”
“I don’t want him to. Maybe I’ll change my mind. But I need time.”
“He’ll wait for you. Forever,” Dad told her.
“We’ll see. Right now I need to figure this out.”
“I love you, angel. Call me when you land.”
* * * *
Erik woke and knew he was alone. He pushed himself from the floor. Someone knocked like they’d been there for a while. He pushed his hair out of his face and opened the door.
Gwen stood there, an impatient look on her face.
“I have a lead. You ready to go?”
“Yeah.” He let out a breath and locked the door.
She glanced over and frowned. “Tell me on the way.”
“Not much to tell. She left.”
“What do you mean she left?”
“She left. Monique is going to Europe. She’s done with me. And she used a spell to put me to sleep before leaving because she knew I’d follow her.”
“She’ll be back.”
“I don’t know, Gwen. She doesn’t want me to pick her over the Council, and she’s sure the Council will come between us. But I would leave in a heartbeat if it meant keeping her. Hell, if I could go back, I’d do what I swore I wouldn’t just so she’d stay.”
“Would she have?”
“I don’t know. Probably not. Fuck, can we talk about anything else?”
“Yeah, like the case?”
“Yeah, what’s the new development?”
“Demon infested corpse. It’s wreaking havoc on a cemetery.”
“Who do you think brought it back?”
“Rumor is Consuela Bordeaux is in town.”
“Unlikely. She doesn’t make mistakes. Not like that.”
Gwen nodded, her eyes sliding away.
He told her the ugly truth, “More likely Coltrain. He doesn’t have the control or discipline he needs to control the dead like that.”
Sad determination flowed over her face. “I know.”
“Will you be able to bring him in?”
Gwen nodded slightly. “Yeah. I’m going to have to.”
“Sorry, Gwen.”
“No, don’t. We’ve been falling apart for a long time. And if he’s stupid enough to pull that and not clean up his own mess, he needs to be brought in.”
“Not because of what he is?”
“No. But he did bring something back he couldn’t control and it’s killing innocent people. So yeah, he needs to pay for his crime. If it were a mage who couldn’t control their fire and burned an apartment building full of people down, they’d deserve punishment too.”
“Sorry. Monique questioned if I was becoming too much like you all.” Erik rubbed at his face. “I want to go after her, but she made her choice. So what do I do?”
“Give her time.”
“And what if she never changes her mind?”
“Can you really let her go right now?”
“No.” He let out a heavy breath. “Let’s just get the job done.”
Chapter 14
Forty-two years ago, one week later…
Erik rolled over in the empty bed and picked up the phone. “This is Mortale.”
“Erik, please come out today.” His heart lodged itself in his throat at Armand’s heartfelt plea. “Even if you skip the funeral, you should see Monique. Robert agreed to take you. He’s a phone call away.”
“That’s not a good idea, Armand. If she were going to change her mind, she would have called, or something. She hasn’t.” He hadn’t heard from her at all since she left their home.
“She’s mourning. You told her what you shouldn’t have.”
“You have clients who can do what I can do and are less careful about what they share with the mourning. Consuela Bordeaux was in town the day she left. I know she frequents your shop. My guess, she channeled Vivian for Monique.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because someone did. She said as much. Said I was right to tell her she didn’t want to hear her mother. Whatever Vivian said convinced Monique she was in my way. Only, she was the reason I wanted to change the Council. Monique, you, everyone who has been shoved down because mages thought they were better. Thought if we could show them that we are all on the same side, things would change.”
“They still can, with her by your side,” Armand argued.
A tear slid down Erik’s face. “I can’t. This case. I have to stay, Armand. I can’t leave right now. Talk
to her. Tell her I’m waiting for her.”
“I will, but you’re making a mistake. You need to fight for her.”
“If I thought there was anything to fight for, I would. She used a spell against me, Armand. She didn’t want me to follow. I’m doing what she asked. Please, don’t ask again.”
“I’ll talk to her.”
He laughed sadly. “I hope you get through to her. But I’m starting to believe we were doomed from the beginning.” Erik hung up and stared at the phone.
