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“Let’s get her out of here,” Grandma said. Through my watery vision, I saw her motion to her men. “Tal,” she said as he approached, “Joshua and I are taking the body. I’m trusting you to make sure no one follows me but you. Once you’re sure we’re safe, we’ll split up. You’ll return to the base and report to the others. Tell them I went on sabbatical. You’re not to say anything about the body. Not a soul. Understand?”
Tal nodded. “I understand.”
“Have the others fill the grave. In a moment, you and I will leave.”
“Yes, Your Maj—” His eyes touched mine briefly. “Yes, Ma’am.”
Had he been about to say Your Majesty? What the hell? Today was the day for revelations. “You’re Jane Doe?” I accused my grandmother.
She stood straighter and gave me her mom glare, the face that said I’d be grounded if I dared talk back to her. “We can’t go into this right now. We’ll talk when it’s safe.”
“Fine. Let’s go.” I glanced over my shoulder at Hayden’s car, uncomfortable leaving it behind.
“You can’t come with me.” Her tone brooked no argument.
No. I couldn’t bear to be without Zoe or my grandmother so soon. “Take me with you.” I pleaded, tagging along with her to the driver’s side.
Grandma laid her palm on my cheek, gazing into my eyes. “I would love nothing more. But I have to heal her and it needs to be someplace safe.”
“Why can’t I come?” I pouted.
“Because if you disappear, Boris’s people will think you’ve made your choice… me. Then, when you returned, you wouldn’t live five minutes. And then what will happen to Hayden? You’re safer here. Goodbye, sweetheart. I love you.” She effortlessly scooped up Zoe and hefted her into the backseat of the waiting gray Escalade.
As they drove off, I watched her guards follow in separate cars. I wished for them to see her safely away from danger, that Grandma could heal Zoe and that they’d both survive for me to see again.
It seemed like I’d been gone forever. If I didn’t reappear soon, Boris would have people scouring the city for me. If they caught me here, in front of a recently disturbed grave, things could get unpleasant.
I had to get the hell out of there.
Jumping into Hayden’s car, I cringed at my dirty hands and hoped I could get to a bathroom to wash before being spotted. If Hayden noticed me missing, he’d be worried sick. At the stop sign, I called him.
“Tessa, where the hell did you go?” Hayden almost barked the words, sounding royally pissed off. “Are you alright?”
“For now. Can you and Chait meet me at your house?” If anyone figured out what had happened, at least I’d have the protection of the gates and security system, as well as Chait and Hayden.
“Yes. What’s going on?” he asked.
Oh, my God. I’d left the book open to the page I’d been reading. “I can’t talk now. I’ll see you soon.”
I hung up and dialed Chait.
“Tessa, what the f—”
“Chait, go into the library and put the book away. I left it open on the table and it belongs on the top of that tall shelf. Do it quickly, then go with Hayden to his house as fast as you can.”
They would beat me to Hayden’s. I prayed danger wouldn’t follow me there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice. I drove under the speed limit, taking care not to attract attention with my movements.
My sister, my grandmother and I were divine sorcerers. If that were widely known, we’d be hunted. Did Boris know? Maybe not everything, but I sensed he knew something. I couldn’t fathom Boris permitting people like us to live — people that might threaten his empire — unless we were on his side. Then he’d capitalize on every last one of my abilities.
Which were what? I should’ve asked Chait to steal the book instead of putting it away.
I’d watched Boris in action, aware he would make a formidable enemy. Any revenge or punishment would come fast and furious. Grandma was right — I had to do better than Zoe. But how?
As I neared Hayden’s place, my body slipped out of flight mode and dragged, the adrenal rush waning. My limbs turned to jelly and my mental defenses sagged. The gate to Hayden’s house loomed ahead.
After I’d gotten a nod from Hayden’s security guy and was past the gate, I sent Hayden an image of me pulling up. He rushed out and met me at the car. I killed the engine, jumped over the door and flung myself at him. “We need to get inside,” I whispered at his ear. I couldn’t take a chance on being overheard. Who knew where Boris’s people might be?
Hayden encircled me with his arms and I felt safe again. His warm and calming energy held off the panic that had hovered at the edges of my mind.
Once inside, we locked the doors and checked all the windows, closing the curtains as we went. I disappeared into the bathroom to wash off the graveyard dirt.
“What the hell is going on?” Hayden asked from the doorway. “Where did you go?”
“I—” I didn’t even know where to begin. I nudged Hayden out of the way and headed for the living room, almost barreling into Chait. “Hey, did you find the book?”
“Yeah, no one was around. I put it away,” Chait answered.
“What happened?” I couldn’t blame Hayden’s impatience, since I’d vanished with his car. He must’ve been worried.
I released the breath I’d been holding and collapsed onto the couch, covering my face with my hands.
Poor Zoe, trapped for a decade in a sealed coffin, probably maimed and unable to move, much less escape. Had my sister slept the whole time or had she been aware of everything? I closed my eyes and imagined the terror that would’ve engulfed her if she realized she’d been buried alive and destined to be a prisoner for eternity.
Imagining it was almost too much to bear. I felt claustrophobic and my lungs struggled for air. With effort, I mentally pulled myself out of Zoe’s prison and concentrated on pushing the picture out of my head. But the horror of it lingered. She hadn’t deserved that.
“I know why Boris is so interested in me and why my family is different,” I said. Then I told Hayden and Chait everything I knew.
Chapter Thirty-four
Hayden
I snuck out of my room and quietly closed the door, so I wouldn’t wake Tessa. In the hallway, I stopped just before the living room.
Chait looked wide awake, standing near the window with a cup of coffee in his hand. “I went outside to scope the place out, see if anyone was around. Your mom came out and offered me coffee. After last night, I needed it. Tessa still sleeping?”
“Yeah.” I ran a hand through my hair, exhausted from so little sleep. The three of us had stayed up late while Tessa filled us in. Apparently, she hadn’t been able to shake off the ordeal — she’d tossed and turned all night. But even a bad night snuggling with Tessa was still a pretty good night, sleep deprived or not. “My mom must have been really confused when she saw you.” I’d give her an edited version of the truth later. “We have to go to school. If we do anything unusual, Boris might think something’s up.”
“Looks like I’ll be your bodyguard for a while.” Chait gri
“Nah. Actually, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have on my side.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and looked down at my bare feet, only sneaking a peek at him to see the surprise on his face. “Honestly, it isn’t about competing for Tessa. None of that matters now. All I care about is keeping her alive.”
Chait didn’t miss a beat. “Okay. If we’re going to be working together, let’s get started.”
“Do you have a plan?” I hoped.
“Not really.” Chait shook his head. “But if only one of you misses school at a time, it’s unlikely anyone will suspect anything. But both of you… I don’t know. Frank will notice and maybe see it as a red flag. Take Tessa to school, if she’s up for it, and you and I can train all day. Tomorrow, I work with her and you go to school.”