Page 49 of Tangle of Lust and Lethargy

Maggie’s wide eyes reflected the leaden sky above. She looked up as if expecting to see a dragon swooping down upon us at any moment. “What do we do now?” Her voice was small, almost childlike in its uncertainty.

I rummaged through my backpack, my fingers closing around the cool, smooth surface of the hourglass. The weight of it, both physical and metaphorical, was a stark reminder of the task ahead. “Damon, Justice, Zara, and I have to go back in time,” I stated as I pulled out the artifact.

Maggie’s brow furrowed, confusion and a hint of hurt crossing her features. “Why not all of us?”

Garrick squeezed her hand reassuringly. “We’re not the Chosen Ones, remember?” he explained gently before turning to me with understanding in his eyes. “She’s got to use the hourglass to go back and try to stop this madness.” His gaze metmine, a silent communication passing between us. “You’re going back right before Brody sacrificed himself, aren’t you?”

I nodded, dread resting on my shoulders like a vulture. “Yes. We need to go back before Lisa betrays us. If we stop her, Maci doesn’t get the Crown of Envy, and Brody doesn’t die.”

“You hope.” Justice’s whisper was barely audible, but in the tense silence of the close, it rang out like a bell. “We’re taking a gamble on this. Maci may have already guessed our plan and could be lying in wait.”

I gripped the hourglass tighter, feeling its power thrumming beneath my fingers. The enormity of what we were about to attempt pressed in on me from all sides, as oppressive as the narrow walls. But beneath the fear and uncertainty, a spark of determination flickered to life.

I gritted my teeth. “It’s a chance we have to take.” This was it. The moment of truth on whether everything we’d gone through was enough to retrieve the Crown of Envy and save Brody.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Damon eyed the hourglass like it might sprout fangs and bite him. A healthy dose of “what fresh hell is this?” tinged his usual bravado. He jerked his chin toward the artifact. “So, uh, you actually know how to work that thing? ‘Cause I gotta tell you, I’m not loving the idea of ending up as some dinosaur’s chew toy.”

I sighed, feeling a pit of uneasiness grow in my gut. “Yes, I have to pick a time. The right time. If I don’t choose correctly, nothing will change. We could make things worse.”

“Oh, fantastic,” Damon drawled. “Another magical mystery tour. Just what the doctor ordered.” He glanced around, a hopeful glint in his eye. “Any chance we could, I don’t know, drive there? Maybe take the scenic route? I hear the Fairlane gets great gas mileage in the space-time continuum.”

“No,” I stated bluntly, cutting off his rambling. “And you’re going.”

Damon’s eyebrows shot up, and resignation and determination crossed his face. “Well, hell. Wouldn’t want to be left behind with the B-team, would we?” He smirked and gestured to Garrick and Maggie. “No offense, guys. Someone’s gotta hold down the fort and look pretty.”

Garrick and Maggie flashed him death glares that could’ve peeled paint. Demonstrating a rare moment of wisdom, Damon clamped his mouth shut, though the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested he was far from done.

Justice stepped closer, taking my free hand in his. His touch was cool, but it sent a wave of warmth through me as he lifted my palm to his lips. “You’ll choose right, Sawyer,” he murmured. “I believe in you.”

The simple gesture hit me like a tidal wave of emotion. Justice had always been my rock, the one constant in a world gone mad. When all I wanted was to crawl into a hole and cry, he was there, pulling me back to my feet.

Apparently unable to stay quiet for long, Damon cleared his throat. “Hate to break up the Hallmark moment, but tick-tock, people.” His voice softened a fraction as he met my eyes. “You got this, sis. You’re a Grant. Kicking supernatural ass and taking names is practically the family business.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that. Leave it to Damon to wrap encouragement in a layer of snark.

“All right, Team Free Will,” Damon clapped his hands, a determined grin spreading across his face. “Let’s go back in time, gank some bad guys, and maybe we’ll be home in time for pie.”

As I raised the hourglass, preparing to activate it, I felt a strange mix of fear and hope. With my ragtag family around me—my snarky brother, my steadfast vampire, and my loyal witch—I knew we stood a chance.

“Here goes nothing,” I muttered and turned the hourglass.

One moment, I was gripping the artifact in present-day Edinburgh. The next, a dizzying rush of sensations overwhelmed me. Suddenly, I was standing in the chamber, facing the Aegis serpent.

It was disorienting, like stepping into a vivid memory. Everything was exactly as it had been. The enormous serpentlooming before me, the weight of my confession about my mother’s murder still heavy in the air. My stomach clenched. The last thing I wanted was to relive this nightmare, but I knew we had to.

I glanced around, taking in the scene with new eyes. Justice, Zara, Brody, and Lisa were all in their exact positions from before. Zara and Lisa stood together while the guys were behind me, poised for an attack. But I knew now that the real threat wasn’t external. It was among us.

My gaze landed on Brody, and my breath caught in my throat. Alive. He was alive. The sight of him standing there, strong and determined, hit me with such force that I forgot how to breathe. Memories of his sacrifice that hadn’t happened yet in this timeline flashed through my mind. The way he had thrown himself into danger, his final, brave smile, the devastating emptiness he had left behind.

I wanted to run to him, to wrap my arms around him and never let go. I wanted to warn him and save him from the fate I knew awaited him. The effort it took to remain still, not to cry out or change everything then and there, was almost physically painful.

My eyes stung with unshed tears, and I had to clench my fists to keep my hands from shaking. Brody caught my gaze and gave me a reassuring nod, oblivious to the turmoil raging within me. That simple gesture, so characteristic of him, nearly broke my composure.

Lisa’s face caught my attention. How had I missed it before? There was a haunted look in her eyes, a tension in her posture that screamed something was wrong. I silently berated myself. I was an investigator. I should have noticed these signs.

The same emotions washed over me. Heart clenching, shivers racing down my spine. Even knowing what was to come, I still wasn’t sure I was worthy. But I knew one thing for certain.

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