Chapter 63
Thomas scanned the festival grounds but didn’t see Nell, nor did he feel her anywhere. He ran a hand through his hair. Nell had asked for the truth. If he left right now, he could find her. Tell her. And maybe they’d have a chance at… whatever this was.
He turned to Marian. “I’m leaving to—”
“No time,” she said, the sympathy clear in her voice. “The Lost House is calling. It needs you.”
Thomas gave a last look at the crowd, then forced his attention to Evelyn. “Can you clean up and get the animals back to the clinic for me?”
Evelyn nodded. “Go.”
Taz insisted on sharing his opinions on the drive to the Lost House. “You are crazy not to go after that woman. She is fire. And a cougar. And probably a latent witch, if I’m sensing her right.”
Taz was right. On all counts.
“Yeah, but did you see the way she looked at me? She knows I’m lying. She just doesn’t understand why.”
“Then fix it. That babe is the one. I’m telling you.” The creature poked its head out of Thomas’s pocket. “Stop putting everyone else’s needs in front of your own and go after what you want, for pity’s sake.”
Thomas considered the consequences of ignoring the House and shuddered. “I can’t abandon my responsibilities. The House needs me.”
“And you need Nell. If you don’t get what you need, it won’t matter what the House needs.”
Thomas wanted to argue, but a heavy weight compressed his chest. He struggled for a breath and focused on driving. When they pulled up next to the house, Thomas didn’t feel his usual bond to the space.
He and Taz got out of the car and approached the porch. The third-floor window was empty. The House groaned, something it hadn’t done in years. A shutter flapped, even though there was no wind. The front door creaked open, not all the way, but Thomas could see the cobwebs that blocked the entrance.
It had been so long since he’d been interested in anyone, magic or non-magic, that he forgot what people craved.
Connection. Communication. Honesty. When he kept the truth from Nell, Thomas hurt her.
Someone had destroyed her ability to trust. She didn’t believe that there was anyone for her. That she could rely on anyone.
And he had made that worse by not telling her the truth tonight.
Thomas sank onto the porch. The House’s sense of betrayal flooded through him.
Taz yelped. “Man, you screwed the pooch this time,” said the hedgehog. “What are you going to do?”
Thomas closed his eyes. He ignored Taz’s complaints and let the pain and anguish of the House flow through him.
A faint whisper drifted from the House. “Tell her what she needs to hear.”
He reared back, sending Taz tumbling to the bottom of his pocket.
“What the hell, Thomas? A little warning.”
Thomas cradled his pocket. “Quiet. The House is talking.”
That shut Taz up. The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes until Thomas heard it again.
“Tell her what she needs to hear.”
“Well, I’ll be—”
“Taz. Quiet.”
“Grumpy much?”
Thomas strummed his fingers softly on the wood underneath him. He needed to find Nell.
He pushed himself off the porch and walked far enough away so he could see the third-story window. Margaret glared down at him, her body transparent, but her frown obvious.
“I didn’t understand, but now I do. We couldn’t save you, but we can be honest. Forever. Please forgive us.”
The woman flared, lighting up the evening sky. Thomas shielded his eyes. Taz balled up in his pocket. When the light faded, Thomas peered up at the window. Margaret smiled down at him and waved goodbye.
“Can we go get the girl now?” Taz asked, his beady eyes and pointy nose enjoying the cool evening air.
Thomas waved to Margaret and dashed to his car. “Let’s go find her.”