“Please,” he whispers. “Don’t. I can’t—”
“Because hebelongsto us,” I press on, my own voice thick with emotion. “Now and always.”
Ani is my brother in every sense of the word—a brother like the one I never got the chance to have growing up. I screwed up with Xavier, and I screwed up with Ani too. The difference is—there’s still a chance I can actually help Ani.
“I know you’ve looked to me for guidance over the years,” I say now, “and I’ve done my best to honor that—to deserve it. But the truth is, I’ve utterly failed you, Ani. Tonight with the potion, that night you saved us from Janelle and Casey. Hell, I’ve been failing you ever since we came together as Keepers of the Grave. I should’ve better prepared you for…” I sigh, stopping my fevered pacing for just a moment.
Ani stands before me, blinking up at me with wide eyes.
I reach out for his shoulder, feeling just the slightest hint of him beneath my touch. “If anyone here has something to apologize for, it’s me.”
“You’re not the one who allowed himself to be seduced by the magick of the Arcana. I should’ve been able to resist it.”
“You were only trying to protect your brothers. I know what it cost you, Ani. Believe me. And for that, I’m truly sorry.”
“I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“I know. I know you would.” I squeeze his shoulder, and this time, he actually feels it too. He’s not solid by any stretch, but he’s a good deal more substantial than when we started. Fresh hope surges inside me. “But right now? Right now, I just need you to help me get us the fuck out of here. I can’t do it without you.”
He glances down at my hand resting on his shoulder, my skin still caked with blood.
Ani takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly. I feel the ghost of it on my cheeks.
“You and me, Ani. We’re getting out. Okay?”
He meets my gaze again, a spark of hope shining in his. But then it’s snuffed out like a spent candle, his shoulders drooping. “I can’t help you anymore, Cass. I can’t help anyone.”
“That’s unfortunate. Because the thing is… You don’t have a choice.”
Five
STEVIE
I light the candles and fan out my Tarot cards across the table on the back deck. With no more than my intuition as my guide and my friends by my side, I select the ones I feel most drawn to. The ones I know will aid me in strengthening my connection with Jareth.
My owl watches me from the eves, curious, but in no obvious hurry.
I’ve never intentionally called him like this—a spell to connect our magick so we can fly together. Whenever our energies merged before, it was more spontaneous—like when I was gazing out across the Iron and Bone lands from my window in the dorms, wondering what the guys were up to. Or when I was completely desperate—like that day on El Búho Grande back home, when he burst out of my very being to save me from the dark mage who’d possessed my friend Luke.
Well, we’re certainly desperate tonight, right?
Glancing down at the four cards I chose, I take a deep breath and speak the words as they come to me.
I call on the Hermit for my wise owl friend
And the Star that shines bright within me
The Six of Swords keeps us safe to the end
As the Prince of Swords travels swiftly
With these as our guides, let our magick entwine
Beyond death and shadow we fly
My light flows through you as yours becomes mine
As one we shall soar through the sky
