Kevin’s jubilant cry echoed Stark’s victory shout as the beast carried them up and up and up until finally Kevin began to see a wall of green. There was an explosion of light, and then he and Stark were tumbling from the bull’s back, landing on a hard-packed patch of ground. As soon as Kevin got to his feet, he whirled around, hoping to get a glimpse of the incredible creature that had granted them passage. All he saw was the bull’s velvet hip, wide as the back of a whale. Within his mind a deep, compassionate voice said, Remember to hold on to love, young Kevin. Love, always love … And then he was gone, and Kevin was staring at nothing.
Stark nudged his back. “Um, Kev …”
Kevin turned and his breath rushed from his body. Before them was an unending grove. It reminded Kevin of the forest across from Sgiach’s castle. In the very front of the wall of trees there was a special tree, like the one he’d glimpsed on Skye, two trees irrevocably entwined. From their verdant branches dangled hundreds, maybe thousands of strips of cloth that shimmered magickally in the soft, silver moonlight.
And then Kevin could think no more of bulls or trees or the magick of the Goddess’s realm because walking toward him, weaving her way through the grove, was Aphrodite.
7
Zoey
I pressed my hands against the cold stone wall of the grotto and felt it—a terrible sense of rage and restlessness. I quickly pulled my palms away and turned to Stevie Rae, who stood beside me. Wiping my hand on my jeans to rid myself of the awful sensation, I said, “She’s still in there. No doubt about it.”
“Is it real gross?” Stevie Rae whispered.
“Yeah, and she’s pissed,” I said. “Time has definitely not mellowed her.”
“At least one positive is that she’s still in there,” said Stark. He joined my circle and me after he positioned the Sons of Erebus Warriors so that half of them were standing above Neferet’s grotto, and the others—along with Darius and Rephaim—were spaced in a crescent moon shape on the wide lawn in front of the wall.
Aphrodite hurried up from the parking lot with Kacie following close behind her like a very cute little puppy—if puppies could invoke water and fire. “All right, partial Nerd Herd, let’s get this spell cast. Now.”
“What’s up?” I asked, not liking the nervous way she kept glancing at the road.
“I don’t know, but I have a finger-down-my-spine crawly feeling and Ice Cream Shoes has been in my pocket since we got here.”
Kacie peered around nervously. “It feels wrong here. Like when you’re downtown late and have to park in a really empty, really dark underground garage.”
Aphrodite brushed back her hair and nodded. “That’s a pretty accurate description. It could be because of batshit crazy over there.” She pointed at the wall entombing Neferet behind me. “Or it could be because another creepy vamp is lurking around, but either way, I don’t like it.”
Damien joined us, carrying the bag that held our candles and spellwork implements. “And either way, what we’re doing will help. Humans can hang around here all day and pretend like Neferet is their next messiah. What we really don’t need is what Zoey described happening in that other world—hate-filled vampyres looking to support Neferet because they crave power.”
My ponytail dusted my back as I hiked my shoulders. “Well, in this case I think it’s more like old vampyres who are being super nosy, but I hear ya,” I said. “And once this spell is cast, if the European High Council wants information about Neferet, or about our House of Night, they’ll have to come to me to get it.”
Stevie Rae asked, “Z, have you thought about givin’ ’em a call? I mean, it’s not like we’re hidin’ anything. We’re just including humans ’cause, you know, when you actually get to know someone who’s different than you, that’s when you realize we’re all a lot more alike than not.”
“That’s a good idea, Stevie Rae. I doubt that they’ll admit if they did send someone over here to spy, but I’ll call and issue an invite for them to come for Imbolc next month. If the weather cooperates, I thought we’d hold a community gathering on campus and invite humans too.”
Damien spoke as he began pulling prayer candles in the five elemental colors from his bag. “You should give Sister Angela a call.”
“I’ll bet Street Cats would come—and bring kitties too,” said Stevie Rae.
Kacie sighed so loudly we all looked at her.
“Sorry. I just wish a cat would choose me.”
“Hey, give it time. Z and I still share Nala. I’ll bet Nal wouldn’t mind it if you gave her some lovins.”
I grinned at Stevie Rae. “Better warn Ice Cream Shoes about that face-sneezing thing she does.”
My bestie gave me an exaggerated wink and said, “Let’s not tell her.”
“Here,” Damien handed me a purple candle. “I don’t mean to be bossy, but less talk and more spell casting is in order.”
“Right,” I said. “Okay, let’s take our places.”
Stark kissed me quickly. “I’ll be just outside the circle with Darius and Rephaim.”
“Thanks.” He started to turn away and I said, “Hey!” He looked over his shoulder at me. “I love you.”
He grinned that cocky, one-sided smile I adored. “I know.”
“Bow Boy’s ego is even bigger than his—” Aphrodite began, but I quickly talked over her.
“Kacie, do you have any questions before we start?”
She was holding her blue candle and looking a lot younger than she had when she’d invoked the aid of water earlier. “Um, I don’t think so. Stevie Rae told me that I need to listen to what you say, especially about setting our
