Incubus (39 page)

answering, Seth turned to look at the windows. The sky was full blue now. We could see the crest of

the mountain, edged in gold, through the sanctuary’s windows.

“Wait for it.” Seth’s eyes locked to the crest with a burning anticipation. For a few breathless

moments, we watched the mountaintop. And then the sun rose that essential hair’s breadth farther.

Light speared into the sanctuary. “Now... watch.” Seth pointed down.

I let my eyes follow his gesture. The silvery glyphs Seth had painted onto the seal seemed to

undulate, as if a mirage were distorting them to my eyes. And then—they receded, like water sucked

deep into the cracked face of a desert after a storm. 30 seconds after the sun had touched the seal, none

of the marks Seth had painted onto the stone remained.

Without warning, a powerful tugging sensation pulled me toward the seal. I let out a ragged gasp.

Seth didn’t seem to hear me.
It worked.
The thought seemed to release something inside me. My head

felt light, almost giddy.

“Does that answer your question?” Seth asked. Fierce satisfaction burned in his eyes. “Thank you,

Braedyn. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

I stood, feeling shaky. Seth cupped a hand under my elbow, steadying me. I gave him a weak

smile. “We make a good team.”

Seth grinned back at me. “I think we can even make it back before seven.”

“Then let’s not waste time celebrating.” I moved toward the seal.

“Wait. What are you doing?” Seth asked, catching my hand.

“We have to get the vessel back before the Guard notices it’s missing,” I said.

“No,” Seth said, alarmed. “We can’t move it. The ritual isn’t finished until moonlight falls on the

seal, remember? We don’t know what moving the vessel might do, and we can’t risk disrupting the

ritual.”

I looked back at the small bronze vase. If anyone noticed it was missing... Then an idea bloomed in

my head. “The chest,” I said. “We can return that.”

“Yes. Good.” Seth picked up the duffle bag and tossed it over his shoulder. “Let’s get moving.” I

followed Seth toward the mission’s doors, glancing back at the vessel one last time.

Moonrise couldn’t come soon enough.

Once we were back inside the town limits, Seth pulled over and let me out of the trunk. I drove the rest

of the way home. Neither Seth nor I felt much like talking. We both knew we weren’t home safe until

we’d made it back undetected. I killed the engine half a block away from my house and coasted down

the gentle slope of our road. I pulled to a stop at the curb where I’d parked my car yesterday. Seth and

I traded an anxious glance, then got out of the car. We left the duffle in the back of the car—we’d deal

with that later; trying to take it in now would make sneaking inside that much harder. We were

starting up the path to the front door when I saw Dad through the dining room window. He was in the

kitchen, probably making coffee.

“Get back,” I hissed, pulling Seth behind a massive oak tree.

“Any ideas?” he asked.

“We can’t go in the front door.”

“I figured that much.” Seth gave me a pained look.

“I’ve got an idea,” I said. “Come closer.”

Seth looked at me, questions springing into his eyes. Impatient, I pulled him close. His breath

caught. I felt a stab of irritation, but I’d deal with his crush later. First things first; we had to get inside

before Dad realized we were gone. I concentrated on my Lilitu wings, drawing on their power. The

familiar ripping sensation spread down my back. Wings both intangible and somehow present

unfurled behind me. I arched my back and felt the wings respond, stretching to their very tips. I’d

never extended them fully before; the feeling took my breath away. I felt—strong wasn’t the right

word.
Invulnerable.
Seth was watching me, intrigued.

This wasn’t the moment to lose focus. I willed the wings to curve around me, like the folds of a

living cloak. Seth choked out a startled breath; from his perspective, I’d just vanished into thin air.

“Hold still,” I murmured. I willed the cloak to expand slightly, including Seth under its protection.

He breathed out in amazement when he saw me standing before him again. “There. We’re hidden.” I

couldn’t keep the satisfaction out of my voice.

Seth looked uncertain. “You think we can walk through the front door without your dad noticing?”

he asked.

“No,” I said. “But we’re not going in the front door. Follow me.”

We walked together to the back of my house. I kept Seth cloaked from both Dad and anyone at the

Guard’s house who might be watching. We reached the backyard without incident. Seth crouched

beneath the window to the guest room while I reached up and tried to open the window.

“I think it’s locked,” Seth said. He looked worried.

I crouched beside him, thinking. “Okay. I’m going to climb into my room. I’ll open your window

from inside. Just give me a few minutes to throw Dad off the scent.”

“Okay.” He backed partway into a hedge. It might be scratchy, but it kept him neatly screened

from view.

I retreated back to the trellis leading up to my bedroom window. I picked my way gingerly through

the thorns of the climbing rose up to the second floor. My window was closed but not latched. I slid it

open with my palm, then eased myself inside, taking care not to fall to the floor. I pulled the pillows

out from under my covers, throwing the sheets back as if I’d just gotten out of bed. I dug through my

closet for a fresh shirt, pulled it on, then headed downstairs.

Dad looked up as I entered the kitchen. “Morning,” he said.

“Morning.” I picked up an orange out of our fruit bowl and stared out the kitchen window, trying

to keep my voice neutral. Outside, I could see a group of Guardsmen hustle into a car parked on the

street. “What’s up with the Guard?” I asked, glad for the conversation topic.

“Still searching for your mystery man,” Dad said. I glanced back at him. He was buttering a slice

of toast.

