“Seems like things are returning to normal. Head wounds are tricky things.”
Ethan held up the bag. “You know, but you didn’t make them?”
“I had no idea you were coming by today. Unlike you, I like all my cookies equally.”
He took a step outside and turned once more. “No,” he said quietly. “You like chocolate crinkles the most, but you only make them every once in a while because they’re time-consuming.”
It was true. I didn’t have the energy to make them today, even though I’d made three other varieties. But the base was the same for all three, so all I had to do was make one dough and add the extra ingredients separately.
When I didn’t answer, he smiled and winked. “I’m going to figure this out, Moira. And when I do, you’re going to answer all my questions.”
I shrugged. “Maybe when you figure things out, you’ll have all the answers you need.”
“We’ll see.” Ethan tucked the bag of cookies in his jacket pocket and turned to go.
I watched him until he disappeared into the night, not realizing I hadn’t a single clue as to how he arrived.
Weird.
Chapter
Thirty-Two
“Ineed help,” I whispered over the line.
Evie was at my side in an instant. “What is it?”
She sucked in a gasp. “Moira!”
My head lolled. “I need blood,” I whispered.
She opened her mouth, but I gripped her wrist. “Not Cernunnos.”
“What?” Evie hissed. “Why not?”
“Something isn’t right.”
“Dammit, Moira. Let me call him. Once you get your energy back, then we can look at another source.”
“No. I have a contact at the local blood bank. Ask for Gene.”
Evie swore. “I’ll be right back.” She blinked away.
I curled into a fetal position on the couch and waited. Mom’s spell was eating away at my insides, roaring through my bloodstream and sucking all my energy. If Mom managed to break into the Keep today, she could pluck me up like a chicken grabbing an earthworm. I was completely helpless.
The glasses in the cabinet rattled.
“Why didn’t you call me?” an imperious male voice asked.
“I told her not to call you.”
Cernunnos sat down beside me and held out his wrist. “Drink.”
“No.” The scent of his blood sang to me, but I wouldn’t take from him when we were weird like this.
“Moira. This grudge you’re holding against me is petty. We agreed to be honest with each other, and I know I stretched the boundaries of that agreement.”
I barked a laugh, and even that movement pained me. “You knew something horrific was going to happen and you gave me shitty, cryptic hints that were absolutely no help, and then everything blew up in my face!”
