“You told me the spirits that come for me when my temper spikes wouldn’t stop until I figured out what they wanted from me. Ithas kept displays of full Alcheyvaha skeletons in his home like it was a museum. There was no hauling them out of there, so I cremated them. Each time one of the beasts turned to ash, another voice fell silent. That makes me think there are more of the Alcheyvaha’s bones out there, outside the burial grounds where they belong, and I want to grant them release too. For Anunit.”
As her loss swept through me again, I wiped a knuckle under my eye, happy to accept Kierce’s embrace to steady me.
“Otherwise, all I want is to go home, be with my family, work at The Body Shop, and get back to leasing bodies to souls with afterlife to-do lists.” Biting the inside of my cheek, I screwed up my courage to find out his plans. “What will you do about the Viduus thing?”
“I have no plans to meddle in the divine,” he repeated my line back to me. “I am happy to retire the title.”
Hair sliding into his eyes, Kierce leaned down, his breath caressing my lips, but I slapped a hand over his mouth.
“We’re not kissing until after I brush my teeth.” I cuddled against him. “Even though I really,reallywant to remind myself how you taste.” I breathed him in. “God, it’s good to be home.”
“Home is wherever you are, Frankie.” A low growl moved through his chest into mine, and he chuckled as I fisted his shirt. “Never forget that.”
Nestled against him, my eyelids threatened to fall shut, but glaring headlights perked me up again.
A half dozen vehicles pulled into the parking lot, and women spilled out in a flurry of chatter. Witches by the incense and herb smell of them. One or two carried bright-red bags with white crosses in the center. The rest carried leather bags or ratty backpacks overflowing with supplies.
As soon as she spotted me, Aretha enveloped me in a hug as best she could, considering Kierce didn’t yield an inch. And if a rumble from Kierce forced her to glare at him in warning, well, I was too happy to fuss about him feeling possessive.
“Get Frankie upstairs to her room.” Aretha nodded to herself. “I’ll perform a more thorough exam once we’ve stabilized the critical patient, but I’m willing to bet the best medicine for Frankie will be sleep.”
Without another word, Kierce scooped me up and began climbing the stairs to my apartment.
I meant to tell him to hang back, to let the witches use Josie’s apartment so they had a bed to treat Lucia on, but the gentle sway in his arms lulled me into a dreamless sleep where even Matty couldn’t have found me.
As soon asmy eyes cracked open, I was rolling onto my feet, eager to check on Lucia.
Had I noticed Kierce in bed next to me, I might have hesitated. Damn it. Too late to climb back in now.
“She’s stable,” he told me, watching me flit around for fresh clothes when what I really needed was a shower. “Aretha has been keeping me updated.”
“She’s a smart one.” I yanked on a clean tee and pajama shorts I found on the floor and called it done. “Coming with me?”
A smile on his lips, he slid his fingers through mine. “Try and stop me.”
Unable to help myself, I brought his hand my lips and brushed a lingering kiss on the back.
Cheeks warm from the impulsive action, I led the way out of my apartment and up to Josie’s.
We walked in on Harrow leaning over the chair where Aretha sat, the pair in quiet conversation.
“Frankie.” Aretha whipped her head toward me and shot to her feet, rushing to embrace me. “You’re awake.” She pulled back to search me from head to toe. “How do you feel?” She sniffed my hair. “You smell a little burnt.”
“Sleep did me a world of good.” I jerked my chin toward Lucia, who had opened her eyes. “How’s she?”
“Not dead.” She cut her patient a warning glare. “Not for lack of trying.” She waggled a finger at her. “You are not to get out of this bed for the next forty-eight hours. Minimum. I’ll drop in twice a day to check your progress, and my card is on the nightstand if you need me between visits.”
“I can get a hotel room.” Lucia winced as she attempted to sit upright. “I don’t want to impose.”
“This apartment is vacant.” I grinned when Kierce furrowed his brow at me. “Feel free to use it.”
“Vacant, huh?” Matty invited himself in through the door I hadn’t shut yet, scowling at Kierce. “You and I need to have a talk, man to man, about your intentions toward my sister.”
Eager to shift his focus away from us, I baited him. “Where are Josie and Carter?”
Harrow glanced up from his phone, coughed into his shoulder to hide a laugh, then shoved it into his pocket.
That wasn’t suspicious at all.
