Cursed Mate (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 5)

Beatrix scowled. “I guess all my stuff is gone, huh?”

“Long gone.”

“Damn.”

“What’s the deal?” Mac said.

“I might have brought her back from the dead somehow.”

Mac’s brows rose. “Really? Do you think it was the necromancer magic you absorbed from the crystal?”

“What, now?” Beatrix asked.

I hadn’t thought of that. “I don’t know. I absorbed magic from the necromancer’s crystal after Beatrix’s death. But by then, she was already a raven.”

“Good point. It must be a power you inherently have.” Mac tapped her chin. “But what the hell sort of power is it?”

“I don’t know.” I raised the book. “And I think there should be answers in here, but I can’t read it.”

Mac held out her hand, and I passed it over. She flipped open the book and studied it. “Hmm. Did Seraphia look in here?”

“No. She helped me unlock it, but by then, it was late, so I took it home to read.”

“We need to take it back to her.”

“Who is Seraphia?” Beatrix asked.

I realized I’d left her out—I’d probably left a lot out—and I quickly explained.

Mac leaned forward. “You know what? Why don’t I hang out with Beatrix? Help her get adjusted to Guid City. Maybe figure out her magic. And that will give you time to get to the bottom of this book.”

Beatrix nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. You have a lot at stake, don’t you?”

“So much.”

Beatrix gripped my hand. “That settles it, then. I’ll hang out with my new friend here, and I’ll be around if you need me.” She hiked a thumb toward my couch. “That’s my new bed, by the way. The raccoon is going to have to share.”

I laughed. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you. Because I’m pretty sure I’d be dead without you.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. I need to figure it out.” I looked down at the book, wishing I could read it. There was so much I didn’t know. If I’d really brought Beatrix back…how had I done it?

Exhaustion tugged at me. I’d been going nonstop since I’d found the book and gone to Transylvania. I needed a nap of the eight-hour variety.

Aching, I stood. “Let’s get ready for bed. Tomorrow, we’ll figure this out.”

Between the two of us, Mac and I had enough extra bedding to make Beatrix a place on the sofa. Cordelia vacated it for the chair near the window, though she might eventually move into my room.

As I went to my bedroom, I turned to look back at my friend, already tucked into her couch bed.

Beatrix.

She was back.

How was I so lucky?

“Night,” Beatrix said.