Haunted (52 page)

“So I get to stay—”

“In the ghost world? No. That, I’m afraid, is impossible.” She returned to the dais, but stayed in front of the wheel. “If there’s one thing you clearly understand, Eve, it’s the nature of a bargain. You give and you take, in even proportion. That’s what we can offer.”

The child Fate appeared. “Do you know the story of Persephone and Demeter?”

“A Greek myth to explain the seasons, I think,” I said.

“That’s right. Hades, Lord of the Underworld, wanted Persephone for his bride, so he stole her away. Her mother beseeched the gods for help, and they made a deal with Hades, that Persephone would spend summers on earth and winters in the underworld. How does that sound?” Her pretty face scrunched up. “Well, not exactly that, but something like it.”

Before we could answer, her middle sister took over.

“You now have a job to do, Eve, and we expect you to do it. You also have another life to lead, and we want you to do that. Half the year you will be with the angels, and half you will live here, with Kristof, as a ghost.”

I looked at Kristof. He smiled.

“We’ll take it.”

Epilogue

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT GOD CREATED THE EARTH IN
a week. I don’t know much about religious history, but I do remember that one. As for whether it’s true, I’ll leave that to the scholars. All I know is that a lot can happen in a week. You can go from being a ghost pining for your daughter to a heavenly bounty-hunter on the trail of a demi-demon killer. And you can go from reluctant crusader to full-time angel, locking yourself into an eternal contract as a protector of justice. And other times, the transition isn’t so obvious, but in its own way, just as life-altering.

It had been a week since I brought in the Nix. I was still in the ghost world—the Fates had given me one more month here, as I prepared for my passage to the angel world. I still didn’t know what to expect. I’d already sat through two days of orientation crap, but most of it had consisted of a list of rules too long for anyone without a full-blooded angel’s perfect memory…or, at least, that was the excuse I’d use when I started breaking them.

At the end of the week, the Fates gave Trsiel and me our first assignment. Nothing tough—just a routine rousting of some haunters, but with definite possibilities for fun. Before I embarked on that, though, there was something I had to do.

Kristof accompanied me as far as Lucas and Paige’s backyard. I stood in that yard for a while, looking up at the house, remembering what it had smelled like, what it had felt like to be there, really there, committing it all to memory. Then, slowly, I released Kris’s hand and headed for the back door.

When I stepped inside, Lucas and Paige were in the kitchen, Lucas’s back against the counter, a dish towel over his shoulder, Paige leaning against him, holding his hands, face raised to his as they talked in murmurs.

“Hey, guys,” I said softly. “Just came by to say thanks. I know you can’t hear me, but I wanted to say it anyway. Thanks for everything. You’re doing a great job with her. An amazing job.”

Lucas chuckled at something Paige said, and brushed a curl off her cheek.

The back door banged open.

“Anybody home?” a voice shouted, loud enough to shake the rafters.

I turned to see a young man with light-brown hair, broad shoulders, and a broader grin. A familiar face, at least in this house.

“Adam!” Paige disengaged from Lucas and turned as Adam caught her up in a hug, being careful not to jar her injured shoulder. “This is a surprise. I didn’t expect you until Monday.”

“The real surprise is yet to come.” Adam winked over her head at Lucas. “So are we ready for Monday’s meeting? Jaime’s coming, isn’t she? Recovered from her ordeal?”

As they talked, I slipped to the doorway.

“Bye, guys,” I whispered. “I wish you all the best. You deserve it.”

I found Savannah in her room, dressed in jeans and a bra, talking on the phone as she surveyed a bed covered in shirts.

“…taking Paige away for the weekend,” she said. “Romantic getaway, big surprise and all that.” She paused, then snorted. “Yeah, I wish. I can’t stay overnight by myself until I’m eighteen. Can you believe that? So they called in Adam.”

She lifted two shirts and held them up, one after the other, peering at her reflection in the mirror, then tossing both on the floor with a lip-twist of disgust.

“Yeah, yeah, he’s cute, but he’s even older than Paige.” Pause. “Twenty-six.” She pulled a face. “That’s sick! No way.”

She grabbed a T-shirt from the bed, mumbled “Hold on,” then pulled it over her head. It was at least two sizes too small. She looked in the mirror, checking it out from all angles, then gave a nod of satisfaction and reached for her hairbrush with one hand and the phone with the other.

