Now or Never: Wizards of Nevermore (15 page)

“She will be,” soothed Ember. “Rilton, I tink da sheriff needs some water.”

“Maybe some breakfast, too,” he said. “I’ll cook.”

Taylor’s lips thinned into a mulish line, but with just one look at Ember’s quirked eyebrow, he sighed. Gray empathized with the man. No one won a battle with Ember, especially when she was in full mother hen mode. The sheriff got to his feet again and followed Rilton into the kitchen. Gray and Trent followed. When Rilton refused their help with fixing breakfast, the other men sat at the kitchen table.

“What happened?” asked Gray.

“I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I went and checked on her. On Norie. She wasn’t in her bed, and I just about broke my neck trying to get downstairs. She was in the kitchen drinking orange juice. I was gonna make her a sandwich and…shit. It was as
though hell descended on my house. It blinded us, choked us with its stink. I was trying to get her away, up the stairs, to Ant, but he was already in the foyer working his magic.” Taylor stopped, and Rilton put a glass of ice water before him. “Thanks.” He drank it all, and then wiped off his mouth. “Whatever those things were, they just about killed Ant. They wanted Norie. Kept asking me to give her to ’em. That was when I realized they couldn’t take her. Why do you think that is?”

Gray frowned. “I’m not entirely familiar with protocols for human sacrifice. Maybe Ant did something. Or maybe they could encroach on your territory but not take anything from it. It’s possible there are different rules because we’re dealing with spirits and not demons.”

Then Gray and Taylor both looked at Trent, who offered a shrug. “Dudes. Never heard of anything like this. Ghosts working for a demon lord? It’s possible, I guess, but that’s a lot of spirits. Where did he get them? And how’s he controlling them?”

They contemplated those questions in silence. Gray didn’t have the answers. Between the suicides, his mother’s impending arrival, trying to get Banton’s gun secured in Dallas, and…hell, even the now almost-silly idea of hosting an All Hallows’ Eve party weighed on his soul like a stack of anvils.

“Hey.” Ant wandered in, waved hello to everyone, then headed to the stove to sniff at all the scrumptious food Rilton was whipping up.

“You okay?” Taylor asked gruffly.

“Got the Lucinda treatment,” said Ant. “I’m great. You?”

“I’ll live.”

“She will, too,” said Lucy.

Taylor almost tipped over his chair getting up. He grabbed onto it, then held it out so Norie could sit down.

Gray caught his wife’s knowing look, and they shared a quick smile. Then Lucy crossed to him and slid onto his lap, right where she belonged.

“Well, den,” said Ember as she entered the kitchen. “We all fine now.”

“You mean all fine
for
now,” said Ant. His gaze skittered toward Norie. Gray watched Taylor send his brother a dark look, and Ant returned to watching Rilton plate up eggs, bacon, and toast.

Norie held out her hands in a placating gesture, her eyes filled with regret and fear. Lucy reached across the table and took her hands. “Don’t worry. You’re safe here. We’ll protect you.”

Norie looked even more dismayed. A notepad and pen were on the table, and she quickly wrote a message.

“‘I need to leave,’” read Lucy. “‘Then no one else will get hurt.’”

“Do you remember where we found you?” asked Gray softly.

She scribbled again and handed the new note to Lucy.

“‘I remember being on a big stone. And people in black robes trying to hurt me.’”

Lucy smiled kindly. “Do you know why they wanted to hurt you?”

She shook her head. Then she wrote, “‘Sacrifice. Apparently, it’s my destiny.’”

“Are you a Raven?” asked Gray.

She wrote, “‘Not magical.’”

Trent whistled. “Is she serious?”

Norie’s gaze whipped toward him, and she raised her eyebrows.

“Oh. Sorry. The not-talking thing is kinda weird.” His cheeks flushed, and he cleared his throat. “You’re a magical. You’re like me. The power’s all locked up, but nothing necro can be hidden from me.”

Norie shook her head violently, her long black locks swishing. “Not magical,” she mouthed.

“I’m not wrong,” said Trent in a matter-of-fact voice. “Maybe that’s why the Ravens want to sacrifice you. Although it’s not as if they can siphon off her abilities…or can they?”

“Nope,” said Ant. He stole a slice of bacon. “Kill the magical; kill the magic. That’s the way it is.”

“Well, maybe they don’t want her to unleash her power,” said Trent thoughtfully. “So they’re offering
her to…well, whomever. And getting rid of whatever threat she reps.”

