I threw in another shirt with enough force to make a loud thud when it hit the barrel. When I went to put another shirt in, Grymley put his hand over mine, gently took it from me, and pulled me into a hug.
I wanted to resist, but he was so warm. His arms around me made me feel as if the rest of the world didn’t exist. I could forget, for a moment, that he was the catalyst for the upheaval.
I relaxed against him. It didn’t take long for me to return the hug, and I clung to him as if he were my only lifeline.
We stayed like that for several minutes. “You’re my beloved. That’s why it’s you, not anyone else.”
Why did he think I could handle that bit of... whatever the fuck that was? It wasn’t knowledge. It sounded like nonsense. What did that even mean?
I let him go and did the only thing that would keep my sanity. I threw him out of my house.
Chapter Fourteen
Grym
Ifound myself in the car with Cael, who arrived after the cop left. I wanted to punch him, but I restrained myself. The only thing keeping me from it was knowing he was just as uncomfortable and unhappy as I was. They say misery loves company, and that was no truer than spending all night in Elliot’s driveway, watching his house.
The others were in four cars behind us, watching the house as well. Everyone of them blamed me for Elliot’s reaction.
I sighed, not for the first time.
It was my fault. I shouldn’t have sent Cael. I also could have been a little gentler in my explanations. Elliot didn’t have to know everything all at once.
“Go in there and see if he’ll give us coffee.” Cael was such an ass sometimes. It was six o’clock in the morning. Elliot might not even be awake yet.
I wasn’t rocking the boat over Cael’s caffeine addiction. I didn’t drink the stuff, but I could go for some tea.
“The curtain moved about ten minutes ago. He’s up. Go in there.”
I didn’t see the curtain move, but I didn’t doubt Cael. “Show a little decorum.”
“By sitting in the man’s driveway like a fucking stalker? That’s your idea of decorum?”
It wasn’t. It was weird, but how else could they keep Elliot safe without invading his house?
The rural setting, with fields on either side of Elliot’s property and a forest in his backyard, with no close neighbors except for Mr. McKinney across the street, was the perfect place to be when the end of the world as we knew it was about to take place. The change might not be terrible, but we were at the beginning of the end, and that meant terrible things would happen. I needed to let Elliot know what to expect, but I didn’t know whether knocking on the door and asking if we could talk was the right approach.
Morgana came up to the car carrying a tray with two coffee cups. She had probably gone to the nearest gas station. Gas stations always sold coffee.
She handed each of us a cup without a word. When I saw the tea bag tag sticking out from under the cup lid, I smiled. “Thanks, Morgana.”
“This is a good place to hole up when the shitshow starts.” She scanned across the street to the neighbor’s house. “It’s fairly secluded, with open fields. Besides the forest behind Elliot’s house, of course. But we’d see anyone coming at us as long as we ward against the demons. We’ll need to find a skilled witch.” She gestured toward Mr. McKinney’s house. “He’s set to be ferried. Minutes away from it. Best tell Elliot yourself so he’s prepared. I’m sure he’ll take it hard.”
“I’ll take the old man. You comfort your beloved,” Cael offered.
“I thought you wanted Elliot dead.” I wasn’t just going to let that go. I was okay spending an eternity in Cael’s car if it meant keeping Elliot safe from people who thought like Cael.
“I’m not a savage, man.” Cael scowled.
Morgana frowned. “We’re all here to make sure nothing happens to him. If it does, we won’t meet our beloveds either. Elliot is the key.”
Cael sighed. “His comment was meant for me.”
Morgana’s expression was like stone. “I know. I’m talking to you, too. You’re either a protector of our beloveds or the enemy. Best not let the past rule you, Cael.”
I wasn’t sure what Morgana meant by that last statement, but it made Cael curse under his breath. Otherwise, he said nothing, even after Morgana had left.
The curtain shifted. I pictured Elliot scowling at us.
