I blushed. “Well, if my grade is any indicator of his favor, then I’m an ugly shrew.”
“Damn. That must mean he grades fairly. Or he’s blind. Maybe gay. You’re right. I’ll talk.”
I chuckled, feeling a little better. “Think you’re pretty good looking, do you?”
“I’m hot, and you know it. If Gabe hadn’t snatched you up the second you were over Kole, we’d totally be a thing right now.”
I didn’t know how to respond. He’d basically told me he liked me, and I’d been trying so hard to convince Gabe we were just friends. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so hard on him for being jealous. I took a sip of my coffee. I enjoyed Dylan’s company, and I didn’t want things to get weird, but I had to shut this down right away.
“Dylan. I don’t know what to say. I want to be your friend. Please don’t make this awkward.” I gave him a smile to show that I wasn’t angry.
“Oh, geez. Yeah, sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m not going to try anything. I swear.”
I let out a breath, grateful he was reasonable. Maybe I’d overreacted to his forwardness. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
School was boring without Gabe. My head jerked up every time someone entered a room, hoping it would be him. Not only that, I thought I saw Samir everywhere. By lunch I was exhausted, worrying about both of them. Nora picked at her food, and the twins were at some conference for Honors Society.
She’d been quiet today. I worried that something might be wrong.
“You okay?” I asked. Though I would freely admit that I wasn’t good company.
“Just ready for school to be out for the summer.”
“You and me both.”
Behind her, Kole stood up to throw his lunch away, and on the way back, he dropped into a chair next to Ellie Mason. I shouldn’t care what he did, but I was curious what he was doing. Ellie was the easiest girl in the school, if the rumors were to be believed. Maybe he was getting desperate.
He said a few words to her, and she reached over and slapped him.
I gasped, and Nora looked up. “What?”
I pointed to Kole. He held a hand to his face, and several kids around them had videos rolling. Oh, this was about to get good.
Kole, not one to take something like that, turned to the girl sitting on the other side of him. Without warning, she dumped her entire tray on top of his head. Either he was saying completely inappropriate things, or my wish was being fulfilled. I didn’t care either way. Kole was getting what he deserved.
Nora met my eyes, and we busted up laughing.
“Maybe there is a god,” she said. “How often do assholes get what they deserve?”
“Nice to see karma in action,” I replied.
Having a genie in my pocket had its perks. If only my genie would be around more often. I missed him. A lot. He would have a good laugh at Kole’s misfortunes.
Kole and his conquests were the talk of school. It definitely brightened my day. After school, Dylan leaned against my locker, his blonde hair falling into his eyes.
“Pretty sure we got an A,” he said with a cute grin.
I chuckled. “Especially since I didn’t say a word.”
He leaned a little closer to me. “We make a pretty good team.”
I hated it when he did that. His scent made me swoon a little. I backed away, and his face fell.
“We do,” I said, trying to recover. Before he could say anything though, something caught his eye across the hall, and he scowled.
I turned to look. “Gabe,” I squealed and threw myself at him. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. He always showed up at the best times.
“I love you,” I blurted. I hadn’t said those words yet. I’d been waiting for a sweet moment to tell him, and it just came tumbling out.
He pulled away and cupped my cheek, his eyes sparkling. “I love you too. Forever.”
Then he kissed me.
Chapter 24
Liv
On the walk home, I looped my arm through Gabe’s and snuggled into him. The air smelled like rain. Clouds hung heavy in the sky, but so far, not a drop had fallen.
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
“No, but we’re getting closer.”
“Can I just wish it here?” I was surprised he hadn’t suggested it.
He chuckled. “If only it was that easy. No, magical objects like that can’t be wished anywhere. It’s hidden somewhere, and hopefully within a few days we’ll find it and then Samir will die.”
“I’ll be glad when I don’t have to worry about Samir anymore.”
“Me too.”
We strolled up the walk, and a few raindrops fell.
“Just in time,” I said, laughing. I pushed the door open and froze at the sight of empty boxes tossed around the living room.
Ty poked his head out of his office.
“What’s this?” I asked cautiously, afraid to allow myself to think he might have actually listened to me.
“I’m moving.”
“For real?” I asked, excitement building in my chest.
“For real.”
I flung myself at him and gave him a big hug. “I’m going to miss you, big brother, but this is the best thing for you.”
“I know. You wanna help me pack?”
“Duh. Of course.”
Gabe and I hung out at my house and helped Ty pack. He’d be leaving in a little over a week. I was sad to see him go, but for the first time in a long time, he seemed happy.
Gran hovered over us, but didn’t talk much. She muttered about Gabe some, but that was normal. After we finished, I collapsed on the couch, and Ty disappeared into his office.
“You want to go down to the beach?” Gabe asked, standing over me.
Gran snapped her head up. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Gran,” I whined. “I’m sick of being in the house.”
She gave Gabe a knowing look.
“We’re just going for a walk. She’ll be safe,” Gabe said.
Gran hesitated but then nodded. Did Gran know about Gabe? No, that was impossible. I dismissed the thought as soon as I had it. I was just being overly suspicious.