“Kahl wants her,” said Gray quietly.

“Okay. That’s not good,” said Trent.

“Enough. We eat now.” Ember helped her husband distribute the plates of food and cups of coffee. Ant dug up a couple more chairs, and everyone crammed in around the table and spent the next ten minutes filling up on calories and caffeine.

“Seems to me that Norie would be safer at my house,” said Gray. “The farther she is from the
nemeton
, the better.”

“There’s a
nemeton
nearby?” asked Trent, wide-eyed. “Can I see it?”

“Shit,” muttered Gray. “Don’t tell anyone, okay? We’re still figuring out its purpose.”

“The Ravens know the purpose,” put in Taylor. “Why not ask that Ryerson fellow?”

“Right,” said Gray, a wry smile twisting his lips. “Because he’d love to help us. He’s here to find evidence proving someone in Nevermore killed Franco. It’s no coincidence he showed up around the same time Norie found herself strapped to an altar.”

“You think he’s a Raven spy?” asked Ant. He was eyeing the slice of bacon Norie had left on her plate. She noticed, and pushed the plate toward him. He grinned and swiped it.

“Of course he’s a Raven spy,” said Lucy. “I’m sure Franco’s murder is part of the reason he’s snooping around, but there’s something else. Either he knows about Norie and the
nemeton
, or he wants to find something on Gray’s mother. She’s one of the most powerful Dragons in the Grand Court.”

“And you said there are rumors about the Ravens seceding?” Taylor directed the question at Gray.

Gray nodded. “Rumors. If it happens…well, it won’t be pretty.”

“Maybe sacrificing Norie is part of that,” mused Trent. “Maybe they’re using her as a bargaining chip to get more power or demonic support.”

The idea chilled Gray. Rogue wizards with demon backup? The world would be torn apart. He couldn’t imagine the horrors that would be inflicted on magicals and mundanes if a war actually started. He hoped diplomacy would win out.

“So,” said Lucy, “we’re all exhausted. Maybe getting some sleep would be best now. We can reconvene at our house later and discuss strategies.”

“We’ll have to figure out a way to get rid of Ryerson,” said Gray.

“Let’s meet at da tea shop,” said Ember. “Neutral ground will put him at a disadvantage, so he won’t cross da threshold.”

“Okay,” said Gray. He was enervated; his mind felt
too full of cobwebs for him to think straight. “Norie? You ready?”

She shook her head. She reached over and placed her hand on Taylor’s arm. “Stay,” she mouthed.

Gray shifted his gaze to Taylor, and he saw the fight in his friend’s eye. Well, hell. He knew better than to try to separate them. He knew exactly what that kind of possession, and protection, felt like. Lucy was his, and he’d die for her. He didn’t know, not yet, if that was the case for Taylor and Norie, but it seemed strange that they had formed so strong a bond in mere days.

Then again, who was he to question it? It had taken him less than a week to fall in love with Lucy, even though he hadn’t wanted to admit it. And he’d almost lost her. They’d nearly died trying to fight off evil, and he didn’t want anyone else in Nevermore being killed because of some asshole’s diabolical agenda.

He’d had enough of that crap.

“She stays with Taylor,” said Gray. “Let’s help clean up, and then get to our beds.”

The Guardian had spoken.

And everyone complied.

In the early-morning light, Happy Ness’s decision to follow Ant to the testing grounds seemed…well, stupid. Happy’s heart pounded so hard, she could feel the erratic beats pulsing in her ears. She shouldn’t have followed
Ant to the open field behind the Dragon temple. And she shouldn’t be hiding in a copse of trees, spying on him.

Last night, Lucinda and Gray had gone off with Ember and Rilton—to where she didn’t know. She hadn’t been able to sleep, so she heard them return. It had been almost three a.m.

Ant dropped by the Guardian’s house this morning to say hello, and to have a private conversation with Gray. The way he offered a quick hug and a quicker good-bye, she could tell he was eager to meet Elandra and start the magical testing. If he wanted to be part of the House of Wolves, well, then he totally should. But if he did well and he went away for a whole year…she’d
die
! So, instead of going to school—and not going to class would piss off Lucinda and Gray big-time—she’d watched Ant walk to downtown, and then she’d snuck along like a stupid, immature, jealous moron.

She’d seen Elandra in the tea shop and knew how pretty she was…and how
mature
. Of age, as Ant would say, especially when he was trying to resist the urge to kiss her.

