Ian scowled. “Just like that?”

  Julian narrowed his eyes. “If you think I like the idea of going head-to-head so soon with Sableth, you’re mistaken. But we’ve reached the point of no return. There’s nowhere we can really hide. Not forever. By not playing offence, we run the risk of being caught with our pants down again.”

  “Do you seriously think Lorenzo is ready for that?” Ian shook his head. “He’s had one full day of training.”

  “I know,” Julian snapped. “Don’t you think I know that?”

  Cecil studied me, his dark eyes curious. “Yet when Weston got the drop on you guys, Lorenzo instinctively did the right thing.”

  “Yes,” Ian said softly, “Thankfully, he did.”

  Cecil pursed his lips. “You know, the lore doesn’t talk about years of training. In fact, it barely mentions that. What it mostly addresses is the importance of bonding between The Vessel and the Mossfire Stone. It speaks a lot of the protection provided by The Guardians and The Companion. It goes on and on about the wisdom and vision of The Teacher, who we now know was Professor Buckler. Training isn’t a priority, it would seem.”

  “True,” Julian nodded.

  I frowned. “The Companion? Who is The Companion?”

  Julian’s face hardened. “We’re not sure if that is actually a true part of the lore.”

  Cecil shot a surprised look at Julian. “Since when?”

  Julian avoided his gaze. “Professor Buckler wasn’t sure if he was interpreting that title correctly. The protection of The Vessel is the responsibility of The Guardians alone.”

  Cecil laughed gruffly. “Julian, that just isn’t true. I studied alongside the professor for many, many years. He absolutely believed The Companion was real.”

  Julian’s jaw had a stubborn jut to it. “I don’t agree.”

  Cecil’s gaze was shrewd as he watched Julian squirming. “Hmmm.”

  “Anyway,” Julian said brusquely, “the time has come to face down Sableth. Fox Harbor is in chaos, and soon that will spread. He needs to be stopped now.”

  While my stomach churned with anxiety at his words, I realized he was right. Sableth had to be stopped now, if possible. “And the theory is I’m supposed to somehow enter Sableth’s spiritual body and destroy him?”

  “That’s what the lore describes.” Cecil rubbed his chin, studying me with a thoughtful expression. “It’s not merely a physical invasion. It’s also a psychic one.”

  “Right. Julian explained that to me.” I shuddered at the thought of what was coming. “I also know if I’m not strong enough, I could die.”

  Julian said softly, “We all will.”

  “Yes.” Naturally, I was worried for myself. But it was unbearable to think that my failure would mean the destruction of those I’d never met as well as those I cared about. I could barely breathe thinking of Ian or Claire dead. I literally couldn’t conceive of that. The bitter knowledge that my failure would be the obliteration of Fox Harbor and possibly the world was still beyond comprehension. It wasn’t fair that all of that would fall on my shoulders. It wasn’t right. Yet I knew in my soul it was true.

  I sat down quickly, my legs giving out. Ian rose and moved to my side, his hand resting on my shoulder. He didn’t speak, he just kept his hand there. A sense of calm descended over me, and I looked up to meet his honey-brown eyes. Once more that feeling that I’d always known him washed through me. I needed to remember this feeling when I faced Sableth. I needed to remember that failure wasn’t an option. I had to defeat Sableth. I had to. I had to protect the people I loved.

  The thought that I loved Ian probably should have terrified me. It would have in the past. But knowing what I had to face with Sableth, it suddenly felt like a gift. I could feel he felt the same toward me, and instead of being scared, I felt honored. Grateful that someone like him would want me. Care about me. Protect me, if possible. How could that ever have seemed like a bad thing?

  “When?” I asked hoarsely. “When should I fight Sableth?”

  “In the morning.” Julian’s face was drawn. “It’s probably useless to tell you to rest, but obviously if you’re at your best tomorrow, that would be optimum.”

  “I have living quarters upstairs,” Cecil said. “You and Ian can rest up there.” Julian scowled, but Cecil ignored him. “There’s a shower, food, and a warm bed. Take advantage of that.”

  “What am I, chopped liver?” Julian groused, appearing slighted.

