The elevator door started to move, and I stepped out before I could lose my nerve. It closed behind me, and the turning of the gears took away my escape. Not that I was planning on needing an escape, but the option would’ve been nice. It wasn’t like Jamie and I had the best relationship these days.

  The witch in question stepped into the hall. I’d expected and dressed for an elegant evening. Clearly, he had other plans. The jeans with the frayed knee and the white cotton t-shirt brought back better days and the boy he’d been. Not that he looked like that boy anymore. A man smiled at me with an achingly familiar expression.

  He padded down the hall barefoot, appreciation in his eyes. “Even more beautiful than I remember.”

  I couldn’t pretend the past was pleasant or that we had been more than civil for six years. The wound he’d left in my heart had never fully healed, and he deserved the edge of pain that came every time I saw him. “And as full of empty flattery as I remember.”

  Jamie’s smile faded. “I didn’t... That isn’t why I asked you here.” His movements stiff, he pressed on the wall, and a section popped open to reveal a closet. “You can set your things in here.”

  I double-checked the spell on my bag, verifying it would prevent any hand but mine from moving or opening it. Not wanting to jostle the spell components, I set it down gently. For a moment, I worried I wouldn’t be able to find the closet again, but now that I knew it was there, I could see the door seam easily enough.

  “I hope you still like Italian.” The words themselves were pleasant but lacked the warmth of his greeting.

  That was my fault. Even if I couldn’t ignore the past, I could’ve been more diplomatic. After all, he was doing me a favor by raiding the clan’s magic bank. He would be in trouble if they ever found out.

  “I’m sorry.” The words tasted bad, even though he deserved them.

  He winced. “I owe you those words.”

  A timer went off, beeping shrilly.

  “Garlic bread,” he muttered, but didn’t move.

  “It’s the best part of the meal. You can’t let it burn.” I started down the hall. “We can make up after it’s out of the oven.” Or never. I’d hate to lose my grudge against him. Then I’d only have my stalker, necromancy, and idiotic clan politics to blame for any misery in my life. Oh, and my suspended boss. Couldn’t forget him.

  He hurried ahead of me, taking a left at the end of the hall. I followed more slowly, in no small part because I wouldn’t have worn three-inch heels if I’d known the floor was polished marble.

  The living room spread out to the right, with a massive corner window capitalizing on the view. I couldn’t help but walk over. With night settling over the city, the spots of light showed how much living everyone did after dark. Inside, white furnishings matched the floor, a gold and glass coffee table warmed the center of the room, though not as much as the in-wall fireplace dancing with blue flames. Above it, a slender sliver frame encased a picture of a woman with her back to the photographer, seemingly standing in the air, rolling hills in front of her with the sun setting across them.

  The picture drew me across the room, a half-forgotten memory stirring. I’d known he had a camera that day, because I’d turned around with the last glow of sun lingering in the sky, and we’d taken a picture together, the two of us framed in near darkness, joy in both of our faces.

  I’d loved that picture for two weeks. When he’d broken up with me, I’d incinerated it in a ball of witch fire.

  This image, I’d never seen. Not when we sat in the back seat of my parents’ car flipping through images on the camera. Nor when we flipped through the prints, reliving the memories so we could hold onto them a bit longer.

  I blinked, and the picture vanished. Now the silver frame held only glass over the white wall. Hardly able to breathe, I turned.

  Jamie held a slender remote in his hand, and a flush tinted his cheeks.

  “Why?”

  It was the only thing I could think to say, and it didn’t say nearly enough. Why was it here? Why did he have it after all these years? Why hadn’t I seen it before?

  He turned the remote over in his hands. “I kept it.”

  “You broke up with me.” A chill that had nothing to do with my necromancy settled over my skin. It always came back to that between us. “Why would you keep it?”

  “I love that picture and the memory of you, so peacefully joyful.” The corners of his mouth turned down. “Maybe I have regrets too.”

