Page 97 of Spellbound
Maddox shot me an are-you-mad look. “To an open crime scene? We’re trying to avoid attention. Besides, he would have left by now.”
“He?”
“Viktor. I mean Raiden.”
Naomi glared at him. “We don’t know it’s him.”
He looked at us both in turn. “Who else could it be? They said it was a man, and with everything that’s happened, there’s no chance it’s all a coincidence. Clearly Raiden had lost his mind after losing his sister and has gone on a killing rampage while trying to kill Freya, who I assume is close because her boy toy was right outside our hotel.”
My heart sank. I went to speak, but Naomi got there first. “It could be Aziel.”
“It could be, but my skal is on Raiden. Aziel seemed far calmer before he fled. Raiden didn’t even tag along to bring you both home.” He gave me an apologetic stare. “Sorry, Elle, sometimes grief can just make people snap. I know you two had a thing.”
I swallowed thickly. “We-we became friends.”
A small smirk curved his lips. “More than that, if I remember correctly.”
Naomi shook her head. “Really, Maddox? We’re going to do this now? She’s clearly heartbroken.”
I shoved my hands in my pockets. “Enough. I am not heartbroken. Just... surprised. We should get moving anyway. We’re close to the forest.”
“Fine.” Maddox whistled out a breath and crunched into an apple, strutting ahead of us. “But first, I’m stopping to get some hot food and use the restroom.”
Naomi pointed at a small café with cracked gray walls and three circle tables with chairs outside. I followed them inside, and a bell tinkled over the door. As I eyed the pastries and sandwiches, my stomach rumbled. I can’t remember the last time I’d eaten. Yesterday morning maybe?
“Three of the cheese-and-pickle sandwiches,” I ordered and pulled out a couple of skal from the small amount I’d brought. “A hot chocolate too.”
A conversation a couple of tables back caught my attention. A balding man sat with a woman dressed in a pretty summer dress. Over their teas and half-eaten scone, he lowered his voice. “Not just here,” he said, answering a question I was too late for. “A couple was killed a town over yesterday, slaughtered in the night. They ran the elite clubs in the south. You know the ones,” he whispered. “Invitation only.”
“Oh.” Her blue eyes glittered with excitement. “Who do you think killed them?”
“I heard a man was spotted both times. Handsome, they said, not dressed like someone you’d expect to be a killer, but you never know these days. A demon in disguise probably. That’s what they’re saying. That or a god.”
My heart skipped a beat.
She laughed. “Don’t be silly, Ronald.”
“Why not?” He leaned forward. “It makes sense. They killed many before they were locked away. We’ve heard the stories.”
“Maybe you have.”
He raised his eyebrows. “My mom told me they sacrificed people before they were locked away. No doubt one could have escaped. They say he’s mad. Everyone’s saying it.”
“Yes, but—” She looked at me over the two tables between us. “Can we help you?” she asked with a pinched frown.
“Oh, no. Sorry.” I averted my gaze. I took a seat at the table, looking at the sandwiches placed in front of me, but I no longer felt hungry. I forced myself to eat, if only for the energy to keep going, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what that man had said. They had guessed a god. Fortunately, they were only rumors, but those could be dangerous. We were trying to avoid the gods being hunted, but whether it was Aziel or Raiden killing families, they were going to get themselves killed—or at least imprisoned again.
We’d been walking for three hours by the time we reached a house in the middle of nowhere. It stood decadent with a sprawling garden, shiny gates, and a long, winding driveaway. It couldn’t have looked more out of place to the forest if it tried. We were close to the main road, so it explained why it was here, but whoever lived there had made an effort to be out of the way.
“We will make camp soon.” Maddox walked ahead of us, using a handkerchief to dab at the sweat on his forehead.
Naomi ran her hand through her hair, heaving as she climbed over thick roots and the slight hill winding around the house and its grounds.
“We need to go farther in.” Maddox pulled his map and compass out again. He turned on the spot and nodded. “This way.”
***
The shadowed canopyabove us was dotted with stars. Maddox had brought a dark object and had manipulated it to create a line of protection around us, which was temporary but effective. Naomi used her magic to create an illusion around us to any who might approach this area, so they would only see trees, making us invisible. I should have felt safe in our bubble, but something didn’t feel right.
