White powder dusted down, reeking of mustard and blood and crushed rose petals, and like salt on a slug, the Tainted shriveled into an onyx rock the size of a baseball. And didn’t move.
Holy shit, it worked.
Footsteps shuffled in my direction. I rolled onto my left side and stared at the black sneakers in front of me. And at the blue jeans above them—not Triad standard for an assault. My savior crouched in front of me, the left sleeve of his shirt stained red.
I swallowed, unable to believe it. Unwilling to give in to the illusion. I was delusional, seeing what I wanted to see, not what was in front of me.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist and drew me up against his chest. A familiar, wonderful heartbeat thrummed steadily against mine. I pushed back so I could see. Brilliant onyx eyes looked down at me over a mouth stretched into a joyous smile. Color flushed his cheeks. Life vibrated from him like a live current.
“Wyatt.” I said the word like a prayer, afraid he would vanish in a puff of smoke.
He nodded. “It’s me.” He stroked my cheek with the tip of his finger. “I don’t know what you did to my chest, but it hurts like hell.”
I started laughing and flung my arms around his neck. He was alive—truly alive and well and in my arms. His scent filled my nostrils; his existence invaded every sense. My chest ached, but it was a sweet ache. The gentle pain of something broken that was on the mend.
His laughter mingled with mine and we held each other. We had wallowed in shit and, against the odds, had come out clean on the other side. Clean, alive, and together.
“Amalie’s magic pouch worked,” I said.
“I see that. What do we do with it now?”
“Nothing. I say we contact Amalie and let her people deal with it. They’re the ones who were supposed to keep this from happening in the first place.”
“I like that plan.”
“So does this mean we get to compare our death experiences?”
He grinned. “Absolutely not. You win, hands down. Although I do know how you feel now, scaring the shit out of people who think you’re dead.”
“Kismet?”
“Tybalt, actually. I never thought a grown man could shriek like a girl.”
I tucked my head beneath his chin, content in a place that, only a week ago, I never thought I’d want to be. “I thought I lost you, and I hated it.”
“I know, Evy, but I think it’s finally over.”
“Not quite.” Over his shoulder, past the contained demon, I spied the six crates. “It isn’t quite done yet.”
I couldn’t bring myself to go back into that laboratory. Seeing those wretched, tortured creatures once was more than enough. Some had been human, most not. But all were living creatures, and they didn’t deserve what Tovin had done to them.
Wyatt and I hung around the Visitors’ Center lobby while Kismet, Baylor, and two other Handlers conferred with their bosses, via cell phone, over the hybrid problem. I kicked at the charred remains of the front desk. Destroying it had knocked down the protection barrier, as I suspected, and allowed the Bloods and Triads to continue their assault on the last of the Halfie forces.
The battle hadn’t lasted long. Tybalt had a few deep lacerations on his thigh from the hound getting too close, but he would live. The Triads had only suffered six deaths—the least of any side. The pavement outside was littered with corpses. The Halfies and Bloods would burn with the morning sun. A bonfire would deal with the rest.
“Evangeline.”
I turned toward the Center’s entrance. Isleen strode toward me, her body armor somehow blood-free, every white hair tucked firmly into place. I was almost sorry I’d hit her in the gut. Her ghostly white face needed a little color.
“You going to try and deck me again?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I am certain you, of all people, understand actions taken in the heat of battle.”
“Kelsa killed your sister.”
“Yes, and while not by my hands, she paid for that crime.”
“And a few others.”
Isleen half turned, as if to go, and paused. Over one shoulder, she said, “I cannot guess where our paths may cross next, Evangeline Stone. I hope it continues to be as allies.”
“Ditto.” I offered my hand. She eyed the dirt and bloodstains and shook it anyway. Her grip was firm, cold, and truthful.
She spared Wyatt a nod and a terse “Truman,” and left. Probably to gather her troops and leave us humans to clean up the carnage.
“Did anyone tell her about the critters downstairs?” Wyatt asked.
“Nope,” I said.
“Think she’ll be annoyed at being left out?”
“Maybe.”
“Do you even care right now?”
“Not even a little bit.” Kismet strode past. I took a step toward her and asked, “What will happen to the hybrids?”
“We’ll take them out of here,” she replied. “We have a secure facility south of the city.”
My mouth fell open. “You’re taking them to Boot Camp?”
“It’s a secure facility, and it’s the best we’ve got on short notice. We need someplace to sort them out.”
“You mean kill them?”
“I don’t know, Stone; I really don’t. We’ll do what we can for the ones that can still function. The others … It’s wait and see. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.”
She started to walk away. Stopped. “By the way, Rufus will live. He’s got some pretty bad burns, but he’s tough. Just thought you’d like to know.”
Relief settled warmly in my stomach. Score one more for the good guys.
Kismet disappeared into the mix. No one paid us much attention. Wyatt slipped one arm around my waist. I leaned against him. We were both splattered in complementary shades of red and fuchsia. My shoulder had stopped bleeding, and the gashes on my stomach itched like a bitch. Overall, though, we’d come out ahead.
“So you going to get your old job back?” I asked. “Seeing as you’re a hero and no longer a hunted criminal?”
He grimaced. “I doubt it. Having everyone turn against you and try to kill your girlfriend kind of sours a working relationship.”
“Girlfriend? Presume much?”
“Probably, yes.” He turned his head, breath tickling my cheek. “I told you yesterday, Evy, you have healing to do, and I’ll be here for you. Whatever it takes.”
My physical body seemed to be healing on its own, but only time would tell if the healing gift was as permanent as my new body. The emotional wounds, though, were more plentiful and harder to reach. I was just glad to know I wasn’t alone. “And in the meantime?”
“I’m sure we can find something to keep us occupied and out of trouble.”
“Like what?”
“Ever wanted to open a nature preserve?”
I punched him in the shoulder.
“How about a Grecian dress shop?”
“I am never wearing a getup like that again, so kiss that fantasy good-bye.”
“Not even if Amalie invites us down for tea?”
I could only imagine how Amalie and her people felt about tonight’s victory. Anger at the Tainted’s successful crossing into our world. Joy over the continued security of First Break. Annoyance at being tasked with babysitting the Tainted we’d captured. Relief at never getting her own blue hands dirty in its protection. Then again, all of those reactions were emotional. Human. Beneath her kind, and yet something I would never give up.
“If I ever set foot in that place again without her asking for a favor, suicidal or otherwise, I’ll eat that damned dress.”
He kissed my temple. “That’s the Evy I know. So, what do you want to do next?”
I faltered. I hadn’t given any thought past today and the events I had felt certain would end in my death. Tomorrow was a gift, and I was glad to have it. I just didn’t know what the hell to do with it.
“I think I want to go get a bag of cheese puffs,” I said.
“You … what?” His expression—openmouthed and eyebrows arched—was priceless. “Since when do you like cheese puffs?”