“I have to go, baby,” I said as she brushed her hair, still chattering to her friend. “I won’t be coming around like I used to, and I just wanted to tell you that. You know it doesn’t mean anything’s changed. You’re still the best damned thing I ever did. But you’ve got your life, and now, finally, maybe I have mine.”

A double-knock at the door.

“What?” Savannah yelled.

“Everyone decent?” Adam called. “I’m coming in.”

As Savannah swiped on lip gloss, Adam jangled the door handle. She flew across the room and threw it open.

“What the hell are you doing?” she said. “This is my room. You can’t just barge in here.”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, I was just getting you going.” He strolled in and looked around. “See you haven’t cleaned it since the last time I was here.”

“Hey, this is my room! Get out!”

He turned to do just that, and she grabbed him by the arm.

“Don’t I even get a hello?” she said. “God, you’re so rude.”

I shook my head and smiled as they bantered.

“Poor baby,” I said. “It’s just not going away, is it?” I skirted past them to the door. “I have to leave, but I’ll be back to check on you now and then.” I hesitated, then stepped closer to Savannah, and leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I know you’ll be okay, baby. You don’t need me to make sure of that.”

I turned to the hall. Savannah sputtered something at Adam, and he laughed. I walked to the top of the stairs, and hesitated. One more look. Just one more—

I squared my shoulders, and walked down the stairs, through the kitchen, and out into the yard, where Kristof was waiting.

About the Author

Kelley Armstrong lives in Ontario with her family.
Visit her Web site at
www.kelleyarmstrong.com
.

Be sure not to miss

BROKEN

the next exhilarating novel from

Kelley Armstrong

This time, everyone’s favorite werewolf,

Elena Michaels, returns—

in an edge-of-your-seat thriller

that is sure to delight!

Coming from Seal Books in May 2006

Here’s a special preview:

BROKEN

On Sale May 2006

I LOPED ALONG THE PATH, MUZZLE SKIMMING OVER THE
ground. The earth was thick with the scent of my prey—a deliberate move, weaving and circling, permeating this patch of forest with his smell, hoping to throw me off the trail. Did he really think it would be that easy? If so, he’d underestimated me—a mistake he’d soon regret.

I untangled the web of trails, and latched on to the most recent. As his scent separated from the others, I picked up speed, the ground whooshing past beneath me. Ahead, the trail opened into a clearing. I pitched forward, straining for the open run. Before I hit the edge of the clearing, I dug in my claws and skidded to a graceless stop.

I stood there, heart tripping, adrenaline roaring, urging me to keep running, find him, take him down. I closed my eyes and shuddered. Too eager. Keep that up and I’d run straight into a trap. After a moment, the adrenaline rush ebbed and I started forward, cautious now, ears straining, muzzle up, sniffing as I walked.

It was my eyes that saved me this time. That and the sun, peeking from fast-moving clouds. One break in the cloud cover and I caught the glint of gold through the trees. He was upwind, crouched to the left of the path’s end, waiting for me to come barreling out.

I retraced my last few steps by walking backward. Some things easily accomplished on two legs are much more difficult to coordinate with four. Once I’d gone as far as I could, I craned to look over my shoulder. The trees closed in on me from either side. Not enough room to guarantee a silent about-face.

I took a careful step off the path. The undergrowth was soft and moist with spring rain. I prodded at it, but it stayed silent. Hunkering down to stay below branch level, I started forward. I looped around and slunk up behind him. Once close enough to see through the trees, I peered out. He was crouched there, beside the entrance to the woods, as still as a statue, only the twitch of his tail betraying his impatience.

I found the clearest line of fire, hunched down, then sprang. I hit him square on the back and sunk my teeth into the ruff around his neck. He yelped and reared up, trying to throw me free, but I held on, tasting blood as my teeth sank in for a better hold. With a snarl, he bucked and I toppled over his head. But I didn’t let go, and he crashed down with me.

Fangs slashed at my foreleg, but I jerked it out of the way in time. My claws caught the side of his muzzle and he grunted, pulling back fast. He started to rise, then rolled on top of me. The sudden move caught me by surprise and, as the air whooshed from my lungs, I let go of his ruff. I pitched out of his reach, then jumped to my feet and turned around, ready to stave off attack. Instead, I caught only the flash of a gold tail as he dove back into the forest.

