and dryer remaining. They are staying, along with most of the furniture on the first floor.
Today has been rather productive until this point, even though it started with being woken to the news of another murder. Easton told me everything I now know, and I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for an update. Once the crime scene cleared, I knew I wouldn’t get one, but it didn’t stop me from obsessing.
There have been multiple bodies found with missing hearts. One showed signs of being tied up, making us think a specific ritual had been performed before the heart was removed. This last body was left bleeding in a field, with the heart torn out of her chest. It was messy, unlike the last victim, and the police are having a hard time making a connection based on the totally different styles of removing the heart.
Copycat? Perhaps. But I know better. It was the same demon, and I know it’s going to strike again.
“I’m fine,” I tell Lucas, forcing a smile. The contractors finished their inspection of the second story today, giving their stamp of approval on us moving more stuff in. The new bedroom furniture we ordered will be arriving at some point tomorrow, and the closets are done and ready to start filling, which is what we’re doing now.
The foyer and living room of this house are full of things to be loaded into the truck, and the sun is sinking low in the sky. Lucas and I will be able to go over as soon as the truck is loaded, and I’ve tried to keep myself busy with packing all day. It worked for some of the day, but here we are and now I’m obsessing.
Julian’s spell worked, keeping me safe from Bael’s eyes. He and Tabatha cast the spell halfway between this house and the estate, purposely shielding both from the demon’s watch. I know he can’t see me, but I’ve been on edge all day. He can’t see me now, but I know he’s still here, still looking. Waiting. Planning.
He wants to take over Hell, and he needs me to do it.
I’ve stopped and called for my dad multiple times today, and multiple times today, I’ve gotten a big fat nothing. Letting out a breath, I run my hands through my hair and get up, clipping a leash to Scarlet’s collar. She scared the movers not that long ago, when they came into the house to get the furniture from the guest room.
“Let’s go for a run,” I tell her, letting out another sigh. I changed into workout clothes over an hour ago and came into the kitchen with the intention of leaving but ended up obsessing over the latest murder instead. I wave to the movers inside the truck on our way out, and I swear I can hear them let out a huge sigh of relief to see Scarlet going away from the house.
We jog about half a mile down the road. The night is chilly, and I didn’t put on a hat. My ears are cold, and I pull my hair from my ponytail to try and keep my ears warm. Scarlet and I turn around and jog back to the house, finding Lucas on the porch, overseeing everything being put into the moving truck. I let go of Scarlet’s leash and she sprints to him, tail wagging hard in her excitement to see Lucas.
“Feeling any better?” he asks.
“A little.” I let out a breath and go up the porch steps. “I miss running.”
“And I miss seeing you in tight pants.”
I purse my lips and shake my head. “I’m in leggings pretty much daily now.”
Lucas squeeze my butt and kisses my neck, pulling me close to him. I let my eyes fall shut and drape my arms around him. “Julian didn’t come back yet?” I ask. He left to check on something, promising he wasn’t going to try and fix the rift just yet.
“No. You weren’t gone very long,” Lucas reminds me.
“My ears got cold.”
“It’s chilly out,” Lucas notes.
“Yeah, it is.”
“Get a treadmill. We have room in the basement, and then you won’t have to work out in the cold.”
I nod. “We do, and that’s a good idea. I should get myself on a good schedule now so I can stick with it come summer.” I rest my head on Lucas’s shoulder, watching the movers carry the dresser from the guest room into the truck.