Eternally Devoted (Frostbite 4)

“Solve my father’s murder.” Her eyes suddenly warmed—perhaps at my sadness—which indicated to me her act was fueled by desperation. “That’s the end of it. No more looking for a way to help Kipp. Once you find a way to help my father, I, as well as Dane, will do what we can to help you. But you made a promise you would help me…and you haven’t.”

“Oh. My. God,” I sighed, exasperated, dropping my head into my hands. I instantly regretted it, too, since my head hurt far worse than it had a moment ago. “Are you fucking serious?” I grumbled into my palms. “What do you think I have been doing?”

“You’ve been trying to fix Kipp,” she exclaimed, which snapped my head up and her eyes blazed. “I’ve been watching you. Every step you take it’s not to solve my father’s death it’s for personal reasons.” Tears formed in her eyes, but she controlled them. “Even tonight, you said it yourself, you were looking for the spell for Kipp, not searching for a way to help my father.”

I stared at her, dumbfounded. Clearly, keeping the truth from her was a terrible idea, because then this event wouldn’t have happened. Neither Dane nor I thought she could handle hearing her father was a ghost or that we doubted we could solve his murder, but I saw where she was coming from. In her eyes, I hadn’t even been talking to her father’s ghost, not once since my second attempt.

What she didn’t know is that Alexander had possessed Caley and had been with me the entire time. Knowing I could explain it all to her would work well enough, I figured there was a much faster way to fix this problem. “Wake up, Caley.”

Amelia glared at me, taking a big step forward. “No.”

I sighed, understanding her hesitation. I pushed up from the cold cement floor and added, “Look, I’ll move the gun away.” Which I did without hesitation and watched it slide across the floor toward Zach.

Amelia wouldn’t hurt me, that much I believed. She wasn’t acting from an evil place, but more so, a desperate act of a daughter trying to save her father. And that type of desperation I understood. “Trust me, this will give you all the answers you need. Just wake her up.”

She hesitated, her eyes searching mine. “No tricks. Promise?”

I snorted. “Even if I was good with magic, which you know I’m not, it’s Caley. What can she do?” I paused and reconsidered. “Well, I guess she could punch you and I wouldn’t put it past her to do that, but she won’t. Promise.”

Amelia considered me, and then she finally nodded. “Any tricks and—”

“No threats necessary,” I interrupted. “We’re all clear in the ‘I will pay if I act up’ department.”

With a jerk of her chin, Amelia turned to my best friend and murmured words I couldn’t hear. In truth, I didn’t care to listen. This spell was one I’d never want to hear repeated again.

When Caley’s low groan filled the air, I jerked my head to her and hoped that it wasn’t her in that body, even if it felt wrong to think that. In truth, I wasn’t sure what Amelia’s spell would do to Alexander. If he wasn’t in her body, things were about to go from shitty to very shitty.

After a minute more of moaning and groaning, Caley finally sat up and gave her head a shake. In that second, I knew it wasn’t my best friend. Caley would’ve started bitchin’ the moment her eyes opened. I had felt awful when I’d woken up and had even complained myself.

Her silence made me relieved to my bones.

Not giving a moment to waste time, I said, “Alexander.”

Amelia’s gasp followed immediately thereafter, and when I looked into her huge teary eyes, I nodded. “You got it. That…” I pointed toward Alexander, who presently glanced around with a perplexed look. “Is your father.”

Her mouth dropped open in clear surprise. She glanced to Alexander and gave him an once-over. Only a split second passed before her features hardened and she folded her arms. “I don’t believe you.”

“Tess is telling you the truth, Amelia.” Alexander stood, somewhat shakily. He managed to get onto his feet. Caley’s face paled as Alexander approached Amelia with slow steps. “It’s me, my darling.”

Perhaps the sentiment he used or the soft way he said darling, was enough of an indicator for Amelia, because tears welled in her eyes. Her entire body visibly trembled and she bent at the knees slightly, indicating her strength was about to give out. “But...you've been...”

“With you,” Alexander replied.

A sob broke free from her throat and she dropped to her knees. She cried so loudly and forcibly, it did hurt to watch. Hell, that pain I understood all too well.

“Dad...” she cried.

Alexander lowered to his knees in front of her and gathered her hands. When Amelia raised her head, I witnessed from the misery in her eyes she only saw her father now. His smile appeared a little easier now, even if it was drenched in despair. “I’m okay, love.”

“How can you say that?” Tears rushed over Amelia’s cheeks wildly, her voice shaking and cracking on each word. “Why did this have to happen?”

Alexander sighed, as if wanting to give her an answer, but when he remained silent, since at this point he didn’t know the real reason, I interjected, “Oh, I know exactly why this happened.”

Two sets of eyes turned to me and stared, incredulous. After a short hesitation, Alexander asked on a chuckle, “You’ve discovered something while we were unconscious?”

“Yes, I know how crazy that sounds,” I agreed. “But don’t laugh just yet, I’ve found out a lot of somethings.”

Amelia looked at her father, wide-eyed, before asking me, “From who?”