Chapter 48
Julia was talking softly to the sprite, trying to calm him down, and since Gideon didn’t think he’d be much help in that department, he kept watch for Sabrina. He was thrilled she’d gotten to put her name in the book.
Not that he was happy Korrin hadn’t. He’d have much preferred they all were able to write their names, but sometimes things didn’t go according to plan.
He was living proof of that.
Then everything happened at once. Julia gasped, Zeus growled, and Sabrina stepped out of the grove.
Gideon was about to congratulate her when her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “Korrie!”
Gideon looked at the sprite. Who was now, somehow, a full-grown man.
Korrin put his hands on his chest, glanced down at himself, then felt behind him for his wings, exhaling as he found them. He looked aghast at Sabrina. “You didn’t.”
Sabrina nodded. “I did. It wasn’t fair you couldn’t, and I’m okay, so why not—”
The sprite grabbed her in a bear hug and twirled her around. “I can’t believe it. You’re my best friend in the whole world. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
She laughed and held on to him until he stopped whirling, then she kept holding on to him like she was dizzy. “You’re welcome.”
The sprite kissed her on the mouth, long and hard. “I love you, Sabrina.”
She smiled up at him. “I love you, too, Korrie.”
A pit opened in Gideon’s stomach. He hadn’t seen that coming at all. The whole time he’d been falling for her, he’d never imagined she was in love with the sprite.
Julia put her hands on her hips. “Do you want to tell the rest of us what just happened?”
Gideon already knew. He didn’t want to hear it said. It was just further proof of Sabrina’s feelings for the sprite.
Sabrina kept on smiling. “I wrote Korrie’s name in the book for him. So he could be free.” She glanced at Gideon, who did his best to hide his unhappiness with a neutral expression. She went back to Korrie. “Now, no one will ever control you again.”
“Amazing,” Julia said. “What a day. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready to get out of this place.”
Korrie’s smile was bigger than life. “I believe someone promised me ice cream.”
“Oh,” Sabrina said. “That’s right. I guess we’re going to get ice cream.”
While they discussed that, Gideon crouched down next to Zeus. “You want to come home with me, boy? You can if you want. Now that my curse is gone, my house is safe. It’s just me. I live alone. Probably always will. I have lots of room and a nice backyard.”
Zeus tipped his head, his liquid gold eyes filled with understanding that amazed Gideon. The beast snuffled, pushing his hot body into Gideon’s shoulder and nearly knocking him down.
Gideon nodded, slightly mollified. At least the hellhound wanted him. “All right. Let’s go home.”
He stood up. “Zeus and I are going to pass on the ice cream. We’re just going to go home. It’s been a long morning,” he added when he saw the look of disappointment on Sabrina’s face. She’d get over it soon enough with the sprite at her side.
“You sure you don’t want to join us? It’ll be fun.” She looked hopeful, but he knew she was just being polite.
“Yeah,” Julia said. “Come.”
“I can’t bring Zeus inside, and I don’t think leaving him outside to wait is a good idea.” That was a reasonable excuse. He made himself smile. “You guys have fun.”
Sabrina stared at him a moment. “Okay. If you’re sure. Wait.”
He’d already turned to go. “What?”
“How are you going to get home? It’s a long walk.”
“It’s fine. I run two miles every morning. A long walk is no big deal.”
She made a face, then dug into her fanny pack. “Here. Take my SUV. I’ll have Julia drop me off at your place after the ice cream.” She tossed the keys before he could refuse. “You do know how to drive, right?”
He caught them. “Yes. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He held on to the keys. “I can drop your car off at your house and walk to mine. I’ll just put the keys in your mailbox. That would be easier. For all of us.” Then he wouldn’t have to see her again.
“Oh. Sure, that’s fine. You think Zeus can lead us out of here? Because I have no clue which way the road is.”
He glanced down at the hellhound sitting beside him. “Take us back to the road, boy.”
Zeus got to his feet and started moving. Gideon felt prouder than he had a right to, since he had nothing to do with Zeus’s directional capabilities, but in that moment, he took the win.
The walk back to the road was mercifully quick because the sprite talked nonstop about ice cream and Julia kept casting small, simple spells, which brought her great joy. Sabrina remained mostly quiet.
Gideon didn’t say a word. There wasn’t anything he could say. Nothing that would make any difference.
It was like his curse had gotten in one last parting shot.
He tried to focus on how he was going to get Zeus into Sabrina’s vehicle and whether or not he could keep the animal from doing any damage. If there was, Gideon would pay for the repairs. He could afford it.
He’d have to cancel the moving company, too.
He’d be staying in Shadowvale. It made sense to stay. But he didn’t see his life changing that much. Why would he go out? So he could accidentally run into Sabrina and Korrin living their new life together?
It would be hard enough working next door to her.
When they got to the cars, he unlocked Sabrina’s and opened the rear passenger door. “In, Zeus.”
