She spun in time to see Mr. Hughes scooping Tylindale in his massive hands. He threw her father over his shoulder as though he were a tea towel or rag and offered Jasmine a quick grin before he took off into the trees. Jasmine started to sprint after him, but Deshawne’s beheaded body reached out and grabbed her ankle. She tripped and slammed her face painfully onto the rock. Her nose blossomed with blood.

  The pain flared and subsided swiftly. By the time she shook her head and pushed herself back to her feet, she saw no sign of Mr. Hughes or her father.

  “Fuck!” she cried. Her fists clenched and heat flooded her body. A number of her pack ran down the slope, stopping at the site where Tylindale had extracted Deshawne’s power.

  Delilah shifted to man-skin. “Where are they?”

  “Hell if I know,” Jasmine replied.

  Qadir groaned, clutching his wounds.

  “Scent them,” Jasmine instructed. “Trail after them. Don’t let them escape the park.”

  Delilah nodded and shifted back to wolf pelt. She barked at her pack, and a number of them sped off into the woods in the direction Mr. Hughes had run.

  Jasmine turned her attention back to the pained Qadir, and she noticed the remains of Deshawne’s head grinning up at her, yellowed eyes twinkling with mirth.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Jasmine stepped toward Deshawne’s head, fury in her eyes.

  “Did you miss me?” Deshawne asked. His voice was like gravel, and he spoke slower than he once did. “I bet you did, princess. You’ll never get rid of Deshawne.”

  Jasmine’s lip curled. “Where have they gone?”

  Deshawne laughed, but it turned into a fit of pained coughs. His body twitched nearby, hands scrabbling to draw his torso back to his head. “Who knows? Who fucking cares.” He coughed again, his eyes drawn closed in pain. “All that matters is that you’ve lost, Jasmine. Months after you locked me in my watery prison, you’ve finally lost. How long I spent down there, dreaming of this moment, praying for the pain that now racks your eyes.”

  Jasmine advanced. She crouched beside Deshawne’s head.

  “How does it feel, Jasmine?” Deshawne asked. “How does it feel to know that all you ever wanted was a pipe dream. You think you have it all, that your gift will save you, but your number is up. There’s nowhere for you to hide.”

  Jasmine looked down at Deshawne with pity. His body gained a rhythm and was only a few feet from his head now.

  “You know what? I think I’m really going to enjoy this.”

  Before Deshawne could open his mouth or reply, she punched his face. His bones were brittle and his head was hollow, and it broke like papier-mâché beneath her blows. She pummeled his skull until all that was left were the broken pieces, and the fragments of bone were dissolving into dust. She wasn’t sure if it was a state of his condition or the effect of the bereginya doll, but soon all that was left was a pile of ash. As she turned her attention to his body, a slight breeze sent the ash scattering.

  She vented her fury, crying out in frustration as she drove fist after fist into his ribs, his arms, his hips, until all that was left was powder. When she was finished, she sat back on her ass, gasping, hot tears in her eyes, flashes of her father’s tirade and efforts flickering through her mind.

  She sat only for a moment, taking in the destruction of the man who had caused her so much pain. For the first time since she had met Deshawne, she realized that he wasn’t the main cause of her trouble, only a minion in the process. Everything started and finished with her father, and she would bring her father to justice if it was the last thing she did.

  Qadir groaned behind her.

  Jasmine wiped her eyes with her sleeve and turned her attention to Tylindale’s former apprentice.

  Qadir was in a bad way, but after a quick examination, Jasmine confirmed he would be okay. The wounds from Deshawne’s scratches and clawing were many, but they were shallow. Provided no necromantic energy would corrupt or infect his skin, she believed he would make a fine recovery.

  “We failed…” Qadir whispered, exhausted after his bout with her father. “Jasmine…we…”

  “No,” Jasmine stopped him, scooping his head toward her lap. “You only fail if you give up. My mother taught me that.”

  “If your mother is anything like your father, I wouldn’t trust a word she says,” Qadir quipped.

