Allie screamed, and as she did, I saw it—The entire stone table, broken and battered, began to glow.
Thetablewas the chalice, and that glow was Lilith.
It was now or never.
“I love you, Allie,” I said, then sliced my palm with my knife as I raced forward, terrified but determined.
I didn’t make it.
Instead, I was knocked on my ass by Stuart. “She needs you,” he said. “And the world needs her. I love you, Allie,” he said more loudly. “You and your mother are the best thing that every happened to me.”
“Stuart!” Allie cried in tandem with me. “No!”
But it was too late. “I know what I’m doing,” he called to us as he sliced his palm, then pressed it to the table, and the entire earth began to rumble.
Then I head Jared’s voice over the din. “Celia!” he shouted. “I’m sorry.” And in one crazy move, he tackled Stuart, knocking him free of the table and slapping his own bloody palm down.
Immediately, he was thrown backward, and I could only assume that vampire blood didn’t work.
But had Jared saved Stuart? Or had he opened a door for Lilith to escape again?
I glanced back at Cutter and Eddie, neither of whom looked as if they had any more idea than I did. Then I ran to Stuart who was sprawled motionless on the ground. I bent over him, then exhaled with relief when I realized he was breathing. But although I shook him and spoke to him, he didn’t wake up.
“Lilith?” Allie said.
“Do you feel her?”
She bit her lower lip, then shook her head. “I think she’s gone.”
Tentatively, I touched the table, expecting … something. But it was just cool stone.
“She was expelled,” Eric murmured, barely audible. “I felt it.”
“Gone for good?”
“Don’t know. Hope so.” Exhaustion colored his voice.
“I’ll get him down,” Eddie said, hurrying to Eric.
“I’ve got Allie,” Cutter said, glancing my direction. “You take care of Stuart.”
I did, hurrying to him and trying to revive him, but it was no use. He was out. Completely unconscious. And I had no idea how long he would stay that way.
Behind me, Jared climbed to his feet and came over.
“Thank you,” I said.
He just shook his head. “Too little, too late.” He nodded to Stuart. “I’m sorry. I wanted to save him.”
“I believe you,” I told him. “And I’m sorry about your sister.” She was lost, of course. The chances of finding the poor, tortured girl were next to none. “We’ll help you look, I promise you that.”
“I know. It won’t matter.”
“Maybe it will,” I said, hoping to save her, but knowing the odds weren’t in our favor.
A moment later, Cutter led Allie to me, and I clung tight to her.
“We won,” she said, tears streaming down her face as she pressed a hand to Stuart’s shoulder. “But it doesn’t feel like it.”
