“Auden has a clone?”
“Auden has a band. A band with bandmates who all just happen to be boys. One of whom also happens to be recently single, and, from what I hear, he’s really cute.”
“So, let me get this straight—you’re making me visit the preacher who gave me nightmares as a kid, and my prize is one of Auden’s recently dumped band members?”
“You really know how to put a positive spin on things.”
“Yeah, well, in case you didn’t hear me before, my dating days are over. I’ve kissed practically every boy in our school, including, embarrassingly enough, a few of the scrawnier freshmen, and once again, for the record, every single one of them was found lacking.”
“Still, you haven’t kissed Greyson. And didn’t you recently say that Enchantment was in need of some new recruits? While Greyson isn’t exactly new, or a resident for that matter, he is new to you.”
Lita sighs. “So, just out of curiosity which one is he?”
“The drummer.”
She shifts in her seat. “Are you talking about the cute one whose bangs are always flopping into his eyes?”
“So they tell me.”
“For real?”
“If you’re up for it, I know for a fact that he’s up for it.”
She turns away, taps her fingers against the steering wheel. “Maybe. I need some time to think about it. But no promises.”
“He’ll be at the Rabbit Hole tonight. You can talk, hang out, and see what you think.” I gather my stuff and climb out of her car just as Auden comes out to greet me.
“Xotichl—” Lita calls after me. Hesitating before she goes on to say, “You know how when we were down in the Lowerworld and you said you could kind of see shapes and shadows and things?”
I swallow hard, but otherwise keep very still.
“Well, can you still see those things?”
I shake my head, unable to give voice to the lie.
“That’s too bad. Guess it was just the magick of the place.”
“Guess so.” I bite back a grin and turn away, barreling straight into the arms of the beautiful, shaggy-haired shadow rushing toward me.
fifteen
Daire
“I need cigarettes, tobacco, whatever you got!” I shuck off the filthy sweater I passed out in not long after I got home, and replace it with a clean one. “I’m sure there will be no shortage of demons down there and it’s the demon snack of choice. Also—”
“Nieta.”
I turn to Paloma.
“Don’t overexert yourself. You’ve just returned from a horrible ordeal. You’re still healing, you’re still weak!”
“I slept twelve hours—how can I be weak? Besides do I look weak?” I raise my hands to my sides, allowing her to get a good look before I turn away and change into a clean pair of jeans.
“What happened to your scar?” She stares at the V-neck of my sweater, the place that bears the mark of Cade’s wrath. “It seems to be shrinking, fading. The ointment I used has never worked so quickly.”
“I bathed it with the healing waters of the Enchanted Spring. I should bottle some and bring it back for you to use on your clients. It’s amazing—heals everything.” Including Cade. Though I fail to mention that part. No need to worry her any more than she already is.
A ghost of a grin crosses her face, vanishing almost as quickly as it came. “I’ve tried that on many occasions, it doesn’t work. While the effects of its magick can survive the return to the Middleworld, the healing transformation happens only there. Once the water leaves the Lowerworld, it’s just water. There’s nothing special about it.”