Gathering of Angels(24)
Cold air slapped her as they stepped outside, and she realized just how frantic and crazy she’d been in there. Touching her cheeks reinforced it; the skin under her fingers was hot, and she knew if she looked in a mirror she would see a deep flush.
Eric muttered to her, words she couldn’t take in yet, and led her to the passenger side of their rental. She turned around, not wanting to see herself in the window—and froze when she caught sight of another car, parked on the side of the building.
She didn’t think—she just sprinted forward.
“Annie—where are you—Annie!”
Eric’s footsteps followed her, crunching over the gravel. She skidded on the uneven surface, slamming into the side of the car before she could stop herself. Marcus’ energy brushed over her—along with the remnants of panic and fear.
“Oh, God—” She grabbed Eric’s arm as he caught up with her. “Marcus is here.”
“How—”
“I don’t know—I’ve never been able to sense anyone before, not just by touching . . .” Her voice faded, and she stepped away from him, slowly pulled the sapphire ring out of her pocket. Slipping it on her left ring finger, she watched the same blue fire spark across the stone, and felt the pull of her power as it gathered itself. “It’s my focus,” she whispered.
“What do you—”
“Claire used her amethyst pendant to help focus her power—not that she needed it.” Annie looked up at him, fear and excitement whipping through her. “Marcus has been teaching me, but I just couldn’t break through. I was terrified, after what happened with the love spell, after being taken by Natasha, knowing she could crush me without blinking. I blocked my power—it was easier than facing my own failure.”
“Hey.” He fingered curls off her cheek. “There wasn’t anything you could have done, not against a demon. Even Claire, at full strength, barely held her own. Why didn’t you tell me this before now?”
“You were already dealing with enough. And—I’m not all that sure about your comfort level with this.”
“I love you, Annie. And this,” he cradled her hand, blue fire wrapping their fingers in a glittering web. “It’s part of you.”
It was just that simple for him. And she loved him because he accepted her, without reservation. And she was one hell of a package to accept.
“I need to use your—” Eric already had his phone out. “And he mind reads. How did I ever get so lucky?”
She kissed him, hard and fast, and punched in Marcus’ number. Expecting it to go straight to voicemail, she almost dropped the phone when someone answered.
“Marcus—where the hell have you been—”
“Annie?”
The familiar voice knocked the breath out of her. She dropped to her knees, clutching the phone. “Claire—” Tears lodged her voice in her throat.
“Where are you?”
Eric eased the phone out of her hand and turned on the speaker. “Claire, it’s Eric. Annie’s fine—just in shock.”
“Please tell me you’re not here.”
“Too late. We followed Marcus up. Is he—”
“He’s been injured. I have to go, Eric—”
“Not until you tell me where. I can track his phone if I have to,” he said, when silence met his request. “But why waste the time?”
A quiet sigh broke the silence. “The directions will be texted to your phone. Make certain you are not followed. Every life here depends on your discretion.”
The call disconnected before Annie could get her breath back. Claire’s cold, detached voice was like a slap. And it ignited Annie’s temper.
She pushed to her feet, stalked to their rental. “You navigate.” With a curse she yanked open the driver’s door. “I’ll get us there, with discretion.”
“Annie.”
“I’ll have my snit now.” She slid behind the wheel, raised her eyebrows when Eric looked at her. “That way, by the time we get there I’ll be calm enough not to smack her for talking to you like you’re a drooling idiot.”
He moved around to the passenger side and climbed into the car, checking his phone when his text notification chimed. “Leave the headlights off, and turn right out of the lot. I will never understand women.” She glanced over at him. “Not five minutes ago you wanted all the signs to point to Claire, and now that they do, you’re talking violence.”
“That wasn’t Claire talking.” Not the Claire she knew, the Claire she missed with an ache that never went away. “And I’m going to find out exactly what the hell is wrong with her—even if it requires violence.”