Page 24 of Hounded: Ashes to Ashes

I marched to the edge of the sigil circle and extended both hands, one to offer the tears and the other to take the end of Whitney’s leash.

The exchange happened in a blink. An item traded for a person with shockingly little pomp and circumstance. There was only a slight hesitation when Moira grabbed Whitney’s arm and turned him toward her.

She’d been quiet for so long that I hadn’t noticed how her demeanor had changed. She looked shrunken now, slumped and sad as she cupped her hands to either side of Whitney’s face and pulled him in for a kiss.

I expected him to resist, but he bent in graciously, even returning her affection by curving his palm around the side of her waist.

When they separated, both seemed mired in an emotion I couldn’t quite define. No, I could, but I hesitated to believe it. Were they in love?

“Be good,” Moira murmured, then kissed Whitney’s cheek.

The chain leash felt heavy in my hand as Whitney walked forward, then knelt before me.

“Oh, don’t do that.” I stepped back before realizing any further retreat would tighten the choke chain. I glanced at Sully then Moira while stammering, “I’m not… I don’t…”

“I wish you luck,” Moira said, calling my attention fully to her. I floundered, and Whitney knelt with his head turned toward the ground as she continued. “Tell Lorenzo…” She smiled. “TellLorenI will miss him.”

The candle’s flame sputtered, signaling the end of our time. While it wavered, the demoness plucked the cork from the tear vial and cast it aside. Tipping the vessel to her lips, she consumed its contents in a gulp, then vanished from sight.

Whitney remained on his knees at my feet with his hands behind his back and his head hung low. I was too stunned toregister it, too busy searching the void left by Moira’s departure to process the subservience of the man before me. That, and the sudden emptiness in my own hand. The leash was gone. It disappeared along with the gold chain that had been fastened around Whitney’s neck.

“What just happened?” I asked.

The question was fair game for either Sully or Whitney, but neither replied.

“Shedrankme!” I exclaimed. “What the actual fuck?”

Shaking myself, I curled my empty fingers. I should have been happy about the missing leash because I didn’t want to own a hellhound, but the change led me to another realization.

“She lied,” I said.

Whitney’s eyes flicked up. Some of his angst from moments earlier remained, pinching the skin at his temples. He moved a hand to his unfettered neck, and his sorrow shifted into confusion.

“That demon bitch lied, and now she’s gone.” I spun toward Sully. “Call her back!”

Sully held the spellbook but didn’t open it. I nearly snatched it for myself before Whitney stood. I glanced over my shoulder at him, watching as his features twisted from uncertainty into shock into sadness all over again.

“She’s gone,” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “Back to Hell, I know. And I’m gonna drag her outta there?—”

“Heaven,” Whitney corrected, unnervingly calm.

Squinting at him, I asked, “How do you know? Because shedrankme?”

Sully made a grumbling sound. “You’ve gotta stop saying it like that…”

I never thought I would wish for the hellhound to bow for me again but, drawn to his full height standing stiff backed andstern, Whitney was a bit intimidating. He held my gaze with an intensity so different from Loren’s skittish glances.

“Youarethe phoenix, aren’t you?” He said it more than asked. “Your tears can purify. They purified her. Now, she’s gone.”

Loren had explained why the demons were hunting me. Apparently, I hadn’t believed it. I struggled to accept it even now.

So, the demoness was in Heaven, “And you’re…?” I trailed off.

Whitney touched his neck again. His eyes became unfocused, growing distant as he replied, “Free.”

Did that mean Loren was free, too?

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