Stefan had his arm over Delmare. They spoke in soft voices, heads tilted toward each other as they remained in their own little world.
It pained me to look at them. They had what Emma and I had lost. I could not feel happy for them. I could only feel pain.
I hadn’t seen my friends all summer. When the semester ended, we’d all agreed to travel to different places, searching for clues on the locations of the Crystals of Harmony. I’d been hopping from place to place on the ruse of doing just that, but to be honest, I had bigger issues. I’d just gotten back from Africa a few days ago. Another failed attempt.
You’ll never be rid of me, the leshane cackled. I ignored him.
As the door shut behind me, heads snapped up to look at me. Jaws dropped open. Odette put a hand over her mouth, while Alexei’s eyes widened.
Stefan’s face was hard to read. He chewed on his lip, as if considering what to say to me before deciding against it.
Theo voiced what everyone was thinking. “Wow…” Theo said. “You look…”
“Like shit? I know.” My hair was unkempt, and there were dark circles around my eyes— not to mention bruises, from where I’d hit myself in the face trying to make the demon stop talking.
Yeah. I was a mess.
Kiara stepped forward. “I knew you were taking the breakup hard, but… Ethan, this isn’t okay.”
“I’m fine, Kiara. Honestly.”
“Fine? You look like you’ve dropped twenty pounds,” Alexei protested.
“I’ve merely been busy.” I hadn’t eaten. Sleep was an afterthought. I’d refused myself both in an attempt to starve the demon out. Hadn’t done any good.
Delmare gave a sigh. Her lips twisted into a frown as she said, “Ethan, you’re a dumbass.”
“I fully accept that.” I stared at the floor. That they were even welcoming me back into the group was honorable of them. I didn’t deserve to have friends.
“But that doesn’t mean you aren’tourdumbass,” Delmare rushed to say. “You made a mistake last semester when you hurt Emma. A big one. But we forgive you for it.”
“Has she?” My voice came out in a rasp. I was all but half a man.
Odette played with her hands uncomfortably. “We haven’t talked to Emma much,” Odette confessed. “She spent some time back in Detroit for the summer, at some big skating camp. She wanted to be alone.”
The little wolf was running away from her problems. Something I desperately wished I could do.
It was at that point the door opened behind me. I turned. I felt a physical hit to the gut as a familiar and beloved smell hit my nostrils, making my instincts go insane and my wolf to howl in longing.
The sight of her red hair cascading down her shoulders was enough to make me want to cry. Her green eyes sparked against the yellow light, and her beautiful body was inches in proximity to mine, driving me mad with a want I could never have again.
I could feel the demon physically retreat at her presence. My chest grew lighter, and the glow of my magic warmed against me. It was like if she was around, the demon had no power.
Emma’s mouth bobbed open slightly at my appearance. “Ethan.” Her tone was very surprised.
“Hello,onawilke.” I gave a soft smile, and gods, it felt like pulling a sword out of my chest. That one little movement from me to her was worse than any torture illusion the best fae sorceress could put on me, and I wanted my suffering to end now.
Emma’s form was stiff and cautious. There were a few more lines by her eyes than there had been last semester— she’d been worried. And grieving, perhaps, though I didn’t permit myself to hope that much.
She stared at me for a moment longer before she moved to Odette’s side. Odette reached out a hand and took Emma’s. She squeezed it, and Emma gave a grateful smile in thanks.
Stefan glanced between Emma and I before taking the lead. “Well, now that we’re all here, we should talk about the crystals,” he began. “We know that the portal to Edinmyre is shut, and if we don’t use the crystals to open it up again permanently, the fae are going to turn to literal dust. We have two crystals, but four of them are still out there. So do we have any leads on where the next one is?”
The only sound that could be heard was the ticking of the clock, before Odette spoke up. “Theo’s family went traveling to Germany and Norway. I went with them,” she offered. “We looked, but not a thing.”
“A holiday with Theo, hm?” Kiara teased, while Theo’s cheeks turned pink. “And how was that?”
Odette shrugged. “I always go on vacation with them every summer. What’s the big deal?”
