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I glanced back again.

Another flicker.

His face snapped between monster and human until, without warning, his features disappeared. His face reminded me of smooth clay before sculpting.

The whistling swelled, coiling around me like a snake and invading my ears until I couldn’t take it anymore.

I ran.

Right before the final stretch home, I slammed into a wall and screamed, dropping my phone.

A large hand covered the back of my head, shoving my face into a hard chest until the scent of bay rum and cinnamon filled my senses.

My body gave up the fight.

Darkness took me as Ash’s voice brushed my ear. “I’ve got you now.”

38

AFTERLIFE

RAE

Warmth surrounded me, the scent of honey-vanilla and cinnamon soothing the ache inside of me.

“Rae?”

I opened my eyes to find Zeke looking down on me, propped on one elbow. Ash mirrored him on my right, sandwiching me between them on my bed.

Ash brushed a few strands of hair from my forehead. “How do you feel?”

“Drained. What happened?”

“You fainted,” Ash said. “I saw him, but he fled when he recognized me.” No matter how he tried to hide it, he couldn’t mask the contempt in his voice. “I wanted to chase after him, but I couldn’t leave you.”

His words should have comforted me, but they didn’t.

I curled onto my side, facing Zeke. I studied the black band on his finger instead of meeting his eyes.

Zeke cupped my chin and lifted my face when I sniffled. “What’s the matter?”

“Please don’t ask me that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t wanna lie to you,” I whispered, looking away.

Ash wound his heavy arm around my waist and cradled me against him. He tucked his face into my hair. “Why won’t you tell him? Let us help you.”

My heart thrashed in my chest as the grief from earlier roared back to the surface. It took every ounce of willpower I possessed to keep it contained.

“Don’t cry,” Zeke said, cupping my cheek. “Please don’t cry.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, but liquid emotion overflowed without my permission. “I can’t do this,” I said, wiggling to break away from them.

Ash tightened his hold, sliding his other arm beneath me to cage me against his chest.

Zeke ran his soft fingertips over the trail of tears, his own eyes shining as he whispered, “I won’t put you to sleep.” He swallowed. “Let me help you like you helped me. Talk to me.”