Page 17

The like button glowed up at me. I’d liked it!

I quickly unliked, but it was too late. She would’ve gotten a notification. I tossed my phone aside like it was made of lava and jumped off the bed. I wanted to hide under the bed and never come out.

Maybe she wasn’t just sleeping with Ren anymore? Maybe they’d started dating? She’d posted pics of him, that wasn’t something you’d do if you were just casual, right? I’d been busy with Zinny the last few weeks. I was out of the loop. Maybe…they were exclusive?

In which case, I was the one who was in the wrong. I was the one pining after her male, staring at him like a lovesick idiot. I’d walked by his place late at night, it didn’t matter that he wasn’t the reason, Breanne saw me, what else would she think? Then I’d walked right up to him last night, under the influence of Mags’s potion, so far gone I’d actually been about to ask him why not me? The words had been right there on the tip of my tongue before she pushed me aside.

I was the problem, not her.

Me.

My phone dinged from the bed, and I walked toward it like it was a rattlesnake about to strike. I had a DM request in Nightscape. I felt sick as I clicked it open, because of course it was from Breanne.

Hey, stalker, feel free to add that pic to your wank bank. That’s the closest you’ll ever get to the real thing.

Then there were a whole lot of laughing emojis.

I clicked back out and shoved my phone in my pocket. Would she tell Ren? Of course she would.

“Jazzy?” Zinnia tapped on the door before she eased it open.

I tried to look normal and not like I was going to die of shame and humiliation. “Can I walk you to the gate?” I blurted. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye, and I needed to get away from here. “I mean, if it’ll be safe for me to walk back out on my own?”

Zinnia usually insisted on going alone. Death made sure she was protected on her hike through the demon-infested forest, but I wasn’t sure he’d cover me on the way back. She studied me. “I mean, I can make sure you’re safe on the way out, but I’m not sure…”

“Please,” I said.

She mulled it over for several seconds. “Okay, fine, but I’ve got one condition. You tell me what put that look on your face.”

“What look?” I said, trying to deny what was obviously plain to see.

She crossed her arms. “Like you crapped your pants in a room full of people.”

I opened my mouth to protest.

“And before you even think about lying to me or telling me you don’t want to worry me or burden me with your problems right before I go back, don’t. This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been going to Limbo for a while now, and I come back every time unscathed, don’t I? No, I don’t like going there or talking about it, because when I’m here, I want to enjoy every moment I have with you, with my family. It’s boring there, honestly, so talk to me.”

She was lying. I could tell. “Zinny…”

“Talk to me, Jazzy. Don’t shut me out. I’m your big sister, so let me do my job.” She grinned. “Distract me.”

I shoved my feet in my boots and snatched up my jacket. “Fine. I’ll fill you in on our hike.” I’d do whatever Zinny needed, even if that meant telling her what a dick I’d been the last few months and what a massive idiot I’d just made of myself.

We pulled up to the entrance of Oldwood Forest thirty minutes later. It was at the southernmost end of the larger Roxburgh State Forest, and infested with a whole bunch of demons. Zinnia grabbed her large pack from the back, filled with a few more books, some of her favorite moisturizer and other toiletries, and some more clothes as well. Limbo didn’t exactly cater to the living. I’d slipped in some of her favorite treats as well. Skittles, of course, and sometimes a girl just needed chocolate.

She lifted Hemlock off the car seat. “Hop up, Hemy,” she said. Hemlock scurried up her arm and into the pack, his little head popping out the top to look around before disappearing inside, to nap.

I locked the car, and we headed into the forest. A lot of the forests around Roxburgh were inhabited by demons, the kinds that couldn’t pass as human. Thankfully, humans were naturally repelled by the evil that flowed from the most densely populated areas, and the witches in the city used wards and spells to keep them from the rest. The safe areas were safe because Draven’s pack patrolled them and kept them clear.

Usually, we’d try to avoid the demons lurking here, or if I was one of my cousins or Zinny before Death gave her protection, I’d be kicking their asses and lopping off heads left and right. But for this hike, we didn’t need to worry. Death kept us concealed or kept the demons away, I wasn’t sure which, but they wouldn’t give us any trouble. Without Death’s protection, though? I’d be demon chum.

“You heard from Mom lately?” I asked after a few minutes.

“Not for months.”

“I guess she’s still in Paris?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Zinnia nudged me. “Enough about Mom. Time to spill. Tell me why you looked like you’d just sharted when I walked into your room earlier.”