  The chill on my skin seemed to be dampening my emotions, or the overwhelming totality of this past week had rendered me numb. “I don’t understand. You devastated me.”

  “I know.” He closed his eyes. “And for six years, I’ve wished I could go back.”

  “Then... then why?” Coming here had been a mistake, one I wouldn’t have made if lives hadn’t depended on me. As much as I wanted to be anywhere else, my body was firmly attached to this bit of floor by leaden legs.

  His mouth twisted. “This apartment is spelled against listening by mundane or magical devices.” He sighed and tugged his wand out of a pocket sewn into the thigh of his jeans. “Berkaan sowil.”

  A spell enveloped the two of us, preventing our words from reaching anyone or anything but one another. He lowered his wand. “I have cherished that picture as I cherished you or would have cherished you, had I been old enough and self-assured enough to make different choices. In truth, it has become so much a part of this room that I forgot to change it.”

  “How long have you lived here?”

  “Two years.”

  And a picture of me had been featured in his living room the entire time.

  “I change it when clan members come over, though I avoid having them here if I can.” The pain in his voice had faded to a matter-of-fact tone.

  Now that didn’t make sense. He was in good standing with the clan.

  He must’ve read my thoughts on my face. “In favor doesn’t mean I like them or what they’ve done.”

  I only had two more questions, and for one of them, I’d have to talk him into being under a truth spell. “Why did you move to Nashville?”

  Jamie pressed his lips together. “To be close to you.”

  Taking a deep breath, I drew my wand and shoved magic into the spell. “Esaz ihaz berkaan.”

  His shoulders bunched, and he glared at me.

  “I’m sorry, I’ll undo the truth spell as soon as you answer one question.”

  Jamie moved his head in a tiny nod.

  “Are you stalking me?” I held my breath, and after everything between us, I prayed it wasn’t him. That was a wound I didn’t know if I could heal.

  A muscle in his jaw twitched. “No.”

  I dismissed the spell and sucked in deep gulps of air. With no regard for the structure of the spell he’d cast to assure our conversation stayed between us, I sat on one of the arm-less leather couches. It wasn’t him.

  Eyes closed, I leaned over and rested my head in my hands. In a moment, my head would stop swimming.

  Jamie knelt beside me. “Kel, how long have you had a stalker?”

  “It started around the time we broke up.” It was my turn to whisper.

  “Narzel’s ass, and you thought it could’ve been me? All this time?” He swore again. “I missed you, let the clan use me as their voice so I could see you. I would never...”

  “Had to be sure after... after that.” I flapped a hand toward the wall.

  Warm fingers touched my cheek. Opening my eyes, I found him looking at me, brows pulled together. “Did you pack a change of clothes?”

  I nodded.

  “Why don’t you put on something more comfortable, and I’ll feed you while we talk? Can you trust me enough to dismiss this spell? On my honor, the apartment is safe.”

  I nodded again, not trusting my voice. This week had done something to me for me to suspect Jamie. Even discounting all the caring he’d shown me when we were dating, there was the incident with the clan bully and his sister. He’d burned Aiden’s eyebrows off after Aiden had ignored Emmie turning down his offer of a date twice and asked her a third time. For that, the clan had made Jamie spend a week making magical burn salve. He’d always said it was worth it.

  He slipped the heels off my feet. With one arm, he helped me stand. Shoes dangling from his fingers by their straps, he guided me back to the closet and let me pick up my bag. Another hidden door revealed a half-bath.

  “Or you can use my bedroom?”

  “This is fine.”

  He set my shoes inside and moved back.

  Unlike my apartment, the hinges of this door were new and didn’t make a sound as it swung closed. I turned the lock, more out of habit than need.

  Trading the dress for my khakis, a thermal undershirt, and a polo with “TBI” embroidered on the chest made me feel more like myself. For now, I skipped the shoes and socks. Surprisingly, the marble was warm underfoot. A perk of the penthouse, I guess.

