He repeats the same process with Sophie’s familiar, healing her burns. Tish looks as good as new, and she leaps with joy once the healing is complete. But then a freakish thing happens—she turns into a woman with raven hair and green eyes.
“Oh my God,” Vivi gasps.
“Whoa. Did I do that?” Rikkon stares at her wide-eyed.
Tish inspects her arms in awe. “I can’t believe it. It’s me. You unhexed me.”
She launches herself at Rikkon, sending him onto his back with her on top. “Thank you, thank you.” She kisses his face.
A throat clearing draws my attention to Miranda, who’s standing there watching Tish straddle her boyfriend, and looking none too happy about it.
Rikkon pushes Tish off him gently and sits up. “I don’t even know how I did that, but you’re welcome.”
“Wait. Rikkon was able to lift her curse just like that?” Saxon asks. “Why the hell did we go to the Nightshade Market, then?”
“We didn’t know Rik had the ability,” Vivi replies.
Sophie grows tense in my arms. “Where are Madeleine and the other specters?”
“Dead,” Lucca replies.
“Uh, weren’t they already dead?” I ask.
“No, he meansdeaddead. Rikkon and Miranda sent them straight to hell,” Saxon replies.
“How?”
“It turns out skyfire swords do more than break warlock magic.” Miranda smirks.
“What happened to my father? Is he dead too?”
Lucca’s face becomes harder. “No. He’s in custody. But most likely he’ll be executed for treason.”
Sophie closes her eyes, and tears roll down her cheeks. My heart breaks for her. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“I’m sorry too.” She looks into my eyes. “He was never the best father in the world, but he was my father.”
I kiss her forehead. I don’t know what to say to make her feel better, so all I can do is hold her, and love her as fiercely as she deserves.
Fifty-Three
LUCCA
Idon’t want Vivi to think I’m a smothering and overprotective boyfriend, so I give her space instead of asking every two minutes if she’s okay. When Madeleine got her hands on her, I lost it. Unfortunately, my claws and teeth couldn’t harm a ghost. If it weren’t for Rikkon and Miranda with their special Nightingale swords, I wouldn’t be driving home with the love of my life right now.
Gerard is ready for us when we walk through the door, ready to be of service. Vivi and Aurora ask for nothing. They just want to rest. Vaughn went to visit Igor with Sophie and Tish. The vampire enforcer is under the care—aka watchful eye—of the Red Guard. Most likely, Vaughn will spend the night at Sophie’s apartment after they get rid of all the hidden cameras and bugs.
I throw my arm around Vivi’s shoulder as we walk to our bedroom. She leans on me, resting her hand on my chest.
“Tired?” I ask once we’re inside.
“To the bone.” She yawns.
“You probably used too much magic tonight, plus you got hurt.”
She steps away from me, avoiding my gaze. “Yeah, I guess.”
“What’s wrong, babe?”
