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"Yup. Exactly. And you never will. And if you don't fix my boyfriend the second we get to his house, I'm having Cresseda freeze you to the ground and then I'm coming after you with an iron pipe. I'll bet anything you understand that. "
"Really, Evelyn. "
"No, really, Reth. But why'd you do it? I never could have gotten him back without you, and then you go and curse him. " I kept trying to be angry with him for doing this to us, but the fact remained that without Reth's help Lend would still be in the clutches of the Dark Queen. I could hold the last couple days of stress and agony against him, but knowing that there was a fix-a ridiculously easy fix-made me feel so light I wanted to laugh.
"In spite of what you may think, I am not cruel. I knew that his death would destroy you. And you would be absolutely useless while he was still missing. So I helped you get him, and then I made sure you would be motivated to continue realizing the things you need to do. "
We walked in silence for a while until he formed the door and we stepped back out into the Virginia winter sunrise, halfway between the pond and the house.
"Are you quite sure you want me to stop the glamour? It has been rather peaceful without him around," Reth said, wistfully.
"Oh, I'm sure. " We walked toward the house. I knew I should yell at him more, but in just a few minutes I'd have Lend to myself, awake, and I half skipped toward the house. I glanced sideways at Reth, whose quick, shallow breaths were fogging out in front of him. "You probably thought that curse was the cleverest thing ever, didn't you?"
His lips turned down as he tried not to smile. "It was one of my better moments. " I saw lights ahead of us past the trees, and for a moment I thought I was seeing souls in a whole new freaky way until I realized they were, in fact, red and blue and flashing. Police lights. Lots and lots of police lights.
Chapter Thirty-One
YOU'D THINK THEY'D NEVER SEEN AN INVISIBLE BOY BEFORE
What the crap?" I hurried toward the flashing police lights, but Reth put a hand on my arm to slow me.
"Perhaps, for once, it would be best to evaluate the situation before charging in. This particular type of human carries weapons slightly more lethal than your beloved pink monstrosity. "
"Why would the police be here though? Something must be wrong. "
Reth looked exasperated. "When is something ever not wrong in your life?"
I frowned. "That's my line. "
I heard someone yelling; it only took seconds to realize it was Arianna, reaming into someone with a profanity-laced tirade. I shook off Reth and ran, cutting away from the path in a straight line and breaking out of the trees onto the long driveway. Several police cars were jammed there, completely blocking the place. A SWAT truck, too, which ruled out someone having had an accident. Not that that would have been preferable, but. . .
Well, yeah, maybe it would.
I ran around the cars, then skidded to a stop. Jack was sitting on the ground in front of me and to the side of the cars, his arms behind him.
"What's going on?"
He looked up at me, a scowl marring his cherubic features. "Bloody handcuffs-made of steel, which has too much iron, which means I can't go anywhere. "
"Well, yes, clearly, but what's going on?"
"Search me. Oh wait, they already did. You know, I take back everything I said about you being my only friend. I don't like you at all. No amount of fun makes up for all the pain and annoyance you introduce into my life. "
"Right back at 'cha," I muttered, walking past him. I wished I had Tasey, but then again, being armed right now was probably a bad idea. I wondered why no one was watching Jack, but that was quickly answered when I walked past the corner of the unattached garage and had a view of the wraparound porch. Arianna stood there, continuing her verbal abuse, surrounded by a dozen uniformed men.
I shouldn't have found the sight amusing, but she had all of them fighting with one another. Clearly her vampire powers of compelling people were in full force, but since she could only push someone in a direction they were inclined to go anyway, the only police she could affect were those that felt some sympathy for her. Those ones were passionately arguing with the others to leave Arianna the creatively-cuss-laden-adjectives alone.
The unaffected ones, however, were utterly confused by their companions' attitudes and were pushing back. Scanning how many firearms were holstered-or in some cases already in hand-I realized this situation could get out of control very, very quickly.
I stood behind the group, unnoticed, and waved my arms to attract Arianna's attention. Her eyes widened. She quickly and furiously shook her head, then jerked her chin to motion for me to leave.
Even more confused than before, I started backing up. I'd go around and get in through the kitchen; David and Raquel had to know what was going on. Unfortunately for all of us, that was when Lend came out the front door, immediately collapsed with a thunk that made me cringe, and-perfect-went completely transparent.
The police officers stopped fighting, every eye glued on my boyfriend, now essentially invisible other than his T-shirt and flannel pajama pants.
"Okay," I said, putting my hands on my hips. "No. This is unacceptable. I don't care what the bleep is going on, we're going to get it settled immediately or I swear I will give you all to the Dark Queen and let her feed on your dreams for the rest of eternity. "
Every head turned my direction, their faces a portrait of shock and disbelief.
