hands on my chest, somehow sinking past the skin and bones and muscle. Past the organs, to something that hadn’t always been there. I know the contours of the power as she touches it. It’s the first time I’ve truly understood it, bright and burning, flooding my body.
In that moment, I know what I’m losing.
I take one last deep breath, holding on to the feeling of life. Of a connection to other girls across the globe, each with her own messy life and her own tremendous potential. Of power—power so deep and dark I could dive into it and never find its limits.
Eve tugs, the light fighting to stay. It curls, clinging to me, burning me in protest. My Slayer instincts roar up, demanding I fight. But I don’t resist. I hold Artemis’s face in my mind.
And I let it all go.
32
“NINA! NINA, WAKE UP! PLEASE wake up!”
Everything hurts. I don’t want to wake up. But Artemis is scared. I peel my eyes open, then cough. I cough so long and hard I can’t draw a breath. When I’m about to pass out again, I manage to stop long enough to breathe.
I’m . . . weak. So weak. What had been my normal before stands in such stark contrast to being a Slayer that I honestly don’t know how I ever moved. How I survived feeling like this for so many years.
I gasp, finally getting enough air that lights aren’t dancing in my vision. Artemis helps me sit up. She’s on the floor next to me, her knee at an angle a knee is not supposed to be. My back is against my nightstand.
“Where is she?” I croak, eyes darting in panic around the room, searching every shadow.
“She demanded to know where Mom went. She wants Mom’s book so she can get to other Slayers in case she needs more power.” Artemis grimaces, holding her knee. “Eve said she’d kill Imogen and the Littles, so I told her about Naked Grains. I’m sorry.”
“Did it work? Did she get my power?” I know the answer. I feel it in every inch of my body, but still I ask.
Artemis’s hand trembles as she smooths back my hair. “It worked. She mentioned something about her husband again. He was trapped in a hell dimension when the portals closed. Nina, I think—I think she’s going to use your power to open up a hellmouth.”
I stand, swaying woozily. Everything feels trembly and disconnected, like I haven’t eaten in three days. I fight back nausea, and I fight back a deep sorrow, a piercing sense of loss for something I was only beginning to truly accept. But Slayer or no Slayer, people are in danger. “If she gets to Naked Grains—”
“Mom,” Artemis says.
“And Honora,” I add, my voice soft. Because as much as I hate her, I don’t want her to die. And I really don’t want Artemis to go through that. Plus, once Eve gets what she wants there, there’s no telling who else she might hurt or kill. And we for sure do not want a hellmouth under her control.
“What do we do?” Artemis is looking to me for help. For guidance. And for the first time in years, I’m going to be the strong one for her.
I grab two stakes and use them to splint her knee. She hisses in pain, but then she stands, able to put a little weight on it. “Meet me at the garage,” I say. I take a small notebook from my collection and shove it into my pocket, then run into the hall—which makes my head spin. I slump against the wall until I can move again. And then I speed walk instead of run to Imogen’s door.
“What is it?” She’s still in pajamas, a bag of Cheetos in her hands, the three Littles lounging on their stomachs around a television.
“Do you trust me?” I ask. Imogen nods, her eyes narrowing as she sees how serious I am. “Okay, so Eve is a demon, she stole my Slayer power, she’s gonna open a hellmouth if we don’t stop her, and if she comes back here, no one is safe.”
Imogen blinks once. Twice. Then she drops the Cheetos and claps her hands. “Hey, kiddos! It’s a field trip day!”
The Littles jump up, squealing.
“We’ll go to Cillian’s,” I say. “Rhys is there. Cillian can take you all somewhere safe. Somewhere we don’t know about.” In case Eve gets to us. Better that no one can betray where the Littles