her bright orange nail polish that broke up the glaring glow of the rest of her ensemble.
She lowered her chin and looked at me over her glasses, pushing them down for dramatic emphasis. “You look like hell. That’s okay. Talking to Nina sometimes makes me feel that way, too.”
I made a face, trying not to smile, while fishing my keys from my pocket.
“You should have your keys ready. What if something attacked you while you were walking to your car?”
“Then I would fight back.”
“Keys make a great weapon.”
I sighed. “Does it ever stop being a lesson?”
She looked offended. “Have I ever talked down to you?”
“You just did.”
“I’m just being Captain Obvious. Get in the car.”
I obeyed, sitting behind the wheel and buckling my seat belt, while Claire took her time to walk around and open the car door. She yanked off her glasses and blew her blunt-cut bangs from her eyes.
My bottom lip trembled. I could handle a lot of things, but Claire being mad at me wasn’t one of them.
“What?” she asked.
“Haven’t you heard? Hell wants me dead, so I’m out of the way. Heaven is trying to teach me some cosmic lesson, and …”
Claire smirked. “Your boyfriend’s back? Yeah, I’ve heard.”
“I realize that, as a family, we’ve beaten impossible odds before, but this is overwhelming.”
She waved me off. “Just stay away from him.”
“What if he doesn’t stay away from me?”
She shrugged. “Kick his ass. He’ll quit coming back.”
“That didn’t work with Ryan,” I grumbled.
“My husband is a very special man who is too stupid to realize his own mortality.”
“Well, Levi was mortal and gave it up for me, so …” I wiped my cheek.
“You can’t cry, Eden. Don’t give in to it. Our way of life won’t change,” she said, less than zero apology in her tone.
“You mean, what’s left of mine?”
“Feeling sorry for yourself gets you nowhere. And besides, nothing is set in stone. You’re not stuck.”
“I’m not feeling sorry for myself.”
“The tears on your face tell a different story.”
She was so straightforward. I used to love it but not when she turned it in my direction.
“Apparently, I had this epic love with Levi, and now, he’s here. He’s turned his back on everything he knows to be with me, and I have to stay away from him, or I’ll die a traitor’s death. You don’t want me to be scared or sad about that?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re not dying. I’ve been there. I would know.”
“Good. Just because I’m not afraid to die doesn’t mean I want to.”
“Good, because I won’t let you.”
“If I can’t stop it, Claire, you can’t either.”
“You might be stronger than I am, but I would kill any demon who comes within a mile of you. We all would.”
“I know you would, but I don’t want you getting hurt because of me.”
Her nose wrinkled. “You should be preparing to survive instead of preparing to die.”
“I have been. My entire life. But Bex said …” I sighed. “Where is Bex?”
Claire’s expression changed, and she tensed. “Visiting.”
“Allison?”
Claire paused. “Yeah,” she said, tasting the word as it slipped from her mouth.
Her heart was beating faster, and her pupils dilated. She was lying.
“Where’s Dad?” I asked.
“Out of sight.”
I shook my head. “No, he’s not, Claire. C’mon. He’s nowhere near here, and you’re alone. Do we wait until he gets back?”
She shook her head. “No. Ryan is two trucks back. Drive where you want.”
I sighed. “I can’t leave Mom unprotected.”
“I told you, Ryan is here.”
“He can’t even hit a goblin with a full clip.”
“Grant is in his office.”
“Claire.”
“Fine. We’ll wait.” She slammed her back into the seat.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “What’s your hurry?”
“Jared got a lead on possible intel,” she said, looking at her nails. “I’d like to sit in.”
“What kind of intel?”
She casually bit at a hangnail. “He’s talking to Levi.”
“What?” I said, bristling.
She spit out the piece of skin. “He wanted to ask his own questions. Levi agreed to meet with him.”
“Where?”
“It doesn’t matter. You weren’t invited.”
“Claire! Where are they?”
“Where else? The warehouse.”
I started the car.
“I thought you said you couldn’t leave your mom unprotected?”
I turned to her. “Get out.”
She frowned. “What?”
“Get out of my car.”
She pulled a breath in through her nose. “Sometimes, I really wish I could get a few punches in on you.”
I glowered at her. “Get out.”
“Geez. Fine.” She pushed the door open and slammed it.
I tore away from the curb. The Audi’s engine whined as I pushed it to its limits all the way to the edge of