He still had the case to finish, and they were close.
The list of those who could summon a corpse was limited, especially in New York. Erik and Coltrain. Consuela, but she was off the list because she was back home in New Orleans and there were three more demon-ridden ghouls.
Part of him was glad. He’d heard many stories about Consuela. The things she was rumored to do turned his stomach. There was no telling how much was fabricated. Though he was certain her lines were far further out than his own.
He rolled to his feet and took a shower. The day was bound to be full of distractions. Standing under the water, he tried to push Monique from his mind.
He wanted to go to her, to hold her. To tell her he would be there for her in any capacity she needed, but she shut him out. And she was right. He fucked up. And he didn’t have any hope he could fix it.
His phone rang as he came back to his room to find clothes. “Hello?” he answered.
His mother sighed. “I know you’re hurting, Erik. You should come out. Monique needs you. Don’t go to the funeral, especially if Vivian was horrible to you, but you should be there for Monique, even just as a friend. Robert would reassign the case.”
“No, Mother. We’re too close, and I imagine Vivian will be there. You have no idea what she said to me. I’m sure she told her daughter worse. Monique doesn’t want me there. She finally let her mother into her head and it tore us apart.”
“You can still fix your relationship. She needed some time.”
“I won’t be able to send Vivian away without banishing her to the afterlife. And you always told me it was unfair to lock someone from their own family.”
“This is a special case. The woman was insane before her murder. She helps no one by ranting and raging at them. If you are unwilling to get rid of her, I have no qualms ensuring she is nowhere to be found.”
“Mother, she could let go of her anger.”
“She tore you two apart. You were meant to be with Monique. She’s the other half of your heart. The vile, nasty woman only wants to destroy what you two share because she can’t accept that mages could ever learn to accept anyone but mages. Look at your father. He accepts us as is.”
Only Monique left without a way to contact her. Armand hadn’t even known where she was. So he did as asked and dove into the case.
Erik sighed. “Mom, I have to meet Gwen. We’re close to solving the case. I can’t deal with Vivian. The damage is done.”
“Can you honestly tell me you don’t love Monique?”
“Of course I love her.” He took a breath and calmed his tone. “I’ll love her until my dying breath, and then I’ll still love her.” He wiped at his face. “She has every right to hate me. I refused to tell her Vivian was here. That she wanted me to tell her all mages are evil. I fucked up, but there was no right way to deal with the situation.”
“If you love her, fight for her.”
“She left the fucking country. I have no clue where she is.”
Mom huffed, and challenged, “You do today.”
“We’ll see. I can’t do the funeral. And that woman—if she’s following Monique, I can’t.”
“You two are meant for one another. I’ll see you soon,” Mother promised.
He yanked his clothes on and headed for the Headquarters.
* * * *
Robert yanked Erik into his office as he walked by. Erik spun around with a raised brow.
“You can spare an hour from this case. Just meet her at the airport. She can’t run. She can’t hide. Say what you need to. Then I’ll bring you back.”
“My relationship is none of your business.”
Robert shook his head. “Yeah, well, I know how I would be if Elizandra ever left me. I get it. Do yourself a favor and talk to her.”
Erik slumped into a chair. “You don’t understand, Robert. She has every right to be pissed at me.”
“But she can forgive you. If you don’t make her listen, she’ll never hear what you’re saying.”
“And it won’t interfere with the case?”
“Trust me. You need this.”
“Fine.”
* * * *
Monique stepped off the plane and froze when she saw Erik standing there with his hands in his pockets and his dark eyes locked on hers.
Like a raft being pulled in by a tether, she moved to him, and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his body.
“I’ve missed you so damned bad,” he whispered.
She clung to him, wishing this didn’t feel right.
He tensed as he pulled her closer.
“Ignore her,” she whispered, assuming her mother started in on all the horrible things a few mediums confirmed. She’d always had moments of extreme ugliness, but death seemed to have made it all worse.
“I am,” he murmured. “I’m sorry, Monique. Come back to me. Or tell me where to follow. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”
She looked up into his eyes. The pleading nearly pulled her apart.
