Hudson blinked. “Is your cat eating souls?”
“Our cat,” I said. “And she didn’t eat anything. She just caught one like a mouse.”
Bella tilted her head. With an indignantpop,the little ghost escaped upward, leaving Bella’s paw singed and her expression utterly offended.
Rebecca snorted.
The laughter rolled through us, shaky but real, cutting through the tension like sunlight through fog. Around us, thelast of the remnants faded, leaving only the scent of ozone and lavender.
Rockhard clapped. “Well, that was eventful as always, Cora.”
“Yeah, never a dull moment when there is a threat to your life on a minute by minute basis,” Lenson agreed.
Liz brushed her bloody hand against her skirt. “We did it,” she whispered. “Eloise is no longer part of us. I feel... lighter.”
Sophia nodded. “Now we wait to see what the fallout will be.”
My body trembled with exhaustion, but we’d achieved what we set out to. “She’s cut off, but not powerless. And Donn—” I swallowed, the name scraping my throat. “He’s closer.”
Hudson’s gaze sharpened. “How close?”
Inside meprobably wasn’t the wisest answer. “Very,” I edged, staring at the faint scorch where my blade had struck. “I need to understand what he gave me, and what he took.”
Rebecca fanned herself dramatically. “Ah yes, post-ritual soul-searching. My favorite chapter in every tragic romance.”
“Shut up.”
“I’m just saying. Between the god bargains and the winged wardrobe malfunctions, your wedding vows are going to bewild.”
Dayna perked up. “Wedding? We’re finally talking about it?”
I groaned. “The world is ending, and your focus is on the color of napkins?”
Rebecca looked affronted. “Don’t be ridiculous. We’ve already decided that.”
Awesome. Go team. “You probably have my panties picked out too.”
Hudson growled low in his throat. “That’s my department, and yes, it’s been decided.”
My aunts snickered. “There’s still time for a little celebration under the moon,” Liz mumbled.
I spun to face Dave. “That’s your cue.”
Liz blinked. “What?”
Dave ran a hand down his face. “Seems wrong after all the apocalypse talk.”
“Romance is never wrong, Dave. It reminds us what we are fighting for.”
“Oh, this is going to be good,” Rebecca added.
Ezra stalked from the edge of the property behind her, and I smirked. “Yup, so good.”
She frowned and spun on her heel to face her guy. “Absolutely not. I told you—” She squealed as he picked her up fireman style without breaking his stride and continued into the woods.
“A little help?” she snapped at me.
I shrugged. “Sorry. I’m busy making inane choices for my wedding. Have fun, kids.”
