Miranda nodded, there was no judgment on her pretty face.
“I’m just so happy to finally have a name for what I am. To know that there are others out there, somewhere, like me.”
Miranda rested her hand atop Ellie’s and squeezed her fingers. “You’ve never been alone, El. I’m here, and always will be.”
Ellie smiled, a rush of warmth racing through her body. For years she’d been searching for a place to belong and now she knew, this place, these people, were home. “Thank you.”
They were silent for a brief moment, watching Camile and Devon argue, as Kipps tried his best to play referee.
Miranda nodded toward Devon. “So, he’s an angel?”
Ellie grinned. “Yep.”
Rose shoved her way between the two, having apparently had enough of their fighting. Even when he was angry, Devon looked gorgeous. The wind had ruffled his hair, the t-shirt he wore was tight over his muscled torso. Those biceps bulged as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“An angel,” Miranda sighed. “Very interesting. What’s it like?”
“What’s what like?”
Miranda grinned wickedly. “Having sex with an angel.”
Ellie flushed and looked away. Fortunately she was saved by Rose’s bellow.
“Enough!” the old witch snapped.
Miranda leaned closer. “You supernatural beings are pretty dramatic.”
“Devon,” Rose said, shoving her weathered hand into his chest and pushing him back with surprising strength. “Camile did the spell as she was supposed to. We haven’t a clue why it didn’t work as it should have. It could have been any number of reasons. A shift in the wind. A drop in temperature.”
“Thank you,” Camile grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.
“And ye,” Rose snapped, turning toward her niece. “As a witch, ye must look to yerself to find the answers. Only ye can make it work, only ye are responsible.”
Camile flushed and looked away. Ellie didn’t miss the smug look on Devon’s face and almost laughed. Even angels could let their egos get the better of them.
“I suggest ye figure out how to work together. If ye want to destroy that demon, ye need her powers in full working order.”
This, of course, made them all turn toward Ellie. She shifted, incredibly uncomfortable under their attention. She felt like a piece of prime meat.
“Wow,” Miranda whispered. “Nothing like feeling the pressure. Have I mentioned how glad I am that I’m a normal human?”
Ellie frowned. “I don’t know what they expect me to do. I’m so new to all of this. Hell, I don’t even know what I’m capable of.”
“Ellie, are you sure about this?” Miranda rested her hand on her arm. “If this is all real…” She looked at the group of supernatural misfits across from them and shook her head. “This… craziness. If this demon is real… you could die.”
Ellie gave her a wavering smile. “We have to die sometime, right?”
She sighed. “Ellie, say the word and we take the next train out of here.”
She held up her hand, stopping Miranda. “I can’t leave now. They’re counting on me. They need my powers. I have to protect them.”
“Yeah, but who will protect you?”
The words startled her for a moment, left her fumbling for the right response. Unwillingly, she glanced at Devon. She knew when it came down to it, he would pick the better good over her life. He had to, he was an angel. She tore her attention from Devon and focused on Miranda.
“I’ll protect myself. I’ve been doing it for twenty-eight years now.”
“She won’t need protection,” Devon stated from too far away for a human to possibly hear, yet he wasn’t human and his hearing was obviously above subpar. Ellie frowned, not at all liking the fact that he was eavesdropping. What else had he overheard?
“Devon,” Rose warned.
Devon held his hands up, warding her off. “No, we’re putting this to rest now. Ellie is not going with us when we confront the demon. She’s too important.”
Shocked and irate, Ellie surged to her feet. “What?”
“End of discussion, you’re not going with me.” He swept past them all and started toward the pub, dismissing them. Apparently, he thought his word was God’s and no one could argue. Okay, maybe it was God’s word, for all she knew. Still, he was a stubborn man.
“Then why am I training?” Ellie demanded, scurrying after him.
He wrapped his fingers around the brass handle of the back door. “So you can learn how to protect yourself.”
“When you’re gone,” she added, moving up the two steps to the back stoop.
He didn’t respond, merely pulled open the door and moved into the large, outdated kitchen.
“Devon, don’t be ridiculous! No one knows what happened to Ashley and Cristian. You only have Camile and Kipps, you need more help!”
He moved around a pea green refrigerator with sure steps, ignoring her.
She would not be ignored. “Devon, damn it, stop!”
He paused in the hallway, hidden in the shadows, his back to her.
“You need me!”
“That’s the problem,” he said softly.
Ellie froze. She heard the emotion in his words, knew there was more to his statement than first implied. He wanted her, but he didn’t want to want her. A myriad of feelings swarmed through her. Pain, fear, happiness and…love. Damn it all, she cared about him more than she should, more than she wanted to and apparently he felt the same way about her.
For a moment they were silent, allowing the importance of their feelings to truly sink in. When she could take it no longer, she stepped forward, hoping to appeal to his rational side. “Devon, you need all the power you can get. If this demon escapes, who knows what will happen. I’m safer with you, than without.”
