Page 5 of Shadows of the Soul

“Yes, he borrowed a whisk. He’s making pancakes.”

“Blueberry,” Rebecca commented.

I waved my fork at her. “What she said.”

Sebastian leaned back in his chair with a huff. “He’s playing hardball.”

“He’s playing with fire,” I muttered. “But what’s the problem?”

“Nothing,” Sebastian said. “Just don’t reciprocate the offer.”

“Wasn’t planning on it,” I answered. The sooner it was over with, the sooner I could report to my grandmother, because I’d be damned if she was visiting me here. “But you still haven’t explained why you are here.”

Sebastian sighed. “The Princess of Italy is currently in residence.”

Rebecca groaned. “Maria? She’s beautiful, but a bitch.”

Sebastian ran a hand down his face. “Every month it’s someone new.”

The king and queen of American vampires were busy hunting for a suitable bride for their son. Being my best friend, I often ran interference for Sebastian—appearing as his date for the obligatory monthly family meal. King Leon hated me. Queen Aira tolerated me. Fun times.

“So you’re hiding?” I asked.

“I’m visiting my best friend, checking on her healing.”

I rotated my ankle. It still ached, particularly at night. “I’m all good.”

He nodded. I reached across the table and gave his arm a squeeze. “How long is she staying?”

He shrugged. “Until she gets a ring on her finger.”

I pressed my lips together. “Perhaps you could have a long engagement?”

He glared at me. “The second my father sniffs weakness, I’ll be at the altar faster than you can say honeymoon.”

Rebecca hummed under her breath. “I’d offer to be your wife, but I’d cause more drama than a celebrity at a teenage party.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s time I addressed my responsibilities.”

I grimaced in sympathy for Sebastian. “It’s time?” I checked.

He nodded. “It’s time.”

Oh boy.

Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Heebie Jeebies.

We define insomnia as habitual sleeplessness. I yo-yoed between being an insomniac and a chronic sleeper. When I did sleep, not even the dead could wake me. Which was a good thing, as they were often the cause of my unconscious state.

Tonight, sleep eluded me. I threw my legs across the sheets, seeking the cool patches of cotton and concentrated on the luminous sheen of the full moon hung low in the cloudless sky. It was closer to the Earth tonight, a super moon that was a reminder we were both insignificant in the grand scheme of things and part of something wondrous. The heavy hum of power from the room on the other side of my apartment taunted me with my ignorance, my arrogance, and my stupidity.

Heaven. I had a direct line to Heaven. How many of the loners had I granted access to somewhere I shouldn’t? How many had sins which weighed their souls and bound them for Hell?

I rolled onto my back and stared at the slowly rotating fan. The whirling set my teeth on edge. An unusual thrum of power rumbled through me. I huffed, swung my legs over the side, and pattered through my living room on bare feet. I drew the key from the chain hanging around my neck and chanted the spell to unlock the door. My hand paused on the cool metal handle before I pushed it open and faced my demons. A bitter note of deceit tinted the swirl of peace that encompassed me. I’d duped Heaven. I’d fed it at least one soul that wasn’t worthy and possibly damned my own. Ignorance didn’t equal innocence. The orb in the center of the room glowed an ethereal white. Wisps of pure energy caressed the ceiling and walls. I grabbed the infused oil from the side table and poured it around the orb in a circle while whispering the incantation meant to close portals. Bitter citrus and sage seeped into the air as the liquid settled in the burnt out crease left behind by my earlier attempts. I snagged the matches, lit one and dropped it onto the oil. Fire spun along the floor and intensified the sage, the orb shrank in on itself. I raised my voice and sunk more magic into every word that passed my lips as I commanded the portal to shut. My power sought the cracks and exploited them. It dug its claws into the portal and tightened the noose, drawing it closed.

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