Page 86 of Fortune's Ashes
‘Hide her body. While everyone is scrambling to find her, get on a ferry to France. Get a car. Drive to Spain. The escape route from last time is still there. It’s still valid.’
The officer behind me was trying to stand up. Not a good idea. I took a step backwards and all-but kicked him to the ground again. He’d only get himself killed.
‘It’s all that’s left,’ Max droned on. ‘There’s no other way. Bang. Bang. BANG.’
I couldn’t wait any longer. I threw myself at him, my head down as I aimed for the side of his body so I could avoid the damned gun but, between my shot shoulder and my cuffed hands, I couldn’t do it. Max side-stepped to avoid the collision. He swung the gun around until it was pointed directly at the centre of my chest.
Oh, Jellybean.
‘I really am sorry, you know,’ he said quietly.
I shifted my weight carefully and pressed down on my toes, then snapped my leg upwards and kicked Max’s outstretched arm. The blade concealed in the sole of my shoe was already protruding. It had been placed there by Reginald and Beatrice, the ever-so-helpful cobblers who’d been more than happy to come to my aid once I’d described what I was looking for.
It slashed into Max’s flesh, cutting him deeply. The shock made him jerk back. Before he could recover himself, I kicked again and caught him on his cheek. He howled in agony and dropped the gun in order to clutch at his bleeding wounds. I used my other foot to kick the weapon out of his reach once and for all.
Max gasped and wheezed as blood spurted through his fingers. ‘Why?’ Pained confusion glittered in his eyes. ‘You always die. Why couldn’t you die this time?’
‘There’s a lot more to life than death, Max,’ I told him. ‘Even when it comes to me.’ I touched my belly.
And then I smiled.
ChapterThirty-One
Warm sunlight glinted off the church spire. I touched the heavy jewellery around my neck. Sunbeams were reflecting off the rubies on the Tears of Blood necklace that Lukas had given to me months before, and which proclaimed who I was to the world. I was not a Cassandra, or the phoenix or a kick-ass member of Supe Squad; I was the person who held Lukas’s heart, in the same way that he held mine.
Reverend Knight, standing by my side, grimaced. ‘I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. It’s highly unorthodox to hold a supe wedding at this church, regardless of our proximity to the supernatural community.’
I raised an eyebrow. ‘You can still back out, you know. It’s your church. It’s your prerogative.’
He glanced at Scarlett in her figure-hugging dress. ‘I wouldn’t dare – I might get eaten.’ He grinned suddenly. ‘Besides, I want this to be the first of many supernatural weddings here. The world is changing, Emma, and I’m changing with it.’
I patted his arm and smiled back, then glanced across at one of the old stone headstones. It was the very spot where I’d first died – at least as an adult. I couldn’t stop a shiver from running down my spine, but it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation; it was more an acknowledgment of who I was and how far I’d come.
I looked around the small group waiting outside the church. No, I amended silently. How far we’dallcome.
‘You have that weird look on your face again,’ Liza’s tone was faintly accusing.
I smiled at her. ‘I can’t help it.’ I nodded at her. ‘And I’m not the only one who looks … weird.’
‘It’s all this bloody make-up,’ she grunted. ‘It’s caked on my skin.’
‘It’s not the make-up,’ I said gently. ‘It’s the glowing colour in your cheeks and the shine in your eyes.’
‘Yep,’ Laura said, sidling up. ‘You almost look as happy as the blushing bride.’
‘You know,’ I sighed. ‘I think my heart is going to burst with joy.’
Reverend Knight shot me a look of mock alarm. ‘Don’t do that. The cleaning bill will be enormous and I’m a busy person these days. I don’t want to delay the wedding for twelve hours while you do your thing.’
Scarlett called across from the church entrance, ‘Are we doing this, or what?’
Knight bowed, then hastily marched off and disappeared inside the church. Scarlett winked at me and followed him in as the first strains of Wagner’s Bridal Chorus boomed out from the church organ.
Laura nudged me. ‘We have to go.’
I drew in a breath. ‘Yes.’ I plucked at my white dress while Laura and Liza adjusted their bouquets and fell into step behind me. I couldn’t keep Lukas waiting any longer.
* * *
