Page 60 of Premonition of Peace

Peace ignored her completely, walking toward me and grabbing a picture of Honor and Orson that was kept on a small table by the couch. She held it out to me. “Changehis reality,Prime.” Her eyes widened as she stared at me, dipping her chin slightly. My lips parted as I inhaled sharply. All at once, the rest of the loci caught on.

Within seconds, I’d jolted myself back into the reality of Señora’s shop. August and Señora looked at me quizzically, but Lucifer only smirked. Part of me wondered if he’d been there and I was so frantic that I hadn’t noticed. It didn’t matter.

“I’m going to change him into an immortal,” I blurted out.

Señora’s eyebrows pinched together, not understanding. “I don’t have that kind of power, Nathalie.”

“You don’t have that power,” I began, pulling my phone out, “but I know someone who does.”

twenty

NATHALIE

One of themany benefits of a best friend was they would show up for you, no questions asked. After what Piper and I had been through together, we were no different. If she called me and told me to bring a shovel, I’d ask when and where. So when I called to tell her Marcel was dying and that I needed her and the kids at Señora Rosara’s shop, like a true best friend, she said they were on their way.

Within minutes, Piper and Ronan arrived, each holding the hand of one of their twins as they walked through the light realm and appeared inside the store. Honor and Orson smiled as they saw me.

“Auntie Nat!” they said in unison as I scooped them into a hug.

“Hey, guys,” I said softly, glancing up at their parents. No doubt they could see the urgency in my eyes. I gestured to August standing beside me. “This is my friend, August. He’s safe. Can you hang out with him for a minute while I talk to Mom and Dad about something?”

August snapped his head in my direction, giving me a quick look of uncertainty.

“It’s fine,” I whispered. “Just show them the gemstones on the shelves over there. Honor likes geodes. They can pet the cats. But not the tuxedo cat, and not the orange tabby. They’re both pissy.”

Piper inclined her chin when they looked to her for confirmation, and August reached his hands out for each of them to take one. I could feel Ronan tense at the sight of another man walking away with his kids, but August was the safer choice. Lucifer had stayed in the back room with Marcel, though I knew he was irritated by it. I would have to tell him at some point that I appreciated the fact he didn’t fight me on it. We both knew that if he were present, it would make this harder for Piper and Ronan. My eyes strayed to the back room, my heart clenching at the thought of Marcel being so frail and vulnerable.

“Where’s Hallie?” I asked.

“With Morfayus and Ailaine,” Piper answered, watching her kids walk away. “If you need her too, Ronan can go get her.”

I shook my head, but before I could speak, Ronan glanced at the back room, no doubt sensing his brother’s presence. “I’m not leaving.”

Piper elbowed him in the stomach. “Nat wouldn’t put the kids in harm’s way.”

“You said Marcel is dying,” Ronan began, crossing his arms. “Why are we here?”

Piper glared at him. “A little tact, maybe?”

I waved it off, placing a hand on Piper’s arm. “No, he’s right. There’s no time to sugarcoat any of this.”

She pressed her lips together. “Fair enough. What can we do?”

I looked between Piper and Ronan, knowing what I was about to ask would worry them both. I knew Ronan wouldn’t like it. I knew Piper would be hesitant. But it was all I had.

“The death magic in Marcel can’t be slowed down anymore. He’s about to die,” I said, pausing as emotion began to clog my throat. I cleared it out, trying to keep my composure. If I didn’t remain calm, this wouldn’t work. “I need to change him into an immortal.”

Piper’s brows furrowed. “I don’t understand. We talked about this already. You’d said his body can’t handle it.”

“It can’t. I need Honor’s magic to change his reality,” I said quickly, holding my breath and waiting for Ronan to shut me down.

I volleyed between Piper and Ronan as they exchanged a heavy look. I could practically see the silent, mental conversation happening between them. Their hesitation was palpable, the heaviness of the decision pressing down on all of us.

“That’s . . . risky,” Piper said softly. The concern in her voice was evident, and it mirrored the fear gnawing at me. “Honor’s magic isn’t stable, Nat. We can’t ask her to use it. Hell, we’ve done everything possible so shewon’tuse it. She can’t control it.”

“But I can,” I said, placing a hand on my chest. “I can channel and control her magic.” Their silence indicated more mental conversation, so I pressed on. “She needs to be okay with me doing this and give me consent, of course, but there’s no risk to Honor. She’ll be perfectly safe, and Orson’s presence brings her comfort. I knew if she said yes, she’d want him here.”

Ronan spoke up, his voice low and stern. “There’s no question that she’d say yes, but we’re not worried about Honor’s safety. We’re worried about yours.”

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