  White walls did little to bring color to my complexion, and the woman in the mirror didn’t look ready for tonight’s spell work.

  Inside, I felt raw. Too little sleep, too much stress, and too many emotions were catching up with me. Tonight’s emotions were far from over, and the spells to capture the werewolf would take all of me.

  Whatever revelations awaited me at dinner, I promised myself I’d leave here ready to do my job. Fatigue and stress could get me in the morning. Tonight was mine.

  With color back in my cheeks and a light akin to my normal energy in my eyes, I was as ready as I could be to face Jamie again. I wasn’t ready to ask why he’d broken up with me if he regretted it so much, or why he didn’t try to get back together. A pleasant dinner and the magic for the spells. That was all I had in me.

  Earlier, the living room had drawn me in, but this time, I followed my nose to the kitchen. The austere effect of many modernist homes was shattered by the mess. The sauce had splattered, leaving flecks of red on the white counter. Discarded bits, a cutting board, and knife and parsley stalks littered the space beside the sink.

  Jamie had two plates beside the stove and carefully piled the fettuccine noodles on before dousing them in a hearty sauce with chunks of mushrooms, olives, and other delights.

  He handed me a plate and scooped up his own before directing me to a long white table with clear chairs. The garlic bread was already on the table. Two glasses held water and a carafe sat ready for refills.

  The clear chair was comfortable enough, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t age well. Plastic like this tended to show every scuff and scrape.

  A sigh drew my attention over to Jamie. He lifted his glass, looking into it like it held the secrets of the universe. “I’d intended—well, no matter.” He lifted his glass and locked eyes with me. “To better understandings.”

  “I can drink to that.” I tapped my glass against his and took the symbolic sip before applying myself to dinner. The garlic bread was as good as I’d hoped.

  Piano music filled the gaps, of which there were many. Our earlier conversation hadn’t fixed our relationship. It felt strange to be sitting next to a man whom I knew so little about when I’d known the boy so well. I was finishing the last of my pasta when Jamie broke the awkward lack of conversation.

  “Perhaps dinner wasn’t my best idea.” He stacked his plate atop the now-empty garlic bread tray.

  “It surprised me. Of the prices I expected to pay for your help, this wasn’t it.” I toyed with the last piece of mushroom on my plate.

  “I’ve missed you.” He picked up the pile of dishes and headed to the kitchen.

  Narzel fart. How was I supposed to respond to that nicely?

  I hadn’t missed him. I’d spent most of the past six years wishing I lov—liked him a little less so I could hate him. There had to be a safer topic. “How’d you land the job here in Nashville?”

  “I called in a favor.” He held out his hand. “Are you done?”

  Wordlessly, I handed him the plate.

  “Olivia refused, but after she sent me to Thailand and then to Greenland and everyone saw how badly I traveled, it didn’t take much.”

  “Remember that trip to Ireland?” I couldn’t help but smile. “You were jet-lagged the entire time.”

  “And it took me a month to adjust when we returned.” He shook his head. “I tried to tell them.”

  I joined him in the kitchen. “How do you like the job here?”

  “Well enough.” He washed his hands before leaning against the counter. “It pays the bills nicely.”

  “And keeps you housed nicely.”

  “Your place has more charm.” His eyes moved over me, as if he was memorizing every angle, curve, and line of my face.

  I doubted he realized the longing that shone in his eyes or that watching him soak in the sight of me dug at the old wound in my heart. Once the memories from years past were sweet. Back then we didn’t have walls up, and I wasn’t trying to hide barbs in every sentence.

  He blinked. “You need magic to catch that creature.”

  “Uh, yes.” For a moment, I’d forgotten.

  Jamie held out his hands.

  My eyes stayed on his face as our palms met. Looking at him kept me centered in the here and now rather than sliding into memories of the times we’d held hands like this.

  His magic pressed against my skin.