Didn’t he know she’d give him anything he wanted? She understood he was honorable, and she liked that about him. She did. But if they were gonna be together, then why wait? Why did their ages matter, when their hearts had already decided? Why all the freaking torture? She was starting to feel as if they were Romeo and Juliet, and the ending to that story sucked.

Not that she wouldn’t die for Ant—or die for love. She would. But she thought it was kinda stupid Romeo and Juliet didn’t have, you know, a conversation. She would’ve found a way to send a note, or something, saying, “Hey, I’m gonna fake my death. Just chill until they put me in the crypt; then we’ll run away.” Seriously. How difficult would that have been? It bothered the crap outta her that they didn’t get to really be together. All that love and angst and drama.

Felt familiar.

Like her and Ant.

Only they weren’t star-crossed lovers. They weren’t even lovers. Not that she’d ever been with a guy, ’cause she hadn’t. She was pretty sure Ant had been with girls, though. He was too confident and sexy to be a virgin. That didn’t really bother her. She knew he wouldn’t date someone else while he waiting for her an’ all. Worry gnawed at her. At least she didn’t think so. And was it really fair of her to expect that? Sure, she’d jump his bones in a heartbeat if he let her. But then…he wouldn’t be Ant. He wouldn’t be the guy worth waiting for. Honor was important. All the people she looked up to had loads of honor, and she could, too. She could be patient.

Though it hurt. A lot. Some days, it was as if a big stone were sitting on her chest, crushing her lungs, and she couldn’t take a breath. Ant was always on her mind. Even if she was thinking about other stuff, thoughts of him hovered on the perimeter.

That was love, she thought. It wasn’t all wonderful, all the time. Lucinda told her once that love left the heart open to be either embraced or wounded. Sometimes, the heart ended up embraced
and
wounded.

It seemed to Happy that love shouldn’t hurt, and it kinda sucked when it did.

Like now.

She crouched down, peering around the trunk of a tree, and watched Elandra put Ant through the paces. He looked to be doing well, or maybe his tester was just doing warm-ups or something. Happy didn’t see the House of Wolves mage as someone who’d mess around. She had a sorta serious vibe. Ant did, too, for that matter, and it seemed to Happy that it was just one more thing for them to have in common.

Damn it.

Happy wasn’t sure what exactly Ant was proving by making the earth move, plants grow, and animals appear. Nor did she get why it was so important that he do those fancy swirls of magic. For a brief, awful second, she wanted him to fail. Then he’d stay in Nevermore, wait for her, and they’d be together.

And Ant would be miserable.

Shame filled her. Man, she was being so selfish. She couldn’t think about anything beyond how
she
felt and what kind of pain
she’d
be in if Ant moved away. A year seemed a lifetime. And Canada? It might as well be the moon.

What would she do?

How would she cope?

“Miss Ness.”

Happy nearly jumped out of her skin. She grasped the tree to steady herself and gulped in some oxygen. Good Goddess. The rasping voice of Orley Ryerson made her feel as if a viper were slithering near her ankles. She only recognized his voice because it was what creeped her out the most when Gray had reluctantly introduced them. She’d known right away that the Raven wizard was not a nice man.

When she felt as though she had some control back, she got to her feet. She pivoted, putting one hand on her hip and an annoyed expression on her face. She’d learned it was better to go on the offense than be on the defense. “Gah! What are you doing skulking around here?”

“Perhaps you’re the one skulking.” Orley offered a smile as sharp as a blade. He studied her for a long moment, so long, in fact, she wanted to squirm. He knew it, too. Hell, he was probably waiting for it. She barely resisted the urge to shiver. Blech. The dude gave her the mondo creeps.

Happy knew Orley was staying at the Guardian’s house, but she hadn’t actually run into him there yet. The house was big enough that she probably didn’t have to see his stupid face if she didn’t want to…and she didn’t. And Gray and Lucinda had told her to steer clear of the mage and to not talk to him without one of
them present. They would shit kittens if they found she’d skipped morning classes to spy on Ant and then had ended up alone with the Raven mage.

“You’re Bernard Franco’s daughter.”

“Duh.” Happy hated to be reminded that Bernard was her sperm donor. He’d killed her mother, and he had tried to kill Lucinda and Gray. Then he transferred his demonic curse to her, and she’d had to die just to get away from it. She hoped he was rotting in the deepest darkest pit in hell.