  Cecil sent him a reproachful look. “You should know better, Julian. They need time together. You can pretend you don’t know the lore, but we both know you do.”

  Guilt rippled through Julian’s light green eyes, but he didn’t respond.

  Ian and I followed Cecil to the back of the shop where there was a narrow staircase. We went up the steep steps, and at the top there was a door. Inside was a small apartment. There was a tiny kitchenette with dated olive green appliances and a bedroom just off the cramped living room.

  Once we were alone, Ian asked, “Shower?” He smiled. “I smell like a buffalo.”

  I laughed. “No, you don’t. But I won’t say no to getting clean.”

  “I’m starving, but I’ll feel better if I shower first. How about you?”

  “Whatever you want,” I said quietly. “I feel numb.”

  His expression gentled. “Come on. Let’s take a nice hot shower together, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  The bathroom was, as expected, also small. But the shower itself was fairly roomy. Especially compared to my tiny shower back home at the shop. We stripped in silence, and Ian got in first and turned on the water. He gave a little yelp when the water first hit him, and I laughed. He grinned at me, and for one moment, I let myself forget about the impending terror.

  As I joined Ian under the water, I relished the feel of his hands and the clean water on my naked flesh. This could easily be my last shower. My last meal. My last fuck. I was going to enjoy each of those things with all my heart.

  He soaped me up with cucumber and green tea shower gel. I sighed as he stroked me and kissed the nape of my neck. As I stood there I regretted the last five years I’d spent like a zombie. I’d turned my back on life because of what had happened with Nico. Now my life could very well end for real tomorrow, and I’d have given anything to get those five years back. Maybe if I’d met Ian sooner, we could have been happy those five years. Instead, I’d lived as if I’d died along with Nico. I’d wasted what was left of my life, grieving.

  My heart ached as Ian kissed me, and I clung to him like I wanted to cling to life. His tongue explored my mouth, and I explored his muscular, soapy body, so happy I had one more chance to touch and taste him. We took our time, enjoying each other. By the time he entered me, I was trembling with need. He looked into my eyes as he thrust deep and slow, and it was so fucking intimate I could have cried.

  I dug my nails into his back, moaning with pleasure and despair that I’d wasted so much of my life. I wanted more moments like these with Ian. I wanted a full life with Ian. I wanted dinners, arguments, movie nights, and all the things normal people who weren’t going to die the next day got to experience.

  But that wouldn’t be my fate.

  I cried out as I came against his stomach, and he groaned as his warm release filled me. Mouths joined, we shuddered and moaned, giving and receiving pure pleasure. My body shook and quivered as my climax slowly ebbed and flowed through me. He finished inside me, and after planting one sweet kiss on my lips, gently pulled out.

  We rinsed off and then dried off, opting to walk around with towels around our waists rather than redressing in our dirty clothes. We’d have to put them back on tomorrow, but for now I enjoyed the feeling of being clean.

  When we went into the kitchen, Ian opened the fridge. “Eggs? Sandwich? Steak? What are you in the mood for?”

  “Remember the first time we slept together? I promised you a grilled cheese that you never got to have.”

  “That’s true.” He met my gaze, and regret flickered there. “I wish I hadn’t left you that night.”

  I shrugged. “I wish I’d asked you to stay.”

  “Yeah.” He grabbed butter, bread, and cheese. “Okay, grilled cheese is easy. Let’s do that.”

  I helped by buttering the bread, and Ian fried the sandwiches. Then we sat at the bar and gobbled them down. We stuck to water, forgoing the beer and wine available to us. I couldn’t afford to kill off any brain cells. I’d need them all to be firing tomorrow.

  Once we’d eaten, we got in the bed and moved together. Again regret ached through me, but I pushed it away and tried to enjoy the feel of Ian’s arms. I rested my head on his bare chest, inhaling his clean skin. If I died tomorrow what awaited me? I wasn’t sure I believed in Heaven or Hell. I hoped I ended up with Nico, and Ian if he died too. And Claire. My eyes stung, but I blinked the tears away. I didn’t want to spend possibly my last day with Ian bawling.

  “Was Cecil implying I’m The Companion?” Ian suddenly asked.

  I hesitated. “I think so. Maybe. Much to Julian’s chagrin.”

