Page 55 of Blood of Night (The Thorne Hill)

“No, it’s…it’s nothing,” Kristy says.

“You’ve always been a terrible liar,” I remind her.

“People are scared,” she admits. “The entire coven knows something is going on, and they’re scared. I’m scared. Paimon is going to try to break out of Hell again, and since his plan to use you to sit on the throne didn’t work, who knows what he’ll do.”

“My money is on complete and total destruction,” Naomi says. “His plan the first time was to bring Hell to earth so he could rule both Hellandearth, but since he can’t sit on Hell’s throne…”

“…We’re worried he’s going to try to make himself a throne here,” Nicole finishes.

“That actually makes a scary amount of sense,” I agree and the sense of dizziness starts to take over. It’s just too much. Can’t I deal with one major crisis at a time?

“Yeah.” Kristy lets out a breath and shakes her head, causing her blonde ponytail to swing back and forth. “And my tarot readings haven’t been favorable the last few days.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask.

They all look at each other again. “Well, you’ve been a little…distracted,” Kristy says with a wince.

“Distracted?” I echo. “With Juliet?”

“Well, of course, but that’s excusable for sure.” Kristy winces as the words leave her lips.

“What’s not excusable?” I ask, hating that I know where this conversation is going.

“You’re obsessed with getting Lucas back,” Naomi spits out.

“Yeah. He’s my husband. The father of my child.”

“But you just said it: he’s okay.”

I look at Kristy and Nicole for help.

“He is a vampire,” Kristy tries.

“So because he’s a vampire, I should just leave him in Hell?” I ask, saying each word slowly.

“No, that’s not what I’m saying, but it’s not like he’s a human and needs to eat or drink to stay alive.”

I blink once. Twice. Three times. “Are you really saying that it’s okay to leave Lucas in Hell—because that’s where he is—just because he’s a vampire?”

“Not because he’s a vampire, but because the sense of urgency isn’t as big with him—”

“There is a huge sense of urgency! He’s my husband and I love him and I want him back. There is urgency. The demons will form a bond and once that happens, I can’t be sure Lucas will be the same.”

“How do you know he’s the same now?” Naomi counters.

“Because Osiris told me!”

“And you trust him?” She raises an eyebrow.

“He hasn’t given me a reason not to. Julian trusted him enough to make the deal.” My breath hitches and I stand there, gaping at my friends. Silence falls over the four of us, and I don’t know what to say. I’ve gotten into arguments and disagreements with my friends over the years, but this hurts.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Tabatha says, rounding a corner. She’s holding Juliet and hurries to us. “She’s fine,” Tabatha adds, seeing my worried face. “But I’m afraid several nons are not fine.”

“What happened?” I ask, taking my baby back.

“They were attacked by a vampire.”

ChapterTwenty-Four

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