Chapter 32

Liri hurried out of the shop and went down the street. For once, she didn’t need to stop and look in windows and wonder what lie inside them. When Abe came over, she was going to have coffee ready for him and set out the treats she’d just purchased. Of course, she was going to have to get Nova to show her how to make the coffee. She wanted to do things with him that he would deem normal. She didn’t know much about dating but wanted to find out. She wanted to explore those things with him.

Her phone rang, and she almost dropped the box of treats, trying to pull it out of her pocket. “Hello.”

“Liri, it’s Nova. I’m with Crissy at the Geminis. Where are you?”

She sounded stressed. “I went to the cafe to get some treats for my coffee date with Abraham...”

“Liri, you need to get back here quickly. Crissy saw something.”

She paused for a second. “Something that will lead us to...”

“No. About you. Please hurry.” She heard other voices. “Bastian and Abe are on the way to you.”

Liri turned and looked behind her, but there was no one there. “Okay, I’m on my way.”

“Stay on the phone until you see them.”

“Okay.” She hurried her step, her heart beating faster. She was not going to let this ruin her feeling-good state. She went around the corner to take the alley back. It was a shortcut and would get her back there faster. She heard footsteps on the cement behind her and turned, she thought for a moment that it was one of the men, and then she caught the darkness around them. It was a dark souled one. She couldn’t even look at his face. The darkness covered it. She stopped and took a few steps backward before turning and running. She just had to outrun them until the men got to her.

Someone grabbed her wrist, and she came to a stop. Her arm started to burn, and she shrieked and kicked at them. They didn’t release her. She struggled harder. The pain was traveling up her arm. She dropped the box and swung at them, trying to knock them away from her.

He suddenly lurched backward, and she saw it was Abe. He swung him around and hit him so hard in the face that he stumbled back and hit the ground.

Bastian was right there, he leaned down and touched him with his wand, and the man went limp.

“Is he dead?” She rubbed her arm and fought to settle her heart down.

“No, just unconscious. Michael is coming to dispatch him to the cells.”

“Why would they want me?” She didn’t understand. She wasn’t special like Nova was.

Abraham touched her hand. “Are you all right?”

She felt dizzy and blew out a breath. “I think-I think he tried to pull my soul from me. I don’t feel well.” She looked at her cousin. “Will I be all right?”

Bastian looked down at the man, his brows furrowed. “Call her guard, Riaz, and get him to bring you some elixir.”

Abraham put his arm around her and pulled her to his side. “Are you okay to port? I can take you back to Nova’s.”

Liri’s stomach rolled. “I don’t think I can right now.”

“All right,” he leaned down and scooped her up into his arms, “we’ll walk.”

“I dropped the treats I bought for our date.”

Abraham looked down at the box.

“I’ll buy you more treats, Aliria. Just go.” Bastian waved his hand at her.

They passed Michael as he walked down the alley.

He slowed. “Is she all right?”

“Yes, too lightheaded to port.”

“Take care of her, I’ll call you when Troy takes a look in his head.”

He carried her all the way to Nova’s and didn’t set her on her feet until they were inside.

Nova came rushing in after them. “Are you okay? What happened?”

“Someone tried to pull her soul from her.” Abe took her hand and walked her into the sitting room.

“The dark-souled ones.” Nova came into the small room. “Crissy was right.” She stopped and looked around, “what can I get you? I’ll go down and make something.”

“I need to call Riaz and get some elixir.”

“Oh,” she spun around, “Bastian has a spare one here. I make him keep one after he was stabbed.” She ran out of the room.

Liri rubbed her wrist.

Abe knelt in front of her. “Let me see,” he took her hand gently and pushed her sleeve out of the way.

Her wrist had almost what looked like a handprint burned into it.

Liri gasped. “It burns still.”

He turned her hand carefully in his. “Will the elixir help? I can call Clairee and see if there’s something you should drink to counteract it.” The concern on his face was so genuine that it made Liri hold her breath for a moment.

“I’m not sure.”

“Okay,” he looked at it again, “essence feeders have healing saliva,” his gaze flicked to her face for a moment, “so the bite marks heal.” He clarified and then looked back at her hand.

Her breath caught in her throat when he lowered his head and licked across the red mark. The burning sensation was replaced with a void feeling that was neither bad nor good, and then, as he turned her arm carefully and continued, she felt her soul rise, and the tingle begin. “Abe,” she barely had a voice, “Abraham.” She tried again.

He stopped and lifted his head to look at her with red eyes. “Does it feel better?”

She nodded, forgetting what she wanted to say to him.

“Good.”

“Here we go.” Nova came jogging back into the room, an amber vial clasped in her hand. She held it out to Liri. “Was King Troy going to look in that man’s head? Are they going to find out why they wanted you?” She looked so worried.

Abe cleared his throat and stood up. “Yes, Uncle Michael said he’d call.” He looked down at Liri again, and she quickly drank the elixir, wanting to be magically healed so she could still have her date with him.”

“I should,” he rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, “can you stay with Liri? I want to go over to cells and see what my uncles find out.”

She could see the anger in his eyes. “I would like to come.”

They both looked at her.

She shook her head and stood up. “That man ruined my first-ever date, and I want to know why.” She put her hands on her hips. “I might stab him for it.”

Abe’s anger seemed to fade. He reached over and pulled her closer to him. “You can come but sit in the control room and rest.” He leaned down and kissed her mouth softly. “Please.”

She licked her lips, hoping he’d kiss her more. “I will.”

“Okay,” he looked at Nova, “can you let Bastian know where we’ll be?”

She nodded. “Yes.” She put her hand over her heart. “No more shopping alone.” She huffed out a breath, “Two scares in one day are more than I can deal with.”