We drove down to the beach in a comfortable silence. Or maybe it was comfortable on his part. Every time we were alone, my senses went into overdrive.
At the beach he took my hand, and we started toward the lighthouse. It was probably good that I told him I loved him while we were at school. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get it out now. Gabe left me speechless.
“You’re quiet. Everything okay?” Gabe asked.
I felt like our relationship just went to a whole new level, and I wasn’t sure how it would work. Especially considering he was immortal and I wasn’t. He would live for eons without me.
“Someday I’m going to die.”
“Yes, I suppose you will.” He cocked his head at me, his eyes full of curiosity.
“But you won’t.”
If I were in his shoes, I’m not sure I’d be able to handle looking down forever without him.
“Right.” He picked up a rock and threw into the lake, staring out into its depths. What I would give to know what he was thinking about.
I didn’t know how to say the words, how to express to him that I wanted to stay with him forever. He declared his feelings for me all the time. “Can I… can I… wish to stay alive. For you.”
Gabe stopped walking and stared at me, his eyes locked onto mine.
“Did I say something wrong?” I asked. Maybe I-love-yous were just…words. Maybe he didn’t really love me. Maybe this was a silly fling, and he liked the idea of staying with me for a time, but not forever. How could he? He would live for thousands of years and love many, many women.
He shook his head. “I didn’t realize you felt that way.”
“Well, I do.” I was sure my cheeks were on fire, but I wanted him to know.
He pulled me into him a
nd stroked my cheek. “Unfortunately, that is another wish I cannot grant. Humans were not meant to be immortal.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead. My heart raced.
“Will you miss me?” I asked.
“Forever.” There was that word again. Forever seemed so long.
I saw a cove where we could have some privacy, so I pulled him toward it, ready to get a move on our eternity. Maybe I wouldn’t live thousands of years with him, but I would make the most of our time together.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“Over there. Maybe we can sit and watch the waves.” Watch the waves. Yeah right. I wanted much more than waves.
He gave me a knowing grin, and we rushed toward the rocks, giggling. We stopped every once in a while for him to kiss me. It took way longer to reach the cove than it should’ve, but his kisses made my toes curl.
The beach after a rain was my favorite, from the cold sand, to the sheer silence in the air. It was often the most peaceful place I knew. I stopped for a second and just watched the water. Gabe stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
The lake spread out before us, calm and black. One could get lost in that abyss.
“It looks so vast, like it goes on forever,” Gabe said.
“I know.”
“We should go on a boat sometime.”
“We should.”
I wiggled out of his arms, took his hand, and pulled him to the cove. I came around the corner and stopped, unsure of what I was seeing.
A man hovered over a woman, sucking something out of her. Only this time I knew it wasn’t a figment of my imagination. Life force moved from the woman to the man. If you could call him that.
He looked up, and his creepy black eyes locked on mine. Samir.
“Shit,” Gabe muttered. I let go of his hand and rushed for Samir. I wasn’t going to let him kill that girl. “Liv, wait.”
Samir gave me a sick smile, his face twisted and uglier than before. He glowed for a second. Then he turned to smoke and disappeared.
I collapsed on the sand next to the girl I couldn’t save. Every cell in my body turned to ice. This couldn’t be happening.
“Nora,” I cried, slapping her face, blood instantly coating my hands. “Nora, come back to me.”
Her hazel eyes stared blankly, her skin too cold. No breath left her ruby lips, and her heart was stilled.
I’d just gotten her back.
Blood covered every surface of her skin.
I sniffed. I’d done everything I could to keep Scarlett and Penny alive, and now Nora was dead. Dead because of me. There was no other possibility. Samir played us, making us think he wasn’t around, but in truth, he was watching, looking for a way to hurt us.
Her dyed black hair spread out behind her.
He hit me right where it would hurt the most.
I broke down and sobbed.
Nora was dead.
Chapter 25
Gabe
The death of Nora burned my nostrils. The smell hit us right after the life force disappeared. It was a reminder of the monsters we were.
Breathing through my mouth didn’t help because then I tasted the smoky air that lingered around Samir, even after he was long gone.
He might’ve actually killed Nora because of me, to get to Liv. He knew how to torture in the most wicked ways.
I grabbed Liv’s arm and wrenched her away from Nora, panic starting to set in. Samir liked to toy with his enemies, and there was no telling what he had planned next. “We need to get you out of here.”
He could come back at any time. Why he disappeared was beyond me. He could’ve killed Liv, but he didn’t. That made him all the more scarier. He was waiting for something, but I didn’t know what. I had to get Liv back home where I knew she’d be safe. Then Ali and I could try to figure out what he was doing.
“We need to call the police and get her help.” Liv’s voice was frantic and panicked. Her hands shook as she took out her phone. Silent tears flowed down her face. I longed to comfort her, but her safety came first.
Nora bore signs of a torturous death. Blood coated her face and hands. Even her feet. It was unnecessary and brutal. Her body also reminded me of what could’ve happened to Liv if I hadn’t showed up in time. She could still end up that way if I didn’t get her out of here. “There is nothing we can do for her. Samir saw you. He’ll come back for you.”
