CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
The moment Amethyst bound Efraim inside Eva’s head, I wanted to leave Faerie. But Headmistress Wake and my parents insisted that Eva and I wait a few hours to let the ghosts settle in.
Although we both argued that Efraim and Tabitha were more suited to being bonded to us than the other ghosts we had harbored, they weren’t having it.
“A few more hours won’t hurt anything, pea,” Dad asserted calmly.
So not true. The demons are probably roasting people over spits right now.
“To put plans in motion, we have to send word to our associates in the human world,” Mom added. “Unless you want to return to an empty fae academy and wait there all alone, you might as well remain here.”
I didn’t want to waitat all.Especially notonce we got to the human realm. I wanted to act.
Me too,Tabitha said inside my mind.
It was crazy to think she was there, someone I’d known and fought with nearly two years ago. At least she was less intrusive than Louise. And I had a feeling that when push came to shove, she would be more prepared to act too.
It was unfortunate that Tabitha and I had only found a way to bondaftershe died.
“Fine,” I told my parents grudgingly. “I’m going to go find Alex.”
He was still waiting outside the door to the room where we’d performed the rite, so I didn’t have to look far.
His face spread into a grin when he saw me. “How’d it go?”
I snapped my fingers. “Piece of cake.”
“Good to hear,” Alex replied. “Because we have to be in top form tonight.”
I cocked my head to the side.
Eva squealed, catching my attention, and then she and Hunter, who had been just down the hallway, darted over to meet us.
“Did you tell, Odie?” Hunter asked, his tanned face flushed with excitement.
“I was getting to it,” Alex replied and turned to me. “The queen knows we’re leaving soon. She’s holding a feast tonight in our honor. Apparently, she has a surprise for us.”
A surprise? She’d already gifted us with demon daggers. What more could she want to give us?
He read the question in my eyes. “I’m not sure what she has in mind, but I am curious to find out.”
He extended his hand to me, and I took it, delighting in the familiar feel of him and the rush that shot through me as his blue eyes bored into my own.
Ugh, get a room. Actually, don’t. I’m here, remember that,Tabitha said in my head.
You’ll have to get over that real fast. May I suggest taking a nap when we get busy?I smirked.
Gross…
“Odie?” Alex asked. “You okay?”
“Huh . . . oh! Yeah, sorry.”
“It takes some getting used to,” Eva explained. “Having someone in your head. They want to have conversations for a little bit. At least, Claude did.” She closed her eyes and breathed out a sigh. “And Efraim doesn’t seem any different.”
The guys exchanged a look. “Weird,” Hunter muttered.
“Very weird,” I agreed.