  Opening my shields also opened the connection between us. Magic flowed, and for those moments, I was open and vulnerable. He politely didn’t press against my thoughts. It was only when I was overflowing with magic and he had broken the link that I realized he could’ve learned about my necromancy because I’d forgotten to shield that part of me. I had to do better than that if I wanted to enjoy a long life.

  “There,” Jamie said raggedly.

  “Thank you.” The magic buzzed inside my skin. Holding this much power wasn’t comfortable. “Did it buzz against you?”

  He leaned heavily against the counter. “Like angry bees.”

  “You gave me too much.” I held out a hand. “Take enough back to steady yourself.”

  “No.” He tipped his head toward the cabinet. “I have a potion waiting, second dinner in the fridge, and a date with my bed. I’ll be fine. You’re the one going into danger.”

  “You’re sure?” If I could’ve given him magic while his shields were up, I would’ve.

  “I’m sure I’m tired of you asking.” He pushed away from the counter and stood on his own. “Socks, shoes, and you can be on your way.”

  Pressing my lips together, I retrieved them and settled on his white sofa. He leaned against the wall, and if the slow deliberate movements were any indication, he would be tucking himself into bed as soon as I left.

  The empty frame caught my eye. I finished lacing my shoes as I looked at where my picture had been. Maybe this had been one great deception. Even a few days ago, I wouldn’t have put it past him, but... The boy I’d known wouldn’t have kept my picture for years on the off-chance of using it to manipulate me.

  “Could I see it again?”

  Silently, he picked up the remote. The picture of me, eighteen and so sure of the world, reappeared.

  “It’s a beautiful picture.”

  “It’s a beautiful memory of a beautiful person.”

  I could almost hear him, each of the thousand times he had smiled as he called me beautiful. And the day he’d taken this picture when I’d asked him to stand next to me and drink in the view and he’d said his view was better.

  Hoping the memories didn’t show in my eyes, or his, I turned to him. Jamie’s face was almost blank. Only the pinched corners of his mouth gave away how poorly he felt after draining himself.

  “I can’t thank you enough for the magic.” I fumbled for the words. “I’ll do, well, I’ll try—”

  “Don’t get hurt. Capture or kill the werewolf.” He smiled slightly.

  “That’s the plan.” I didn’t know what it felt like to be mauled by a werewolf, and I sure didn’t want today to be the day I found out. “I still owe you.”

  He shook his head. “No, you don’t. Now get going.”

  My backpack felt heavier than it had before dinner and the hallway to the elevator shorter.

  Jamie pressed the button and waited with me. A soft chime announced its arrival, and the door slid open.

  “Thank you.” Before I could think better of it, I went up on my toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. The magic he’d given me flared. Before anything could come of it, I stepped into the elevator.

  He reached out. “Kel.”

  The door started to close, and he pulled his hand back. “Be safe.”

  The door closed on an expression so pained I felt like I’d intruded on a moment I wasn’t meant to see. A tiny piece of my heart that had died six years ago flared to life again. It hurt just as much now as it had the day he’d killed my love and left me broken.

  For as long as the ride up had taken, the ride down was too short. Along the way, I pushed past the buzz of magic, the unsteadiness seeing him had caused, the fresh feelings, and found me. Kelsey Pine, witch, reluctant necromancer, and TBI agent.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Wayne finished going through the plan. “Did I miss anything?”

  “You were very clear on how we want this to go. Less so on what we do if it goes wrong.” We’d agreed not to call in backup. Smith would probably read us the riot act, but I for one didn’t have much confidence after watching how ineffective SWAT had been. Anyone else who came with us had a fair chance of ending up as cannon fodder.

  He shrugged. “I force CJ into the spell area while you stay out of the way.”

  “Deal.” Not like I was eager to wrestle CJ.

  “Let’s roll out.”

  I snagged a water bottle on the way out of the office and tucked it into a pocket on the backpack. The rest of my things had been transferred to a new car, since mine was somewhere between the evidence lockup and the repair shop.