Tarot Academy 4 - Sarah Piper Page 0,79

come.

Over four thousand dead.

Scores more missing or fighting for their lives.

A nationwide roundup of witches and mages—a roundup few will ever escape.

It’s all too much to comprehend. Too much death, too much fear, too much sadness filling up the house. Filling up my head.

“Air,” I finally gasp, pulling out of Doc’s grasp. “I need air.”

The room spins, bile rising in my throat. Ignoring the sound of my name and the weight of their oppressive energy, I bolt for the door, throwing myself out into the wide-open space where I promptly and unceremoniously drop to me knees and retch.

Twenty-Seven

STEVIE

I’m only outside for a few moments when a calm, stately presence washes over me, and Jareth swoops down from his hiding place, perching on a waist-high sandstone slab in the backyard.

“I knew you’d come,” I tell him, wiping away my tears. “You always know when I need you, huh?”

In response, he lifts a wing, inspecting his plumage as if he couldn’t care less about my predicament one way or the other.

But I know he senses my pain. Just like I can sense his presence now, always close to me, always watching.

“Yes, you’re quite handsome,” I confirm. “There’s no denying it.”

This gets a little hoot of acknowledgment, and I laugh, some of the weight lifting from my chest.

Taking my first deep breath in what feels like an hour, I reach out and stroke his head, my energy immediately settling. Out here in the dusty backyard, fresh air caressing my skin, the golden sun hanging over the horizon, the grounding energy of the red rocks steadying me, it’s almost impossible to feel anything but peace and contentment.

Even when it seems like the rest of the world is on fire.

“There’s no way that was Ani,” I tell Jareth. “Now, I’m not saying it’s coincidence—how could it be? But if his hometown was attacked by witchfire, my guess is someone’s setting him up. Doc was on the right track with that. Soldiers of Light? No, that’s bullshit. Even if there was a group of mages that wanted to wreak havoc on the human world, they certainly wouldn’t go around bragging about it.”

Another hoot. A flutter of wings.

“I’m thinking it was Judgment—he’s the most likely candidate here, what with his obsession with the Wand and fire and tormenting souls. Possibly with a big assist from Agent Eastman and his merry band of conspiracy theorists too, right? Because guys like that? They want us all to burn in hell, even if it means sending a few of their own into the fiery pits in the process.”

Jareth watches me closely, blinking his bright golden eyes.

“Goddess, I really wish you could talk to me,” I say, tracing the soft edge of his wing. “What would you say, I wonder?”

“I’d probably start with an apology,” comes the gravelly reply.

Jareth takes off at the approach of a new visitor, and when I turn around, it’s Baz I find standing before me, his eyes red, his mouth pulled into a deep frown.

“You’re right,” he says. “You don’t even have to say it. I’m an asshole. The biggest fucking asshole this side of the apocalypse.”

I let out a sigh. “Baz, you just—”

“You’ve always known that about me though, so you can’t exactly claim false advertising. I’m thinking this works in my favor, because at the very least, you know I’m not a liar.” He hooks his fingers into the waistband of my jeans and pulls me close, locking me in a fierce gaze, knuckles brushing the bare skin of my belly. “A world-class dickhead, maybe, but not a liar. So when I tell you I’m sorry, please please know it’s the truth.”

Here in the setting sun, his red-brown eyes are on fire, the heat from his fingers radiating against my skin as he slides his hands along my waistband, stopping to rest at the small of my back.

“I never should’ve said that shit,” he continues. “I swear I didn’t mean it. I know Ani’s still with us. He said your name, Stevie. Trust me—I’ve been holding onto that fact like a lifeline for weeks. I’m just…” He closes his eyes and shakes his head, emotion choking his words. “I fucking miss him. I want him back here with us where he belongs. I’m going out of my fucking mind.”

I lock my hands behind his neck and lay my head against his chest, timing my breaths to the strong, familiar beat of his heart.

“I love you,” he whispers, and I tighten my hold, feeling like