Page 66 of Premonition of Peace

“I thought you were at Perk & Petal earlier?” Piper asked, pulling out her phone. “You sent a text. . .”

The day’s events came rushing back to me, and I felt a pit grow in my stomach. The urgency of saving Marcel had consumed every part of me once I’d heard, but now . . .

My lips parted and my breath stuttered.

“What’s that look for?” Piper said, her tone flattening, knowing damn well I didn’t have good news.

“The Morrigan isn’t pretending to be Sasha anymore. She knows that we know.” I told them everything that happened. Every word that had been exchanged. Lucifer and August had come out of the bedroom, arms crossed and posture stiff.

Piper groaned, and Señora Rosara stepped forward, grave concern etched in the lines around her eyes. “Is Katherine still alive?”

I shrugged, rubbing my arms as a chill crept over me. “I think so. Otherwise she would have tried to take me, right?”

“I can’t presume to think the way she does,” Señora answered, glancing at August and Lucifer. “Nathalie will need your help before this is all over.”

What felt like guilt began to crawl over my skin while I attempted to avoid contact with everyone in the room. I could feel Lucifer’s gaze practically burning a hole in me. As much as he knew, there was still one detail none of them were privy to, except Ronan.

“Where’s Sienna?” Piper asked in a panic, looking at her mate with wide eyes.

I felt horrible that I hadn’t questioned it yet. “Check my phone,” I said, pointing at it on the counter where I’d dumped my things earlier. “Not-Sasha would have told me if she’d killed her, just to watch me suffer.”

Piper quickly grabbed it, scrolling and sighing in relief. “She’s okay,” she breathed. “You have a ton of missed messages and calls from her after she couldn’t find Sasha.”

“Get her to safety. The Morrigan kills when she feels like it, with or without reason. She’s playing a game with Nathalie now, and everyone will be a target,” Señora said, before turning to Piper and Ronan. “It’s time to take the children somewhere they can’t be found.”

Piper walked to the kids, taking their hands, and preparing to leave through the light realm. “Ronan, get Sienna and bring her. She needs to be with Hallie. I’ll meet you at home.”

Glancing at Ronan, I inclined my chin slightly, holding his gaze while he spoke in my head.

Get to her first, Nathalie. Don’t make me kill you.

Just as Piper had, he seemingly disappeared into thin air.

“Now what?” August asked, leaning against the door frame.

“All we can do is wait,” I answered, knowing he would hate that response.

“Wait for her to come after you?” He scoffed.

“That’s all we can do.” Señora Rosara shuffled toward the door.

“You have to be joking,” he said in return.

She turned to look at him. “Katherine is in hiding. Morgan Le Fay is playing with Nathalie now, trying to mess with her head, and we have no way to track her. Do you have a better suggestion?”

August looked at me, his features hardening. “Come to my place. It’s safer.”

I smiled, walking toward him and cupping his face in my hand. “It’s not.” I stood on my tiptoes, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “She’ll find me wherever I go. I can’t hide from her. Right now, Marcel needs rest, and I’m going to watch over him.”

“Then I’ll stay here.” He leaned down, pressing his forehead to mine.

“Go feed Estrid. I know she’s clawing your favorite chair right now for missing lunch.” I smiled, but I knew it didn’t reachmy eyes. “I’ll be okay. I need some time with him . . . you understand . . . he’s going to wake up and have a lot of questions. I just . . . need to be alone with him for a while. Maybe Lucifer can come with you?”

“Wait, what?” Lucifer said, tensing immediately.

They spent a moment staring at each other. Sizing up the other. I could feel the testosterone radiating between them.

August contemplated what I’d suggested in silence before he lowered his eyes, exhaling in resignation. “Of course he can. If that’s what you need, then it’s done.”

---