When I turned, my heart nearly stopped. Two cloaked figures emerged from the trees. I knew them instantly.
When Dad tipped back his hood and smiled, his voice cracked. “I knew you guys could do it.”
Mom ran to him like lightning, crashing into his chest.
The smaller figure beside him stopped and waved.
Barron was staggering now, breath hitched, on the verge of falling apart.
When Gwendolyn pulled her hood back and asked, “Did you miss me?”
Barron broke.
He scooped her into his arms, spun her around, then dropped to the ground, sobbing as he held her tight.
Dad’s eyes scanned the clearing. As he hugged Mom, his smile faded.
“Kitty.”
“She’s imprisoned,” Joy began.
The color drained from Dad’s face.
“What happened? You stopped him from crossing, and he took her as punishment?”
“That’s the thing,” Maureen muttered. “We didn’t stop him—we couldn’t. He let the portal close on his own…and as Hell was pulling him down, he took her with him.”
Something dark flickered in Dad’s expression.
“He got her,” he whispered, gripped his head, forehead furrowed deep. “Explain it to me. How was your sister? Was she afraid?”
His voice cracked. “Was she…crying?”
I froze.
No…she wasn’t.
“She was laughing,” Joy whispered, just as stunned as I was.
Chapter Fifty
Kara
The darkness settled in around us first.
I could see nothing.
Do nothing.
All I could feel was the heavy, warm presence behind me.
Luke caged me in, squeezing almost too tightly.
Holding me—
It was the only thing I believed hecoulddo.
I couldn’t move.
