Page 120 of Demons for Breakfast

I gave Charles Worthington’s number.

“Great. Thanks for your help.” She smooshed her lips together like she was annoyed by my non-committal, but she walked toward the police cars. One of the spotlights turned off.

Juke dashed over. “Sorrel, I was so worried.” She threw her arms around me, and I melted into her.

Babbling, I blurted out, “I’m sorry I stressed you. Thank you—for everything. I’m sorry about the warehouse too. But I think things will be better now. I’ll make them better.” Sobs I couldn’t explain tore me apart. I’d lost both Ranth and Mom in moments.

“Nothing matters but you,” Juke replied, hugging me tighter.

The curse on my arm itched, and the voice in my head stopped my heart.

We will make them better.

Ranth.

Somehow, we were still connected. Joy exploded in my chest. The aching emptiness flowed away as tea-like musk and powdered amber settled over me. I didn’t need to convince myself that I was going to be okay. I knew it. Ranth was still a part of me, and we would fix this. We would change everything. I would find him.

Pop.

“Flipping foxgloves. Hang on, we have incoming. Everyone suck jaggery!” I shouted, waving for my friends to stand behind me. Apparently, demon fighting was still my gig.

Fumbling with my belt pouches, I got a maca into my mouth, and I snapped out my wrist pins before I realized I didn’t need either of them.

I spit out the maca and turned to meet the demons.

Ranth, wreathed in green haze, blocked the portal.

My heart exploded into dandelion puffs as I ran at him. I threw my arms around his neck. “How are you here?”

He tossed a handful of glowing green sparks at the portal and then held up a golden shield in front us as four Essifers charged.

His lips crashed into mine, sweet and grassy, like a fresh juice on a scorching day. I couldn’t get enough.

Essifer goo splattered over us, breaking the kiss.

“The garden has rejected me. They will find a replacement. We should probably deal with the demons first,” he rasped as three more Essifers spilled out.

I grinned and raised a hand to ball up energy, with the wordfirstbounding through my head in neon lights.Oh yes, I had plans too.

Energy tugged from my heart to my hand. The rusty-tinged ball in my hand was larger than any I’d ever made, crackling with coppery sparks.

Copper? That wasn’t right.

I released the energy and tried again.

Same coppery ball. Earth energy. An Essifer screamed past me, and I dodged left, smacking into Ranth.

“What’s wrong?” Ranth’s hands steadied me, the connection snapping me back to action. I held out the ball, squaring up next to him, and whipped it at the Essifers.

Mom’s words echoed:Don’t walk with Death,settled a shroud on the pink goo-tinged scene.

“You are marked. You knew the price.” Ranth dissipated the last Essifer with a burst of green leaves.

“I did, but I don’t know what it means now.”

“It will be what you make of it. You’ll figure it out.” His eyes were glassy from what we’d been through, what I’d lost, what was still ahead to figure out... I didn’t need him, but I wanted him to be part of whatever the future held.

“No,we’llfigure it out,” I said, throwing myself into his arms as Juke, Ori, Freddie, and Rose added arms to our hug.

He was right; we were a team. Better together.

Stronger. Safer. Resilient.

Unstoppable.