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Kara moves back over without an instant of hesitation. “That’s less of a concern than keeping Rerek occupied.” A new concentration takes over her form, especially every gorgeous angle of her face. Any second now, I expect my little demon to start glowing from the inside out.
She’s become that forceful that fast. That astonishing. That brilliantly beautiful.
But there’s still no eerie glow in her veins. The edges of her hair don’t burst into flames. There aren’t any isotopes blaring in her eyes. At least not before she closes them all the way. Slowly. Purposefully. With intent that matches her gentle murmur into the twilight.
“Jaden. I know you can hear me.” She takes a shallow breath. “Okay, so I really hope you can. If so, you need to find a way to let me know.”
“Supercharged auditory skills,” I explain in response to Circe’s frown. “Kara’s not the only Valari with interesting abilities.”
“I just need them to penetrate whatever’s between us,” Kara murmurs, raising her head and reopening her gaze. “Come on, brother.” The final embers of the day catch and hold in the worried intensity of her big browns. “Give me a sign. Just—”
From inside the house, there’s a loud crash—the residual shatters of glass in a million pieces.
The acoustic equivalent of a thumbs-up from Jaden.
“Guess his radar’s up,” Arden utters.
“And pinging loud and clear,” Circe adds with a triumphant smirk.
Adrenaline is my bloodstream’s buddy once more. It eclipses most instincts, but that’s for the better. It’s the main one that keeps me moving. “This has to happen now. If we didn’t miss that commotion way out here, bet your ass that Rerek didn’t either.”
Maybe my anticipation is feeding my decree. This time Rerek won’t evade me so easily. It’s going to feel so freaking good to show him what a gut punch feels like, though it won’t compare to how his actions nearly ruined me last week.
I lead the way, Arden hot on my heels as we head straight for Rerek’s Zen-infused atrium. Talk about looks being deceiving.
I stop only once. To swoop an arm around Kara’s middle and haul her into my side again. And to mash her lips with mine. And to infuse her senses with my determination—and limitless adoration.
“You’ve got this. Just be sure nobody getsyou.”
Circe jogs both brows. “That’s what I’m here for.”
“And me.”
I blink very hard, several times, before realizing the declaration isn’t mine or Arden’s. I’m that visually blasted—and stunned—that Hecate’s light show is more brilliant than her fire-and-ice light funnel atop Kara’s swimming pool. This time the colors fan out, sizzling with a thousand hues at once.
Just as swiftly, the light show fades. She walks calmly forward, now clothed in a modernized Greek toga. The purple fabric at her shoulder is secured by a jeweled dog that moves like a real version of the animal. The bottom part of her gown is actually billowy pants that are tucked into knee-high gladiator sandals.
“Goddess.” Circe sounds a lot like she did in Iremia’s kitchen this morning. “Ermmm…hello?”
Kara cants her head as if a fresh angle will clear her confusion. “How did you…”
Hecate pushes forward, her silky purple layers billowing as if she’s got a full production team to ensure the perfectly powerful result.
“All we need to worry about right now is how you are going to do this, Kara. About how youcando this.”
“Perhaps with a few words of wisdom from the goddess on high.” I can’t help but say it. No matter how deep in the dark I still am about the real situation between Circe and Hecate, I can stand completely in the light about this point. “Unless you want to do the honors yourself.”
Hecate is stoic about her expression but firm in her reply. “Kara is a Valari, and two Valaris need saving. This is clearly her quest. Besides, there’s no better challenge to use one’s powers to the fullest than when lives hang in the balance.”
Deaf to Hecate’s last words, Arden keeps stalking toward the house. I sprint to catch up, following him down the modern white steps until we skirt the tiered bowl fountain in the vestibule before facing the villa’s wide double doors. Beyond it, fast-paced stomps echo along the marble floors and spacious walls.
Clearly, Rerek doesn’t think we’re delivering Szechuan.
“We’ve got to get in there. Now.” And not solely because my fantasies have blossomed about permanently wiping the droll smirk off his face.
“Stand back. I think I can singe this off at the hinges.” Arden’s scowl gains new wrinkles. “Gads, little Rerek. You really can’t do any better than a second-level barrier net? No wonder you’re still clawing to get into Hades’s favor.”
I heed his order, backing up by a few steps, but am still bouncing on the balls of my feet. “After I’m done with this little shit, he’ll be lucky to have claws left.”