“So they’re all on patrol?” I asked. Dad finished buttering the toast. He put it on a plate and slid

the plate toward me across the kitchen island. I picked up a piece of toast. “Thanks.” I took a big bite

of toast. It was warm and crisp and delicious. Dad was watching me closely. I forced myself to

swallow. “Something wrong?”

“I know you know it’s winter solstice,” Dad said. The toast suddenly lost some of its flavor. “You

can talk to me,” Dad said. “I know how frustrated you’ve been. How hard it must be for you to trust

us.” He walked around the island and took my shoulders in his hands. “I just wanted to let you know,

I’m proud of you, honey.”

I set my half-eaten toast back on the plate, feeling ill. “I should see if Seth’s up.”

Dad studied me with a searching look, but let me go. “Sure. I’ll throw some more bread in the

toaster.”

I walked into the hallway, forcing myself not to run. Shame and guilt clawed their way through my

middle. I paused at Seth’s door and knocked. “Seth? You up?” It was an act for Dad’s benefit, but I

needed to make it sound real. “Sure, I think there’s a spare towel in your closet. I’ll show you.” I

walked into the room.

Seth was watching me from the other side of the window. I crossed the room quickly and unlocked

it. Seth reached a hand up. I took it and helped him climb into the room. The whole production took

less than a minute.

“You’re getting ready for a shower,” I whispered.

Seth understood immediately. He pulled his shirt off, revealing a chest chiseled with tight,

compact muscles. I stared for a moment, stunned. I wouldn’t have expected that kind of definition

from such a skinny guy. Seth caught me staring and smiled. Blushing, I turned my back on him. I

heard him finish taking off his clothes, then pull on the robe he’d been wearing over his pajamas last

night.

“It’s safe,” he said. I heard amusement edging his voice and scowled.

“Your towel,” I said, pulling a towel out of the top of the guest room closet and shoving it at his

chest. Seth’s grin deepened.

I returned to the kitchen. “Seth’s going to grab a quick shower,” I said. Dad nodded, and joined me

at the kitchen island with another plate of buttered toast.

Seth joined us a few minutes later, after the fastest shower in the world. We all ate breakfast

together, keeping the conversation light, until Dad had to leave for his daily rounds to the outposts.

The coast was finally clear.

“You sure you want to do this now?” Seth asked.

“If anyone gets suspicious, the first thing they’re going to do is check for this chest,” I replied.

Seth nodded, and we both pushed back from the kitchen island. We retrieved the chest from Seth’s

room. I cloaked us for the walk next door to the Guard’s house. I hesitated on the porch, opening the

door with the key I’d taken from Lucas once again. The inside of the house was quiet. It didn’t seem

like anyone was home. I pulled Seth inside. In the shelter of the hallway by the stairs, I uncloaked us.

The last thing we needed was for one of the newcomers seeing me uncloaking accidentally, and I’d

need Seth’s help placing the chest, which meant we’d be too far apart for me to keep us both invisible.

It’d be a lot easier to explain what we were doing hiding a chest in the basement than it’d be to explain

how I could make myself and Seth invisible.

We walked to the basement. The lights were off. Seth and I descended the basement stairs, our

only illumination the light streaming down the staircase. I led him to the column and together we slid

it aside. While I held it, Seth replaced the chest with my direction. We let the column swing back

down, covering the hole in the floor, and heard the soft click as the latch reengaged.

“Done and done,” I said, sagging in relief against the column.

Seth turned, suddenly close. His eyes searched my face. The strangest tingle crept over my skin.

Seth leaned forward and kissed me. The touch of our lips was like an electric shock, shooting through

my whole body, down to my toes. I froze, paralyzed by the swarming emotions that flooded through

me. Seth cradled my cheek, his hand warm and firm on my skin. The kiss grew more heated, and I felt

myself beginning to respond. I lifted my hands, placed them on his chest—and gently pushed him

back, breaking the kiss.

“Seth...” My heart was still pounding, I swayed, dizzy.

Seth stepped back, mortified. “I’m sorry. I thought—”

I lowered my eyes. Why did I want to pull him closer? “I think you’d better meet me back at my

house.”

“Right.” He rung his hands, miserable, then retreated up the dark staircase. I watched him go,

sinking against the post again.

Something moved in the darkness beyond the staircase. My eyes adjusted—and it felt like the

world plummeted away beneath my feet.

Lucas walked forward slowly. He flipped on the light switch, and his hand lingered on the wall, as

though he needed the support to remain standing.

“Wait,” I breathed, crossing the distance between us. “What you saw—Seth kissed me. I’m not

into him, I promise.”

“I know,” he said. But he didn’t look at me.

“Then, what’s wrong?”

“How did you know where to look for the vessel?” His question struck me like a physical blow. I

stepped back involuntarily. Lucas turned his head toward me, his eyes heavy and full of pain. “Yeah. I

had a feeling, when I couldn’t remember any of the stuff I’d studied for my history test.”

“Lucas—” I breathed. But it wasn’t a denial. Lucas looked sick.

“You made me tell you. After I made it clear how I felt about this.” He turned back to the wall,

unable to look at me.

I drew in a ragged breath, struggling for calm. “I didn’t want to hurt you.” My voice sounded

thready, weak.

“You took what you needed,” he said simply, “then you made me forget.”

I put a hand on his shoulder. He pulled away from me abruptly.

“You made me forget.” He turned his eyes toward me. “
I trusted you.
”

The force of his words burned through the last of my excuses. “I did it for us,” I said faintly. But I