Would they ever be able to hang out like that again?
She had a feeling she knew the answer, and she wanted to vomit.
She had to get out of here. Needed to scream or cry or—
Her wrist comms vibrated, and a message popped up. It was from Amber.
Harvester is awake. She wants to see you. And she’s acting weird, so hurry, okay?
Closing her eyes, Scotty thanked the Fates. She’d needed a distraction, and this was perfect.
Tell her I’m on my way.
Harvester was waiting for Scotty inside Thanatos’s library, a gothic-themed monstrosity that suited a Horseman called Death. Suited Harvester too. She might be an angel, but she liked to say that she had especially dirty wings.
G-ma was so funny.
“Grandma!” Scotty threw herself at Harvester and sank into her hug. “I still can’t believe you’re back.”
Harvester laughed and drew away, but something about her subdued manner made Scotty’s alarm bells chime. “If not for you and your sister, I wouldn’t be.” She frowned. “You’ve been crying. Why?”
Because I’m in a no-win situation, and I’m about to lose my team and at least one of my best friends.
The thought threatened to bring back the tears, but she ruthlessly shoved the problem aside for the moment. Right now, her grandma was back, Eva was safe, and there was too much to celebrate.
Her father had taught her that.
“No matter how badly you lose the battle, no matter how much you lose in blood and treasure, celebrate everything, every chance you have. Celebrating even minor triumphs is a step forward during times when you’ve slid backward. Morale matters.”
“It’s nothing, G,” Scotty said. “I’m just tired.” As if to prove the point, a wave of exhaustion hit her, making her sway hard enough that she had to brace her hands on Thanatos’s desk. Instantly, Harvester whisked her to a chair.
“Sit,” she ordered. “I’ll get you some water.”
Scotty waved her off. “It’s okay. I’m fine.” But it was weird. As an immortal, she felt exhaustion, but usually only after serious physical activity or days without sleep.
Harvester, wearing one of Regan’s black sweatshirts and pink sweatpants with the wordHoton the ass, scrutinized Scotty for so long she started to squirm. “When did it start?”
Scotty shrugged. “It was the ceremony to bring you back. It really wiped me out. Probably wiped all of us.”
“Did you feel anything odd? Like a tug?” The concern in Harvester’s expression made the alarm bells chime louder. “Or like something was being pulled out of you?”
Um, yeah. “How did you know?”
Closing her eyes, Harvester sank down in the chair next to her. “Oh, Scotty.”
The alarm bells were no longer chiming. They were clanging. “G? What’s going on?”
Harvester took her hand, and Scotty’s gut sank. Nothing good would come of this conversation. “You probably don’t remember much of this, but when you were little, you were attacked and nearly killed by demons…”
Harvester continued, each word leaving Scotty reeling in shock, even as they knocked loose memories she hadn’t known existed.
The Harrowgate.
A new memory clawed at her mind. “I opened a gate for the demons. But it wasn’t the island gate. That was the day I learned to open gates with my blood. Lilu—she was my invisible friend, wasn’t she?” More memories crashed through her mind in a flood. “Holy shit, Lilu told me how to open the gate, and it let all those demons through!That’swhy I hate opening gates.” Twenty-five years of stress over opening gates was finally explained. But she had so many more questions. “What the hell, Harvester? Why did you take away my memories? Do my parents know what happened? Do they know I didn’t remember any of it?”
“I didn’ttake awayyour memories,” she said with a defensive sniff. “I just…buried them a little. I wanted them accessible if anyone ever brought it up. And yes, your parents know what happened.”
“What about Lilu? Who was she?” Scotty racked her brain, searching for answers. “She must have been a demon.”