With a growl, I tore after him. I caught up just inside the forest and vaulted onto his back. We went down together, rolling and snarling and biting. Then teeth clamped around the bottom of my muzzle. As I struggled, he forced my head back, exposing my throat. I kicked at his underbelly. He snorted as my claws made contact, but didn’t let go. He pushed me onto my back and pinned me. Then he released my muzzle and looked down at me, indecision flickering in his eyes. His head shot down to my throat, and I wriggled frantically, trying to pull out of the way, but he only buried his nose in the ruff around my neck and inhaled deeply. Then he shuddered, legs vibrating against my sides. A moment’s hesitation. Then a soft growl, and he twisted off me and dove into the woods again.

I scrambled to my feet and set off in pursuit. This time, he had too much of a head start, and I could only get close enough to see his hindquarters bounding ahead, teasing me. He flicked his tail up. Mocking me, damn him. I surged foward, getting close enough to hear the pound of his heartbeat. Then he veered and crashed into the forest, off the trail. I chortled to myself. Now I had him. Cutting a fresh path would slow him down just enough to let me—

A brace of ptarmigan flew up, almost under my feet, and I skidded to a halt, nearly flipping over backward in my surprise. As the panicked birds took to the sky, I got my bearing again, looked around…and found myself alone. Tricked. Damn him. And damn me for falling for it.

I found his trail and loped after him. Before I’d gone a hundred feet, a soft gurgling moan rippled through the silence. I stopped, ears going up. A grunt, then panting. He was Changing. Did he think that would save him? Not likely.

I dove into the nearest thicket and began my own Change. It came fast, spurred by a healthy double shot of adrenaline and frustration. When I finished, he was still in his thicket.

I crept around to the other side, pulled back a handful of leaves and peered through. He was done, but recovering, crouched on all fours, panting as he caught his breath. By the rules of fair play, I should have given him time to recuperate. But I wasn’t in the mood for rules.

I sprang onto his back. Before he could react, my arm went around his neck, forearm jammed against his windpipe.

I leaned over his shoulder. “Did you think you could escape that easily?”

His lips formed an oath, but no sound came out. His shoulders slumped, as if defeated. Like I was stupid enough to buy that. I pretended to relax my grip. Sure enough, the second I did, he reared up. I threw myself backward. The added momentum jarred him off balance and we both went down. As we fell, I twisted and landed beside him. Before he could recover, I was on top of him, my forearm against his throat. His hands slid up my sides, snuck around and cupped my breasts.

“Uh-uh,” I growled, pressing against his windpipe. “No distractions.”

He sighed and let his hands slide away. I eased back. As soon as I did, he vaulted up, toppling me over. A second later, I was flat on my back with him on top of me. He pinned me as securely as he had in wolf-form. Then he lifted up, belly and groin pressing into mine. He slid his hands back to my breasts and grinned down at me, daring me to do something about it now.

I glared up at him. Then I shot forward and sank my teeth into his shoulder. He jerked away and I started to scramble up, but he caught me and we rolled over, nip-ping and growling, the bites now interspersed with rough kisses and rougher gropes. Finally, I got the upper position. I pinned him, hands on his shoulders, knees on his thighs. He struggled, but couldn’t throw me off.

“Caught?” I said.

He gave one last squirm, then nodded. “Caught.”

“Good.”

I slid my knees from his thighs and slipped over him. He tried to thrust up to meet me, but I pushed down with my hips, keeping him still. I moved into position. When I felt the tip of him brush me, I stopped and wriggled against him, teasing myself. He groaned and tried to grab my hips, but I pinned his shoulders harder. Then I closed my eyes and plunged down onto him.

He struggled under me, trying to thrust, to grab, to control, but I kept him pinned. After a moment, he gave up and arched against the ground, fingers clenching handfuls of grass, jaw tensing, eyes closing to slits, but staying open, always open, always watching. The first wave of climax hit. I let him go then, but he stayed where he was, leaving me in control. Dimly, I heard him growl as he came and by the time I finished and leaned over him, he was laying back, eyes half-lidded, a lazy grin tweaking the corners of his mouth.