Page 66 of Secrets & Spells
The witch scoffs. “We’re not going to?—”
“You really should listen to him,” Garrett warns.
The vamp is already typing and whatever comes up in the search results makes his jaw drop. “You’re…”
“Yes,” Jared confirms. “I’m The Raven’s only surviving victim.”
What. The. Fuck.
I knew Jared had gone through something terrible before moving here, but I never imagined this. The supe news mentioned a human male surviving the serial killer fear demon, but I don’t remember them sharing his name. My ribcage cracks wide open. Jared almostdiedbefore I even got to meet him. I reach out to grip his hand in mine.
“Can I take him home now?” I ask the agents. My tone makes it clear their answer had damn well better be yes.
“I’m sorry, but we need to ask Jared a few more questions. He might know something that can help us catch the supe responsible.” I open my mouth to argue, but the vampire continues, “However, we can do that at the police station. As soon as the town protection team officers arrive to secure the crime scene, we can leave. They should be here any moment now.”
“Fine,” I reply through gritted teeth.
“You should get one of the protection team to take you home.”
“What?” I look at Jared like he’s grown a second head. “No, I’m not leaving you.”
A glimmer of my Jared lights in his hazel eyes, and he reaches up to stroke my hair. “I can tell your head hurts. Don’t lie to me,” he growls when I go to argue. “You were already struggling after whatever you saw last night, and I’m betting it was a vision that helped you find me tonight.”
“How did you know?” I didn’t tell him about the vision I had last night—I hadn’t wanted to worry him.
“Because I know you, Selene. I know you want to be here for me, but what I need from you right now is for you to go homewhere I know you’ll be safe. I can’t handle answering all their questions if I’m worrying about you too.”
“But what if he comes back, Jared? I won’t risk you having to face him alone.”
“I’ll stay with him.” Garrett steps forward, clasping a strong hand over Jared’s shoulder. “I’ll make sure the agents don’t keep him any longer than necessary and escort him back to your place once they’re done.”
“Are you sure?” I ask Jared. He’s not wrong—my head is pounding—but it doesn’t feel right leaving him, not after how I found him. What if he has another panic attack and nobody else can reach him?
“I’m sure. Rett’s got my back. If their questioning becomes too much, I’ll let him know, and he’ll get me out of there before I—” He clears his throat. “Before anything happens. I’ll be alright, I promise.”
I glance at Neith and the other two protection team members who’ve just arrived, then at Garrett, who nods. “OK.” I press a kiss to Jared’s cheek. “OK, I’ll see you at home. Be safe.”
The cheery hustle and bustle of the town square is jarring after coming from the tension-filled alleyway. Dodging jubilant festival-goers oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows, Neith and I walk to my cottage as quickly as possible.
Now I’m not laser-focused on Jared, the pain rattling around in my skull is fully hitting me. All I want is to get behind my locked front door and crawl into bed to wait for my mate to get home. The farther from the Halloween festival we get, the more jittery my nerves become. It feels like the shadows are reaching for me, ready to snatch me up and smother me with their darkness. Reaching out with my magic, I scan my surroundings but can’t feel the presence of any other supernaturals. I shake my head at myself. I’m being paranoid. Once I get back to my cottage, everything will be fine.
“Is your mate alright?” Neith asks, making me jump.
“He’s shaken up, but he’ll be OK.”
“I’m glad to hear it. The two of you were a great help in the town square the other day.” Neith gives me her number, telling me to call if I have any problems, then sees me inside the cottage before heading back to the crime scene.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, I lock the front door behind me and rest my back against it. I’m home. I’m safe. And soon, Jared will be too. I hang up my coat, then set my handbag on the console table. A wave of dizziness crashes over me when I bend to take off my boots, so I abandon the task, heading into the kitchen instead. Stepping up to the porcelain sink in front of the window, I pour myself a glass of water.
A dark shape reflected in the glass catches my eye right as my magic flares in warning. Clawed hands grip the sides of my head, trapping me in a waking nightmare.
Jared’s lifeless eyes stare up at me. The gold in his hair completely drained away, leaving it stark white. His chapped lips part in a silent scream that will never end. A long black feather floats down to rest on his chest.
I’m half-aware of the glass I was holding sliding from my fingers to shatter on the floor. My hands claw at a man’s chest, a button from his coat dropping into my palm, then the nightmare swallows me whole.
Chapter 27
Jared
