“Help me carry Nix,” Del said. “She’s easier than Aidan.”
I slung the bag over my shoulder and ran to where she stood by Nix. I took Nix’s feet while Del took her shoulders, and we carried our limp deirfiúr’s body over to Aidan.
“Like old times,” I muttered to Del.
She gave a wry laugh. “I was glad those time were over.”
We’d gotten in a lot of scraps as girls on the run. Thieving meant sometimes running into supernaturals more powerful than ourselves. Until we’d learned to fight well, two of us often were left to carry the third to safety.
Gently, we placed Nix on the ground next to Aidan. I stood, then caught sight of Aaron’s body.
“I can’t just leave him here,” I said.
“Uh, isn’t he the bad guy?” Del asked.
“Not really.” We couldn’t bring him back with us for a proper burial. He’d said the collar was enchanted so that his master could find him, but it was possible that he, too, had been enchanted with a tracking spell.
“Get ready to go,” I said to Del as I reached once more for my magic. I didn’t want to use it again, but I owed it to him.
My power reached out for Aidan’s once more, gathering up the flame. I wished I had a flower or something to put on top of him, but there wasn’t time. I released the jet of flame. It struck Aaron’s body and enveloped him, reaching high into the night. The damp grass around him would keep the fire from spreading.
My goal had been cremation on a funeral pyre like in a Viking ceremony. I hoped Aaron saw it the same way. My vision was blurry as I took one last look at Aaron, then turned to Del.
“I’m ready.” I reached out for her hand.
We crouched down so that we were touching Nix and Aidan. The cathedral glowed in the orange light of the flame. Whoever was coming to meet Aaron would be here soon. Possibly the man from my dreams. Part of me wanted to stay and fight him. Confront him. To have vengeance for Aaron’s life and maybe even for what had happened to me and my deirfiúr.
But a bigger part of me—the scared, smart part—wanted to run. I would meet this man. The hunter who sought us. But it wouldn’t be today.
“We’re going,” Del said.
I felt her magic pull us through the ether.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
We appeared at Ancient Magic a moment later. The plywood over the glass windows and door blocked out the sunlight, casting the room in shadow. Or maybe it was just nighttime. I had no idea.
“Call an ambulance,” I said to Del, adrenaline still surging through me. “I’ll hide the scroll.”
I left Del dialing emergency services and headed out the main door. I’d have to stash this stuff in my trove until we found a more secure location. I didn’t know why Aaron’s master wanted the chalice, but I was hesitant to hand it off to Mr. S. More than likely, it wasn’t just a youth charm. I’d have to find him something else to replace it, but I’d worry about that later.
It was dark when I got outside, probably the wee hours after midnight, but that was just a guess. My muscles ached as I took the stairs two at a time up to my apartment and let myself in. The small space looked so familiar, but I felt so different. I could still feel the electricity crackling within me.
Aaron had possessed other gifts—fire and telepathy that he’d used against Del in the fight at Ancient Magic—but it didn’t feel like I’d inherited those. I wasn’t entirely sure how it worked, but maybe I’d only taken his root gift. The one he’d been born with. The fire and telepathy had been stolen.
I shook the thought away. I didn’t want to think about Aaron or my new powers. It’d take me time to parse through what had happened and how I was going to deal with it and I didn’t have the energy. My adrenaline was fading now that I was in the safety of my home.
Quickly, I crossed to the secret door in my bedroom and let myself into my trove. I flicked on the lights and the soothing golden glow reflected off my treasures. Comfort washed over me, followed by bone-aching exhaustion. The only thing that had kept me going had been the adrenaline.
I walked past aisles of my beloved trove. In the back, I dropped to my knees in the corner. With a trembling hand, I pushed aside a pair of boots and pressed my hand to the wall.
My touch ignited the spell that hid the small door. The lock clicked and it swung open. Within, the tiny golden locket glinted from the back corner. It was my only clue about my past.
Or maybe not.
I unzipped the gym bag and pulled out the scroll. It was heavy in my hands. I realized why when I began to unroll it. There had to be twenty feet of rolled vellum here. Quickly, I skimmed it, grateful it was alphabetical and that the monks who had written it had been Irish.