“She may be a threat,” Ethan said. “Mallory has attempted, and likely will attempt again, magic that has no purpose but to harm others, including you.”
The fierceness in his eyes made my stomach clench with nerves. The protectiveness was thrilling, but I was afraid it boded poorly for Mal.
“If it comes down to you or her…”
I was silent for a moment. “What?”
He didn’t finish the sentence; he didn’t need to. He was warning me, apologizing for what he might do to Mallory if—when—she popped into our lives again. But I didn’t want to have this conversation.
“She’s my best friend. She’s practically my sister.”
“And she’s put you down with her magic. She tried to destroy the third-biggest city in the country, and she tried to turn me into her servant because she thinks she has the right to unleash evil on the world.”
I swallowed down fear and a fierce bolt of sudden anger at Mallory, and I made myself face him. “I can’t let you hurt her, Ethan.”
His gaze went fierce, and he lifted my chin with his finger and thumb. “I know you love her. I have no doubt of it. But if it comes down to a choice between you and her, my choice is already made.”
“Ethan—”
“No,” he said, crystalline green eyes boring into me. “You are my choice. I told you before—you are mine, by blood and bone. I won’t let her come between that, no matter how sick she is.”
Maybe seeing the panic in my eyes, his expression softened. “I don’t wish it,” he said. “I don’t want it to come to that. But the decision is made. It is and will be.”
“We’re not doing this to punish her,” I reminded him. “This is a rescue mission. We find her, and we bring her home, safe and sound. All three of us, safe and sound. She brought you back to me, Ethan. I can’t forgive her for what she’s done, but I can’t forget that, either.”
He wrapped himself around me, his mouth on mine so suddenly it took my breath away. Then he captured my face with his hands and kissed me with an insistence that left no room for question, or doubt, about who I was to him.
We began as enemies, Ethan and I. He saved my life but was unwilling to accept me for who I was—or I, him.
We grew as colleagues but fought our attraction to each other. And when I was ready to give in to his advances, he let fear lead him away.
He gave his life for me, and I finally admitted the depth of my feelings for him.
And by a miracle—a miracle by a blue-haired girl intent on destroying the world around us—he was back again…and she was still the obstacle between us.
Paige’s voice echoed up the stairs. “Ready if you are!”
Ethan stepped back and rubbed a hand across his jaw. “We should get downstairs.”
I nodded back at him, unsure how to begin again.
Worry heavy in my heart, we met Paige on the first floor. She looked ready for work in heavy pants, black boots, and a short plaid coat with a matching cap and earflaps, her red curls gleaming beneath it. She might have been out here alone, but this girl was serious about her job.
We followed her outside into the crisp fall air. It was a lovely night for late November, the chill in the air just cool enough to be refreshing instead of toe numbing. Paige led us around the farmhouse and into the field behind it, where the grass was short and yellowed. The moon shone high and white in the sky.
“So, Paige,” I said, “if you’re the only one here, how do you keep an eye on everything?”
“I have friends. The prairie may be empty of sorcerers, but it’s not empty of sups. I also have potions. You’ve heard of Sleepytime tea? I’ve invented the opposite—a magical pick-me-up. I call it Wakeytime tea. It gives me the energy to keep an eye out.”
“That’s what you were drinking earlier?”
“No. That really was Sleepytime tea. I took the day off since you were here, too. It made me feel better to have someone else in the house, even if you were unconscious. It was the first time I’ve slept in days.”
I was impressed that she looked so good on so little sleep. I’d have looked like a plague victim on a bad hair day. “You look fantastic.”