Page 63 of Never Run from an Immortal

She hooked a picture of her and Cillian off the wall, tracing a thumb across his face before smashing it against a workbench.Liar.His manipulation had been no different from her mother’s. His words were just as poisonous, and she’d been a fool not to accept that bitter fact sooner. Hands in her hair, Rae mumbled a spell to change the colour, pacing back and forth to steady her breaths. If she could change her skin and step out of her body with a spell, she would.

Everything she’d believed. Everything she’d done. And Nim—sweet Nim, who had been like sunlight after years of darkness from the first day they’d met—she’d been caught up in the middle of all of it.

For Seylan. You’re doing this for Seylan,she told herself over and over.

Bax’s ring sat wrapped in her pocket, and she pulled its envelope free to set it on one of the workbenches as she fought to calm her breaths. If she was right, he’d be back, and tracking him might at least make up for some of it.

Rae took the stairs to her apartment two at a time, unlocking the door before she even reached it, her chest heaving with silent sobs. Aside from Nim, she’d closed herself off from the world. Let an old man’s venomous beliefs become her own because she’d so desperately needed something to believe in. Somethingto hold onto when she couldn’t hold onto herself. She sucked in another breath, threw open the window beside her bed to try and get some air. There was little chance of that in Demesia. Still, she left it open and let the sounds of the city soothe her as she made her way into the small kitchen.

Rae dragged her hands through her hair again, wondering what the fuck she was going to say to Aidan to make this right. So many lies stacked on top of each other. Where would she even begin? How would she make him see the truth?

You can’t.It was too late for that.

The wards over the door to the studio wavered, but no sound travelled up to her apartment. Rae held her breath as she listened for the tiniest of sounds. Someone was in the studio. With silent steps, she crept to the top of the stairs and paused.

Bax. He was talking into his earpiece, moving around the studio, searching.

“No sign of her,” she heard him murmur.

Rae took a step back. He’d lied to her. And she would put money on it his reasons for lying were far worse than hers. She glanced at her kitchen, doubting her small paring knives would be much use against him if he truly was a hybrid, given how Aidan’s fight with Daire had gone. There was nowhere to hide Bax wouldn’t find her, but she could conceal herself. Sidestepping a groaning floorboard, she crawled under the bed, mouthing a spell as the stairs creaked under Bax’s feet.

“Rae, it’s Baxter,” he called out, a lightness to his tone that told her he was trying to make it appear like this was just a friendly visit. She held her breath as his footsteps neared the bed, as he dropped to his knees and looked her right in the eyes, but he wouldn’t see her. If she kept still, her spell would hold.

His sigh blew warm breath across her face, tickling her nose, but still, Rae didn’t breathe as he stood and spoke into his earpiece again. “She isn’t here.” His feet moved to the window,his voice further away as if he were leaning out of it. “She must have bailed.” A smack of his hand against the wooden frame. “She knows.”

Rae still held her breath, her heart fluttering in her chest.

Rae?Aidan. Of course he fucking knew she was afraid. She couldn’t hide anything from him anymore.

I’m fine,she told him, the words clipped as she tried to keep her focus on maintaining her spell, on holding her breath, on listening to Baxter move around.

I’m sending a car to the studio.Rae didn’t question him.

“Forget what they’re capable of.” Baxter laughed bitterly. “Send two. She’s a devious little bitch. I can’t have her running this time.” He took the stairs back down into the studio, mumbling something else into his earpiece Rae couldn’t make out.

She still didn’t move, didn’t breathe. Not until she heard the roar of an engine, until the sound of the motorbike was long out of earshot. She let go of everything, gasping for breath, forehead pressed against the dusty floorboards beneath her bed as she steadied her breathing and her heart.

Aidan’s presence still lingered in her mind. He didn’t say anything, and neither did she, but she didn’t push him out either.

A chitter at the window drew her attention, followed by a dull thud. Rae turned her head, only to be greeted by two huge black eyes and a ball of white fluff. “Ru,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?” A bark sounded from below.

You sent the damn dog after me?she asked Aidan, sliding out from under the bed.

We haven’t been able to track Baxter today.

You just missed him.

I thought as much. You were right, he’s one of them.

She wouldn’t insult him by asking how he knew, but she should tell him what she’d heard. Rae hesitated as she sat on her bed, Ru climbing to her neck. Quinn padded up the stairs to sit before her. “Bae’s eyes and ears, huh? Who’s driving the car, a monkey?”

Baelin says he’s giving Quinn driving lessons.

Rae chuckled. “If you wanted to see my bedroom, Bae, you could’ve just asked.”

Quinn barked, and Rae laughed again, some of the adrenaline melting away.

The car is two minutes away.

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