“What do you think I’m—wait. Blood.” He looked at me and my heart flipped. “Allie’s blood.”
I reached for Eric, and he squeezed my hand. “Remember,” he said. “We don’t worry until there’s something to worry about,” he said.
I repeated that to myself as we went deeper and deeper into the bowels of the cave until we finally ended up in a dark chamber, filled with rocks and shadows. Even shining my flashlight around, I saw nothing else. Not until Jared, with his preternatural vision, pointed toward a dark corner on the far side of the room where two forms huddled unmoving together.
“No,” I cried, racing that way with Eric right by my side.
I threw myself down, expecting the worse, then whimpered in relief when Allie murmured, “Mommy?”
“Baby,” I cried, pulling her into my arms. She clung to me, then held out one arm for her dad, who also pulled her close.
Behind us, Jared was with his sister. I could hear his soft, consoling words. Then his louder, more tentative, “Allie?”
“I’m here,” she said. “I’m okay.”
“Really?” I asked, looking her over.
She nodded. “Yeah. She didn’t hurt me. I think they were trying to hide us down here. I cut my thumb. I was hoping Jared could follow the blood.”
“Smart girl,” Eric said, and she smiled.
“And Celia? Celia, are you okay?”
“I’m okay. Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
“I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who called to Jared.”
“You talked to me. You got me out of my head. I think I was going a little crazy,” Celia said. “Jared, I missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” he said, then hugged her from where they were crouched on the ground.
They stood when we did, and for a moment, Allie seemed frozen. Then she threw herself into his arms and kissed him.
Eric shoved his hands into his pockets.
I tried to hide a smile.
And Jared gently pushed her away. “Your parents.”
“Do you really care?”
He glanced my way, then shrugged. “Actually, I don’t,” he said. And then he kissed her back.
20
Jared, Allie, and Celia claimed the back seat of the van as we all headed back to the academy. Eric was driving, and I caught him checking his rearview mirror far more often than was truly necessary considering there was barely any traffic.
I shot him a few amused, sideways glances, but didn’t say anything. To be honest, I might have pulled down my visor a few times and taken some peeks myself. Celia’s head rested against her brother’s arm, and her eyes were closed. Poor thing was probably exhausted. Allie leaned in from the other side, and his arm was curled around her. Twice I saw him brush his lips over her hair, and her soft, answering smile.
Honestly, they made a good couple. He was too old for her, that’s for sure. But considering the world we lived in, maybe that didn’t matter. He’d protect her and he’d help her and he’dlove her, I was sure of that. And when your life evolves around hunting demons, there wasn’t much more important than that.
The others sat in the middle two rows, and the chatter on the drive back was as expected. I only half listened. The bottom line was that we still needed to figure out where Lilith’s essence was hiding. And that was important. But right then, all I wanted to do was revel in the fact that we rescued these two young women. Celia, who looked positively giddy that her brother was kissing Allie, and Allie herself, not just because the world couldn’t afford to lose her, but because Eric and I certainly couldn’t.
“I think we’ve bought some time,” Cutter said, pulling me away from my rambling thoughts.
“What makes you think that?”
“Lilith’s in retreat. She wouldn’t have left Allie behind if she was ready for the ritual. She must be missing some important piece. I’m guessing the Remnant.”
