Page 127

I can’t speak. My lips are fused together. Cold fingers hold my jaw in place and dig icy nails into the skin. Whispers are everywhere around me and my sight has gone dim.

“Blue?” Levi says, his voice high and panicked.

I need to reassure him, but I can’t. The whispers grow louder and louder until the voices are almost screaming and I want to cover my ears. The grip travels down my body, cinching my ribs like a boa constrictor.

I can hear Branok calling and Levi’s panicked curses, and then there’s a whoosh and air blows over me. A light blazes green and gold, so bright I close my eyes. The grip tightens impossibly harder for a second as if reluctant to let go, and then it finally relaxes. I immediately topple to the ground, like a puppet with cut strings.

Levi’s hands are frantic and loving as they pass over my body. “Blue?”

I force my eyes open and swallow hard, tasting copper in my mouth. “I’m okay,” I say hoarsely.

He lowers his head to mine, pressing kisses into my temple. “Shit,” he breathes.

Unbelievably, I laugh. “You can say that again.”

He hugs me tighter.

“Blue, are you well?” It’s Branok’s voice from directly behind us.

I blink and then roll into a crouch. “You’re here,” I say, staring up at him. “Have the wards gone?”

“Aye. Levi opened the book, and a bright light shot out and burned away the wards.”

“Oh my god,” I breathe, glaring at my husband. “Why did you do that? Anything could have happened.”

“Erm, maybe because you looked like you were dying. Seemed the right time to do it, but maybe I should have waited for a written invitation.”

“Levi Black, when did you get so snarky?”

“It’s a knock-on effect from knowing you.” Branok chuckles and Levi carries on. “That light was like looking at the sun. So bright it actually hurt.”

We automatically glance down at the book that’s lying at our feet. The leather is worn thin and shiny, and the gold foil on the edges is faded. It looks rather innocuous for something that just seared our retinas.

Levi helps me to my feet. “You okay?” he checks as I sway.

I squeeze his hand. “Yeah, I’m fine.” I look at Branok. “So, you’re through. Is that it? Can we go home now?”

Branok stares up at the hall’s window, frowning, and when I turn, I see Xander watching us. He shakes his head as if answering an unspoken question, and I turn back to Branok.

“You still can’t be together?”

Branok’s eyes are busy, as if he’s running a thousand problems through his brain. “Nay. There must be something we are missing.”

“What? Something more? This is getting to be the theme of the honeymoon.”

I’m finding it hard to concentrate because there’s a buzzing in my ears and that feeling of dread is back and growing even more intense. It’s weighing me down so I can’t think of anything else.

There’s a small sound and we all spin around. A man is standing leaning against the statue. He’s dressed in black and has a wide smile with too many teeth.

“You,” Branok growls.

Richard Boynton’s smile grows even wider, his teeth even sharper. “Branok, we finally meet again.”

CHAPTER 20

BLUE

Boynton’s no longer simply an apparition in a dream, but a man who appears as real as me and Levi. Branok looks faint next to him.