11. Ember

11

EMBER

S unlight streaming in through the window turned the backs of my eyelids red. I kept them closed, willing myself to slip back under, into the deep sleep the morning had dragged me out of. The pillow, so indulgent it had to be made of down, cradled my head as I snuggled into the softest sheets I’d ever felt.

Mayhem lay beside me, his arm draped across my stomach, the heat of his body adding to my blissful comfort. I opened my eyes, turning my head toward him and smiling at the sight of him sleeping peacefully.

So this was what it felt like to wake up next to your soulmate. My chest warmed, squeezing my heart in a way that felt simultaneously euphoric and painful. I rolled to my side to face him, and he stirred, snorting gently before his eyes opened, his gaze meeting mine.

“Good morning.” I caressed his face, running my thumb across his cheek.

He sucked in a quick breath and rose onto his elbow. “It isn’t morning. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” He pushed to sit upright. “How are you feeling? Is the headache gone?”

“Headache?” I furrowed my brow. “I feel fine. Actually, I feel great. Lay back down with me.”

He rested his palm on my forehead, his posture relaxing with his exhale. “Thank Lucifer. The fever is gone.”

“What fever? I’m fine.” I rose onto my elbow and took in my surroundings for the first time. Massive windows provided an amazing view of the bustling city below, and plush, beige carpet covered the floor. My bedroom floor was hardwood, and I didn’t own anything made of down. We weren’t at home, snuggled into my bed like I’d thought. I scrunched my brow, trying to put the pieces of this puzzling scenario together.

“I’m confused.” I sat up fully and ran my hand down the little black dress I wore. I’d slept in my clothes? Well, most of them. “Where’s my bra?”

“You complained about the garment multiple times, so I removed it when I laid you down. You are fully recovered?”

“Recovered from what? I can’t remember how I got here. Are we in the penthouse? What time is it?”

“Indeed, we are. It’s just past two in the afternoon.” He brushed his fingers to my forehead, smoothing an errant strand of hair into place. “What is the last thing you remember?”

“Two? I slept all day?” I scratched my head, my fingers getting caught on a knot of tangled hair. “I don’t… The amulet. We stole the amulet.”

He smiled sadly. “We tried. The shadow witch Hazel took it and locked us in the vault. Do you remember that?”

“I don’t.” I worried my bottom lip between my teeth, racking my brain for the memories. “I remember Hazel. She was so hot for you, I nearly strangled her, but I…”

The memories came flooding back. She’d let Shade in, and then there was the security breach. And the rift. And… “The fae. Ash! Is she okay?”

“Your sister is fine. She and Chaos helped the others fight. She sealed the rift, and Chaos used his magic to make them forget what had happened.”

“Thank the goddess. And Shade and Miles? Are they?”

“Miles is attending to Shade as he recovers. Hopefully, he’ll wake up soon so we can be on our way.”

“Recovers from what? Why can’t I remember?”

“You and Shade cast an unlocking spell that drained you both. You passed out as the vault door opened, and we carried you here so you could rest comfortably.”

“Oh. Oh!” His description finally jogged the rest of the missing memories into view. “Hazel is selling it to Adrian. We have to stop her.”

I untangled myself from the covers and stood on the floor. My head spun, and I sat on the edge of the bed. “That was one helluva spell.”

“You also channeled more of my magic than you ever have before. It’s no wonder you slept so long.” He sat next to me. “The power I gave you would have killed anyone else. You truly are the most amazing woman I have ever met.”

I rested my hand on his thigh, my heart warming at his words. “I’m your soulmate. You have to say that.”

He grasped my hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing the backs of my fingers. “I love hearing you say that. I love you, Ember.”

“I know.” My stomach did flip-flops as he held my gaze. “I love you too.”

A giggle bubbled up from my chest, and I pressed my lips together, cutting it off short. “I love you too.”

