Though it’s not like I could expect Ethan to hang up his demon-hunter hat given all that he knows and has been through. And even more so, I don’t know why I’m getting all anxious thinking about this.
“What do you want?” I hold up the phone so Ethan can look through the menu. We order enough to have leftovers tomorrow, and then take Hunter for a walk. I bring my dagger and Ethan is armed to the teeth, but for some reason, I just have a feeling Hunter will tear anything that attacks us to shreds—again. I’d rather not put my pup at risk, of course, and I know Hunter’s loyalty and protectiveness could be the literal death of him.
The familiar being watched feeling starts to creep over me when we go down the alley behind my house, and I whirl around, narrowing my eyes as I look into the dark.
“Is the ghost back?” Ethan asks, taking my hand in his.
“Not that I can see, but something feels…just odd,” I say with a shake of my head. “I can’t place it, though getting this creeped-out feeling happens a lot.”
“Burn some sage when we get back inside, just to be safe.”
“Okay,” I say, and guilt starts to rise in me along with feeling creeped out. I haven’t seen Ryan’s ghost in a full day now, and it shouldn’t worry me, right? I mean, he’s dead. What’s going to happen? But his unspoken warning, the pleading in his eyes…I have to help him.
After I kill the demons before they kill me, that is.
“I don’t have any sage,” I tell Ethan when we get inside. I unclip Hunter’s leash, hanging it on a hook by the back door.
“I brought some.”
“There’s a new-age store downtown. Should I go tomorrow?”
“Yeah, that would be a good idea. You need stuff to cast protection spells, too, don’t you?”
I nod, and Hunter races forward, prancing excitedly at the front door a moment before the doorbell rings. It’s Laney, and I look around the front yard nervously as she comes in.
“I brought wine,” she says, holding up a bottle of red wine. “I figured we might need it if we start talking about…about demons,” she says quietly.
“You don’t have to whisper,” I tell her and lead the way into the kitchen to get wine glasses. Ethan is still in there, looking out at the backyard. “No one here is normal. Well, besides you.”
“Hey, I’m friends with you,” she teases.
“True. Just remember it’s your choice.” We both laugh and Ethan turns away from the door. “Laney, this is Ethan. Ethan, this is my best friend in the whole wide world, Laney.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ethan says. “Anora has spoken highly of you.”
“She better,” Laney jokes.
“Our food should be here soon.” I open the dishwasher only to realize I loaded it but didn’t turn it on, and now the dishes inside stink. Dammit. “And Harrison will probably be here some time after, but we’re eating without him.” I quickly get the dishwasher started and pull four mismatching wine glasses from the cabinet.
“You probably shouldn’t drink,” I say, looking at Ethan before I pour wine in a third glass. “Oh, and don’t forget to take your antibiotic after dinner.”
“I’d pass on the wine tonight, anyway,” he replies. “Though if you had beer or whiskey…”
“I’ll get some next time I go to the store,” I laugh. “I wish I liked beer. It looks good but tastes so gross.”
“It’s an acquired taste,” Laney notes. “You’ll like it if it you give it more of a try.”
“Nope,” I say and take a small sip of wine. As much as I’d like to welcome the carefree feeling that comes from a good buzz, I can’t let my guard down. Not now. “Anything that’s so gross I basically have to get used to it is a big no for me.”
“Well, when you put it that way,” Laney laughs and sits across from me at the table.
“I’m going to get the sage,” Ethan tells me, kissing my forehead on his way past. “It’s in my Jeep.”
“Okay,” I reply and put my wine glass on the table, not wanting to drink anymore.
“Is Ethan sick?” Laney asks. Right, I mentioned him taking medication.
“No, he had to get stitches after we were attacked by demons,” I say, just putting it out there like Ethan suggested.
“Holy shit. When?”
“Yesterday.”
Laney looks at me, blinking, not sure what to say next. Truth be told, I’m not either. I don’t want to keep secrets, but a need-to-know basis should apply here. There’s no need to scare her with the nitty-gritty details.
Something falls to the ground in my room, and I stand, letting out a sigh. “What did you do now, Romeo?”
Hunter barrels through the kitchen as I go to leave, almost knocking me over. He paws at the door, whining like he desperately needs out.