Page 82 of Dark Embers

“It’s Katya,” he said. “She just texted and said we could’ve done all that from our own devices. We didn’t need to break into Caesar’s office.”

Burning irritation flashed through me, and I narrowed my eyes at my idiot friend. “Brett, you’d better start running because I am going to kill you.”

Chapter 29

Shea

The wind howled through the streets as I walked to Julian’s apartment, whipping at my hair like a drunk hairdresser after she got dumped, but I hardly felt it. The bookbag hung heavy on my back, and I pulled at the shoulder straps for the millionth time as I made my way through the sliding glass doors.

I was better prepared this time, throwing on one of my nicer sweaters with some dark jeans and chunky heels. I plastered on a smile as I crossed the swank lobby, heading straight for the elevator.

Before I knew it, I was in front of apartment eight-twenty-three, my heart thudding just as hard as the last time.

I raised a hand to knock but hesitated. I had no idea if Julian was back yet. He hadn’t tried to make any contact with me, and I still wasn’t sure if it was safe to contact him, so we were at a bit of a stalemate.

But I had nowhere else to go. Shallow Grave was too small a town for privacy, and after Caesar’s visit earlier this afternoon, Gram would be especially snoopy. Even if I could find a warm enough place to practice my magic—some abandoned building or shed, maybe—chances were, someone would see me go in. I couldn’t risk it.

So here I was, risking my neck in a whole different way.

I stood silent a moment longer, waiting to hear some sort of movement from inside. The soft ding of the elevator let me know that someone else was coming, so I grabbed the doorknob, the decision made for me, and said, “Sahad.”

The faint click had no sooner sounded than I was inside, silently closing the door. I stilled my breath as footsteps tapped down the hall, but they stopped long before they reached this particular apartment. I let out a breath, sagging against the door.

I turned around and took in the apartment.

“Hello?” I called, holding still as I waited.

If Julian was back, or he’d lost this place, I didn’t know what I’d do next. But the apartment was exactly how I’d left it, the partially burned curtain unmoved. The only difference from last time was the fine layer of dust that graced everything.

“Yeah, definitely not back,” I muttered.

A thread of worry weaved through me. What was taking Julian so long? If I were being honest, I had hoped he’d be here this time. He’d invaded my thoughts with his mysterious request and handsome face. I wanted to know more about him. And truthfully, I was a little pissed about everything with Caesar and hoped Julian would help lift my spirits.

I was about filled to bursting with all these secrets. My involvement with Julian, my fling with Caesar, the grimoire!

Not being able to tell people I could do magic was one thing when I knew next to nothing about how to wield that power, but it was entirely different now that I had a grimoire full of spells and potions to unleash. Julian was the only person I knew that I didn’t have to hide that from. And he was M.I.A.

I sighed.

Walking into the kitchen, I pulled the bag off my back and hefted it onto the counter. The first thing I pulled out was a small blanket I’d packed for just this reason. It was easier than bringing a chair—and I was definitelynotsitting on the one he owned,orthe piano bench—and this old thing wouldn’t be missed around my house if I left it here.

Next, I pulled out the replacement kitty sweater I’d bought Julian and hung it up in the closet. The note I’d written, complete with his name on the front in the most artistic penmanship I could produce, went on the countertop where he could immediately see it.

If he’s not distracted by the curtains.

The note just basically caught him up on what I’d been doing. And briefly explained the curtain. More or less.

Finally, I pulled out the grimoire, as well as a Ziploc bag filled with dirt and dried flowers. I opened the baggie, setting it up so it wouldn’t spill its contents. The earthy aroma hit me first, followed by faint traces of rose.

The flowers were wild roses, given to me by a boy back before I became the town pariah. When I brought them home to show Gram, blushing and giddy, Mom had instructed me to lay them flat in a book so I could keep them. Years went by, and the flowers were forgotten, until recently when I was looking through my room for something to experiment on.

A quick glance through the grimoire revealed a regeneration spell specific to plants. Apparently, someone in the book’s history really loved plants because there were several of those kinds of spells.

This particular spell wasn’t the most intricate one I’d seen, but itwasthe most complicated spell I’d ever attempted on my own. And I didn’t have Gram to make sure I stayed within the lines.

And the spell had particular importance. If it really could bring back a dead flower, maybe I could find something more powerful.

Something that could maybe work on a long dead person.

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