Huh. It’s not celestial magic either.
Luca sighs. “Great. Some unknown entity came poking around while we were gone. That’s exactly what we need.”
“I can coat us in a nightmare in case someone is watching,” Ciprian offers. His voice is raspy and laced with exhaustion. He’s already pushed too hard.
My lips press into a thin line.
Riven hums. “That’s a good idea. We should be?—”
I drive my heel into the boot print on the door, cutting off whatever he was about to say.
This is my fucking apartment. If someone rigged a magical alarm inside, that’s fine by me. They can get their ass back here and confront me face-to-face. I’ll be happy to teach them a lesson in manners, but I’m not about to hover outside my own place like a moth around a streetlight.
“Celine!”
“Fucking fuck, baby. We don’t even know who did this!”
I scrub my palm over my face. “We don’t knowyet,but we will soon.” I walk over the flattened door and narrow my eyes as I peer inside my dark apartment.
Nothing is visibly out of place. My decorative pillows are perched on the couch where they belong. All the kitchen cabinets are closed. In fact, nothing is strewn around or trashed like you might expect after a break-in.
The others join me, and I glance at them. “Does anyone sense that we aren’t alone?”
They shake their heads. Alistair darts away,his body blurring as he checks the rest of the apartment. He’s back in ten seconds. “No one’s here and nothing’s damaged but the door.”
Ciprian blinks, narrowing his eyes and cocking his head. He obviously has a theory, but before I can demand he tell me, a popping sound tears through the stale air. Swirling purple lights spark beside the couch, and a man stumbles through.
His black eyes are feral and furious. They flit between us until they land on Ciprian and stay there. He takes a step forward.
Alistair snarls.
I slap my arm across his stomach as a seatbelt as he tenses to lunge. “Stop,” I hiss. “That’s Ciprian’s brother.”
“Callum?” Ciprian’s eyebrows pull together. “What are you—?” His question ends with a wheeze as Callum yanks him into a fierce hug.
The portal crackles again, and Sheena steps through. “Was it another false alarm?” Her green eyes widen as she takes in my crowded living room.
“Hey, bestie,” Ciprian’s voice cracks. “Quit pawing at me, Callum, I’m fine.”
“Where have you been?” Callum demands. “Sheena hasn’t heard from you in weeks. We tried to find you, but no one knew how to get to the celestial realm.”
Sheena places her hand on Callum’s back. “Take a breath?—”
“I can’t,” he snarls, raking his hand through his dark hair. “I haven’t breathed in weeks. You better have a good excuse for this, Ciprian, or I swear to the gods...”
Ciprian stares at his brother like he’s never seen him before.
I glance at Sheena, and she shakes her head. “Celine, Alistair, are you both alright?” Her voice is low and soft, soothing.
I nod. Alistair blinks a few times, then his lips curl into a small smile. “I’m in perfect health.” He glances at the broken door. “Do we have you to thank for that?”
Sheena blushes and groans. “Gideon knockedit down before I could talk him out of it.” She glances at Riven and Hyacinth with undisguised curiosity, even as she addresses me. “You say you’re okay, but are you safe here, Celine?”
My shoulders slump.
I want to be safe here. Home, in my bed, surrounded by the things that are familiar to me, but her question cuts to the truth:we’re not safe, and there’s no point lying to myself about it.
I shake my head slowly, and Sheena nods. “Come home with us. We can help, or at least give you a safe place to rest.”