  “Yeah, Julian didn’t look happy about the idea. Cecil kept giving me strange looks. And then he insisted I come up here with you.” He rubbed his hand up my back. “I’m not complaining, mind you.”

  “I’d have hated to spend tonight alone.” While the clean cotton sheets felt like heaven against my bare skin, I’d have happily slept on a bed of nails if that was the only way to spend my last night on Earth with Ian. “I’m grateful Cecil had you come upstairs with me.”

  He kissed my hair. “I’d have snuck up here probably anyway.”

  I smiled. “Yeah?”

  “Sure. Why not?” He shifted closer to me. “Nothing could have kept me away.”

  I smirked. “Is that because you wanted to sleep on a real mattress?”

  He laughed. “No. Because I wanted to be near you.”

  I nuzzled his smooth chest. “Maybe you really are The Companion. That’s a very companionable thing to say.”

  “It makes sense I’d be The Companion. That would explain why the minute I met you, I wanted to protect you. I wanted to be near you. Needed to be near you.”

  “Well, not the minute you met me. When you first met me, you were a dick. Remember?”

  “Oh, yeah.” He grimaced and glanced down at me. “But you’ve forgiven me, right?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Okay, good.” His voice was a bit drowsy as he added, “This bed is amazing.”

  “It is.” I smiled at how sleepy he sounded.

  His breathing slowed and deepened, and a soft snore escaped him. I closed my eyes. I hoped to sleep too, but wasn’t sure I could. I focused on Ian’s sounds and the feel of his warm skin. If I died tomorrow, and there was an afterlife, I hoped I could bring the memories of Ian with me.

  I didn’t ever want to forget how Ian had made me feel while I was alive.

  Chapter Twenty

  It was decided that we’d have the showdown with Sableth in the old abandoned Catholic church where we’d planned to shelter next. When we arrived at the church, there was still no sign of Irene, which had Julian worried. I suspected he’d hoped she’d be waiting at the church.

  Inside, time had not been particularly kind, and the once-vibrant sanctuary now lay in eerie silence, forgotten and forlorn. The heavy wooden doors groaned in protest as they opened, revealing a dark and bleak interior. The high-vaulted ceilings, once adorned with intricate frescoes and elaborate paintings, now bore the weight of cobwebs and dust. Cracks marred the once-immaculate stonework, and sections of the ceiling had crumbled away, leaving an impression of decaying splendor.

  Stained glass windows that had once bathed the church in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors were now dull and lifeless. The light that filtered through the grimy panes cast ghostly shadows on the worn and weathered stone floors. Rows of empty pews, once polished wood, were now worn and weathered. The air carried a musty smell, tinged with the scent of decay and dampness. The altar stood in shambles. The ornate crucifix had fallen from its perch, its broken form lying pitifully on the floor.

  The Mossfire Stone was cool in my hand. It had been warm all night, as if it too was preparing for battle. Julian, Ian, Cecil, and a large group of supporters from our side were there too. Their job was to keep Sableth’s human followers from attacking me while I was fighting Sableth. I’d tried telling Ian to stay out of harm’s way, but he’d had a very stubborn look on his face. I suspected he hadn’t heard a word I’d said.

  Julian cleared his throat. “Ready, Lorenzo?” His voice echoed in the big hall.

  “Probably not how I’d put it, but I’m here.” My heart thumped as I took the Mossfire Stone from my pocket. I felt breathless as the jewel rippled and swirled, changing from light green to almost black, and then back again.

  “You sure this is a good idea?” Ian asked, his voice threaded with stress.

  I met his uneasy gaze. “Sableth is coming for us anyway. At least this way we know when and where it will happen.”

  Ian grimaced but didn’t speak.

  Julian tugged his knife from the sheath on his hip. The green jewel shimmered brightly. “Might as well get the ball rolling, Lorenzo.” His bravado was slightly marred by the wobble in his voice.

  Nodding, I rubbed my thumb over the stone, and it instantly chilled and throbbed. It felt almost eager in my hand, and a strange exhilaration washed through me. I knew that feeling of elation was coming from the stone, but I didn’t mind. It helped to chase away my fears.

