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Travis leaned over, whispering into my ear, “You’re not mad at me, are you?”

My hackles were up, but it really wasn’t his fault. It was just the situation. I put my hands on his. “No, I’m okay.” I turned and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Have fun with your sister.”

He turned into me, giving me a kiss on the lips, slow and deliberate that made my heart beat against my ribs. It so wasn’t fair. I was conscious of his sister watching us and the whole thing—besides the kiss—just felt awkward.

I pulled away. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Be safe, guys,” Travis said, pinning Randy with a look that he didn’t see. He was already tugging my hand out the door.

When we stepped outside, Randy breathed in deep. “It feels so much better out here, doesn’t it?”

I laughed, squeezing his hand. “Someone feeling cooped up?”

“Worse than that,” he said. “I just don’t like Travis’s sister being here.”

I smiled to myself, hearing my thoughts being echoed right back to me. At least I knew I wasn’t the only asshole in the house. I hadn’t gotten the chance to talk to Travis alone regarding his thoughts about Jax and who knew if I’d be able to now.

Randy led me down the street. “I thought we’d go pick up the bike at the wharf and then go for a ride. You down with that?”

I nodded eagerly. While I was thinking about it though, I took out my phone and sent a quick text to Gabe: Went out with Randy for a bit. Be back soon.

His reply: Wankers.

I showed Randy the screen, and he laughed. “He’s just mad we didn’t invite him to come with us.” He paused for a moment. “But three of us can’t fit on a motorcycle, so…”

Sirens sounded in the distance. I looked in the direction and saw a huge red fire engine screaming down the street toward its destination. For a moment, it was too loud to talk, but once they were further away, I said, “Geez, I hope everyone’s okay.”

Right as I said it, two more trucks went by. These were just regular trucks with a small siren on the top letting everyone know they were emergency vehicles.

When the ruckus passed, I turned to Randy. “Why do you think Travis told Jennie about Jax?”

He shrugged, rolling his eyes. “Part of me thinks it’s as he said, that she deserved to know. But another part of me thinks that he wanted at least one person on his side that knew Jax really well. Maybe they think they’re going to prove to us that Jax can be saved.”

“If he even wants to be saved,” I said.

“I can’t wait until the equinox party tomorrow. We can help spread the word about Jax so that hopefully no one else will get hurt. I hate the idea that there’s a demon roaming around somewhere. I don’t care if that’s Jax with a demon or just a demon in general.”

My insides twisted. I knew the feeling. That demon had already brought a lot of hurt and pain to Salem. Jax could say all he wanted that it was just about getting revenge on his former coven, but then what about the other witches? Why bring them into it?

I shivered, and Randy put his arm around me. “We’ll figure this out. We always do.”

Randy and I turned the corner toward the wharf. A man ran straight at us, his face filled with rage. I froze, but thankfully Randy was right there to pull me out of the way. In the next second, two police officers on foot came around the side of the building, guns drawn. “Get out of the way!” they shouted.

Randy and I plastered ourselves into the wall of the store we were next to as they ran by. Turning, I saw another police officer come from where we just were and lunge toward the angry man. He tackled him at his ankles and he fell onto the road, his hands outstretched to stop his fall.

My heart leaped into my throat, and my magic tingled at my fingertips. Smoke filled my nostrils, and Randy tugged at my hand. “Norah, look.”

I turned his way and saw a billowing cloud of black smoke rise in the distance. Shouts rose up and the fire trucks we’d seen rushing down the road were pulled up outside of a church. I gasped. “Oh no.”

“I didn’t do anything,” someone yelled.

I turned back around to the police officers cuffing the man they chased down. They pulled him up to his feet and shoved him back toward us. Randy positioned himself in front of me, but when the guy walked by, he glared at us. His eyes were dark gray.

Wait.

A black sheen completely covered his entire eye. I blinked. His eyes were gray again.

“Fuck. Did you see that?” Randy asked when they were far enough away from us that they couldn’t hear.