“Is she okay?” Alec asks. It sounds like he’s running to catch up. But then who is carrying me?
“Her energy is fading. She needs to be outside to energy source.” Johnny.
I want to reach up and touch his face to confirm that he’s really here, but my arms are so heavy.
“How do you know?” Alec’s voice is strangled.
There’s silence until I hear the sound of a door opening. “I just know.”
“Where are you taking her?”
“To the garden.”
Johnny follows Alec’s lead without complaint. He keeps me as steady as possible, his strong arms hugging me tightly to his muscular frame. I’ve missed these arms.
“I can carry her,” Alec says.
“We’re almost there,” Johnny responds, not letting me go.
My eyes don’t feel heavy. I know I’m fully capable of opening them, but I keep them closed, hoping to avoid a situation where I’m expected to choose between Alec and Johnny. I need my energy back before I can deal with my emotions regarding these two.
“Hey!” Arabella’s voice rings out. “Trisha went with Brett to the hospital. He doesn’t look good.” She runs up behind us as Johnny lays me down on the grass. “How is Kat?”
With a jolt, I open my eyes and search for Arabella. “Brett is hurt? Is he going to be okay?”
A flashback flickers through my mind—the snake attack in Weeki Wachee and the earthquake at Trisha’s Enchanting that almost took Brett too soon. Then I remember his body falling from the ceiling of the gym and onto the iceberg. A prickly chill spreads through me. If anything happens to him… Then it clicks.
Erebus must have been talking about Brett when referring to my friend who won’t live past winter. But no one will let him die. He’ll be okay. Enchanters will heal him.
I’m still feeding myself reassuring thoughts when Arabella kneels beside me and squeezes my hand. “I don’t know, Kat. He was hurt pretty badly. Trisha’s been trying to heal him ever since the fall, but he landed in a pool of ice water, and some of the balloons shattered on him—”
“Stop it,” Alec cuts in sharply. Ignoring Arabella’s piercing look, he kneels on the other side of me. “Kat needs her energy, and Brett is in good hands.” When he’s done scolding Arabella, he turns to me. “What happened in there? Did Erebus hurt you?”
I shake my head and take a deep breath. As I let the moon’s energy soak into my bones, I feel much stronger. My restored strength allows me to sit up, and without much thought, I search the space for Johnny.
My eyes lock on his from across the garden. He’s leaning against a tree, mask removed. I can see him now. Tall, bronze, strong, and brooding, he’s everything I remember falling hopelessly for. I remember his words from earlier. I want to see you. With a gentle tug on the string beneath my hair, I let my mask fall to my lap. His lips part slightly as he sucks in a quick gasp of air.
I tear my gaze from his and focus on Arabella. “Erebus wanted to deliver a message,” I say sardonically. “He thinks if he threatens me, I’ll tell him what I know about the mysterious energy source, but I know only what Rose tells me—which is nothing.”
“I don’t get it.” Arabella is pacing back and forth across the garden. “You’re no closer to having the information he wants than the last time he was here. Why come back now?”
I shrug. “He was growing impatient and wanted to make sure we didn’t get too comfortable. That’s all I know.”
Alec throws Johnny a glare. “Maybe Johnny can shed some light. After all, he’s made Erebus his first priority since leaving Apollo Beach.”
The comment is a pointed jab that stings me more than I know Alec meant to. Johnny flinches, and his eyes dart between all of us in the garden. “How the hell do I know why that evil piece of shit does anything?”
“So, that’s it? You’ve just been following him around all these months and you’ve learned nothing?” Alec’s voice continues to rise, his accusation clear.
“That’s not what I said.” I can practically hear his words rumble in his chest as he growls them out.
Arabella flips her fiery red hair and turns her dazzling green eyes on Johnny. “Tell us what you’ve learned.”
Johnny bows his head then looks back up. “I’ve been following Erebus for a long time. When I saw him start to head in this direction earlier today, I decided to beat him here. I didn’t know he would try something tonight,” Johnny says. “I didn’t even know you were all having some fancy ball until I got into town.”
“Yet, you had time to buy a tux.” Alec spits out his accusation with a shake of his head.
“It was my father’s.” Johnny chokes out his words.
Silence takes over the space. My heart breaks, my chest tightens, and I suck in a slow breath to keep from falling apart right here. I want to crawl into a hole, curl up, and escape all the drama, the confusion, and the hurt.
Alec touches my arm. “Are you feeling better?”
He’s so gentle and caring, but all I want is to go home. “I’m fine.”
Arabella is back to pacing. “What is up with Erebus and this energy source? How could he possibly think it will help him? I mean, why does he need Kat when it’s the Elders who are keeping the secret. Why not torment one of them?”
I glare at her. She’s asking the questions all of us are thinking, but that doesn’t make it any easier to hear. “Let’s be grateful he’s coming after me. We know he won’t kill me, and we know he can’t possess me. I’d rather not put anyone else in harm’s way.”
Johnny clears his throat. “The Elders aren’t the only ones who know about the energy source.”
All eyes turn to him.
“There are others who know—and they help keep the secret safe.”
“And how do you know that?” Alec challenges.
“I’ve learned a lot,” Johnny reminds him dryly. “I followed Erebus. I studied him. And I met others who know about him.”
“Tell us everything.” I say, trying to temper my tone.
Johnny nods. “Erebus traveled from coast to coast. His mission was unclear at first, but then I noticed something interesting. He spent more time in the communities that contained energy plants like the one here in Apollo Beach. He never approached the plants. He just stood at the entrance gates, watching, as if waiting for an invitation. So I can’t help but wonder if maybe the energy source is tied to whatever he’s looking for in those plants.”
There’s a sinking in my chest as I recall the last time I mentioned anything about the Apollo Beach Energy Plant to Rose. She absolutely lost it. I had a strange feeling about the place during my visit, but Rose’s reaction confirmed my fears that a secret was being contained within its walls. What if the secret of the energy source is tied to the energy plant… or all coastal energy plants?
Johnny shivers as if he’s registering a painful memory, and I’m tempted to tell him to stop. I don’t know what he’s been through out there, but I can imagine traveling in the shadow of his late parents must have been a daunting journey.