he felt Teresa’s essence here. This was where she lived and dreamed and laughed. There was a sense of warmth to the tiny house that told him this was her safe place. The one spot in the world where she felt most comfortable. Her home. And she would probably never see it again.
Dismissing his wandering thoughts, Rune focused his attention on the damn bird Teresa refused to live without. He would have spotted it instantly even if it hadn’t whistled sharply at his sudden arrival.
It looked like a miniature parrot. Sapphire blue head, dark orange beak curved downward, brilliant green ring of color around its neck and spilling down its back. Bright yellow and orange colored its narrow chest and its beady eyes were locked onto Rune as it squawked the same phrase over and over. It took him a minute to understand the bird’s attempt at language, but when he did he almost smiled.
Teresa had trained the bird to shout a warning. Over and over again, the pretty rat with wings shrieked, “Run for it!”
Amusement aside, Rune gritted his teeth. He’d never liked birds. Probably went back to the Middle Ages, when hawks were kept and trained by noblemen. One of his fellow Eternals, Odell, had kept the damn things and one of the feathered bastards had clawed Rune’s face open one fine day.
Later that night, the hawk had made a tasty stew.
Since then, Rune had hated birds. Especially so called “tame” ones. Treacherous creatures.
“Be grateful I’m not roasting you for a snack, you wretched bag of fluff.”
The bird screeched again.
“Run for it!”
He was going to regret this—he could already feel it. But there was no hope for it now. Sweeping one hand out, he captured the damn bird before it could take flight off its perch. “It’s your lucky day,” he told it in a whisper. “Don’t push me.”
Rune heard the hunters before he saw them. They hit the front door with a crash and came spilling into Teresa’s tiny home like water from a fire hose. Guns lifted. Men shouted. Rune laughed.
Then he called on the fire and disappeared as white-gold bullets shredded the air where he had just been.
Chapter 15
“Chico!”
The ridiculous bird flew right to Teresa, perched on her shoulder and bobbed up and down like it was doing a victory dance. Then it turned to give Rune the evil eye. While it shook itself, ruffling its brilliant feathers, Rune spoke up.
“You’ve got the bird. Now we get out of here.”
“Right,” she said with a nod. “Just one more stop to make before we go.”
“Are you insane? There were hunters at your house. Waiting for you. You’ve already fought one and the others have found him by now. We need to leave.”
Gently stroking her bird’s back, Teresa paled a little, but even as he noted that, Rune saw a spark of defiance shine in her eyes. “Not until we make sure Elena’s safe. She gave me the things I needed to help you and I probably took the feds right to her door.”
He understood loyalty. Respected it. And in other circumstances would have admired seeing that trait in his witch. But now was not the time.
“If you did, there’s no help for it now,” he said. “Your friend knew what she was doing. She chose to help.”
“And now I’m choosing to do the same.” Teresa took a step toward him, the stupid bird still bobbing and weaving on her shoulder. Her gaze was fixed on him and her features were set in a blank mask that revealed nothing of what she was feeling. “I know I said I’d leave after you got Chico, and I’m sorry about that. But I have to make sure Elena’s all right. You can either come with me or wait here or, hell, I don’t know … go ahead to Mexico and I’ll meet you there.”
“Not going to happen.”
“Which?”
“Any.” He watched her closely and saw her loyalty warring with her innate sense of duty. Just as she had done so many years ago, Rune noted, she was forcing a choice on herself. Back then it had been simple. Side with Rune—do her duty as she knew it to be—or throw in her lot with the coven and her sister witches in their quest for power and knowledge.
Rune had trusted her then. He had believed that they were one in heart and mind. But she’d betrayed herself, him and everything she had ever believed in.
“You expect me to trust you?” he said,