“Which it would,” Jenna said. “If we win. We’re in a war now. We have to go forward with that mentality.”
Bridget frowned. “I might be a werewolf, but I’m also just an ordinary restaurant owner. I’m not a battle-trained warrior woman like you.”
Jenna gave her a quick smile. “Understood. And I wouldn’t expect anyone else to do the heavy lifting. But you’re also a strong, capable werewolf. And the bottom line is, I can’t do this alone.”
Bridget nodded. “Just tell us what to do.”
Titus opened his eyes to see the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse standing at the end of his hospital bed.
He blinked again and realized it was Jenna, Hank, Bridget, and Birdie. “Am I dying? Why are you all staring at me like that?”
Jenna smiled. “No, you’re not dying. We were just talking, and you sighed, and we thought you might be waking up. And then you did. How are you feeling?”
He took a second to make a personal assessment. He didn’t feel warm anymore. Or achy all over. Or like he was about to puke. “Pretty good. What were you talking about? Me getting discharged, hopefully.”
Hank nodded. “You are. But you’re not going to get much rest. We have business to take care of.”
Titus sat up a little. It was a lot easier than last time. “Business?”
“Wraith business,” Jenna answered.
“Right.” He hadn’t forgotten that. Just thought Hank had meant something else. “That means you made progress while I was asleep.”
“We did,” Jenna said. “A good amount. Enough that we’re moving forward.”
“Did you talk to Alice?” He knew there was hope in his voice, but Jenna had said they’d made headway. Hard not to want that to include all aspects of their troubles.
“A few times. And she had some good news and some not-good news. I can explain more in the car, but here’s one thing we know: The bomb was meant to make me fall in love with Leif so that I’d feel compelled to give him my sword. And in case I didn’t, the binding spell was so that I couldn’t get away from him and he’d have an easier time killing me and taking the sword.”
She smiled at Titus. “That means you being in the attic with me saved my life. If I’d been alone and ended up stuck with the wraith, I’m not sure I’d be standing here right now.”
“I’m really glad you are,” Titus said.
“We all are,” Birdie added.
That was for sure. Now Titus wanted nothing more than to get out of this place and do whatever was necessary to make sure the wraith never bothered Jenna again. He glanced toward the window. The light had changed since the last time he’d been awake. “How long have I been asleep?”
“Almost twelve hours.”
“Wow. I guess that explains why I feel so much better.”
“Do you?” Jenna asked.
He nodded. “I feel pretty much like myself again.” Mostly. Enough that he could function and get back to being useful.
Birdie rubbed her hands together. “Then let’s get you out of here.”
The discharge process moved slower than Titus would have liked, but within the hour, he was walking into his own home again. He felt good, but he knew he wasn’t completely rid of the wolfsbane.
He also knew he couldn’t let that stop him from helping Jenna. He stood in the hallway and faced his family, who’d all come back to the house with him. “I need to take a shower before I do anything else. Then I need to eat. I’m starving and probably a little weak from lack of food. But after that, I’m all yours.”
Bridget spoke before Jenna or Birdie could. “What do you want? I’ll run to the restaurant and get it.”
That was an easy answer. “Double bacon cheeseburger and fries. Also onion rings.”
“Ohh,” Birdie said. “I could eat that too.”
Hank stuck his thumbs in his pants pockets. “None of us have had dinner.”
Bridget laughed. “Okay, give me the full order, and I’ll bring back enough food for everyone. I’ll even call it in on the ride there so we don’t have to wait.”
Titus raised his hand. “You know what I want. I’m off to shower.”
He left them to work out the details and went back to his bedroom. He cranked the water on in the shower and let it run while he shucked his clothes. The weight of what was to come lay heavy on him. Tonight would decide everything.
Jenna had told him in the car that she’d been in touch with Alice about Sola being the source of the magic and that Alice had worked on the spell all day, only to discover breaking it would be impossible without Sola’s blood. At least for him, anyway.
Jenna had quoted Alice. “Blood balances blood.”
He looked at his hand where he’d scratched it on the nail in the attic. Of course there was no trace of the mark now, but the memory remained. Was he destined to be bound to Jenna for the rest of his life?
If that was his lot in life, he was at peace with it. Was she?
He stepped into the shower and let the water rain down over him, the heat washing away the remnants of the hospital. Whatever happened tonight—whatever happened between him and Jenna—he was ready.
By the time he got out, shaved, got dressed, and went back to the living room, Bridget had arrived with the food. Fast service was just one of the benefits of having a sister who owned a restaurant. They sat down at his dining room table, Titus at one end with Jenna to his right, Hank at the other with Birdie and Bridget flanking him.
Titus inhaled. “Everything smells so good. I should have ordered more.”
Bridget used her elbow to point to a bag on the kitchen counter. “I got peach cobblers for everyone too. I figure if we’re going to war tonight, we should go well fed.”
“I like that plan.” Titus picked up his burger.
