Page 94 of Infernal Hearts

As if reading my mind, Levi whispers into my ear. “You’re not alone. I’m with you now. I’m here.”

He holds me tighter as I let the emotions pour out of me, emptying until I finally regain control of myself. I never thought things would go like this, but at the very least, I saved him. I can take solace in that.

I clear my throat once the crying stops, but he doesn’t let go. “How did you know for sure it would work?”

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I read about it in the journal. Hearts are malleable and are connected to those their owners love. They can be given freely, and you don’t need to take them by force.”

“But what if…” I pause, thinking the worst. “What if it didn’t work? What if you couldn’t take his heart?”

Levi brushes my cheek with his thumb. “Then I would have given you mine.” He leans forward and kisses me softly.

I don’t know if it’s my new heart, but I’ve never felt more connected to anyone than I am in this moment. Maybe I’m not as alone as I thought. And maybe, with time, I can survive this.

Levi pulls back and gently strokes my face again. “Let’s go home?”

I nod. He stands, pulling me up. We don’t bother cleaning up. Wanting to get out of here as quickly as we can, we leave the candlelit room, golden dagger, and piles of dust. It’s not like anything inside will make sense to a normal person, anyway—it’ll look like some terrible occult ritual someone abandoned. I doubt even Michael will be able to figure out what it all means.

As we go through the house, my heart aches at all that I’ve lost tonight. Valerie is dead. My father is dead. I’ve been lied to my entire life. I can’t see these walls anymore—it hurts too much. Finally, we pass the threshold, and we walk out into the night.

…

Levi

Jay stops on the porch. We pause before I stumble and suddenly get a rush of memories. I put my hand to my forehead and close my eyes as the super reel flows through my brain. The night I was turned, recipes for Magnus’ many spells over the years, and secret rituals I helped him perform throughout my life. It all suddenly makes sense in a way that it never has before—like a fog lifting.

This must be what happened to Dane when Dr. Blackwell lifted his magical veil. All secrets and all understandings of what it’s truly like to be an incubus, at my fingertips for the first time.

I don’t know how, but the command dissolves through my body—it must be because I saved Dane’s heart from his killer. In a way, part of him is safe—living on through Jay.

I did it at last. I found my brother, and I released his essence from the prison that was the fairy deal. I fulfilled Magnus’ dying wish.

What does this mean? Am I totally free now? Am I more powerful than I was before? The next thought that runs through my head unsettles me—now how can I use it?

The answer is simple.

I do nothing.

I’m finally free to live my life the way I want. I’m not tied to making deals anymore. It’s kind of ironic, that the moment you get the power to do anything, you don’t need it anymore. I honestly have exactly what I want.

“Everything looks different. Colors in the forest that I’ve never seen. Even you look different. You’re glowing.”

The pain emanates off of him. He trembles and sways, doing his best to distract himself and mash it all down—totally understandable. He’ll want to talk about everything eventually, but now isn’t the time. I don’t think he could handle reliving the night so soon. But one day, he’ll have questions and very real emotions about it all—and I’ll be there with him every step of the way.

I run a jerky hand through my hair, my neck stiff, as we stand together in the cool night air. What if Jay ends up blaming me for what happened to his father? What if he can’t forgive me?

It’s something I’m going to have to live with if that ever happens, but I don’t regret what I did. I did what I had to do to save the best man I’ve ever met in my life. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. The best I can do is tell him my feelings if he ever asks.

But tonight isn’t the night for it. Tonight we need rest, if that’s even possible. I’ll be whatever he needs me to be for as long as he needs me.

In the meantime, I try to keep him calm. I smile and squeeze his hand. “You have supernatural sight now. A gift from the heart.”

He’s quiet for a moment. “I can hear things I shouldn’t… The birds breathing in the trees. The waves on the lake lapping at the banks. Your heartbeat is like a drum.”

I put my hands on his shoulders. “It takes some getting used to. You’ll get the hang of it.”

He exhales deeply. “Does this mean…I’m an incubus now?”

“No, not fully. Only partially. Heightened senses. No more aging. Ability to use a glamour, like your father.” He winces at the word, and I clench my jaw. “Sorry. It’s all a lot to process right now.”

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