Gray had stormed back into her life, she had spent every waking hour pushing him away. Fear drove her actions, and it had almost lost her everything.
Again.
The witches had given them another chance to be together, and there was no guarantee they would get another. She had to make a decision, either release the chains she had wrapped around her heart and make an honest attempt to move forward, or tell Gray goodbye. She still might have to say goodbye when the war ended and he left the Earthly plane, but she would deal with that when it came. For now, it wasn’t fair to either of them to remain in limbo, dancing an awkward tango around each other. She had to let go of her fear and allow herself to be vulnerable. But it was easier said than done.
The bedroom door creaked open. Brenna wiped the tears from her cheeks as Agnes stepped inside.
“You’re awake.” Agnes smiled. Her arms rested at her sides, a failed attempt to appear harmless. “How do you feel?”
“Good.” Brenna was all too aware of her lack of clothing. Wrapping the afghan around her like a sarong, she struggled to maintain her dignity.
“You should be fully restored.” Agnes settled on the bed. Her black hair pillowed behind her, falling on the white sheets. She looked so young. If Brenna didn’t know better, she would peg her as early twenties. But her daughter had been over a hundred when she had died.
“How is Gray?”
“Alive and restored.” Agnes smiled. “And on his way here.”
As if cued, a series of rapid footsteps rang in the hallway. Within moments Gray stood in the doorway. Barefoot, he wore only a pair of black boxer briefs. His hair was a study in chaos. It stood around his head like he had fought with a power line and lost. He looked wonderful.
“You’re okay.” He stepped inside. “They wouldn’t tell me anything.” Glaring at Agnes, he moved across the room.
Agnes rose, smiling. “I’ll let you have your reunion. When you’re ready to talk, find me. I won’t be far.”
Gray moved aside so she could reach the doorway. His gaze didn’t leave Brenna, even when the door closed behind him. Brenna returned the stare. He had shaken death’s hand, but there wasn’t a scratch on him.
“You scared the hell out of me.” She moved toward him. “I’ll kill you if you ever do that again.”
Gray smiled. “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”
She closed her eyes, blowing out a long breath. “You almost died.”
“You’re right. That was too close.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “How did you know to call the witches?”
“I didn’t.” She laid her hands against his chest, enjoying the feel of his strong heartbeat. “Seraph did. He didn’t think he could get to us quick enough.”
“They don’t help anyone; why us?” He twined his fingers in her hair to pull her closer.
Brenna smiled. “Agnes owed me. This is Marissa’s coven. When I saved Marissa’s life a few years ago, Agnes swore to return the favor.” She paused. “We’re even now, and Marissa’s dead. We need to tread carefully. The witches are deadly. They aren’t fully human, but I’ve never been able to determine exactly what they are. All I know is they draw power from their blood, which is why they were able to help us.”
He released her and stepped back. The abrupt movement freed the afghan, and it pooled on the floor at her feet. His hands gripped her forearms, holding her in place. “I want to look at you. I need to know you’re okay.”
Brenna pulled free. She reached down to grab the blanket and cover herself, then changed her mind. Instead she twirled, giving Gray a clear view. “Good as new.”
Although she made light of the fear, she felt the same. She wanted to touch him, to feel him against her and confirm he was alive. Her smile faded as she stepped into his arms. It felt surreal after they had come so close to death.
His hard chest was warm against her cheek. Muscles played beneath the surface, tensing as
Again.
The witches had given them another chance to be together, and there was no guarantee they would get another. She had to make a decision, either release the chains she had wrapped around her heart and make an honest attempt to move forward, or tell Gray goodbye. She still might have to say goodbye when the war ended and he left the Earthly plane, but she would deal with that when it came. For now, it wasn’t fair to either of them to remain in limbo, dancing an awkward tango around each other. She had to let go of her fear and allow herself to be vulnerable. But it was easier said than done.
The bedroom door creaked open. Brenna wiped the tears from her cheeks as Agnes stepped inside.
“You’re awake.” Agnes smiled. Her arms rested at her sides, a failed attempt to appear harmless. “How do you feel?”
“Good.” Brenna was all too aware of her lack of clothing. Wrapping the afghan around her like a sarong, she struggled to maintain her dignity.
“You should be fully restored.” Agnes settled on the bed. Her black hair pillowed behind her, falling on the white sheets. She looked so young. If Brenna didn’t know better, she would peg her as early twenties. But her daughter had been over a hundred when she had died.
“How is Gray?”
“Alive and restored.” Agnes smiled. “And on his way here.”
As if cued, a series of rapid footsteps rang in the hallway. Within moments Gray stood in the doorway. Barefoot, he wore only a pair of black boxer briefs. His hair was a study in chaos. It stood around his head like he had fought with a power line and lost. He looked wonderful.
“You’re okay.” He stepped inside. “They wouldn’t tell me anything.” Glaring at Agnes, he moved across the room.
Agnes rose, smiling. “I’ll let you have your reunion. When you’re ready to talk, find me. I won’t be far.”
Gray moved aside so she could reach the doorway. His gaze didn’t leave Brenna, even when the door closed behind him. Brenna returned the stare. He had shaken death’s hand, but there wasn’t a scratch on him.
“You scared the hell out of me.” She moved toward him. “I’ll kill you if you ever do that again.”
Gray smiled. “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”
She closed her eyes, blowing out a long breath. “You almost died.”
“You’re right. That was too close.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “How did you know to call the witches?”
“I didn’t.” She laid her hands against his chest, enjoying the feel of his strong heartbeat. “Seraph did. He didn’t think he could get to us quick enough.”
“They don’t help anyone; why us?” He twined his fingers in her hair to pull her closer.
Brenna smiled. “Agnes owed me. This is Marissa’s coven. When I saved Marissa’s life a few years ago, Agnes swore to return the favor.” She paused. “We’re even now, and Marissa’s dead. We need to tread carefully. The witches are deadly. They aren’t fully human, but I’ve never been able to determine exactly what they are. All I know is they draw power from their blood, which is why they were able to help us.”
He released her and stepped back. The abrupt movement freed the afghan, and it pooled on the floor at her feet. His hands gripped her forearms, holding her in place. “I want to look at you. I need to know you’re okay.”
Brenna pulled free. She reached down to grab the blanket and cover herself, then changed her mind. Instead she twirled, giving Gray a clear view. “Good as new.”
Although she made light of the fear, she felt the same. She wanted to touch him, to feel him against her and confirm he was alive. Her smile faded as she stepped into his arms. It felt surreal after they had come so close to death.
His hard chest was warm against her cheek. Muscles played beneath the surface, tensing as
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