Page 248 of The Seven Rings
Astrid went still. She looked in Sonya’s eyes.
“Death upon death, she brings to us. The brides of Poole Manor. Take the ring, the first she stole when she spilled my blood, when she took my life. Know it frees us, but does not, it will not, end her.”
Astrid took off the ring herself, held it out. “I give it, and freely. Seven were taken, seven are found, seven are given.”
“Thank you.”
“She comes. And time runs out. Go quickly, end her reign of death. End her.”
“We will. I swear it.”
When she went through, Trey scooped her up, held her hard and close. “You’re back. You came back.”
“Woo. What a ride.”
Like a mile-long descent on a wild roller coaster.
“It wouldn’t let me in. I couldn’t get through again.”
As she held just as tightly to Trey, she turned her head to Owen. “I guess the last—or the first—was meant for just me.”
“That’s what I told him.” But Cleo wrapped around Sonya.
Owen rolled his eyes. “First knocked down by a girl, now giving a group hug.”
One he couldn’t quite admit felt good.
“How long that time?”
“Thirty-six brutal minutes and six seconds.”
“We should hurry.”
“We’ve got time. Here.” Cleo passed Sonya a fresh Coke. “Recharge some. She has been.”
“I’m so charged!” But she gulped down Coke. “She hasn’t been raging like this the whole time?”
“She shuts it down for five or six minutes, then starts it all over again. I think the pets are going to need therapy. Let’s get your jacket.” Cleo kissed Sonya’s cheek. “And we’ll take it outside.”
“Astrid. Something changed when I touched her. It was like she knew—like Clover and Marianne.”
Words tumbled out. Where she’d felt weak, queasy, dizzy, she now felt pumped with pure adrenaline and an espresso chaser.
“She knew so she gave me her ring. She said it would free them, but wouldn’t end Dobbs. Just as you said.”
“We’re going to do that—all of us.”
“I promised her we would. So, Cleo, this better work. Let’s go, let’s do this! Wow, I feel a little drunk, a lot high, but in an amazing way. Let’s go send that bitch back to hell.”
“Okay, cutie.” As he took her hand to slow her down, Trey shot a look at Owen and Cleo.
“It’s the rings.” Much more delighted than concerned, Cleo shot out a grin. “It’s having all seven. It’s power.”
Cleo tossed a jacket over Sonya’s shoulders while Sonya turned to Owen. “I’m traveling at the speed of light.”
“Seems like it.” Trey bundled her into the jacket, though with the heat pumping off her now, he wondered if she’d need it. “No keeping the dogs and Pye in the house. She’s still in here, and—”
He snagged a candlestick out of the air. “She’s only going to get worse.”
