Page 56 of The Witch Queen of Halloween (Immortals After Dark 20)

Thegreen mass started toward the castle.Fantastic.Onescratch or a mere fang graze spelled doom, and a ghoul’s entire reason for being was to infect others.

Asthey neared, he made out other details.Recognitionhit, and his stomach clenched.Poppy’sforeboding had been bang-on.Thesewere no ordinary ghouls.

Tryingto sound casual, he said, “Sodo you think the tracing ban will lift as soon as the door opens?”Evenif those ghouls rushed in,Rökmight be able to teleport her without a fight.

Sheglanced up from the journal. “No.Ithink all the spells will remain.Nothingshould change except for the door opening.Butyou can trace me from the steps outside.”

Hewould need a foot or so of clearance for both of them.Ifthe ghouls charged the door, would he have enough time to strike them down before it closed again? “Howlong do you think it takes a raven to call four times?”

“It’sa big debate on the message boards.Alot of members believe magic must dictate the bird’s actions, and now we know”—she held up the journal—“that the wizard used it to call his kids in from play.IfIhad to guess,I’dsay the raven caws every few seconds or so, mimicking the rhythm of a bell tower.”

So. . . a handful of seconds?Regardless,Rökcouldn’t bet their lives on speculation.

Heweighed his options.

Scenarioone: not enough intel, likely mission failure.Can’trisk her.

Scenariotwo: mission failure.

Scenariothree: supreme mission failure.

Oncehe’d exhausted dozens of possibilities, he stared off at his future in disbelief.PoppyandIaren’t making it out alive together.

“Howwild is it that we’ll soon lay one more mystery to rest?” she said.

Thatwasn’t all they’d be laying to rest.Or, rather, to unrest.

Shebegan musing aloud where they should get breakfast—“I’mthinking beignets and chicory coffee”—not noticing his tension.

Evenas he monitored the threat skulking closer, he treasured her happy chatter.Hewanted this taste of normalcy for just a little longer.

Aftersearching for his mate for more than a thousand years, he’d claimed her, and she’d taken control of her curse.Fora brief moment, he’d been able to envision their lives together.Talkingover meals.Makinglove.Mercenarygigs as an indomitable team.Halflingpups.

Yes.Enjoythis taste.“Sowhere would you like to live?” he asked, keeping his cool, even as he knew what he’d have to do.

Theseare my last minutes—as me.

“I’mnot picky.Aslong as you’re there, it’s home.”

Hiseyes squeezed shut.Herheartfelt words pained him so badly that she might as well have struck him.

Cadehad once described what being separated fromHollyfelt like: a huge hole through the chest that never healed.Exactly, friend.Rökwished he could send a message toCadeto watch overPoppyand safeguard her through theAccession.

“Whereare you taking me after this, demon?Iwouldn’t mind freshening up before beignets.Oh!Iwant to see your new place.Isyour shower big enough for two?”

Yes, it is.Moredelights they would forfeit.

Shemust’ve noticed his disquiet.Hecould all but hear her frown. “AmIoverstepping?Imean, you did say you never want to be separated from me again.”

Heswallowed thickly, not trusting himself to speak.

“Oh,Hecate, are you regretting things?”

Heturned to her. “Never.But. . . we have a problem.”Hegestured to the window.

Poppyshoved the journal into her bag and hurried to his side.Hereyes widened at the sight of the incoming ghouls. “Thoseare the explorers.”

“Sothey are.”

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