about me too. Though, she understood. I had my magic and would fight alongside powerful and divine warriors.
After promising to see them again, I watched as they drove away. Sabrina and Kevin looked back and waved, while I stood at the curb, waving back at them, tears springing to my eyes.
Devon put an arm around my waist and pulled me to his side. “They will be fine.”
“I know,” I said, my voice low. “I’m just scared that I might not see them again.”
When the car turned a corner and disappeared from my sight, Devon turned to me, his hands gently on my hips. “You will see them again. I promise you that.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head on his chest. “At least you’re here with me.”
He planted a kiss on the top of my head. “Always.”
“What’s going on?” That was Carol, arriving back from school.
“Oh.” I disentangled myself from Devon but didn’t move away. She already knew about us, of course. But now I was worried about her too. In the past, she had been Cat, my best friend, and she hadn’t died with my family, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t in danger in this lifetime.
Her gaze went to the top of my head. “What’s up with your hair?”
I ran a hand over my strands, blond once again. “Hm, nothing. Just changed a bit.” I rocked on the balls of my foot. “So, you’re already back from school.”
“It’s been thirty minutes since the last bell.” Narrowing her eyes, Carol hiked her backpack higher on her shoulder. “I just saw Lia driving away with Sabrina and Kevin. Where are they going?” She glanced past our shoulders, to our houses. Mine half destroyed and Devon’s full of warriors. I followed her gaze and saw many of them through the windows. “Hm, what’s going on? Who are they?”
Shit. I exchanged a glance with Devon. “Carol, why don’t you go to your house for now? I promise to come by and explain everything later.”
She tilted her head, her eyes narrowed at me. “Oh-kay.” She didn’t sound too pleased, but I was grateful she didn’t argue. She started turning toward her house, but something tugged inside me, and before I knew it, I grabbed her arm and pulled her into a tight hug. She stood frozen. “Hm, what’s that for?” Then, her arms enveloped me too. “You’re scaring me. Are you okay?”
I nodded, my chin grazing her shoulder. “I am. Everything will be okay.” I forced myself to step back from her. “Now go. I’ll stop by later.”
“You promise,” she reminded me.
“I promise.” I just hoped I could keep it.
Watching Carol walk to her house brought back the same desperate feeling of watching Lia and the kids walk away.
Devon slipped his hands in mine and squeezed it tight. “She’ll be fine too.”
I let out a long sigh. “I know.” Then, I turned to him again, in need to tell him something, at least once in this lifetime. “I love you,” I whispered, my eyes on his.
His eyes rounded for a brief second, then they crinkled when the ghost of a smile took over his lips. “I love you more.”
His hand found my nape and his lips found mine.
I just hoped that I would have the chance to tell him that again.
Present
Devon
I reached over my car’s middle console and slipped my hand into Kenna’s. If I could, I would touch her, hold her, stare at her, every second of every day for all eternity.
I inhaled deeply, apprehension growing inside me as we drove out to meet the warriors. The plan was to lure the order to a place of our choosing. Kenna would be there as bait, waiting for them. As would the warriors and I. There had been at least twenty warriors in my house, but Ryder had guaranteed me that over a hundred warriors would be there, ready to kill Slater and his fucking demons, and keep Kenna safe.
Kenna placed her other hand over mine. “Relax, Devon. It’ll be okay.”
I spared her a quick glance before returning my eyes to the road. She was trying to be strong and brave, mostly for me, but I knew on the inside she was trembling, her heart going a thousand miles per minute. She had trained herself to run from Slater her entire life, and now she was willingly walking toward him.
If there was any chance this plan could fail, I didn’t want to think about it. I wanted to believe