Hailey nodded once then looked to Asher. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’m taking a risk. The others might see us.” He tilted his head down at her, one eyebrow raised.
“…so, not via Luftzeug?”
“No,Hailey. Not via Luftzeug.” He was leading her into the White Forest, and she felt perfectly safe. Not even a carnivorous tree had the wood to challenge Asher.
Hailey tried and failed to stifle a giggle at her private joke. It was her nerves making her goofy, she knew it, but if she didn’t laugh, she’d have to cry. She was scared to death of Cobon.
Asher stopped walking and studied her closely. “Have I said something…funny?”
Oh, no. This was too stupid to share.
“No, Asher, I just had a fleeting thought…about the trees…”And wood—oh, God! Please don’t ask me to share.“So, is melting like being whipped?” Oh, no! This was worse! She could feel her whole head burning up.
Asher’s lip twitched.
Was he amused?Fine time to embrace humor. She shook a lock of hair loose and did her best to hide behind it as she stared at her boots.
“Actually, I don’t know what to call it. I’m going to pull you through the energies. I heard it in a song once, and it seemed appropriate. It will feel like the world has stopped, like time has stopped.”
Hailey’s eyes went wide.
“It doesn’t hurt, so don’t be afraid.”
Spinning her around so she faced him, Asher wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. “Ready?” he breathed into her ear, which sent a pleasant shiver down her arms.
“Let’s get this over with,” she whispered, resting her head against his warm chest.
“Melting” felt a lot like being suspended above a movie stuck on fast-forward. The world did stop and drop out from under them. Then it spun in a blur, halted and slammed into their feet.
Cobon’s residence sprawled before them, over twenty acres of snow-covered gardens and tailored-to-look-natural forest, with a modern barn situated nextto a frozen lake in the distance. His house looked more like a palace and stood on a hill overlooking the Ohio River.
“I know this place,” she said, and Asher cocked his head. “Uncle Pix used to take us driving at Christmas time to see the lights on all the big houses. This house… This was always our favorite. We’d save it for last, park on the street, and just sit in the car and gaze at it.” She looked up at him. “This was Holly’s dream house,” she said sadly, and her heart panicked. She stepped away. “I don’t think I can do this, Asher, I can’t breathe.” She looked up at him, eyes wide as she stepped back again, her breath coming quicker. "I can't. I can't."
Sliding his arm around her waist, Asher pulled her close, pressing her into a tight hug, even as she panted her protest.
“Let’s just leave. Let’s just leave, Asher, right now; let’s just leave.”
“Cobon will find us tonight, Hailey,” he said gently, and he rocked her slowly in his embrace. “It’s better if we meet him here.” He pulled away, slightly, and looked her dead in the eyes. “He won’t hurt you—I promise,” he said, and she slowed her breathing.
"Okay," she resolved. "Okay, I can do this." Now, she just needed to believe it.
“Remain calm in here, Hailey,” he advised as they walked to the porch. “Do not feed into his madness. Do not enrage him.” He paused along the walk, taking her chin in his hand and planting a soft kiss on her lips.
“Ready?” he asked her, and she straightened up, nodding boldly.
“Yes, Asher. Let’s go meet the monster that killed my sister.”
Cobon opened the door ceremoniously wide as they approached.
“Ah, Asher.” Cobon bowed, looking his creepy, crusty, octogenarian self.
Asher nodded, but almost imperceptibly, and Cobon turned to Hailey.
“At last, Miss Hartley. So glad you accepted my invitation. Please, do come in.”
Dinner with two Envoys.This definitely topped the list of stupid-things-Hailey’s-done. She sighed and followed him inside.
