Devon could only talk to people telepathically if they weren’t too far away.
Tears stung her eyes, and she wiped them away with her clammy fingers. She was tired. Felt all dizzy and heavy. Wanted to just sit down and close her eyes. But that would mean turning away from the window. It would mean turning … and seeing … seeing him.
He hadn’t started crying again. Hadn’t sniffled or moved.
He’s. Just. Sleeping.
Devon weakly banged her head on the window, wishing somebody would come, wishing the baby boy would move or whimper or something. But none of those things happened, just as she’d known they wouldn’t.
The breath gusted out of Devon’s lungs as she once more snapped back to the present, her heart pounding, her cheeks wet with tears. The others were still focused on Finn, who was screaming while Jo chanted something at him. Devon tried moving, was able to flex her fingers, wriggle her toes, and squirm slightly, but that was as good as it got. Still, she could sense that the magick was wearing off fast.
Darkness yanked on her psyche again, and panic seized her tight. No, she could not go back there again. Just couldn’t. She fought the magick, fought to stay with the present, but the memories sucked her under and—
Devon’s eyelids fluttered open, and she squeezed them shut as the sunlight stabbed at her eyes. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep.
She realized she was still leaning against the car door but, too tired to move, she decided to just lean on it a little longer. She didn’t really want to move her head anyway. It felt light but it ached at the same time. Like someone was stabbing her in the head with something real sharp. Her cheeks were burning so bad it was like they were on fire.
She felt her eyes drift shut but didn’t fight it. Didn’t bother trying to punch the window or shout for help, because … No one is coming.
Maybe something had happened to Pamela. Or maybe she’d come outside to check on them, found Devon asleep, and figured she’d be okay a little longer. The thought made Devon’s heart slam against her ribs, and her eyes snapped open. She hadn’t missed her chance to get help, had she?
Oh God, maybe she had. She should have stayed awake.
A sob built in her throat, but it didn’t come out. Her breaths were just soft, shallow pants now. Like her body didn’t have the energy to take a full breath.
She didn’t know it was possible to be this hot. Or this thirsty. Or this tired.
Her eyes almost slid to the side to get a look at—no. No, she couldn’t look at him. If she looked at him, it would make it real. She needed to pretend that he was okay. Needed to pretend they’d both be okay.
Her eyelids fluttered shut again. She wouldn’t fall back asleep, but she could just rest her eyes for a few minutes.
Tires screeched outside. Doors opened and closed. Footsteps thundered along the cement. And then a hand slammed on the window.
Devon forced herself to look up, saw … “Jolene,” she rasped.
The Prime tried yanking the door open, but it didn’t work. And then one of the lair’s incantors was there, telling Jolene to stand back. The woman then waved her hands and did some sort of chant.
The door was roughly pulled open seconds later, and then Devon was being scooped up by Jolene. “Devon. Oh, sweetheart.” Jolene kissed her cheek. “Please tell me somebody has a bottle of water! Beck, get the baby out.” She kissed Devon’s cheek again. “It’s all right, sweetheart, you’re going to be—”
“Jolene,” said Beck. The word was flat. Somber. Devastated.
“What is it?” Jolene peered into the car. And tensed.
“I don’t think he’s just sleeping,” Devon rasped. “Can we fix him?”
Face crumpling, Jolene just palmed the back of Devon’s head and held her close.
The heavy weight of magick disappeared from Devon’s body, making her suck in a sharp breath. She didn’t hesitate to release the dark power that had been bashing against her ribs. It lunged at the incantor and snapped around her body, squeezing the breath right out of her lungs.
Jo’s eyes widened with first shock then pain. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as the hazy vapor slithered around her like a serpent, tightening and tightening, crushing bones, causing veins to pop, tearing skin, and rupturing blood vessels. Then her head flopped forward, and the power released her corpse in an