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I never would have found this on my own. There’s still no way to know for sure if this portal will take me to my realm or one just like it. “This isn’t going to drop me at the bottom of an ocean, is it?”
“No. The portals move regularly, but they’re all in a similar atmosphere to where we are now.”
Even if I end up back in my realm, I’ll likely be stranded in a strange country without money or a passport. My stuff is all on the Crimson Hag, which means I’m starting from scratch. I’ll have only the spells tattooed into my chest, which should be enough to get me home. If I’m not in my realm, there are other complications to consider, but I won’t know what I’m facing until I walk through.
I’ve been worse off. I don’t know why I’m hesitating now. This is what I wanted. I should be charging into that portal without looking back.
“Bowen …”
He turns to me and pulls me into his arms. “I won’t ask you to stay. I’m not that selfish.”
“You keep saying that and I’m going to start thinking you want me to stay.” My voice is hoarse and, holy fuck, what is this awful feeling in my chest? It’s like he’s reached a big hand through my rib cage and is squeezing my heart.
He kisses me lightly and then steps back. “Go, Evelyn. Learn to hide yourself from gods. Live a long and happy life. I sincerely hope I never see you again.”
This is what I wanted.
I take a breath, square my shoulders, and step toward the portal. Fuck, I’m a fool. It’s the only explanation for me turning back toward him. “Give me your hand.”
He doesn’t argue. He simply holds out his hand and watches as I nick my thumb and trigger one of my lesser-used spells. I press it against his palm. My magic flares violet for a moment and then sinks beneath his skin, forming into a glyph just like the one beneath my right collarbone.
I clear my throat. “If you ever change your mind about staying here, you don’t have to go to a strange realm where you don’t know anyone, even if it’s the one you think you were born in. You can come to this one. If you do, I’ll find you with that.” I point at his hand.
He shakes it out. “It tingles.”
“Yes, dear, it’s magic.” I grin, but the expression falls away. “I don’t care what you say. I hope I see you again. Don’t get killed for your ideals, Captain.”
“Keep running, little witch.” He swoops down and takes my mouth. The last kiss was a gentle goodbye. This one is filled with all the things we’d be fools to say to each other. Stay. Don’t go. Be with me.
It ends far too soon. My head is spinning as I take a step back and then another. “Goodbye.”
A rumble starts beneath my feet. I stop short and my gaze flies to Bowen, but he looks just as confused as I am. This isn’t his magic. “What—”
At my back, the portal swells with power. I barely have time to turn when Bowen sweeps me behind him. I peer around his broad shoulders to see the portal shift color, the shadows between the roots growing deeper and darker. Before, I could see through them to the forest beyond. Even as I watch, the shadows deepen until it’s pitch-black. And then they deepen further, giving the impression of space bending.
Someone’s coming through.
A slim form steps out and it’s like my brain blips. I’m seeing things. Surely I’m hallucinating this moment because there’s no way Lizzie just stepped through the portal dressed in athleisure and carrying a massive rifle across her back.
Reality snaps into place around me. This isn’t a hallucination because of a broken heart. This is happening. Which means we’re in serious danger. I grab Bowen’s shoulder. “Run.”
Her dark eyes snap to mine. “There you are.” She sounds so horrifically normal. “I thought I was going to have to hunt you down. This is simpler.” She swings the rifle around in a smooth, practiced motion, aims down the sight, and pulls the trigger.
CHAPTER 22
Bowen
THERE’S NO TIME TO THINK. I MOVE ON INSTINCT, THROWING up a shield with my power. Even so, it’s barely in time. The bullet stops close enough for me to see the size of it in perfect detail. If I hadn’t shielded, she would have blown off my fucking head. “I take it this is Lizzie.”
“Yep.” Evelyn sounds strained, and she’s not quite huddled against my back, but it’s a near thing. “This is bad. We should run.”
With my shield in place, I take a moment to study this new enemy. She’s lean in the way good predators are, every bit of her geared toward taking down prey in the most efficient way possible. Even if Evelyn hadn’t told me she was a vampire, I likely would have guessed. The few vampires I’ve had cause to meet all have a strange, otherworldly feeling to them. It’s too complicated to call it beauty; it’s more an energy that draws people—prey—in. Even in the middle of shooting at us, Lizzie has that draw.
She came into Threshold, which means by the law, she should either join the Cwn Annwn or die. Considering she just tried to kill me, I’m not overly inclined to give her a choice. Except … she might be murderous, but she meant something to Evelyn. I can’t kill her ex.
How quickly the laws fall apart for me now that I’ve started questioning them.
I hold up a hand. “Go back to where you came from and we’ll pretend this never happened.”