  They both chuckled, though Qadir’s laugh trailed into a pained groan. As they sat by the lake, the waters were already returning to their mirror-like equilibrium, and more wolves trailed down to meet them. Kendrick morphed to man-skin and knelt by Jasmine’s side.

  “Is he going to be okay?” Kendrick asked.

  Qadir looked up at the Were. “I can answer for myself, you know.”

  “That means ‘yes,’” Jasmine offered.

  Kendrick smiled down in pity.

  “Although,” Jasmine continued, “he will need medical attention. Will you be able to get him somewhere to be treated? I hear rave reviews from Eddy about the state of the local hospital.”

  Kendrick bowed his head. “Of course.” He went back to wolf pelt and dipped his neck, allowing Jasmine to help Qadir onto his back. He howled to the moon and set off with three wolves at his side for protection.

  For a long time, Jasmine sat on the rock, staring up at the sky. The other wolves settled around her. Everyone was quiet, processing all that had happened, until a rustling indicated the return of the first group of wolves.

  Delilah stood behind Jasmine with a sorrowful look in her eyes. “Jasmine…?”

  Jasmine’s lips thinned. “You didn’t find him, did you?”

  Delilah shook her head. “No. We didn’t.”

  Jasmine sighed. “And so the hunt begins again.” She rose to her feet. “Thank you, anyway…Del, what’s up?”

  Delilah’s eyes shimmered in the moonlight. Jasmine knew it took a lot to hit Delilah’s emotional bone, and a knot tightened in her chest.

  “Del…” Jasmine pressed.

  Delilah took a calming breath. “You need to come with us. We didn’t find your father, but we found…something else.”

  Jasmine frowned. “What is it?”

  Delilah swallowed. “You’ll have to see it for yourself.” She turned toward the tree line, then looked back over her shoulder. “And quickly. Time is of the essence.”

  Jasmine had a bad feeling. She took off after Delilah and the wolves as they sprinted through the forest. On this side of the bluff the ground was more even, though twisting and trailing fingers of roots still clawed at their feet. They wound between trees, following a route with no paths. The leaf canopy overhead blocked any light that would have come from the moon, and had it not been for Jasmine’s enhanced sight, she would have been lost some time ago.

  Delilah finally slowed her pace when a clearing broke out ahead. A modest wooden cabin stood in the center.

  Some of the wood was warped, and moss painted the roof. The windows were without glass, and the rickety wooden porch looked in desperate need of renovation.

  Jasmine swallowed dryly. Sounds were coming from inside, and though Jasmine knew what was ahead, she wasn’t fully prepared.

  She exchanged a glance with Delilah and approached the front door of the cabin.

  The door was off the latch and creaked open at her touch. Someone coughed, and the sound mixed with the gentle rhythm of quiet sobs. Although it was dark, Jasmine could make out the shape of Eli, back in his human skin. He lay on his bed under white sheets that had turned pink from his blood.

  “Jasmine…” His voice was breathy and pained.

  In a chair beside him, her hand looking tiny in Eli’s, Rhonda sniveled and sobbed. Her eyes were pink, and her cheeks damp from a steady stream of tears.

  Jasmine entered the room, then looked over her shoulder to catch Delilah giving her an encouraging nod before closing the door for privacy.

  “Eli…?” Jasmine didn’t know what to say. “Are you…?”

  “It’s not good.” Eli grimaced as he spoke. His face was waxy and damp, and he had a fearful look in his eyes. He coughed and groaned as his body tensed.

  Jasmine moved to the bedside, staring at the cloth. “May I?”

  Eli nodded, closing his eyes as Jasmine teased away the bedsheet. Rhonda closed her eyes and squeezed his hand.

  Jasmine’s breath caught at the sight of the wound. The gash hadn’t seemed too bad in the moment when the specter had slashed at the great elk’s side. In human form, under the light filtering in from the moon, there was no doubt that it was bad. The edges were puckered and dark, and the muscle and tissue on display beneath had already turned black from whatever corruption existed in the phantom’s strike. Jasmine wanted to suggest getting Eli to a hospital, but she knew it would be useless. He was fading fast. By the time they made it to the hospital, it would be too late.

  “Eli, I’m so sorry,” Jasmine whispered.

