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“We could just take the asshole out for you,” Killian suggests. He grins. “Hey, what are friends for?”

It’s an idea. And not a bad one. It makes me realize how far I’ve come from the girl I was that I can now consider killing Pete without a qualm. But I’ve seen a lot of people die recently. “Maybe later,” I say. Right now I want to go and see these really bad things. Wherever they are. “Where did you come from?”

“Glenhaven Cross.”

Well that means nothing.

“It’s just on the other side of the Scottish border,” Zayne says helpfully. “About three hours from here.”

“I think we can do it a little faster than that,” Killian says. “But still, we’d better leave.”

I nod. “Come on Josh. Let’s get you a coat.” I frown. “And maybe a few clothes.” I have a feeling we won’t be coming back here. At least not for a while.

Without another word, I set off toward the house, Josh beside me. “Are we going with those people?” he asks.

“Yes, we’re going on an adventure. And I’m going to introduce you to my aunt.”

“You have a real aunt?”

“Yes, and she’s yours as well now. Because you’re my brother and she’ll love you.”

He’s silent until we reach the house. “But you’ve always said me and Zayne aren’t your real brothers. Maybe she won’t like me.”

“Well, I was wrong. Hey, that is possible you know.”

He giggles. The front door swings open, and we enter the hall, Josh still clinging to my hand. Through the door to the living room, I can see Lissa huddled on the sofa, her face blank, staring into nothing. For a second, I hesitate, then I walk past her. There’s nothing I can do to help her, at least not until she decides she needs and wants help. We head up the stairs to Josh’s room first. I empty out his school backpack and stuff it with things I think he’ll need—mainly clean underwear and his toothbrush. Then I hand him his coat and he puts it on and slips the backpack over his shoulders.

I grab his helmet—the one Zayne bought for him—from the chair as we go out and give it to him.

And he’s ready to go.

Now for me.

We head back down the stairs, then into the kitchen.

“See if there’s any food we can take,” I say to Josh.

Then I make my way down another set of stairs that leads to the basement and my room. I pull the key from my jeans pocket, unlock the padlock, and open the door to my underground lair.

Pete thought he was being mean putting me down here. He’s scared of the basement—he thinks it’s haunted. But for me, it’s been my safe haven. The one place I knew I wouldn’t be bothered. I hadn’t needed the padlock. Though now, I think it’s a sensible precaution.

Considering what’s in here.

I grab my own backpack and quickly fill it with what I think I might need based on past experience. Lots of clean underwear, a spare pair of jeans, and a few t-shirts. Toiletries. I get down on my knees, reach under my bed, and drag Nightfall out in her scabbard. She’s wrapped in some black material I bought. While it’s still easy to guess what’s underneath, it’s better thanblatantly carrying a fucking great sword. But it’s not as though I’m going to leave her behind.

I consider the sword, then my backpack and think about the logistics. It’s clear we’re going to travel by motorcycle. I fasten the scabbard across my back and then pull the backpack over it, grab my own helmet and I’m good to go as well. I glance over at the corner as I leave the room. The mirror is draped with a blanket—I didn’t want it to give me nightmares. Even so a shudder runs through me as I close the door. I relock the padlock and add a spell to discourage anyone from coming near.

I find Josh at the kitchen table munching biscuits and I grab one as I go past.

“Come on, time to go.”

I feel a sense of… Actually I don’t know what I feel as we exit the front door and the house. While I will need to make one last visit here, I doubt I’ll be entering through the front door, so this is technically the last time I’ll be here. It’s sort of momentous, but not even vaguely sad. The only good things to come out of my time in this house are going with me.

“Are you okay riding with Killian,” Zayne asks. “He’s a good guy, promise. And I thought Josh would be better with me.”

“No problem,” I reply casting a glance at Killian’s tall figure.

His gaze runs over me, eyes widening as he takes in the tip of Nightfall at my shoulder. “Is that a…” He shakes his head. “Never mind. Just hope we don’t get stopped, because I suspect it won’t go down well.”