Dropping the bottle,Iswung my sword and chopped off an arm with asnort. “Hell no, we’ll end up with a kid named Princess Blood Bath.”
“Good for tea parties and adeterrentto bullies.”Krystanhit the Shinigami behind its skinny legs sending it toits knees.
In deep, course monstrous wordsthe Shinigamispoke. “You will sacrifice your soul to me.”
The words reverberated through my head.Instantly, I wanted to fall on the ground in a fetal ball as it used all itsdark, ancientinfluence against me.The need to point my sword up and spear it through my chin and brain was overwhelming, like someone was squeezing my arms, forcing me.With one look atKrystan,Idropped the sword. Then withshaking handsIpulledthe flame thrower gun from my backpack.Krystan’seyes widened before she sprinted away from the Shinigami.
“No,youwill sacrifice yours tome.” I hit the trigger and a gush of flames engulfed the Shinigami.
On armwaved in the air, as the Shinigami roared and convulsed under the flames.Sophie had weakened its powers, and nowthe monsterwas just a flesh bag,which meant I could fry this sucker like a chicken.As it burned, white wisps exploded from its body with howls of outrage and joy. The souls it had taken were freed. The Shinigami fell backward, shriveling up in the fire like a pile of leaves until there was nothing but a pile of smoking black dust.
Turning back around, I saw Krystan’s gaze was still transfixed where the spirits had disappeared toward the heavens. Her eyes were glassy. Mrs. Rits was free, and that meant the world to Krystan, and Krystan was my world now.
Noah was holding Sophie’s head in his lap with a cookie in his hand.Krystanset the bat over hershoulder, sweat covering her. There werefive bodies of the Sheon the ground, two of them were under the tires of theWhackaGhoulvan.Guess Noahgot tired ofwaiting outside.
Thehyenalaughs of the She had gone quiet as well as the gunfire. Multiple shouts of“clear”reverberated through the mall.Apparentlythe agents of Veritas had cleaned house.
“So that’s five for me, well three,”Krystansaid, wiping her brow with her arm.“And one for you. Which means you will soon be the proud father to Princess Blood Bath. You shouldn’t have suggested such anirresistiblename.”
I started walking toward her but then my body gave out and I started to fall.Between punching through that forcefieldand taking that last blow from the Shinigami I was a battered piece of jerky.Krystanwas right thereto catch meand holdme up.
“You okay?” she asked, her eyes strained with fear.
“Yeah, I’ll be alright.You know me, I’m just a dramatic wuss.”
Her face scrunched up as if there was too much emotion cresting inside her.Words tumbled out in a rush.“Ilove you, Travis. I’m sorry I couldn’t say it before. I’m not going to fuck this up. We are going to make the most awesome little family. And I totally get if you aren’t okay with meright now.I said a lot of stupid shit, but I'm going to make it up to you.”
I gained my balance enough to holster the flame thrower gunon my backpack,then I shuther up the best way I knew how. I kissed her. I didn’t let go until the desperation of my need to taste her and feel that she was alive was sated.When I pulled back,Krystan’seyes were wide and glazed, “Whoa daddy.”
“You’re damn right,” I said,trying to emulate her cockygrin. Then I kissed her again, allowing myself to press a hand protectively over her stomach.
Mine. The thought echoed inside me with satisfaction.
“Yuck,” Noah said behind me.
“Merlin wants a cookie too,” Sophie’s thin voice interjected.
Krystanpulled away with a smile.“Let’s go home, for the next eight hours we have one.”
28
We got home and found the last thing we expected on our doorstep. Sophie and Noah’s aunt, waiting in a car while the snow continued to come down in a torrent.The van had barely been able to chug through it at twenty miles an hour with careful steering. The aunthadhired a private investigator to find them after learning of her sister and brother in law’s deaths.
AuntLisa seemedcool,a graphic designer in her mid-thirties with chunky glasses and frizzy hair.Moreimportantly, she scooped the two up in her arms and kissed their heads until they were begging to be released. ShethankedTravis and I profusely for keeping her niece and nephew safe. Then when she noticed ourbedraggledappearance,she asked what we’d been upto. Before Sophie could chime up to say killing monsters, I closed my hand around herlittleshoulderand said we went out to the playground and had a rollicking good time with Merlin the rabbit.
Thankfully, Aunt Lisa didn’t ask why we were at a playground after curfew. She seemed to be overwhelmed with emotion at finding her family.
Aswe asked the graphic designerquestions,Igot this soothing feelingeverytime she answered one of our questions. Like I knew she could be trusted and would bet my life on it.Istill asked to see her identification and proof she was their aunt:somesocial mediasurfingto pictures of their whole family, andthe kidsthemselvesconfirmedshe was indeed their favorite aunt.Traitors.
Lisa said she was staying in a hotel nearby and wanted to get the kids back, but she would be in touch before they returned to her place in Seattle. Then she handed me a medium-sized package saying she found it buried in snow on our doorstep. I took it and gave the kids bone-breaking hugs. I didn’t have the energy atthe time, but someone had to clue in goodol’ Aunt Lisa that Sophie was a freaking supernatural powerhouse.
Thekidsseemed happy to pile into her rental. I blamed the fetus for the emotions clogging up my throat as we watched Sophie make Merlin’s little paw wave at us as they drove away.
Astrid had taken off in the middle of the fight, and I had a feeling we wouldn’t be seeing her for a long time. She had turned out to be useful, but I’d gotten a strong lone wolf vibe from her. I didn’t need her hunting on my territory again, otherwise we’d have words. Or a petty cat fight,definitely one of the two.Gregory had decided to go with Phillip for the time being, needing more answers about the Orders. Rubbing my hair until my bangs were effectively screwed up, he said he would be back in a couple days. I didn’t bother telling him we’d be kicked out of the house by then. I had Phillip’s number if I needed to get a hold of him.
Travis and I dragged our asses inside.Looking around the house, Iset down the package on thebeat-upfoyer bench and threw my coat on top. Iinhaled thepotpourrimy granfavoredand my heart instantly achedbut this time in a loving way.Like Iwas lucky to have someone to miss.“I’m going to miss it here.Do you think if Icry like an infant and make ascenethey will give us at least until the weather warms up to throw us out on our asses? The snow is three feet out therenow.”
Travis kissed me and wrapped me in his arms before setting his chin on my head. “It’s okay, we can always sleep in thevan.”
