Stop staring at her.
Except I can’t.
“Lock your door for me,” I say lowly.
She closes the screen door as I back down the steps, then goes inside. I hear the door lock behind her, see her walk into her kitchen and turn on a lamp. And when I’m sure she can’t see me, I quickly press my hand to the house’s siding. The wood paneling burns beneath my fingers as my mark etches into the wood, protecting it from anyone I don’t want crossing the barrier.
It might not be enough.
My magic isn’t what it once was.
Walking away from her tonight has my feet feeling like lead. I have to know how bad things are, have to find these sprites following me and take care of them before they can make their way off the island to my mother. I don’t know what this is between Juniper and I, but I won’t let them spoil it. I won’t lose her the same way I lost…
I quickly shake the thought from my head.
I’m three houses down, pretty positive snow is trailing behind me, when I take my phone from my pocket and dial the one number I didn’t plan on dialing until tomorrow.
I don’t want to do this either, but his reputation with mortals isn’t as stained as mine.
North answers my call on the second ring.
“Hello, brother. I wasn’t expecting this.”
His low, sarcastic tone makes it sound as if he’s smiling deviously all the time.
“I’ve been compromised. With Juniper,” I say, cringing that I’m having to deal with this.
“Oh? Was it those fucking sprites?” North asks.
“Yeah. They don’t know you’re here. I need to deal with this, but I don’t want?—”
“You want me to watch her?” North asks, and there’s even more delight in his tone.
I curse under my breath. “Just don’t fuck this up. Don’t scare her. This one is… it’s different.”
“I’ve heard that once before.”
I want to punch him for bringing up the past.
“Do this for me. I need to take care of the sprites,” I say.
“What are you going to do?”
I stare ahead of me and ignore how happy he sounds about this. “Whatever I have to, but I can’t leave her alone. I think you’ll understand it, too.”
I need him.
It can’t be like the last time.
There’s a pause on the other end of the line, and I curl my hand into a fist. “North?—”
“I have you, brother.”
Chapter 9
Juniper
An hour later, and I’m still freaked out.
