Page 5 of Infernal Hearts

“Tell me, what are my chances that you’re a real psychic?” I raise one eyebrow, leaning in so that our lips are a hair’s width apart. If he’s the real thing, I need to know. Maybe I can come calling later.

An unrestrained laugh leaves his throat, slurring slightly and drawing out his words. “I’m a fake. I’ve just had my share of run-ins with beautiful creatures like you.”

I pull my powers back into myself. Damn it.

Dazed, he swallows over and over again as he touches the base of his neck. “Um…have a good night.”

I climb the stairs and find Rani waiting for me at the top. She’s scrolling her social media, presumably trying to salvage the rest of the night with a new club or restaurant for us to wreak havoc. Nothing sounds less appealing.

She doesn’t bother to look up from her phone, her thumb flicking. “Was it everything you wanted and more?”

I mask my lack of direction and spin it into a positive. I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of being right tonight—I really don’t need smugness right now. “Not really, but I got a little boost of magic.” I hold up my new necklace, dangling it in front of her.

She lets out an exasperated sigh. “It’s hideous.”

“It works.”

“If you say so. What now?”

“Since you’re so keen on helping me tonight, how about you pull up your maps app and start helping me look for a place?”

Her fingers quickly tap along her screen. “Name?”

“Windy Peak. Somewhere with mountains.”

Her nails click on the screen for a few seconds before she returns with an answer. “Colorado. About four hours from Denver.”

I gently bite my lip as I pull out my phone, immediately booking a plane ticket. The pros surely outweigh the cons. “Guess I’m going on a last-minute trip, then.”

“You’re joking, right?” I swear she rolls her eyes behind her sunglasses so hard I can hear them. “And you’re not taking me?”

I pause and pull my mouth into a smirk. “You really want to go to the middle of nowhere in a dry climate? Your poor reptilian skin.”

She holds up her finger. “First of all, that’s what moisturizer is for. Second of all, how else am I supposed to stop you from getting yourself killed?”

“Killed?” I can’t believe how quick she’s jumping to the worst-case scenario. “Getting a little melodramatic, aren’t we?”

“With as reckless as you are? Might be easier than you think.”

She won’t give this up easily, but she’s right. I don’t know what’s waiting there for me. I had no warning about how complicated this was going to be, and every time I think about how I’m doing this against my will, I wish I could bring my Maker back to life and kill him myself.

But if I deny, I die.

What if my brother freaks out when I track him down? He and I were never close—in fact, there was a deep dislike under the surface. I don’t need her coming along for the worst family reunion ever. I don’t want to waste her time.

I tuck my phone into my pocket and gently cradle her face. “First of all, I’m not reckless. I’m bold. Know the difference. Second of all, if I need you, I’ll call you. I’ll be gone a week at most.” I cringe inside at the probable lie.

She stares at me momentarily before holding up her hand and pointing to a small tattoo behind her thumb. A matching tattoo she and I got on a drunken night from some New York shaman. “If anything goes wrong, I’ll feel it. And then I’ll track your ass down and kill you myself.”

I pat her cheek twice. “I’ll hold you to that.”

She pushes me away before leading me down the street. “When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow at noon.” My hands slide into my pockets, already wondering what I should pack. Probably light, but I still want to look my best. “I should get there by nightfall.”

“Make sure you look up a magical doctor before you get out there—you never know what might happen.”

I snort, displaying a wide grin. “Oh lord, what are you expecting to happen? Did you already write my eulogy, too?”

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