The creature looked at him.
“It’s all right,” Gideon said. “It’s just a car. It won’t hurt you.”
Whining, Zeus climbed into the back seat. He filled the space.
Gideon glanced at Sabrina. “If he damages anything, I’ll pay to have it repaired.”
She chuckled. “I’m not sure I’d notice if he did.”
“I’ll drive carefully.”
“I know. See you in a bit.”
He nodded, gave Julia and the sprite a perfunctory wave, then got behind the wheel. He adjusted the seat so his legs fit better.
Zeus’s big head appeared next to him, completely blocking any view of what was behind them. Thankfully, there was nothing. He backed up, then turned onto the road and headed for his house. It had been a long time since he’d driven, but the skill was still there.
He checked the rearview mirror to see if Julia had pulled out yet, but all he could see was Zeus. He glanced at the side mirror. Julia’s car was visible in the distance.
He ought to be happy. His curse was gone. But his mood was as miserable as ever. He’d lost Sabrina.
To the sprite.
Was the sprite really that appealing? Was it his magic? His looks? He was handsome, but Gideon didn’t think himself hideous. But the sprite was fun, carefree, and spontaneous. All things Gideon definitely wasn’t.
Zeus licked the side of Gideon’s face.
Gideon grimaced and laughed. “You’re right. There’s nothing I can do. She made her decision. I need to stop dwelling on what I can’t change. Besides, I’ve got you to look after now, don’t I?”
He pulled into Sabrina’s driveway, parked, and got Zeus out. With no collar and no leash, Gideon could only hope they made it back to his house. He wasn’t sure a leash would do much good anyway. If the hellhound wanted to go in a different direction, Gideon doubted he could stop the animal.
He stuck Sabrina’s keys in her mailbox and started down the sidewalk. Zeus sat in the driveway. Gideon shook his head. “Not our house, boy. Come on.”
Zeus got up and walked with him, seemingly content to stay at his side. The creature was tall enough that Gideon could just about rest his hand on Zeus’s head as they walked.
They passed a man in his yard raking leaves, which reminded Gideon he hadn’t done that for Sabrina like he’d wanted.
Well, the sprite could do it now.
The man nodded in greeting, then his gaze fell to Zeus. His eyes widened slightly, but he just blinked and went back to raking.
One thing about Shadowvale. Its citizens were not easily rattled. More reason to stay here, he supposed.
They approached the house. Gideon stopped in the driveway to dig out his keys. He was excited to go in and see if it felt different, but he was nervous about it too. What if it wasn’t different? What if the book had been a lie?
What if his curse was still inside that clock, waiting for him?
It could easily turn Zeus against Gideon. He glanced down at the animal. Zeus sat, panting happily.
Gideon swallowed. There was only one way to find out. “Come on, boy.” He marched up the steps, put his key in the lock, and went in. Zeus followed, sniffing everything. Including the clock.
“What do you think? Smell anything evil in there? Anything dangerous?”
Zeus glanced at him, then trotted into the kitchen, his nails clicking on the floors. Gideon followed, found a large stainless-steel bowl, filled it with water, and set it down for Zeus. The dog started drinking right away.
The faucet wasn’t dripping, the bowl hadn’t tipped over, and Zeus hadn’t choked.
Gideon went back out to face the clock. He stared in disbelief. The eyes carved into the wood were gone. Nothing but vines, birds, and flowers. How was that possible? He put his hand on the door, then ran both hands over the sides and face of the clock.
He felt nothing. Nothing bad but nothing good either.
The clock was neutral. The same as it had always been to him.
He needed to be sure the curse was really gone.
He walked into the living room and turned on the lights.
No bulbs popped or shorted out. He did the same thing in the hall and the kitchen and the study downstairs.
Not once did he almost trip over something that wasn’t there. He went back out to the foyer and carelessly dropped his keys into the bowl on the table. It didn’t tip over or fall to the ground.
He walked through the house again, looking for anything that might be on the verge of breaking or a picture that might be about to slip off its hanger or anything that could be a sign his curse still existed.
Nothing.
He went upstairs and did the same, Zeus lumbering after him. He turned on all the lights, opened and closed doors, ran taps, flushed toilets.
Still nothing. He stood in the hall and laughed. He laughed so long and so hard that Zeus started to howl, which only made Gideon laugh harder. He sat down on the floor, which Zeus took as an invitation to snuggle.
After a couple of minutes, Gideon composed himself. He sat up and looked at his dog. “You need some stuff, buddy. Like food for starters. And a leash and collar. A bed, if they make them in your size, which I have my doubts about.”
Zeus barked enthusiastically, a loud house-shaking sound that would have shattered something the day before.
Gideon just smiled. He was heartbroken over Sabrina, but Zeus was a great distraction. He’d wanted a pet, thought about getting a dog. He’d just never assumed it would be a hellhound, but the gift of Shadowvale kept on giving.