He inhaled deeply, the purple in his irises turning fluid before he leaned in and kissed me. The softness of his lips made me shiver, the slow, purposeful movements of his tongue against mine making me forget the rest of the world existed.

I could have stayed in that moment forever, feeling him, drinking him in, relishing his love. But my brain, ever the strategic bitch, wouldn’t shut up about our next steps. I broke the kiss, pulling back to gaze into his eyes.

“We have to go to Worcester. Good goddess, she could have already made the exchange. I need to scry for her. For the amulet.” I stood, and thankfully the room didn’t tip on its side.

“Your sister and Chaos are following her. They borrowed a car from a rental place.”

“Borrowed.” I laughed dryly, my gaze locking on the jewel-encrusted dagger lying on the nightstand. “I suppose you borrowed that too?”

“Oh, I have no intention of returning it. Consider it an early wedding present.”

Wedding. The word on his lips made my insides twist into knots. None of us would get to experience the elusive happily ever after fate wanted us to believe we would have. There would be no weddings. No settling down, no starting families. Nothing.

So, stop thinking about it, Em. I pushed the thoughts from my mind.

“Thank you.” It was all I could think to mutter. Truth be told, I’d considered stealing the dagger too…before I’d blacked out.

Gah! I’d wasted so much time sleeping. We needed to get moving, but… “I’m starving. Do we have any food?”

“I will order room service while you get dressed. When Shade recovers, we will take the van to Worcester to meet Chaos and Ash.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’m going to take a quick shower.” I licked my lips, remembering the last shower I’d taken. When Mayhem had taken me.

“As much as I would love to join you,” he said as if reading my mind, “we are on a schedule. I’m afraid I would keep you here all day if we became intimate now.”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, but he was right. He’d keep me there all day, and I would enjoy every second of it. “Will you order me a burger with extra fries? And the biggest Coke they have.”

“Of course.” He smiled and strode out of the room.

I tossed my dress and underwear onto a chair and padded to the bathroom, cringing at my reflection in the mirror. My mascara had run, giving me raccoon eyes, and my hair looked like a squirrel had nested on my head again. Lovely.

I showered, using the expensive hotel conditioner to work the tangles out of my hair, and dressed in my normal fireproof black pants and shirt. After putting on my boots, I strode into the living room to find all three guys sitting at the table.

“How are you?” I asked Shade as I sank into a chair next to my demon.

“Better now. That’s the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in.”

“I know, right? I forgot where I was and that the rest of the world existed when I woke up this morn…this afternoon.”

“Room service,” a woman called over the intercom.

“Come in.” Miles pressed the button, and she pushed in a cart draped in white linen, with four plates covered in silver domes. He gave her a tip, and she went on her way.

I devoured my burger before moving on to the mountain of thick-cut fries and washing it all down with a quart of Coke. The guys did the same, and we gathered our gear to load the van. Mayhem hit the button for the elevator, and I cast a longing glance at the penthouse.

“One day, we’ll stay in a place like this on vacation,” I said. “No beasties to fight. No mysteries to solve. No artifacts to steal.”

“No veil to mend,” Shade added.

I sighed, trying to ignore the way my heart wrenched at his words. That was the one part I was not looking forward to. There had to be a way to mend the veil with the demons on this side. How could I live if there wasn’t?

People cast us strange glances as we filed out of the lobby, which was fair. Dressed in all black and carrying duffel bags rather than designer suitcases, we certainly didn’t look like their normal clientele.

A sense of calm washed over me as I climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine. This van was one thing I could manage while my life spiraled out of control. I could turn the wheel and press the pedals and take my team to the roadside motel in Worcester, where my sister and her demon had set up to spy on Hazel.

According to Ash’s texts, Adrian, or whoever would be his delegate, hadn’t arrived to claim the amulet. With any luck, we’d be there before the exchange went down. Hazel would be lucky if we were. I doubted Adrian planned to pay her a penny.

Most likely, she’d pay him with her life.