Chapter 33
Thirty-Three
BECKS
“No, absolutely not. There’s no way.”
Haven’s eyes blaze as she shakes her head. I reach over and grasp her hand under the table. Her fingers are cold, and so I push some extra heat toward my hand to warm it.
I know why she’s upset. This plan of theirs puts Locklyn in danger, so I’m not wild about it myself. But Locklyn’s tough, and I trust Talon to protect her.
Locklyn frowns at her twin. “It’s the best way to keep you safe and run out the clock. If we can keep you out of the demon’s grasp until after the blood moon, then we have two years to train you to go up against it.”
“You think this is the best plan? Pretend to be me and be used as bait for the demon and every creature out there looking to end the world? Because I don’t. I’m not letting you take that risk for me. If something happened to you, I’d never be able to live with myself.”
I was relieved when Locklyn showed up at the meeting with our friends and my sister in tow, but listening to her outline their plan, I understand why Haven is apprehensive. It’s a huge risk that could very well get Locklyn killed.
“I agree with Haven,” I say. “There’s got to be another way. Let’s take her back to the creature world like we planned in the first place. You must have brought Cassian back with you. He can create another portal.”
Haven glances over at me and gives a slight nod, appreciating that I’m on her side.
Locklyn and Talon exchange a look, one I don’t like.
“Cassian is burnt out,” Talon says. “Holding the portal open so long when we were leaving for the creature world drained him. He was able to open a portal back here, but he collapsed and hasn’t woken. He’s on the medical floor now.”
I scrub a hand down my face. With all the portals being watched—not to mention having to find a piece of tamalite to use one—retreating to the creature world isn’t an option.
That complicates things.
Locklyn leans forward, her gaze settling on Haven.
“I won’t lie and say there aren’t risks, but they’re not as high as you think.
I’ll have Talon with me the whole time, and we all know how formidable he is.
Also, we can’t discount the members of the Arcane Society that will be waiting at a distance.
If I can get the demon to chase me instead of Haven, then you can go somewhere and hide her until the blood moon passes. ”
Jade, Talon’s mom, and the head of the Arcane Society, along with many of its members, came through the portal with Locklyn and the others. After running to the human world with Cassian, I’m not their favorite creature, but as far as I’m concerned, the more the merrier.
Talon explains how the Society was instrumental with helping them locate the information we needed on the demon: that Haven is not only its way to rise to power, but also the only one who can possibly destroy it.
But she’s not familiar enough with her powers to go up against it yet.
I agree that our best bet right now is to wait out the clock on this blood moon, hide in order to fight another day, but using Locklyn as a double for her sister feels like a great way to get my friend killed.
I flick my gaze to Talon, who’s been relatively quiet, especially considering we’re talking about gambling with his wife’s life. “And you’re okay with this? You think it’s an A-okay plan to dangle your wife in front of a demon and let it chase her?”
“I think together, Locklyn and I are unstoppable.”
Next to me, Haven throws up her hands. “Does everyone in this room have a god complex?”
Imogen raises her hand. “I definitely do,” she says unhelpfully. “But in my case, it’s earned.”
I shake my head. I can’t believe we’re making jokes about this.
Locklyn locks gazes with Haven once again. “I appreciate your concern, I really do, but we’ve weighed the pros and cons. This is the best way.”
“No,” Haven snaps back. “This plan sucks. You’re not even taking into account what happens over the next two years.”
Locklyn’s brow bunches. “What do you mean?”
“This, this . . . murderous monster is already semi-corporeal now and running amok in the world, slaughtering and possessing humans at will. You claim that the only way to defeat it is during a blood moon, which means it’s going to be free to keep killing for the next two years.
It knows the best way to get to me is through the people I care about.
It’s already murdered one of my friends.
The other is downstairs comatose and may still die.
It’s going to keep coming for me, using people close to me and innocents to get me.
You want me to live with that for two years? ”
Locklyn exchanges a loaded look with Talon. They have that thing where they can communicate without speaking, and I can tell from Haven’s body language that it’s pissing her off.
Finally, Locklyn admits, “You’re right. This isn’t ideal.
But the truth is, you’re not ready to face off against the demon.
If you had a chance to defeat it, I’d back you.
But if you do, you’ll die, and then it will use your power to reach its full potential and destroy both worlds.
After the blood moon, both the Society and the Order can put their resources toward capturing it.
Maybe it can be caged somehow. Buying us some time is the best bad solution we have right now. ”
Haven slumps back in her seat and falls quiet.
Locklyn frowns, her eyes sad as she regards her sister. Talon lays a hand on her back for support and I have a rush of gratefulness that he’s there for her. Because right now, I certainly can’t be. Haven is my priority. I need to take care of her.
Light chatter starts up around the table. The rest of the group chimes in, forming plans on how to get Haven out of the building undetected, for where we can hide her and what’s the best way to keep Locklyn safe but still somewhat visible so the demon tracks her instead of her sister.
Haven doesn’t speak up again, and I can’t tell if it’s because she’s sad or angry, but being here isn’t doing her any good.
