Scrubbing roughly at my head, I sighed. “The night of the fae war... Maddox saw you get killed, right? You were hacked in half.”
“How did you know that?” Scorpion’s lids narrowed.
“Because...” I bit my lip. “Because I was there. I saw it happen too.”
“I’m sorry?” He tilted his head. “What do you mean you were there? I thought you weren’t even born yet.”
“I was born that night, but... oh hell... there is no easy way to say this.” I huffed. “I somehow went back as me currently and saved both you and Warwick in the past.”
Scorpion blinked at me.
“Yes, I know it sounds crazy.”
“No. Itiscrazy.” He stepped back. “It’s impossible.”
“So should our connection be!” I gestured between us. “But right now, you are in Budapestandin a tiny church in Prague at the same time. Tell me that’s not crazy and impossible.”
“It is.” He grunted.
“But yet, here you are.” I fiddled with the hem of Warwick’s T-shirt, his rich smell wrapping around me. “I know it sounds impossible, but I know I saved you that night. I watched you die, and then somehow magic from me went through you—” I stopped. Hearing it had me thinking I was crazy as well.
“Lightning,” he muttered.
“What?” My head bounced up.
“I don’t remember much about the night... but I dreamed about a white light... lightning going through me.” He shook his head. “I never understood why before. So much is making more sense.”
“Like what?”
“When I met you, it felt like I had before.” He shifted on his feet, the conversation clearly making him uncomfortable. Vulnerable. “It felt the same as my dreams. A draw to you. A smell.”
“Smell?” My throat croaked.
“Like life and death.” He turned away from me. “It’s hard to explain.”
I chuckled darkly. “Like the moment between night and day breaking?” I repeated what Opie had articulated to me once.
Scorpion’s jaw ticked. He didn’t respond, but his head dipped, agreeing with my statement.
“Fuck,” he eventually muttered, peering away from me. “I need to go.”
“Wait.” I took a step toward him. “How is everyone? Are you guys safe?”
“Yeah, we’re still scattered, but Andris has a temporary place near the old Central Market.” Scorpion frowned.
“What?”
“Just a lot of strange stuff happening.”
“Like?”
“About a hundred fae and human bodies have been found floating in the Danube. The fae are drained of all bodily fluids.” He clicked his teeth. “Some humans look like their brains melted out or something.”
Dread plunged into my gut. Did I know one of those dead bodies?
“Birdie and I are on watch right now.” He shrugged. “See you.” Scorpion’s words disappeared as fast as he did, the link cut off, leaving me alone with only the ghosts surrounding me.
A chill ran down my spine, and I wrapped my arms around my frame.