  Not sure what to expect, I held my breath, waiting for Sableth and his minions’ arrival. His followers arrived first. Within minutes the doors to the church slammed open, and a group of raggedy-looking people swarmed in. I wasn’t surprised to see Weston with them, but I was hugely shocked to see Irene beside him.

  Weston wore his usual paisley vest and boots, but his long red hair spilled loose over his slender shoulders today. Irene looked like his twin in fitted pants, knee high black boots and a leather vest. Although her blonde hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail.

  Irene’s face was pink as Julian stared her down, but she lifted her chin and said, “I told you I wouldn’t end up like Gordon and Thomas. You should have listened, Julian.”

  “I guess I should have. But it never occurred to me you’d be a cowardly traitor,” Julian growled.

  The flush on her face deepened. “Better a traitor than a dead fool.”

  “You deserve to die for this. You betrayed your duty to The Vessel,” Julian hissed, advancing on her. “You betrayed all of us.”

  Ian grabbed his arm. “Hold up, Julian.”

  Julian tried to shake off Ian’s grip, but he held tight. Julian asked Irene harshly, “Did you tell Weston and the others where we were? Is that how they found us the other night?”

  Irene’s face twitched. “You’re on the losing side, Julian.” Her sheepish gaze flicked to me, but she looked away quickly. “I can’t help it if you’re too dumb to know it.”

  “You bitch,” Julian yelled, veins bulging in his face and throat. “How could you turn on Lorenzo? Me? How could you do that? They killed the professor. They killed Gordon and Thomas.”

  “Exactly,” she hissed. “You’re never gonna win against Sableth. Don’t you get that yet? Wake up. You should join me, Julian. Before it’s too late.”

  “Never,” snapped Julian, looking pale and shaken. “I’ll happily die beside The Vessel before I’ll ever join you.”

  “Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought,” she said.

  He shook his head, looking anguished. “I trusted you, Irene. I fully trusted you.” Julian’s voice broke.

  Irene’s face flinched, but she didn’t speak.

  I moved to put my arm around Julian’s shoulders. “It’s okay. We don’t need her.”

  “It’s not okay,” he muttered. “We were born to protect you, Lorenzo. She turned her back on her destiny.”

  Irene rasped, “It’s nothing personal, Lorenzo. I just prefer being on the winning side.”

  “Then you picked wrong,” I said, giving her a cold look.

  Her bottom lip quivered, and she turned away.

  “Oh, come on, give her a break. It’s not her fault she doesn’t like hanging out with losers.” Weston snickered. The look of glee on his face made my stomach churn. It was obvious from his delighted expression that he hadn’t even considered the possibility that his side might fail.

  “Nobody asked you, Weston,” I snapped.

  “Oh, my, my. Are we a little on edge, Lorenzo?” Weston guffawed.

  I shot him a look of disdain but held my tongue.

  “Nice trick with the wasps the other day, Lorenzo. But you won’t slip away this time.” Weston’s voice shook with excitement. “You should have taken me up on my offer. Now it’s too late.”

  “I don’t regret a thing.” I forced a smile, hoping I looked confident. I mostly felt agitated as more people piled into the church. We were definitely outnumbered. I hoped that wouldn’t matter once I used some illusions on them.

  Weston scowled. “You’ll regret it when Sableth obliterates you.”

  “You know, I always knew you were a fake and a crook, Weston, but I didn’t realize you were also such a fool. Do you actually think life will be better with Sableth in control? Haven’t you seen what he’s capable of? How cruel he can be?”

  Weston shrugged one shoulder. “Life will be much better for me. Maybe not for you.”

  “You don’t care that he’s chopping people’s heads off? Causing chaos in town? That’s all just fine with you?” I asked incredulously.

  He smirked. “So long as it’s not my head being chopped, I don’t give a flying fuck.”

  “Wow.” I shook my head. “You’re a disgrace of a human.”

  “Not to mention a complete asshole,” Ian muttered.

  The stone suddenly jiggled in my hand, emitting the same screeching sound it had made the night Sableth came for us at the Rosewood Motel. I winced at the bloodcurdling shriek, stroking my thumb over the smooth surface. “It’s okay. We want him to come this time,” I whispered.