“How’s Gavin doing?” I asked, trailing behind.
“Far better than I anticipated.” Mr. Ankh stopped, forcing me to do the same. He glanced over his shoulder. “He’ll survive.”
Relief poured through me, sweet and welcome.
“Two boys. Two wounds. Two miracle recoveries. Any clue how that’s happening?” he asked, catching me off guard.
“Slayer fire,” I admitted.
His eyes glazed for a moment, his medical mind probably assessing the pros and cons. Then he leaped forward to catch up with Frosty and Bronx. I took a step, intending to follow, but Kat came flying out the door. She propelled into me, wrapping her arms around me. Her grip was weaker than usual.
“Thank you, Ali. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
I hugged her back, tears burning my eyes. “I’m so, so sorry, Mad Dog. I know I apologized over text and you said all was forgiven, but I had to say it in person. I couldn’t take the chance that we’d find him and he’d be injured, and you’d freak, and I’d have to try and cart both of you—”
“I know. Cole explained on the way home.” She pulled back and gave me a watery smile. “Besides, you brought him back, and that’s all that matters.”
With that, she was gone, chasing after her man.
“Have Mr. Ankh check you out,” I called, trudging forward. Prickles on the back of my neck stopped me. Something was going on around me, and my spirit sensed it. My mind just hadn’t caught up yet.
Trying to act nonchalant, I spun slowly, eyeing the grounds. Big, thick bushes circled the edge of the property, hiding the residents from prying eyes. There was no—
There! A fall of wheat-colored hair surrounded a pale face. For a second, only a second, light blue eyes met mine, before the woman—somehow familiar, though I was certain I’d never met her—turned away from me and disappeared in the foliage.
Palming a dagger, I rushed after her. Who was she? Why was she here? To spy for Anima?
Surely not. There was no way she could have gotten past Mr. Ankh’s security. Right? So, Mr. Ankh had to know she was here. Right?
Just before I reached the spot where I’d first seen her, I ground to a halt. What if he didn’t know? What if this was some kind of ambush? I focused on the sounds around me. There was a whistle of wind. In the distance, a car’s engine purred and a dog barked. No voices. No snapping limbs. No shuffling footsteps.
Like every girl in every horror movie ever made—a specialty of mine—I did not turn back. I inched forward, quietly working my way through the branches and leaves.... I found her standing a few yards away, next to one of the tallest trees on the property. Waiting for me. Though it was freezing out, she wore a black tank top, no coat, and seemed unfazed by the cold. At least her legs were covered by camo pants and her feet with combat boots.
“Who are you?” I asked, letting her see the knife.
“Samantha,” she said, and there was so much longing radiating from her, my heart actually shuddered. “Sami.”
“Sami.” An odd throb started up in my chest. “That’s your name?”
“No. Not mine.” She offered me a sad smile, and her identity instantly crystallized. The woman from my dream. The one with the little girl.
The two were real.
Part of my family?
Surely. Those eyes...
“Who is Sami? Who are you?” I repeated more sharply.
“I have a gift for you,” she said, holding out her hand.
Accepting the gift, whatever it was, would be stupid. I didn’t know her, not really, and I certainly didn’t trust her. But that didn’t stop me from closing the distance. What can I say? Curiosity owned me.
“Make an aggressive move,” I said, “and I will gut you. I won’t think twice about it.”
Her gaze met mine—the longing and sadness so much stronger now. Breaking my heart. But there was also...pride. Why?
I found myself asking, “What’s the gift? And are you related to Phillip Bell?” My dad. Did I want her to be? “What about Miranda Bradley?”
“Time is short, and the gift is necessary.” She waved me even closer. “It will help you defeat your enemy.”
True or false?
Could this be a trick? Yes. But deep down, where instinct overpowered logic, refusing seemed...foolish.
Test her.
I reached out, letting my hand hover over hers, ready to draw back at a moment’s notice—or stab, as promised. She shut her eyes. Tendrils of warmth drifted from her and seeped into me. It wasn’t long before it surrounded me, consumed me and grew hotter...so danged hot. It was like being set on fire from the inside. Yet, she wasn’t even touching me.
True or false—I now had my answer. False. Totally false. I tried to pull away but couldn’t. I was stuck. My head fell back as a scream traveled up my throat, ready for release.
Suddenly she dropped her arm to the side. The scream died. The burning faded.
“Wh-what did you do to me?” My skin tingled. My blood fizzed.