Page 98 of Hart's Redemption

“How could I have missed it?”

I grabbed his arms and forced him to look at me. The concern in his eyes, while touching, tore me apart. “I’m not banished.”

Not yet, at least.

“Okay. Then what is it?”

I hesitated. “I’m not sure what kind of reception we will get.”

His eyes softened. “We will overcome this like we’ve overcome everything else—together.” He stepped back, and his gaze became distant. “Lombardi, we’re ready.”

I was too shocked at his profound statement of hope that I didn’t realize the relevance of the statement until it was too late. A line of fuzzy orange ripped open in the middle of the room with a burn of ozone. Before I could protest, Josh grabbed my hand and hauled us both through the narrow opening. My next step brought me face to face with the vibrant blue of the cottage’s front door.

Shit.

I stumbled after Josh into the house and found him staring at the wall of pictures with open wonder. For a moment, my anxiety lifted.

He glanced back at me as I emerged from the hallway. “When did you take these?”

I stepped up beside him. “While you weren’t paying attention, obviously.”

He smacked me on the arm, then immediately leaned into me. “I love it.”

I pressed my lips to the side of his head as I pulled him in close. “I’m glad because—”

A sharp wail split the air, and we both clamped our hands over our ears. Josh’s lips moved, but I couldn’t make anything out over the horrid screech. As abruptly as it started, the sound ceased.

“What the hell was that?”

“I told Atlas to set a perimeter. Someone must have tripped it.”

I rubbed my ears, which were still ringing. “Paparazzi already?”

“I knew I should have had Lombardi have the portal open inside, but I didn’t want to risk damaging the house.” He opened his mouth, no doubt to give the Atlas system a fresh set of instructions, when Eric barreled into the room.

His frantic gaze ping-ponged between us. “Fuck, it’s true. You need to get out of here. Now!”

“What are you talking about? We just got here.” Josh glanced from Eric to me.

“They’ve been watching the house. They’re coming.”

Josh’s face clouded in confusion as all of my worst fears solidified. “Who’s coming?”

“Conrad and his loyalists.” Eric shifted his increasingly panicked gaze from Josh to me. “You didn’t tell him?!”

“Didn’t tell me what?”

“Full moon at midnight, Elijah. We don’t have time for this. I thought you weren’t going to bring him back.”

“What?” The hurt on Josh’s face stabbed at my heart.

“It’s not like that, moonbeam. You have to understand…”

Eric glanced back towards the front of the house. “Out of time. They’re here.”

Panic tightened my chest. “Josh, look at me. Whatever you do, you can’t let anyone know about our connection. Don’t say or do anything. Don’t make eye contact with anyone if you can avoid it and don’t even think in passing about needing help. I’m going to figure this out.”

“Coming!” Eric’s cry rang like a final bell through the house.