Iniquity (The Premonition, #5)(41)

“Have you forgotten the past few months? You tried to enslave all of us!” I remind him.

“’Twas before Genevieve changed me. I was different den.”

I scoff. “You expect me to believe that after you just tried to possess her like a freakin’ demon? You wouldn’t hesitate to throw us all under the bus if it suited you!”

“I did na have ta save ye back dere. I could’ve jus left ye for Hell ta sort out, but Genevieve cares about ye. I do na want ta see her suffer.”

The thought of bein’ dragged to Sheol by the creatures I just saw makes my guts twist. “If that’s true, then leave her alone!”

“’Tis impossible!” Brennus says with no small amount of disgust in his expression. “I’m incapable of leaving her alone! I’m always tinking of her! Hell is about ta rain down upon us all. I can na be more plain dan dat!”

I feel the need to refute what Emil said back there. “I’m her soul mate. I feel our connection!”

He sighs heavily. “I did na tink otherwise. Ye’re Emil in reverse—da good ta his bad. Talk ta Genevieve—see whah she remembers,” Brennus says in a quiet tone that I can’t just brush off and ignore.

“I have to find her first. It’s been a little harder than playin’ Where’s Waldo.”

“Eh? Why is it dat I never quite know whah ye’re saying?”

“Evie—I’ve been lookin’ for her but I can’t find her.”

A suppressed smile twitches at the corners of Brennus’ mouth. “I was jus wi’ her—in her past—she has returned once again. It should prove ta be far easier for ye ta locate her now.”

“I’m not even gonna ask you what you’re talkin’ ‘bout,” I say as I shake my head.

“Good. Da less ye speak, da better. Find her, and take dis.” Brennus reaches down and pulls a dagger from a holster strapped to him beneath his pant leg. I recognize the knife; it’s the one Evie had on her when she came to Zee’s island—the one Brennus used to find her. He must have gotten it back from her bungalow before be blew the crap outta the island. “Yer blood on dat blade will summon me. ’Twill give me a way ta find ye when ye need me help.”

“You think I’m gonna ever use that, Brennus?” I ask incredulously.

The dagger flies from Brennus’ hand. Before I can move, it embeds in my side. I wince and look down at the hilt stickin’ outta me. It’s just a flesh wound, missin’ my vital organs, but it still hurts like hell.

“I was na askin’. Ye’ll use it so dat ye do na become a weapon dat Emil can wield against Genevieve. Either ye summon me for help wi’ dat knife, or ye end yerself wi’ it. I do na much care. Da choice is yers,” Brennus replies.

Brennus waves his hand at me and I’m whirlin’ away from the dimension the Gancanagh created as his magic shoves me into the vase portal.





EVIE


Xavier and I crash together onto a stone floor—me on top of him. My landing is probably gentler than his, but not by much because there’s nothing soft about him. He sits up, reaching beyond my shoulder. I clutch his chest as he catches a spinning, silver compact out of the air. Snapping the portal closed, he holds it. Its shape resembles a snowflake, etched in silver filigree.

The shiny metal disk jumps in Xavier’s palm. The lid dents from the inside out, lurching violently. Xavier’s eyebrows slash together. He growls and crushes the portal until it’s a silver pebble.

I let out a relieved breath. His eyes move to me, cataloging every scratch and bruise. He smoothes down my torn shirt. I hear a ragged sound—I’m breathing hard. My hair is in my eyes. He sweeps strands of it away and tucks them behind my ear. I stare at his colorful eyes. His thumb touches my bottom lip. I wince—it’s sore.

“Are you hurt?” he asks.

I just stare are him. I’m starting to hate that question.

The firelight casts waves of light over one side of his face, leaving the other side in shadow. His eyes almost appear equal for a moment. “Do you have internal injuries—broken bones?”

Xavier’s hands go to my sides where Emil had sunk his magical hooks into me. I flinch. I’m tender. This is how a fish must feel when it’s thrown back for being too small. “Illuminate room,” Xavier says. Teardrops of crystals that comprise the beautiful chandeliers overhead switch on. The white light sparkles over the slate floors, showing thick, white rugs.

He lifts my shirt. We both see giant bruises on my abdomen. He lets it drop, and then leans his ear against my chest and listens. Slowly, he lifts his ear from me and the smile he gives me is beyond intimate. I’m sure the look goes back hundreds of thousands of years. “Nothing sounds off.” His voice is a breathy sound.

I feel as though I can’t hold my head up. I lean my forehead against his chest. He threads his fingers in my hair, holding me. I shift, resting my cheek against his chest so I can see his face. “I killed a human,” I finally say numbly. “I tore his heart out. Owen—his name was Owen.” My hands are still bloody from it. I whisper a magic spell. It cleans the blood from my skin, but not the memory of it.

Xavier’s hand slips from my hair to my back. “I didn’t see a human—”