“I’m also friends with a number of Shamans.”
“Yeah? Well, you don’t have one with you twenty-four seven. And nobody plans accidents, Chloe. Nobody plans on heart attacks. They just happen, whether or not you’re friends with a Shaman.”
I’m unreasonably annoyed by his practicality.
“So, my answer is no. It’s too risky.” I open my mouth to counter him, so he adds, “And don’t think you’ll be able to sweet talk Kellan into it either. We both feel strongly against using our crafts for things like this.”
Ugh. I know I’m being juvenile about this, but I can’t risk Enlilkian going after him again. Going after anybody, actually. “I appreciate what you’re saying, but ... it would be just until I can take Enlilkian out. The sooner you can do this for me, the quicker I can get it done.”
He’s unmoved. “There has to be another way, Chloe. We’ll find it, I promise.”
I slump back down on the bed, exasperated. I mean, I know his heart is in the right place, but people are dying. It’s so preposterously stupid that I am the only one who can kill these things and yet still need to be protected because I’m the only Creator, but there it is. I have to do something. I can’t just keep sitting back and letting people get hurt or die because of my inactivity or my ability to fold like a house of cards during a hurricane.
He slides down next to me, fingers stroking my cheek, concern darkening his blue eyes.
“What did Enlilkian do to you, Jonah?”
He sighs and rolls onto his back.
I ask the question again. Slowly. Clearly. He’s not going to shoulder this alone. We’re a team now. No more secrets, not from either of us.
“It doesn’t mat—”
My third time asking is firmer.
Another sigh escapes him. “Fine. When I got to the roof, I was able to get it incapacitated fairly quickly. I knew you were there, I knew you were hurt, but I wanted to get it under control for when Kellan came, so I didn’t let myself look at you right away.”
He pauses, and I think to myself, he got Enlilkian under control by torturing him with so much pain that that monster became the one to be immobilized. And maybe it’s wrong of me, but I’m fiercely glad for this.
“But then it taunted me, saying if I didn’t help you, you’d die.” He bites his lower lip as he stares at the curtains above us. “I guess you’re not the only one who can’t function when they’re upset, because the moment I allowed myself to look down at you and I saw all the blood, and how broken you were, I ...” He closes his eyes against the memory. “Whatever hold I had on it broke. It made some kind of weapon while I was dropping onto the ground next to you. And then it thought it would be fun to use said weapon on me.”
Jonah’s next to me, he’s fine, I know he’s fine, and yet so much panic rocks me that it’s a miracle the bed remains intact. “What kind of—”
“The rest isn’t important,” he says flatly. “The point is, you’re not the only one who has to work on their emotions when it comes to Enlilkian.”
I lean over and kiss the corner of his mouth. We lay there in silence for a long time, mirrored frustrations raging helplessly inside our chests. Finally, I ask quietly, “What did you guys do with my father?”
“We told you. Cameron is on lockdown, back at the apartment.”
It’s so sweet that he automatically views Cameron Dane as my father. And, blood or no, he is in all the ways that count. “No. Not Cameron. I mean ...” I swallow hard. “Noel. I’m talking about Noel.”
“Uh ... nothing? I guess I didn’t even think about him when I was making sure everyone else was covered. Do you want me to have Zthane send someone over to guard him, too?”
What?
I roll off the bed and stand up. Gods, my hands are shaking again. “You didn’t see him?”
Jonah scoots over so he can sit on the edge of the bed. “Chloe, you’re—” He stands up, too. “What do you mean, did I see him? I haven’t seen Noel in weeks. You know he and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms right now.”
I cover my face, horrified. They didn’t find his body. Does this mean the Elders took it?
“You’re worrying me, honey.” Warm hands settle on my shoulders. “Why are you feeling so guilty? Scared? Talk to me, love. I will have Noel guarded, no problem.”
The words I force out slip between my fingers. “He’s dead.” A ball clogs my throat. “Enlilkian ... he killed him, right in front of me.”
“What?”
I want to cry. I really do. Moisture is saturating the backs of my eyes, the ball in my throat grows in size, and yet ... I’m mostly numb when it comes to all of this and hate myself for being so. “He was murdered right there in front of me and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.”