“Bury what you can,” Ethan tells me. “Don’t worry about getting arrested for murder. If a bone is found it won’t test positive for human DNA. They’ll think it’s some sort of crossbred animal that the computer system can’t place.”
“That’s convenient.”
“It doesn’t always work out that easily. And yes, I’m speaking from experience. Even before vampires came out, I didn’t understand how people could brush things off so easily.” He shakes his head. “People don’t want to believe in monsters or demons.”
“Like Rene.”
“It’s a shock to your entire system. Mentally, it changes the way you see the world, and realizing the physical danger you could easily be in isn’t something most people take well. Which, again, is why we were all so surprised at how well you took things.”
“I just knew.” We start toward the stairs. “Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew there was more out there. And it really was in the back of my mind. Hidden behind a spell, that is. I remember seeing one demon. I could have seen more.”
“If your aunt was as involved in killing or trapping them as we think, you probably did.”
“The ground is frozen,” I say. “How are we going to bury anything?”
“There are ways to thaw the ground, but it’s slow going. Normally, if I had demon leftovers, as you called it, I’d be able to get someone from the Order to come and take care of it. They have a lot of connections.”
“And we can’t now?” I ask slowly, knowing I’m missing something. “Sam was assigned to this case, right?”
“Right, but the Order doesn’t know I’m living here.”
“Right,” I echo. “Remind me why we can’t tell them?”
“The move wasn’t approved. I can get away with going back to the Chicago area since that’s where I was before.”
“And that’s where your dad told them you are.”
“Yeah. I’m staying with friends there.”
I hate the bad feeling that starts to rise in the pit of my stomach, and I hate even more that everything inside of me is telling me not to ignore it. I’m not necessarily sure if Ethan is flat-out lying to me, but there’s something about Thorne Hill the Order doesn’t approve of.
I think? Maybe?
I want to trust Ethan. I love him with my whole heart, and I don’t doubt his love for me. There were times in the recent months that it was the only thing that made sense.
“And whatever the bonfire doesn’t burn, I think you can.” Ethan turns to me, cheeky grin on his face, and goes down the stairs. Hunter is sitting by a window in the library that looks out at the barn. A fire is going, and Yuma throws something into the flames. I can’t tell if it’s another log or a body part. Ethan and I put on our boots and coats and go outside to join them.
“You weren’t lying about the way burnt reapers smell.” Gagging, I zip my coat all the way up and pull it over my nose to help block out the smell. Hunter silently pads through the snow, staying by my side.
“These fuckers won’t catch.” Sam pulls a big handful of hay from a wheelbarrow she brought out, making me wince. Does she know how expensive hay is right now? She’s literally burning money.
“They’re too fresh and the melting snow under the burn pile isn’t helping.” Ethan kicks a crisp reaper hand with his foot. “We do have a way to speed things up.”
“Lighter fluid?” Yuma asks hopefully.
“Something better.” Ethan’s eyes meet mine and he smiles. Then he walks around the fire, tracing a circle in the snow around the fire. “All right, babe, show us what you got.”
Sam side-eyes Yuma, relaying some sort of message. With a small huff, she steps back, and I move forward, holding my hands out in front of me. I look at the line Ethan traced in the snow, using it as a marker that will help me control the fire. I can summon fire that could incinerate these demons in minutes, but fear holds me back.
Rightfully so, I remind myself. Fire is dangerous and I don’t know how to put it out once it’s started.
“Should I get a fire extinguisher ready?” Sam mumbles, though if she wanted to go grab the one in the barn, I wouldn’t object. Better safe than sorry, right?
Heat gathers around my fingers, and I watch little flames start to rise from my palms. I wait a beat, letting the fire slowly grow and then turn my hands over, letting the flames fall from my hands and onto the reapers. I close my eyes from the bright light, reading the energy. Even though my eyes are closed, I can tell the fire is getting bigger and bigger. Closing my fists, I step back and open my eyes. The reapers are going up in smoke, smelling even worse.