AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I couldn’t help but wonder if that cheerfulness would hold given the continuing threat of the supernatural. It wasn’t like he’d come here expecting to be confronted by all manner of demons and mythical critters.
Aiden finished his call and climbed out of his truck. He had his “business” face on, but I nevertheless spotted the quick flick of excitement that ran through his gaze—one that echoed deeply through me. Even at the worst moments of our relationship—even when I’d walked away determined never to look back unless things changed—the deep connection that existed between us had never eased.
I doubted it ever would. There were some things that were meant to be. He and I were one of them.
Even if his mother refused to see or accept that fact.
That brief flash of excitement suggested something had happened. Something other than death.
Maybe the council had finally called a meeting.
Maybe, just maybe, they’d reached a decision.
For his sake, I hoped it was the one he wanted. I knew full well no matter what he said or promised, there would always be a distant cloud of discontent over our relationship if they stopped him fulfilling the destiny that had been his since birth.
He slung the pack he was holding over his shoulder and stopped beside Jaz. His gaze slid briefly down my length before rising to meet mine, and the bright flash of appreciation and desire that ran through his aura briefly muted the excitement.
“We have mirrors, salt, and holy water on hand,” he said evenly, none of the turbulent emotions so evident to me remotely coloring his voice. “I’m hoping that’ll be enough to protect us if this thing is still out there.”
“It should be,” Monty said, “but I’ll nevertheless take the lead, with you directing me. Liz can bring up the rear.”
I opened my mouth to object, then shut it again. Monty hadn’t yet been updated on the recent developments between me and Aiden, so as far as he was concerned, we remained broken up. And while I had no problem letting him in on the secret, now was not the time. Though to be honest, I was surprised Belle hadn’t mentioned it.
Aside from the fact it’s not my secret to tell,you whisked him away before I could.
Monty is family—
And you can tell said family when you’re ready.
Aiden motioned him toward the dusty track on the other side of the road and then, with a glance at me that held traces of annoyance at the obviously deliberate ploy to keep us separated, followed him in. Jaz picked her pack up off the ground and fell in step behind him, with me bringing up the rear. The trees closed in around us, but did little to ease the afternoon’s heat. The flies swarmed, a black cloud desperate to get at the tiny beads of moisture dotting our skins, and the cicadas boldly belted out their songs to each other. The noise was deafening and made talking difficult, but it was also comforting. The insect world wouldn’t be so loud if the basilisk remained in the area. They were generally too attuned to the danger snakes represented, given there were plenty around who didn’t mind dining on them.
The track wound lazily through the trees, occasionally giving us glimpses of the nearly empty main drain before swinging away again. We were twenty minutes in when the scrub around us showed signs of dying off—and it wasn’t the usual summer kind of die-off.
The basilisk had passed by here.
The path swept sharply left, and Monty and Aiden briefly disappeared. A heartbeat later, Monty swore.
They’d found the victim.
Jaz and I rounded the corner and then stopped either side of the two men. The victim stood in the middle of the path, wearing jeans, hiking shoes, and a singlet top. He’d been caught mid-stride but had obviously spotted the basilisk early enough to throw out a hand in denial. That was the moment he’d been frozen.
He didn’t look to be stone, but he was obviously no longer mere flesh, either. Rigor mortis generally didn’t set in until two or so hours after death, and that meant his arm should have dropped and his leg muscles given way.
Aiden glanced at Jaz. “You and Monty check the immediate area to see if we’ve any other casualties. The footprints indicate he might not have been walking alone.”
Jaz nodded, and with a quick look at Monty, motioned him to follow her. Aiden skirted around the body, then stopped and sucked in a sharp breath.
“What?” I immediately said and moved around to join him.
The stranger’s eyes had been burned away. There was no blood, no gore, just blackened empty sockets where his eyes had been.
Horror curled through me, and my stomach briefly stirred. Thankfully, this time, the damn thing stayed put. “Well, the myths certainly didn’t mentionthathappening.”
“Which seems to be a theme with the entities we get here.” He pulled several pairs of gloves from his pack and handed me one. “Can you sense any residual magic on or around him?”
I hesitated and scanned him carefully. “There doesn’t appear to be anything, but let me touch him first, just to be safe.”
I pulled on a glove then carefully reached out and touched one finger to his open palm. I might as well have been touching ice. In this heat, that was totally weird. But there was no reaction from the man’s flesh magically.