Leaning over, I whisper in her ear, “Do you want to get out of here?”
When she glances up at me, her eyes are filled with sadness. I ache to take that look away, but I just don’t know how.
“How about we go check on Tate?” I offer.
Seeing her friend might not necessarily make her happy, but I know she’ll feel better once she’s checked on her.
She nods and we stand. I tell the others we’re taking a break and no one argues with us. Haven refuses to get back in the wheelchair, so I settle for holding her hand as we leave and head toward the medical floor.
We’re both quiet as we walk, and when we make it to Tate’s room, Haven pauses.
Through the window, we have a view of Tate lying on the bed, oxygen tubes coming out of her nose and multiple IVs attached to her arms. She looks so much smaller, fragile, and weaker than when I went up against her in the field in Pennsylvania, and then again in the sewer tunnel.
With the demon inside her, she was a force, but it left her broken and near death.
Haven’s eyes shine as she worries her bottom lip. “I think I’d like to see her alone.”
“Of course,” I say, not offended in the least. “I’ll be right here when you’re done.”
“You don’t have to wait.”
I run my thumb over her cheek where a tear escaped, rubbing away the wetness.
She’s so brave. So beautiful.
“I’ll be here when you’re done,” I reiterate. “Take your time.”
Giving me a weak smile, she takes a deep breath, steeling herself, and then goes into the room, shutting the door behind her.
I turn away from the window, leaning a shoulder up against the wall to give her privacy. From down the hall, Locklyn rounds the corner. Spotting me, she gives me a nod and heads my way.
Her gaze lingers on the window to Tate’s room. “How is she doing?” she asks, meaning Haven.
“She’s a little banged up. Heartbroken because she lost a friend and another is fighting for her life. But she’s tough. Must run in the family.”
Locklyn huffs a half-laugh. “I wish we weren’t forced to be.”
I make a noise in the back of my throat, agreeing.
We fall silent, both lost in our thoughts.
I take a peek in at Haven, who’s sitting on the side of Tate’s bed, holding her hand. It looks like she’s talking to her, even though Tate’s clearly not conscious.
“I lied to you before,” I confess, and when I glance back at Locklyn, her eyebrows are raised.
“Is that so?”
I nod. “When I said that nothing serious was going on between me and Haven, that she didn’t mean anything to me, all of that couldn’t have been further from the truth. I . . . I love her.”
I brace myself, expecting Locklyn to blow up again like she did before. For her to tell me that’s stupid, that we haven’t known each other long enough. But all she says is, “I figured.” A corner of her mouth quirks up in a crooked grin.
“That’s it?”
She shrugs. “What else is there to say? When you fall in love, you fall in love. It’s as simple as that. I’m glad you found each other. And . . . I owe you an apology too.”
This time, my eyebrows rise. This ought to be interesting.
“Oh yeah? What for?”
She sighs. “How I reacted back in the cabin. I should have been a better friend and given you the benefit of the doubt. I jumped to conclusions and chose to believe the worst in you instead of the best.”
I wave her off. “It’s okay. You were just trying to protect your sister.”
“I was, but that doesn’t mean it was okay. And you were right. A lot has happened in the last couple years, and it’s changed both of us. It’s not like it used to be.”
Guilt for the way I handled that whole situation settles on my chest. “There are things I shouldn’t have said that day.”
She shakes her head. “It was hard to hear, but it was true. We keep pretending that everything is the same between us, but it’s not.
And it’s just causing even more distance.
No matter how much we change, I’m always going to love you, Becks, but it’s past time we acknowledge that what we had is gone. ”
I take a deep breath, because it’s true, and pretending it isn’t hasn’t gotten us anywhere.
“I’m always going to love you too, Locklyn.”
She smiles. “I know. You’re stuck with me. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be family.”
“Maybe you’re getting ahead of yourself,” I say, but, truthfully, I like the sound of that.
Her smile gets wider. “We’ll see,” she says, a twinkle in her eye.
“If you’re up for it, I’d like to try to rebuild our friendship.
Not to work our way back to the way things were, but to find a new rhythm.
One that makes space for the ones we love,” she says with a pointed look at Haven, “as well as each other.”
Something feels like it clicks into place then. Like finally the tension that has been pulling us apart since I returned to the human world breaks, dissipating like smoke in the wind.
“I like the sound of that.”
We smile at each other, a lightness I haven’t felt around her in a long time returning.
From down the hall, Talon calls to her. She turns and gives him a wave. “Be there in a second.”
“We’re going to go get ready. We thought it would be easier to sneak Haven out if they already think she’s left, so we’re planning on leaving tonight.”
I nod. “Makes sense. Locklyn, please be careful.”
“I always am.” With a smile, she gives me a big hug. “Tell Haven I won’t leave without saying goodbye,” she says, and then walks down the hall to Talon.
When she reaches him, he takes her face gently between his hands and kisses her softly, throwing an arm over her shoulder. I watch them walk away with a smile on my face.