  Eli offered his best smile, the effort twisting his face as his breathing quickened. “No, Jasmine. Don’t. It’s not your fault. You didn’t ask for any of this.”

  “But you wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for—” Jasmine started.

  “Yes, I would,” Eli interrupted. “I have spent my life fighting for good, working to make this world a better place. With or without you, your father would have done what he did, and I would repeat my actions a thousand times over if it meant keeping the good people in this world alive a little longer.” He turned his gaze to Rhonda.

  Jasmine tried to fight back tears but couldn’t stop them from coming. She thought of her time spent with Eli. She remembered the stolen moments when he paraded around as Deshawne, and the first time they met. Eli had transformed into a majestic eagle. She thought of Eli’s descent as he ran from Mr. Hughes and the time they had spent at Miss Adelai’s.

  This was a father, Jasmine thought. Eli was a force of moral good, someone who went out of his way to protect those he loved. Charlotte didn’t know about their connection, but he’d kept it from her to protect her from hurt and heartbreak. He had put Rhonda’s life before his own, a young girl he barely knew. Unlike Jasmine’s father, a man who protected his own selfish interests above all others and channeled the darkness to achieve his goals.

  Jasmine wondered what life would have been like with a father more like Eli, to know that someone cared and would do anything to ensure the ones they loved were safe. She supposed she would never truly know.

  “He’s going to be okay, right, Jasmine?” Rhonda stuttered between shallow breaths. “He’s going to live?”

  Jasmine didn’t answer the question, not wanting to confirm or deny the inevitable.

  “Eli, is there anything I can do?” Jasmine crouched and took his other hand in her own, bringing her face level with his.

  Eli nodded, visibly struggling for breath. “Tell Charlotte…Tell…my daughter…that I love her, okay?” His words faded, and his breath rasped. “Tell her that it was a pleasure knowing her, and…I’m sorry…”

  Jasmine’s lip quivered. “Of course. I promise.”

  “Jasmine?” Rhonda asked, growing more distressed. “Jasmine, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t…if I had never…”

  Eli cut across her. “No, love… It’s not you. It was never you.” He drew a pained breath, and his body tensed at the increase in pain. “Don’t blame yourself, please. Promise me that much before I go. Honor my death by living your life. Never blame yourself for what has happened tonight. In doing so, you would cheapen this sacrifice. I have chosen death so you may live.” He smiled weakly. “Do you understand?”

  Rhonda could do nothing but nod.

  Eli rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, pulling his hands away from Jasmine and Rhonda. He crossed them over his chest as his face screwed in pain. When he spoke, it seemed more for himself than the others. “Here, at the end, that sacrifice is all I’ve got left. The choices I made… Please never let anyone take those from me.” He coughed, and blood dribbled from his lips. “That would hurt me more than any monster or ghost ever could…”

  Eli’s voice trailed away. His hands went limp. His chest fell still.

  For a moment, Jasmine and Rhonda sat in the silence. Neither was able to voice what they were thinking. As realization dawned over Rhonda, tears spilled down her face. Jasmine drew her to her bosom and held her. Jasmine’s coat dampened with tears as Rhonda sobbed against Jasmine until she exhausted her tears, and quiet once again took over.

  Jasmine lifted her head to gaze once more into Eli’s eyes. She saw peace in them that he’d never seemed to have in his waking life. She carefully took the corner of the bedsheet and slid it over his body until his face was masked from sight.

  Outside the cabin, Delilah watched through the window and sent a message to the surrounding pack. The wolves tilted their heads to the moon, and mournful howls filled the night.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Jasmine pulled to a stop by the curb and looked up at the house.

  Charlotte had done a swift job on repairs. Jasmine examined the out-of-place period building that stood out in stark contrast to the rest of the street, and it almost looked as though nothing had ever happened here. The door had been placed back on its hinges, with no indication that a mammoth revenant had smashed through the house and attacked its residents.

  Rhonda shifted beside Jasmine. She had insisted on coming along with Jasmine to meet Eli’s one remaining relative, and she’d slept for most of the three-hour journey to New York. Jasmine dreaded what was to come, wondering how Charlotte would take the news of Eli’s death after showing such disdain toward him.

