Page 84 of Of Flame and Fate

“I know,” I say, as feeble as Destiny is, a chill could push her further toward death’s door. I reach for another towel and swap it out for one that’s already cooling.

By the time Bren and Tye return, Destiny is lying in a freshly made bed and wearing a blue nightie and robe I brought down from my bedroom. I never knew how long or thick her hair was until I blew it out with a wide-barrel rolling brush, leaving the ends to fall in a cascade of silky waves.

“Hi, Tye,” she says, her lips shiny and pink from the gloss I applied.

I added a little blush, too, and a few swipes of mascara. It helps, just not enough to mask her declining health.

“Hey, Des,” he says.

“She looks beautiful,” Emme tells me quietly.

“She was always beautiful,” Tye replies.

He walks to her slowly, resuming his watch on the chair and taking her hand gingerly in his. The devastation in his features when she greets him with a smile is too much, and I have to look away, swiping the tears that come.

My phone rings, I hurry outside, not wanting to disturb their moment.

Gemini’s face flashes across the screen as I answer. “Hello?”

“Are you all right?” The way he asks, assures me he has bad news to share.

“I’m with Destiny,” I reply. What sounds like digging and flinging dirt, fills the other end of the line. That, and the sound of Johnny weeping.

“Babe?” I ask. “What’s happened?”

“We made it to Santa Barbara,” he tells me.

“And?” I press, sensing the hesitation and heaviness in his voice.

“We encountered something we weren’t expecting.” He pauses. “Johnny’s manager is dead, so are all the members of his staff. We’re burying the pieces now . . .”

Chapter Eighteen

Johnny shakes uncontrollably, pretty much the same way he’s been shaking since I picked him and Gemini up at the airport. I thought for certain he’d ask for Emme. He knows she can heal even rattled emotions, but instead of requesting her presence, he begged for mine.

I’m sitting in the back of Gemini’s SUV with Johnny, something Gemini didn’t take too kindly to. I get it, and ordinarily, I’d prefer to sit with my man. But I can’t leave Johnny. Not like this.

He reaches for the pack of cigarettes in his back pocket. Most are crushed, but he manages to retrieve one that was somehow spared. With a trembling hand, he lifts it to his mouth.

“Can I get a light?” he asks, stuttering.

“No,” Gemini replies from the front.

“Beings with supernatural senses don’t like smoke,” I explain. “It bothers their noses and makes them cranky.”

As if to validate my point, Bren turns around from his spot in the passenger seat and shoots him a nasty glare.

“Please,” Johnny says. “Look, I’m not exactly keeping it together back here.”

Ordinarily, I’d take the wolves’ side. This time I don’t. This past week, Johnny has experienced pain on multiple levels, and despite the agony he endured in Destiny’s presence, nothing compares to how bad he looks now.

“Just let him have a few drags,” I say.

Gemini’s dark eyes flicker to the rearview mirror. “Fine,” he says, more for me than Johnny.

The brisk air that flows during the early hours in Tahoe sweeps in as Gemini rolls down the rear window as far as it will go. Johnny extends his hand, and with a small flick of my wrist, I light his cigarette.

He inhales deep like a seasoned smoker, releasing a small stream that transforms into a white bird with fluttering wings. It turns its small head briefly to look at Johnny before flying swiftly away.

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