He smiles. “A bit banged up, but I’ll be good in a couple of hours. My ego took the biggest knock.” He looks over at Bolt. “He was demented.”
“What did she do to him?”
“Drugged him…essentially.” I can see his mind working as his eyes drift in thought. “When she took my hand, I felt a pinprick. I think it came from her thumb.”
“Like a poison barb?”
“Something like that.” He gives his head a shake like he’s trying to loosen a memory. “She did it to me before. I had forgotten about it. That’s how she manipulates us. Makes us willing to do anything. She injects some kind of poison into us.”
“To make you pliable.” My voice is far off. “I think she might even have used it on me, but it had a different result.”
“It made you trust her and enjoy her company.”
I nod. “I think so. I think that’s how we became friends so easily. It’s why you took her home when you don’t normally do the whole hook-up thing.”
“That’s it exactly,” Lyre says.
“Only it didn’t work on you this time.” I frown, thinking back on what Lilith said. “Maybe you developed an immunity.” I think about it some more. “Love is the antidote,” I murmur.
Lyre cups my jaw. “It didn’t work on me because I’m already taken. I love you too much to be swayed by the likes of a harpy.”
I bite my bottom lip.
“Say something. Is this freaking you out? I can back off. I’m—”
“I’m falling for you too.” My heart is pounding. Lilith told me I’m too closed off. That my walls are too high. She was so certain Lyre hadn’t fallen in love with me because of it. It’s time to lower my guard. Years of fighting monsters will do that to a girl, but Lyre has changed me. “I’m not just falling.” I touch his jaw, feeling his beard under my fingertips. “I’m totally in love with you.”
He presses his lips to mine. It doesn’t matter that Bolt is bleeding from three bullet holes. That there’s a dead harpy on the floor next to us. None of that matters at this moment. He pulls me closer and deepens the kiss.
Then we hear them. Sirens.
“Oh shit!” I say as I pull away. “Time to call in a clean-up team.”
“Clean-up team?” He frowns.
I put my phone to my ear. “Tom,” I say when he picks up.
As predicted, he already knows about our situation. The Order has contacts within the police departments. They have been informed about a disturbance. “Understood,” I say and hang up. “Bart and Cooper will be here in a few minutes. They’ll take care of everything.”
“How?”
“We have our ways. Don’t worry about that.”
“What are we going to do until then?” Lyre looks from Bolt to the harpy and back.
I go and check her pulse. She’s definitely dead. I feel another pang.
“We sit tight.” I smile. “If necessary, I’m taking my clothes off and putting one of your shirts on.”
Lyre chokes out a laugh. I can see a sadness in his eyes. Even though he is smiling, it is there. I feel incredibly happy and incredibly sad. A person shouldn’t be able to have such warring emotions. I put my arms around Lyre. He hugs me back, nuzzling into my hair.
24
The next day…
Morgan
I hold Andy’s hand. It’s cold. He looks so small lying there underneath the covers even though at six feet, he is far from it. I’m sure there are more pipes and machines attached to him than before. I have so much to say and yet my throat feels sealed shut.
“I’m so sorry,” I choke out. “You were right. I was wrong.”
I watch his chest rise and fall…rise and fall in a perfect rhythm set by a machine. “I should have listened to you. I wish to god I had. It turns out that wisdom does indeed come with age.” I try to smile. “Since you’re the old man, I should have listened to you.”
I work hard at staying in control. “We found her. We found Lilith and by ‘we’ I mean me and Lyre. I met someone Andy.” I pause. “Someone great. You would like him. He’s a dragon demigod. You heard correctly. A hybrid. He’s so kind and sweet. He can cook too. I’ve never met anyone who knows as much as he does. Lots of it is useless information but I love hearing it anyway. I love him.” I chew on my lip. “Lyre helped me take her down. She’s dead. You can rest in peace, Andy.” I squeeze his hand. “I just wanted you to know how sorry I was. You are, without a doubt, the best friend I have ever had and I…” I’m choking up. I blink like a mad person. “I’ll miss you.”
I’m gulping down air when Mrs. Golding comes back in from her bathroom break. She halts in her tracks. “Do you need some time?”
I shake my head. “I’m fine. You can come in and be with your son.”
She nods and sits on the other side, taking Andy’s hand. After a while, I see her lips moving. I’m not sure if she’s talking to Andy or praying. Mrs. Golding is also crying. I am shocked all over again at how much she has aged in the last few weeks. Her eyes are closed, and her head is slightly bowed. We sit like this for a while. I feel it too. This weight of sadness. I can’t imagine how much worse it must be for her since she is his mother.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper.
She looks up at me, her cheeks wet, her lashes glistening. “You need to stop blaming yourself.”
Mrs. Golding doesn’t know that I killed the only chance Andy had. I made a mess of this from start to finish. I want to apologize some more, but I stop myself.
There is a soft tap on the door, and Lyre walks in. He comes to stand behind me, putting his hands on my shoulders in silent support.
Mrs. Golding gives him a tight smile. They met when we arrived an hour ago, coming straight from the airport.
“I am going to go to the waiting room. I think Andy’s sisters will be here.” She looks at her watch. “I’ll give you some more time to say goodbye, Morgan.” Her voice hitches, and a tear tracks down her cheek.
I feel my eyes sting. There is a huge lump in my throat. I nod because I don’t trust my voice.
“Take your time,” she says. “You are welcome to stay when…when…” She gives a shuddering sniff and then makes a sobbing noise. “I can’t believe this. I thought he would wake up. I was sure of it.”
“Me too. I’m so sorry.” I stand and walk to her, putting my arms around her. The tears fall. I can’t stop them. We console one another for a couple of minutes. Lyre hangs back, giving us our space.
Then Mrs. Golding pulls back. She takes my hand and squeezes. I watch as she leaves. Lyre hands me a wad of tissues. “Thanks.” I blow my nose. “How’s Bolt?”
Lyre stepped out to call and check in on him.
“Healing well. He should be perfect by tomorrow.” I catch a look in his eyes.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“He’s still acting strangely. He keeps on saying that the love of his life is dead. He’s vowed to make you and me pay.”