Page 27 of Hallows End
“Me?” I frown up at him. Xander istall, towering at almost seven feet with hair and eyes so dark they’re almost black. He’s an imposing, intimidating man who can devastate or heal. He can be terrifying or the most comforting person I know. “I’m not the one in danger.”
“I’m not yet convinced of that,” he says, shaking his head.
“What do you see?” I demand and reach for his big hand.
“I don’t seeanything.” His voice is full of passion and worry. “And that’s what scares me.”
“You’re never scared.”
He slowly shakes his head again and then swallows hard.
“Not often,” he admits. “Something about this just doesn’t feel right.”
“I’ll stay with her,” Jonas says, and we both turn in surprise. I didn’t sense him approaching.
“I’m not sure that’s the answer,” Xander says. “You’re a stranger here, and I can sense how great your power is. How do I knowyou’renot the danger we need to be wary of?”
Jonas nods and brushes his hand over his mouth in frustration. “I understand your point. I would rather die than risk any of you. I know that I only have my word, but I assure you, I’dneverharm Lucy. Or any of you.”
Xander doesn’t answer. He simply nods once and then walks away, seeking out Lorelei, who scowls when he approaches her.
“Do they know they’re meant for each other?”
“Oh, yeah. And she fights it like crazy.”
ChapterSix
He’s waited centuries. Watched. Hunted. Killed. But it always lacked the fulfillment he craved.
But now, they’re both marked, and it has begun.
It’s time.
ChapterSeven
Jonas
I’ve combed through these texts dozens of times over the years, hoping I missed something before that might help. Inevitably, I end up sucked down rabbit holes, and this time is no different.
I’m so deep into the history of the goddess Lilith that when a knock sounds on my door at just past two in the morning, I jump and then cross quickly to open it.
“Lucy,” I say in surprise, pulling her and Nera inside before looking around outside to make sure no one saw them. “What are you doing here?”
I turn to find her green eyes wide, her skin pale. She’s shivering in her thin green dressing gown.
“I didn’t know if I could get here without you,” she says through chattering teeth. I reach for her and pull her into my arms as I stoke the flames in the fireplace higher, filling the room with more warmth. “I didn’t know if it would work.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” I soothe, running my hands up and down her lean back as she burrows against my chest. “Why didn’t you call for me? I would have come to you.”
“I did.” She pulls back and licks her lips. “I did call for you. And I hit what felt like a wall.”
I narrow my eyes on her, and my heartbeat quickens. She needed me, and I couldn’t hear her? That is absolutely unacceptable. “I was reading, sucked into it pretty deep, but I should have heard you. I’m so sorry, Lucy. Come. Let’s warm you up, and you can tell me what happened.”
I lead her to the chair by the fire and cradle her against me as Nera lies next to us.
“What happened? Was it nightmares?”
“I was wide-awake, I know that much for sure,” she says and fiddles with the button on my shirt, her fingers not quite still. “Jonas, I don’t spook easily. As I told you before, I’ve seen some scary things in my life, especially in the last year or so. But what happened tonight ranks up there in the top three.”