Maggie had finished eating and was by her side, a low growl curling the dog’s lips.
Soleil lowered her chin.“Be careful, Meredith.You may think you know Silas, but you don’t.He’s damaged in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine.”
“You should know.You inflicted some of that damage.Why are you here anyway?Did your demon lover catch on to what you were doing and want his trinket back?”Her words lashed out with the snap of a fist.
Soleil’s face fell.“Excuse me?”
“I saw your show the other night.”Meredith stared her down.Internally, she chastised herself for letting on that she knew about the heart or Ryker.It was a stupid thing to do, showing all her cards.It fanned the flames of her ego but did nothing to improve the situation.She was better than that.Smarter than that.
Soleil narrowed her eyes but didn’t engage.“Tell Silas I was here,” she said steadily.Backing into the bright sunlight, she washed away, her golden skin melding into a yellow flash that carried her from the street.
“You better believe I’ll tell him.”She reached for her phone and dialed his number.
Silas needed to wake Nickelova,and he needed to do it fast.He knew Soleil.For her to come for the heart was a sign of fear.She’d never renege on a gift if she wasn’t terribly afraid.Ryker must have put the heat on her, asked for the heart back.After learning what happened between her and Meredith, Silas had avoided Soleil’s attempts to contact him, but he couldn’t do so forever.He planned to address itafterhe used the heart to raise Nickelova.
“I can only take two,” Polina said.The redheaded witch stood in Silas’s living room, her gaze darting between Jason, Laina, Selene, and Meredith as if she was overwhelmed by their presence.Logan had said it was possible for her to transport him to Nickelova’s mountain using gold dust.He never promised it would be easy.
“Me and Jason,” Silas said.“I have the heart, and Jason has the memory to get us there.”
“Wait, what about us?”Meredith glanced at Laina, who seemed equally disappointed at being excluded.
Polina’s poofy green dress made her look like the good witch fromThe Wizard of Oz.She tucked her red hair behind her ear and shook her head.“Traveling by gold dust is not as easy as it sounds.In a few minutes, I will use Jason’s memory to drag him and his brother halfway around the world through the veins of metal between my mountain and Nickelova’s.This is not a simple task.”She spread her hands.“Impossible with more than two.”
“There’s no other way?”Laina asked.
Polina shook her head.
Selene said nothing, but Silas had the distinct impression she wasn’t disappointed.She’d be happy never to see Nickelova or her mountain again.
Silas loaded the heart into his leather backpack and strapped it onto his shoulders.Traveling by metal was a tricky business.He’d heard it compared to being forced through a straw one molecule at a time.But he had to take the risk.
“Remember, Silas,” Selene said, “the ancient texts say Nickelova must obey you as long as you possess the heart.But she can lie to you.She’ll try to manipulate you.Don’t fall for it.You must keep the heart from her at all costs.”
“I plan on it.”
“There’s always the chance she’s not there,” Laina said.“I know what I saw.Nickelova was in Carlton City.”
“We’ll find out soon enough,” Jason said.
Selene kissed Jason and pulled him into a tight embrace.“Don’t be long.I expect to see you tonight.We have a date.”She backed away toward Laina and Meredith.
Silas considered Meredith.The relationship was still new enough that he wasn’t sure what to expect.Would she kiss him goodbye?Shed tears in fear for his life?React angrily to him going without her?
Her jaw tightened, and her eyes narrowed on his face.“Silas, get back here in one piece, or I’ll kick your ass.”
“Duly noted,” he drawled.“What will you do to my ass if I do make it back in one piece?”
“I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”Meredith waggled her eyebrows at him.
After a moment of silence as Jason, Selene, and Laina exchanged awkward glances, Polina cleared her throat.“Shall we?”
Silas took Jason’s hand and then Polina’s.The corners of the witch’s mouth twitched.“This may hurt a little.”She scooped a handful of gold dust from the bag at her waist and sprinkled it over their heads.
Jason came apart first, dissolving into a swirl of glittery pieces.Silas followed, feeling his cells scatter to the wind, his arms and legs breaking apart.He was swept away until nothing made sense anymore.There was no up or down, awake or asleep… Only the flow of liquid metal.
When he finally came together again, he inhaled long and deep.His cheek was pressed against cold stone, and his body felt rubbery, boneless.He blinked rapidly as Polina’s slippered feet came into focus.
“We’re here,” she said.“Thank the goddess.You two were heavier than I imagined.”