  Rhonda rubbed her eyes. In the days following Eli’s death, Rhonda had seemed so young. Before, she had been able to act older than her years. Witnessing someone’s death had somehow regressed her.

  “Are we here?” Rhonda asked.

  Jasmine nodded. “We are. Are you ready for this?”

  Rhonda took a steadying breath. “I think so.”

  Jasmine studied her for a moment. “Okay. Come on, let’s go see if she’s home.”

  They walked through the old picket gate and up the stone pathway. Jasmine hesitated, then knocked on the front door. She placed her hands in her pockets and offered the closest thing to a smile that she could as Charlotte opened the door.

  Charlotte didn’t look pleased by Jasmine’s presence. She glanced down at Rhonda. “Can I help you?”

  “Hi…” Jasmine started, uncertain how to lead into the news. “We’re sorry to disturb you like this, but may we come in? We need to speak to you about something…personal.”

  At first, it seemed Charlotte was going to dismiss them, but she must have sensed something in Jasmine’s words. “Of course. Come in.”

  She led them through to the sitting room, where Jasmine had seen Eli through the window in the garden. Charlotte motioned for them to sit as she took her own seat, elbows resting on her knees. “What is it that you wanted to tell me?”

  Jasmine didn’t know how to begin. She looked at Charlotte for a long moment, once again taken aback by how mature and adult she appeared, though she couldn’t have been much older than her early twenties.

  Rhonda looked up at Jasmine.

  Jasmine bowed her head. “It’s about Eli.”

  Charlotte stiffened.

  “There’s no easy way to tell you this,” Jasmine began. “Eli…Eli is no longer with us.”

  Charlotte’s nostrils widened. Her back straightened. “You mean to tell me that he is…”

  Jasmine nodded. “I’m so sorry.”

  Charlotte fought to keep herself composed but was losing the battle. Despite her apparent hatred toward Eli, she still cared for and loved him. That much was clear.

  Charlotte took a tissue from the side table and pressed it to the corner of her eyes. “How did it happen?”

  As Rhonda and Charlotte sat quietly, Jasmine gave the broad strokes of the night of the attack, detailing Eli’s scrap with the phantom enemy, as well as his heroic rescue of Rhonda. The girl bowed her head, unable to hold Charlotte’s gaze until Jasmine was finished with her story.

  Charlotte composed herself well, staring at the coffee table with a vacant gaze. Jasmine and Rhonda waited patiently for the information to absorb.

  “I understand,” Charlotte replied calmly. She took a drawn-out breath before meeting Jasmine’s gaze. “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll get to the arrangements.”

  “There’s something else.” This was the part of the conversation Jasmine had been dreading. “Something that you need to know.”

  Charlotte looked at Jasmine expectantly.

  Jasmine turned from Charlotte to Rhonda and back again. “It’s about your relationship with Eli. Your uncle, I mean…He…” Jasmine paused. “There’s no easy way to say this, given the circumstances. Eli was…”

  “My father,” Charlotte finished for her.

  Jasmine cocked her head as Charlotte kept her level gaze, unaffected by the news. “You knew?”

  Charlotte sighed, glancing down at her lap. “I’ve known for as long as I can remember. For whatever reason, he had his secrets he wanted to keep, and I was okay with playing along. I suppose that was part of the animosity between us. I never understood his reasons for lying, and I never had the courage to ask. I suppose I always believed that he was a coward, someone who refused to face up to his parental responsibilities. As years passed, the lie grew too thick to break.” She dabbed the tissue at her nose. “Now that he’s dead, I’ll suppose I’ll never truly know. I’ll just live on with the legacy that my father was a liar who would rather sacrifice his life for another than care for his own daughter.”

  Rhonda stood sharply, anger in her eyes. “No. You’re wrong.”

  Charlotte looked up at her expectantly.

  “Eli was a hero,” Rhonda declared. “He put himself before others in order to save my life. It was my fault that I was there, not his. Had it been you, he would’ve done the same without hesitation, right, Jasmine?”