Huh.That worked.
Then reality followed, as it always did.I still had two queens living in my house.
A groan—and I sucked in a sharp breath.
Owen.
He’d collapsed on the ground.I dropped the empty vial and rushed to him.He was on his side, blood dripping from his nose.
“Piper?”
“Oh, God, Owen.Are you all right?”I reached for his hand, held it in mine.“You’re bleeding.”
“I’m all right.”His voice was hoarse as he gripped my hand.“You did it.”
I glanced up at the place where Garrat stood, where he threatened me, where he tried to take me.Where he promised me answers to questions I had about Alice.
“For now.”
I helped him to a sitting position—though truthfully he didn’t need my help.He swiped the back of his hand across his nose.It came away smeared with blood.
“It's still not over,” I said.
“No, but now we have time to figure it out.”
We.I loved that he said we.
The Crossroads still wasn’t healed.Alice was still dead.The danger hadn’t vanished.
But Hickory Hollow was still standing.
And for the first time since I came back, staying didn’t feel like a sentence.It felt like a choice.
He reached for me, cupping my cheek.“The potion worked.”
“Thanks to your mother’s translations.”
He pulled me close, his mouth a breath from mine.“See?Team effort.”
Then his lips brushed mine.
We held onto each other as we both got to our feet.His arm went around my waist.My shoes were ruined.My knees were caked in that disgusting black ooze.And I smelled.
But Owen.He looked tired.Drained.
“That took a lot out of you,” I said.
“Yes.”He puffed out a breath as though he didn’t want to admit it.“But I couldn’t let him get his hands on you.”
My heart swelled.He’d protected me so I could complete the enchantment.
“Maybe I should drive you back to your place,” I said.
His arm tightened around me.“Maybe you should.And stay the night.”
Oh.
Hot pinpricks exploded all over my skin.“I didn’t pack an overnight bag.”