He spun around so fast she couldn’t prepare. Suddenly, Ellie found herself pressed up against the wall, Devon’s hard body holding her immobile. “Listen to me.” He cupped the sides of her face, his gaze imploring. “I won’t have time to watch your back and I’m not sure I can trust Camile and Kipps.”
“I can protect myself.”
“You’re a novice!”
“I’ve kept myself alive for twenty-eight years.”
“You’ve been running for twenty-eight years.”
Her ego fought with the truth. As much as she wanted to be angry, she knew there was honesty to his statement. There was a time to argue with him, but now wasn’t the time. “And who will watch your back?”
That hard gaze softened ever so slightly. “I’m not afraid of dying. I’ve done it a couple times before. The only thing that scares the hell out of me is losing you.”
For a moment she thought she’d misheard him. But the words pierced her heart, sent a shiver of awareness over her skin. “If you die, you will lose me.”
He was actually admitting he cared. Words she’d been hoping for but never expected to hear. The realization that he liked her so much more than she could have ever hoped for, made her only more determined to be by his side.
“I don’t want a ghost for a boyfriend. Makes it hard to cuddle.”
He rested his forehead to hers, his breath warm on her lips. “You don’t understand what you’re getting into. What he’s capable of.”
She gripped his shoulders. “Then tell me. Help me train. Explain his powers, his weaknesses. Tell me what happened to you six months ago.”
He closed his eyes and for a moment she thought he might reject the idea. “The only way to get rid of the demon was to send him to hell. We released his soul, but it didn’t go as planned. He was stronger than we’d expected.”
He went silent. From the kitchen a clock ticked the seconds by, the only sound in the house. Honestly, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know the rest, yet knew deep down she had to ask. “Devon, how’d you die six months ago?”
He opened his eyes and stepped away from her. The hardness was back in
his gaze, the emotion gone. “I sacrificed myself. I attached my soul to the demon’s spirit to hold him until Ashley and Cristian could figure out how to destroy the monster once and for all.”
Devon had killed himself. The realization horrified her. He had taken away his life, his beautiful body destroyed. His own doing. Would he do it again?
“About a month ago, Ashley and Camile did a spell, and now… I’m back once more.” He didn’t sound happy about that. She was. Damn it all, the thought of him being lost forever… of never meeting him…it was too much to contemplate.
“And the demon?” she whispered.
“Is out there…somewhere.”
“And you plan to stop it?”
“Not just stop it.” He stepped further back, away from her and she felt the distance as if he was in another country. “I’m going to destroy it.”
He was so sure, she almost believed him. Yet, she couldn’t help but remember that they had all failed before. “And what if it destroys you first?”
He was silent, as if mulling over his response. “Last time we used a novice witch. We won’t make that mistake this time. Rose will do the spell.”
So, he was blaming Camile, but she knew deep down it was too easy to blame the witch. “And will you kill yourself again, if you have to?”
“If we don’t stop him, there’s no telling how many innocent lives will be taken.”
He’d avoided her question. She knew he would do whatever it took to win, even if it meant losing his own life.
“When we confront the demon, I want you to leave. Go as far away from here as possible,” he said.
Her worry gave way to anger. He hadn’t heard a word she’d said. “Where?” She threw her arms wide, releasing a wry laugh. “Where will I go that a demon can’t find me?”
His own anger was apparent in the clench of his fists. “At least you’ll have a chance.”
She shoved her finger into his chest. “Bull! The truth of the matter is without all of us working together, no one has a chance.” She turned around and started toward the back door. “But you’re too damn stubborn to admit when you need help.” She paused at the door. So much emotion welled within, she could barely breathe. “I pray to God it’s not your downfall.”
Without waiting for his response, she tore open the door and stepped outside.
Chapter 17
“Where are you going?” Camile called out.
Devon gritted his teeth and continued his even pace down the driveway. He needed to get away from that pub. Get away from Ellie and the confusing emotions she stirred deep within. He needed time alone, time to think. Ellie was decidedly ignoring him, practicing in the garden with Rose as if she had every intention of helping fight that demon. Like hell she would.
He didn’t give a shite if she hated him. He would not see her killed. She would stay safely behind when the time came, even if he had to tie her to a damn chair.
“Devon?” Camile fell into place beside him.
The little witch wasn’t giving up. “To town so that I might try the phones there. Someone has to have a bloody phone that works.” Of course it was odd that none of their mobiles could get reception at the pub. He sure as hell didn’t believe in coincidence. Even now he could be walking into a trap, but he had to get ahold of Ashley and Cristian, must know what they’d uncovered, if anything. Most importantly, he had to know if they still lived.
“Do you even know how to use a phone?”
He slid Camile an annoyed glance. “I’ll figure something out.”
“I can help.”
He remained stubbornly silent. The driveway ended and he moved onto a footpath that led to town. Skeletal trees with tiny buds did little to shade the cobbled streets. It was hot. Too hot for spring. Much hotter than yesterday and even more so than the day before. It had been hot another time too… when the demon had gained control. A shiver of unease tiptoed down his spine. A feeling he knew well. A warning.
