LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Let’s go,” he said softly.

      I clenched my jaw.

      “There is more where that came from,” he said, as if reading my mind. “But our work is done here.”

      I turned my glare to the humans for the last time, moving to within inches of Seth. “Don’t ever speak to her—me again, either of you. Enjoy your dysfunctional relationship. I’m better off without either of you.”

      Turning on my heel I stormed from the room and descended the stairs, picking up speed until I reached flat ground. The tension in Ally’s body unwound the further I got from Seth and Krystal and by the time I got outside, the weight of whatever I had felt upstairs had lifted, leaving behind a sick feeling in Ally’s gut.

      I ran to the edge of the building, another pair of footfalls close behind me. Ally’s heart pounded harder and a pain in her side made her collapse. I panted, sucking in gulps of air, then knelt on the wet concrete and gagged, shudders ripping through Ally’s body as I struggled for control.

      Two arms wrapped around Ally’s body. I tried to twist from Jackson’s embrace but he held me tighter. “You’re fine, Mags,” he whispered close to my ear.

      “What the hell was that?” I said breathlessly.

      Turning me to him, he pressed his forehead against mine. “I wanted it to work, and it did. But I don’t want you to hurt. It’s in the past.”

      “What is in the past?” He was being entirely too cryptic.

      “What did you see?” he asked gently.

      I shook my head. “I didn’t see anything. Someone was screaming and there were many voices all mixed up together. I smelled blood. Whose blood did I smell?”

      “What you experienced was a memory. One of your last, I’m afraid.”

      “I thought memories couldn’t be experienced by souls?”

      Jackson stood up, bringing me with him. “There is a lot that you don’t know, Mags. A lot that Felix needs to tell you. Coming from me it wouldn’t be enough, he has the whole story.”

      “I can’t see him, though, not like this.” I waved Ally’s hands up and down, encompassing her human form. I couldn’t go into the After and Felix couldn’t come to the Living Realm. “And if Ally’s soul isn’t found—”

      “Would that be such a bad thing?” he said quietly.

      Ally’s jaw dropped. “Yes, it would. Why would you even say that?”

      “Ally!” Jamie’s voice called from up the street. “I have to head home soon!”

      Jackson’s gaze flitted across Ally’s face. “You’ll understand soon in any case.”

      He reached out to touch her face again but I brushed past him toward the car.

      How could he say that about Ally? If he wanted me, then me being stuck inside of her wouldn’t help that. Not that I considered being with him, in any capacity. Or did I? I shoved the thought away. I just wanted answers. Answers that seemed to be tangled up in my human past, and his.

      “If you want to know more, ask Felix,” Jackson called after me.

      I turned around to answer but he was gone.

      Good riddance, I thought.

      “Would you like to explain to me what happened back there?” Jamie asked, pulling out of the park and toward the Greene residence.

      “I’d like to know the same thing,” I said, staring out the window. The rain had stopped for good, but the day quickly faded into evening, bright purples and pinks lit up the horizon.

      “Who was that other guy?” she asked.

      “That’s Jackson. I’d advise you to steer clear of him.”

      “Should I warn you of the same thing?”

      “Definitely,” I said.

      We arrived at the estate just as the sun dipped below the back of the house and pulled into the garage, as if we’d never left.

      Aaron appeared in front of the car, his expression tight.

      “I think you’re in trouble,” Jamie whispered.

      “He wishes,” I said, getting out of the car. I took the crutches from the backseat and tucked them under Ally’s arms, balancing on one foot.

      “If Cooper was here you’d never have done that,” Aaron said, following us into the house.

      “I’m sorry you’re an idiot who can’t take control of a human,” I mumbled.

      Jamie went ahead of us toward the parlor. “I should grab my things. Dad will be here soon.”

      Cooper appeared in the kitchen. “Still getting along well, I see?”

      I grinned at Aaron. “Always.”

      Cooper looked between us, his eyebrows furrowed. “Okay, well, thanks, Aaron, for covering for me. You can head back to the office now; there is another lead.”

      Ally’s heart leapt. Mostly because there was a lead, and the fact that Aaron was going away.

      With that, Aaron disappeared from the room.

      I sighed. “Okay, what did Felix say?”

      Cooper looked everywhere in the room except in my direction. “He, uh, he wants to speak with you himself. Tomorrow night.”

      “About what? The transformation? How can I talk to him while I’m in this body? Do they have a lead?” I had so many questions and now I needed to get some answers.

      Jamie stepped into the kitchen. “Sorry to interrupt, but I have to head out; my dad is outside.”

      “Okay,” I said. “Talk to you tomorrow?”

      Jamie grinned. “Yeah.” She offered a little wave to Cooper before turning toward the door.

      “You shouldn’t get her hopes up,” Cooper said.

      “What do you mean?”

      “When this is all over,” Cooper said, “she’s not going to be able to keep you as a friend. Ally will have enough to worry about.”

      As much as I wanted this to be over and for Ally to be safe, a minute part of my soul wished it would never end. Or maybe it was the new ability to dig deep into my own memories. I knew which path I should go in but the other tempted me. The power that I had felt at Seth’s had been released but a part of it still smoldered within me like hot coals doused with water. It had been unexplainable, and somewhat infelicitous, yet I wanted more.

      “I know,” I said. “But I’m thinking Jamie will be able to help us.”

      “How?” he asked, just as Marie walked into the kitchen.

      “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes,” she said.

      “Thanks,” I said, walking into the dining room. Cooper followed. I closed the door behind me. “We saw Marie get into the office with a key today. The wards aren’t against humans.”

      “I know,” he said.

      I balked. “You knew?”

      “I’ve been with Ally since she was born,” he said. “I know everything that goes on around here.”

      I crossed Ally’s arms across her chest. “And that wasn’t a detail you felt you could share with me?”

      He shrugged. “It’s not a detail worth mentioning. There’s nothing in there that could help us. Like I said before, it’s just her body starting to transform.”

      “Speaking of—” I said.

      The

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