“They’ve met before?” she asks, and I nod.
“Twice now.”
“They seem to get along,” she says with a smile.
“They do. Ethan is a pretty interesting guy, and we get along well.” I fill a glass with water. “Need any help with dinner?”
“If you want to start getting salads ready for everyone that would be great. The chicken is almost done, so I’ll get your father.” Mom smiles again. “This is nice. I like having my children home for dinner.”
“And you like when I bring a guy with me.”
“Not just any guy, but yes, I do like seeing you with someone who makes you happy.”
“Ethan definitely does.” I get stuff for salad out of the fridge and assemble bowls for everyone. I set the table, fill water glasses, and let the dogs in. Dad has joined Harrison and Ethan in the family room, and he and Harrison are heckling Ethan for being a Chicago Bears fan. I stand back for a moment, letting myself acknowledge how fucking nice it is to have this little moment of pure normalcy: my boyfriend is watching football with my brother and father, and everyone is talking and laughing and getting along just fine.
“Dinner is ready,” Mom calls, and we all go into the formal dining room—which is hardly ever used—and dig in. Dinner is delicious, the conversation comes easily and no one brings up vampires, ghosts, or politics, my usual hot-button issues.
After dinner, Ethan and I go into the living room. Mom bought a pie and wants to warm it up before serving it, and I’m way too full to eat anything right now anyway. Ethan’s phone rings, and I go to let the dogs out again while he answers.
“That was Julia,” he says when I come back into the living room. A bad feeling presses down on me. “She saw a lot of police cars going through the neighborhood.”
“Is everything okay?”
“No. A body was found by hikers in the woods in between the barn and my dad’s house.” His brow furrows, and I know that’s not the bad news he was referring to. “I’m sorry, Anora.”
“Why?” I ask, breath hitching in my chest. Nerves prickle along my body and my stomach immediately flip flops.
“Through a connection from the Order, Julia was able to get the identity of the body before it was released to the public. It’s…It’s your friend, Leslie.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“No.” Blinking, visions of the Pricolici flash before me. Why would they go after Leslie? They’re supposed to be looking for me. “Why…why would they go after her?”
“I don’t know.” Ethan cradles me to his chest. “Pricolici go after their targets. Killing anyone else goes against what we thought we knew about them.”
My breath leaves in a ragged huff. Their targets. She wasn’t their target. Are the demons trying to draw me out? Picking off my friends…my family…
“Oh my god.” Tears fill my eyes and guilt cripples me. I look up at Ethan. “I gave her my jacket.”
“What?”
“My jacket.” I blink and tears stream down my face. “I took it off and gave it to her right before I left.”
“Anora, that doesn’t mean…” Ethan trails off, confirming my fears. The Pricolici smelled me on her. They thought they had located me and when they realized they hadn’t…they got mad. Very fucking mad. Mad enough to drag her into the woods and tear her apart.
“Oh my God,” I say again and start crying. How could I be so stupid? I wasn’t thinking at all. Ethan tightens his hold on me.
“Anora?” Mom’s voice comes from the kitchen. “Honey…what’s wrong?”
“Leslie,” I start and then lose it. Ethan holds me as I break down in tears.
“Her friend Leslie was attacked,” he answers for me. “And killed.”
“Oh, honey!” Mom gasps, hand flying to her chest. “I am so sorry.” Mom’s hand lands on my shoulder, and she and Ethan usher me into the living room. Ethan sinks onto the couch, pulling me down with him.
“What’s going on?” Dad asks, coming into the room after hearing me cry.
“Anora’s friend died,” Mom says in a hushed voice.
“Laney?” Harrison asks, appearing behind Dad, blue eyes wide with fear.
“Leslie,” Ethan answers.
“What happened?” Dad asks, and I see Mom shake her head. Then I start crying again, grief and guilt hitting me all at once.
“It was a wild animal attack,” Ethan says. “Her body was found in the woods not long ago by hikers.”
“How terrible.” Mom rubs my arm, trying to comfort me.
I squeeze my eyes shut, imagining her running away from the Pricolici. She must have been terrified.
“I was just there,” I say, voice shaking. “And I left her. I shouldn’t have left her.”
“Honey, you can’t blame yourself.”
But I can, and I will. Because it is my fault. The Pricolici want me, and me alone. Leslie got in the literal way, and she paid the price for it with her life.