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“We don't know that for sure. It was different with Jakob Evans. He wasn’t stuck to his murderer. He wanted to move on.”
“He was confused and lost,” I insisted. “You’ve spent all this time worrying that you weren’t meant to exist, that you were doing the wrong thing, but everything happens for a reason. What if you were meant to be here, to be a harbinger turned shifter, to undo every awful thing that man has done?”
“Margo?” Amelia came outside, followed by Vira. “There you are.” She came over and patted Margo’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sprung that on you.”
“I’m all right,” Margo said. “I needed some air for a minute.” She looked at Vira. “Are you okay? This must be horrible for you.”
“I don’t know how to feel,” Vira admitted. “Part of me is glad he’s not gone, not entirely, but if he’s attached to Eli, then maybe he’s seen how cowardly I’ve been.” She sighed, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “And maybe he’s seen how well his daughter has grown up.” She blinked, and a single tear fell. “I hope he’s seen you. I know he knows who you are.”
“If he isn’t aware now, he’ll understand when she helps his spirit pass over,” I said.
Margo looked at me, her lower lip trembling. “What if I mess it up?”
“You won’t. You can’t. This could be your purpose, the answer to all of your questions.” I squeezed her hand. “Everything that’s happened has led us here. It has to mean something.”
“He’s right,” Amelia said. “You were meant for this, Margo. Who else can see those spirits? Who else can help them? It has to be you. If Eli's drawing strength from them, whether he knows it or not, you’ll weaken him, surprise him, and give us a chance to stop him.”
“If I’m trying to help the spirits, then I can’t defend against his power, and you’ll all be helpless,” Margo protested. “I can’t do both, not at the same time.”
“You’re right. You can’t.” Vira held out her hands. “But I can protect the pack while you help the spirits. If Eli focuses on me, he won’t notice what you’re doing. He may not even be able to see it anyway. I can’t see those spirits.”
Margo glanced from one of us to the other. “What if Eli runs when he realises what I’m doing? Before, we were trying to protect ourselves, but now it seems like we have to go after him instead.”
“Then we hunt him down,” Amelia said. “Whatever it takes.”
“He could hide back in the compound,” Vira said. “You can’t hunt him there.”
“But you can,” I said. “Or at least, your Elders can. You have to make them listen to you.”
She’d tried. Many times. They refused to even let her talk, but if Eli couldn’t turn to them for help, then we had a better chance of getting in his way.
“Can you try again?” Amelia asked her. “There has to be something you can say to make them listen to you.”
I knew Vira hated reaching out to them; I had watched her tremble in fear at the thought.
“There might be a way. I’ll try my best to make it happen,” she promised after a long moment. “I’ll get through to them, make them understand, no matter the cost. I’ll make them listen to me. Amelia, can you help me?”
“Of course,” she said. “If I have to go out there myself, I will.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Vira said wryly. “We have a lot to discuss. Dorian, can you take Margo home?”
She reached out to Margo. They briefly touched hands, the first sign of affection I’d observed between them.
Once they went back inside, I held Margo close. “Do you want to hang out here?”
“I want to go home,” she said in a small voice. “I’m still processing.”
We strolled towards her house, hands entwined, but at her front gate, she lingered by my side. “Don’t leave yet,” she asked.
“Do you want me to come inside?”
She shook her head. “I need… air.”
Side by side, we leaned against the gate and watched as dusk approached.
Margo leaned her head against my shoulder and sighed. “It’s pretty this evening.”
“Yeah.”