Without turning his head, he slowly scanned the small town. The stone homes were well kept, but quiet. Too quiet. Along the streets a few automobiles rested silently. But there was no movement behind the curtains. No sounds of encroaching cars. Kipps had said there was talk of leaving, but he hadn’t expected people to abandon the town so quickly.
“Devon, I don’t know what the hell your problem is, but—”
He spun on his heel to face her, his anger flaring to life. He needed to take it out on someone and Camile was the perfect target. “My problem is that you’ve ruined two very important spells now.”
She narrowed those hazel eyes. “No, your problem is that you don’t trust me, do you?”
“Perhaps I don’t.” He turned toward the footpath and continued to the tea shop that settled enticingly on the corner of the two main streets. He needed to get away from her before he did or said something he’d regret.
“How dare you!” Camile stomped after him. “I’ve done nothing—”
“Shhh.” He held up his hand, a silent command to keep still.
Although she was obviously furious, she had the good sense to pause next to him, her lips pressed into a firm line. Not even a soft breeze blew through the town. The leaves that had been sprouting, were yellowed and wilted.
“Where is everyone?” he asked.
The anger faded and confusion clouded her face. She glanced left, right, and then shrugged. “I… I don’t know.”
“Did you see anyone when you came through town the other day?”
She nodded. “Yeah, we stopped at the market, but…” Her dark brows drew together.
“What?”
“But they were acting strangely. No one would meet our gaze and the store wasn’t very crowded.”
The sky above was gray, yet no rain came. “And you just now thought to mention it?” He grasped the door and jerked it open, the bell overhead ringing merrily.
“Well excuse me,” she snapped back, following him inside. “I was sort of in a hurry.”
“In such a hurry you went shopping?” He glanced around the empty tea shop. His worry escalated. The odd buzz that vibrated the entire area wasn’t natural.
“I wasn’t shopping, you arse. I was gathering herbs for spells.”
“Yes, because we know you do those so well.”
“Screw you.” She shoved her finger into his chest, much like Ellie had done yesterday. At the rate he was going, by this evening he’d have no one on his side. Just as well that he confront the demon alone.
“We all know the real reason why you’re being such a dick,” Camile snapped.
“Oh really?” He placed his hands on his hips and glared down at her. “Pray, do tell.”
She tilted her chin high, showing no fear. “Because you’re in love with Ellie and you’re worried. Plain and simple.”
Devon clenched his jaw, too afraid to respond. Afraid he’d tell her the truth. And he knew it was the truth. He might not be able to admit it out loud, but he was afraid. Afraid for Ellie. Afraid that in a day or two this would all be over. A vague dream. He didn’t want it to end, this time on earth. This time with Ellie.
Camile’s face softened as she sighed. “Love will do that to a person. Make them worry. Sucks, but part of the process, I suppose. You can’t protect her, Devon. That’s the thing that sucks the most. There’s nothing you can do but enjoy the time you have with her.”
Bloody hell, he was done sharing his feelings with someone who might be a traitor. What the hell did she know about sacrifice? She was a human who dabbled with witchcraft she didn’t truly understand. “I’m not here to discuss my emotions.”
Camile’s face hardened once more. “Fine. You want to play it that way?”
“We have more important things to worry about than romance and love,” he snapped. “Like life and death.”
He started across the room, his shoes thumping against the floorboards. Only less than a week ago he’d been in town and the place hadn’t been bustling, but there were
certainly enough people walking around. He brushed aside the curtains and peered out onto the empty cobbled streets. Where the hell was John? The leprechaun wouldn’t leave without telling them.
Camile shoved the back door wide and peered into the kitchen. “No one.”
Even from across the room, he could see the unease in her eyes. It made him rethink his opinion of her guilt. The confusion and nervousness didn’t look faked. Was it truly inexperience which had the spells going awry? Damn it all, he was tired of not knowing who to trust.
“Why isn’t anyone here?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
She moved across the room to the bar and picked up the phone. “No dial tone.”
A shiver of warning whispered over his skin. “Tell me now… can I trust you?”
She planted her hands to the top of the bar and looked steadily at him. “Devon, you’ve always been able to trust me.”
“Then tell me what the hell is going on, Camile. You know as well as I that something is off here.”
“I don’t know! But you know I can do spells. You’ve seen me!”
“I’ve seen you mess up multiple times.”
“Rose checked them, and I triple checked everything.”
“Then we’ll talk to Rose.” He stomped toward the door and pulled it wide. “Someone isn’t telling the truth and I’m going to find out who.” He fully intended to transport and leave Camile behind when he felt the slightest stirrings of a warning.
“Devon!” Camile cried.
He spun around just in time to see a streak of gray fur leaping toward him. Paws slammed into his chest, hurling him backwards. Coming to his senses, Devon disappeared right before he hit the ground. For a split second everything was black. Just as suddenly as the darkness had come, it was gone. Light burst to life, the town coming into focus once more, this time from a different angle. Devon’s feet hit the cobbled street a stone’s throw from the werewolf. He wavered, attempting to regain his balance. He’d never transported in midfall. He frantically searched for the wolf. The beast had turned his attention to easier prey.