“Right. And if you had done your job, she’d still be alive,” she shrieked. She looked down at the body and jerked her head away, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She was right to be angry with me. If I’d pushed Ali to find a witch so we could obtain the sickle, she might still be alive. Ali said he needed a few days because only a few witches were capable of tracking down objects like that. We should’ve moved faster.
At the moment, that didn’t matter. I needed to get Liv back home.
“Liv, please, wish yourself home, and then I’ll get help for Nora.” I could just take her without the wish, but I worried that she’d just run back. I needed her to make the decision, and then I’d know she’d stay at home.
“No.” Liv steadied herself and dialed 911. Her voice was shaky as she explained where we were to the police. I kept my eyes opened and looked for Samir. Every muscle in my body was tense.
The longer we stayed, the more at risk she was. Liv didn’t understand the danger she was in. I had to get her far, far away from here. Then Ali and I were going to find that sickle and kill this son of a bitch. I wasn’t going to wait any longer. Samir had to die. Today.
After Liv hung up the phone, I grabbed her hand. “Now can we go?”
She ripped her hand out of mine. “No. We’re staying with Nora until the police get here.” She spun around and started to pace. Fifteen minutes passed, and no one arrived. I hated sitting around waiting for something to happen, but Liv would not leave.
I wiped sweat off my forehead. “Samir will come back for you. Please. Let’s go. We can’t do anything for her.” My pleading had no effect. Liv couldn’t see how important this was to me.
“You don’t care about anyone do you? She was my best friend, and now she’s dead.”
“You’re going to be dead if you’re not careful.”
We stood in an uncomfortable silence. Every now and then she glanced down at Nora, but she always looked quickly away. Nora’s mangled body would be hard for anyone to witness.
Eventually sirens sounded, car doors slammed, and voices carried down the beach.
I stayed close to Liv, making sure she was safe, but she was focused on Nora. Part of me wondered at that. She and Nora were enemies just a few weeks ago, and here Liv was making sure Nora was taken care of in death, even though she could die herself. She was risking everything for a dead girl.
I’d always assumed humans were unrefined creatures, but seeing Liv take care of Nora made me wonder if I got it all wrong. Maybe we were the real monsters. Humans looked out for one another. We just betrayed each other.
The police came with flashing lights and questions. Liv refused to leave until the EMTs took Nora away. It was as if we’d been out there for hours. Maybe we had.
“Are you ready to go now?” I asked, tugging on her arm.
She shook her head and collapsed in the sand, crying. I looked around, seeing every shadow and movement. I should comfort her, but I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. We had to get out of there.
Even if she hated me when this was over, I was going to lock her up and not let her go until Samir was smoke and dust.
Chapter 26
Liv
Gabe hurried me off the beach, but I couldn’t go home. Dark thoughts swirled through my head. We’d only just made up, and now Nora was dead. But Samir. According to Gabe, he still wanted me dead, but Nora was gone instead. For whatever reason, Samir went after her. If it weren’t for me, she’d still be alive.
I balked at the car door.
“Get in, Liv, please.”
; She was just gone. As in, never coming back. There was no way to help or save her. I pressed my hands against my stomach. Maybe then I wouldn’t puke out my entire dinner. She couldn’t be gone. “Can I wish her back to life?”
“Only if you want to die. Let’s go.”
I wanted him to leave me alone and let me grieve. “Would you give me some time? I witnessed Nora’s death. How can you be so calm?”
“She’s just a girl. You’re the one I’m worried about.”
“How can you be so insensitive?” What an ass. He’d killed dozens of girls. Hundreds maybe. What on earth was I doing with him?
He pinched his nose. “It’s not that. I’m just worried about you. Samir has been lying low, and suddenly he kills your best friend. We need you to get home. There are protections there that I can’t even offer you. You are in more danger now than you were before. That was a warning. Samir is going to toy with both you and me until he decides it is time for us to die. Nobody will be safe until we take care of him.”
Faces flashed in my head of all my loved ones. I climbed into the car and crossed my arms. Samir was going to go after people I loved. Why though? Maybe because of Gabe. Or maybe because I’d gotten away from him in the woods. Samir was a monster, and he was after me.
Gabe drove quickly away from the beach.
“You know, there is a solution to this,” I said.
“What’s that?”
“I could make a death wish, and then he won’t hurt anyone else I love.” Had my life come to this? I should do it.
Gabe grabbed my hand. “Don’t be silly. Ali and I are going to finish this. As soon as I make sure you’re safe, we’re going back out on the hunt. Please don’t do anything like that.”
I brushed tears away from my face. “But if it wasn’t for me, he’d never have gone after her. If I hadn’t forgiven her, she wouldn’t be dead.” I should’ve gone on hating her. But then Samir would’ve gotten someone else. Scarlett or Penny. Ty or Gran. They were all in danger.
“You don’t know that.”
We pulled up in front of the house, and I fumbled with the door handle. Gabe waited for me on the other side of the car. He reached for me, but I pulled away.
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