“Come to the funeral with me.”
Pain twisted his features as he backed away, shaking his head. “That’s the one thing I can’t do, Monique.” He wiped at his face. “You don’t understand. Death calls to death. The funeral home and the cemetery will be crowded with them.”
She pulled him back. “That was stupid of me.”
A series of emotions played over his face. He shook his head and closed his eyes. When he met her gaze he spoke. “You’re not. If that’s what I need to do, I’ll go. I’ll leave this case behind and deal with the consequences. Tell me what to do.”
She caught a glimpse of Gwen, his partner, off to the side. Jealousy flowed through her and she sucked in a breath. Once again, Monique was reminded she really didn’t fit into Erik’s world. That he needed someone who shared his views. Someone who could accept that he was a mage with a few extra skills.
She pulled his head down and took the kiss he willingly offered. Some of his tension melted away at the tender, loving gesture.
Her heart twisted further and she stepped back. “I need time, Erik. You need to finish what you started. And I need to find myself. Please, let me go.”
“I can’t. I never could.”
“You have to, Raven. I need to learn to trust you again, and right now…” She pushed him toward Gwen and Robert. And she knew they were there because of the case. Robert brought him, not a plane. Maybe if he came to her on his own, things would be different. Maybe they wouldn’t. She blinked back tears. “I love you, but we both have things we need to do.”
“All I need is you, Monique.”
“One day, when this doesn’t hurt so bad, I’ll find you.”
She moved to walk past him, and Erik caught her arm, pulling her back into his embrace. His fingers drifted into her hair and he pulled gently, forcing her gaze to his. “My heart belongs to you forever. If you need me, come to me. I’ll be there, waiting.”
“Go. I see your ride.” She leaned up to kiss him once more before pushing him back again. “Please, go.”
He glared over her shoulder before dropping his gaze. Then he looked her in the eye, the tenderness back. “Love you, Mon. Now, always, and forever.” He dropped his head, turned, and walked away.
She moved to a chair and sank into it as Robert touched his and Gwen’s shoulders. Gwen shot Monique a nasty look before the three of them disappeared.
Doubts rolle
d through her head. She knew better, yet she couldn’t stop the images. She could almost hear her mother’s voice whispering in her ear about how perfect Gwen and Erik would be together.
She pushed herself into motion and gathered her luggage from baggage claim, then went to the car waiting for her. Instead of her parents’ house, she had the driver take her to Mystic Eye Supplies. She needed to talk to Tyra Mortale.
Tears ran down her face on the long drive to Edenton. Everything reminded her of Erik and how much she needed him. And yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her mother was about to wreck it all—if she hadn’t already.
Finally, the driver pulled up outside the shop, and Monique hurried in. She blew past Druciela Blacktree and found Tyra.
Tyra pulled back, her eyes narrowing somewhere beyond Monique. “No wonder my son is afraid to approach you.”
Monique’s head tipped. “Why do you say that?”
“Your mother is livid. She’s hissing at me now, like a demon ridden ghost.”
“She what?” Monique exclaimed.
“Evil has attached itself to her anger, fueling her desire to destroy what she doesn’t understand.”
“Can you sever the tie?”
“It would require me forcing her beyond this world. She’ll find peace there, but she can never cross the veil again,” Tyra stated simply, still watching Mother’s spirit.
“Do it. Please. I can almost hear her. She’s driving me crazy. Just make her stop.”
No! her mother screamed in her head.
“Do it,” Monique insisted.
Tyra took her hand and pulled her into the storage room. She grabbed a large piece of chalk and quickly drew a circle only large enough for one person to stand. Then she fortified it with salt. Next, she set out candles, lighting them as she went.
Tyra guided Monique on one side of the circle and moved opposite her. “Stay there a moment.”
Monique nodded.
Erik’s mother came back with Druciela. “Let’s do this the right way.”
Monique nodded.
“You’ll see her one last time, Monique. It’s not what you want to see. She’s angry and bitter. The one riding her is pushing out all the love while spewing hatred.”
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