I wake up alone in Ethan’s bed, with Hunter sleeping on a folded blanket on the floor next to me. The door to the room is shut, and Ethan left his closet light on so I wouldn’t wake in pitch black. Since my clothes are wet and in the laundry, I wrap the comforter around myself and go to Ethan’s dresser, pulling out a pair of athletic pants. They’re way too big of course, and I roll up the waistband a few times and hope they don’t fall down. I feel a little invasive rustling through his closet, finding a black t-shirt to pull over my head.
The dagger is on the dresser, next to Ethan’s phone. I tap the screen to check the time. I’ve been asleep for over an hour and my head feels all foggy. Resting my hands on the dresser, I try to push everything away, but it all comes rushing back.
Leslie is dead.
I’ll never see her smiling face again.
We’ll never ride together again.
And she’ll never get the chance to start her family.
“Fuck.” Tears sting the corners of my eyes and I take in a slow breath, trying to keep from bursting into tears. Hunter gently paws my leg and I sink to the ground, throwing my arms around him. “You’re not really a dog, but you certainly look and feel like one,” I tell Hunter. “And you comfort like one.” I bury my face in his fur and someone softly knocks on the door.
“Come in,” I say, blinking away the tears that roll down my cheeks.
“Hey.” Sam steps in, flicking on the light. I close my eyes, blinking from the harsh light. “Oh, sorry,” she says but doesn’t sound that sorry at all. Wiping my eyes, I get to my feet.
“Is Ethan downstairs?”
“He’s talking to Isaac about the Pricolici. We’ve never heard of them attacking anyone but their target.”
“Does he know anything about that?”
“I’m not sure yet, but if he does, we’ll find out. And, um, you know, he, um, doesn’t like…um…”
“Outsiders?” I supply.
Her eyes meet mine. “Witches.”
For a second, I think she’s being catty with me, but then I realize she’s telling the truth. “Does he know I’m a witch?”
“No, but if you talk to him, you’re going to have to alter some details. Starting with your dog being just a dog.” She eyes Hunter nervously.
“Ethan told you?”
“He gave me some rushed details. You really went out in the woods alone with the intention of killing the Pricolici and finding the demon?”
“Yes. They’re after me, and I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of it.”
“I respect that,” she says, still being honest. “I’m really sorry about your friend. It’s never easy to lose anyone.”
“You say that like you have.” I twist my damp hair over my shoulder.
“I have. Quite a few times. It’s…it’s partly why I don’t like any newbies coming into our little circle. They tend to die.” She gives me a half smile and nudges me with her elbow. “But you seem pretty resilient.”
“I’d call myself scrappy,” I say and Sam laughs. “Should I stay upstairs?”
“No, come down with us.”
I force a smile and follow Sam downstairs, with Hunter trailing right behind. What does Isaac have against witches? David and Ethan are in the living room, standing by the window that looks out over the back yard.
“You better hope no one else finds out,” David says harshly, and Ethan shakes his head, jaw set as he angrily stares down his father. “This is our life. Don’t jeopardize it for a good time. We know how they are, and you know we can’t trust them. If it was anyone else, the Order would—”
“Hey, guys,” Sam says loudly, clearly interrupting a conversation I wasn’t supposed to hear.
“Anora.” Ethan steps away from his father, crossing the room. “You okay?”
“Physically, yes. Mentally…that’s another story.”
He brushes my damp hair back. “I know,” he says gently.
“Did you find anything else out?” I ask, flattening my palms against Ethan’s chest.
“Yes and no.” He motions to the kitchen. “Instead of relaying the message, let’s talk to Isaac.”
“That’s not a good idea,” David says.
“I talked to her,” Sam says quietly. “She won’t say anything.”
I’m definitely missing something here, but now’s not the time to get into it. The Pricolici have to be tracked so I can kill the demon before someone else gets hurt.
“Sit,” David says and motions to the couch. “I’ll bring him in.”
Ethan and I sit together on the couch. “It’s okay not to