Rachel Vincent - With All My Soul

“Sabine was the perpetrator. Sophie was just an accomplice after the fact.” My uncle sank into my father’s recliner and ran one hand through his thick brown hair.

I glanced at Sophie to see if she’d correct him or let Sabine’s lie by implication stand. She stared at her feet and said nothing. But I couldn’t really blame her for not owning up to that one. It was Sabine’s fault, at least in part, for playing so loose with her fears and insecurities.

And for letting her carry scissors, my cousin’s well-established weapon of choice.

“It’s been one hell of a day.” Uncle Brendon looked up and glanced around the room. “Where’s Harmony? Did you call her?”

“Yeah, but she’s in the Netherworld, gathering ingredients for—” I glanced at Em, then decided to keep the details quiet, because I wasn’t sure how much everyone else knew about Traci’s predicament “—something. Should we go look for her?”

Both Nash and Tod started to nod, but my uncle shook his head. “No. She’s careful, and she knows how best to get in and out without being seen. If we go after her, we’re just increasing the chance of her—or us—getting caught.” Which would be worse for Nash, my uncle, Luca, and Em, who couldn’t come back on their own.

Not that I had plans to take Em or Luca into the Netherworld anytime soon. Or even Sophie, though she’d demonstrated the ability to come and go on her own. Once. But once wasn’t enough to prove she could stay calm under pressure or cross over without unleashing her full scream—the only trait she seemed to have inherited from her father’s side of the family.

She could wail well enough to cross over, with the required intent, but she was not a bean sidhe. Her screams would not sing for souls. She could not restore life.

She’d be a sitting duck in the Netherworld. Or an enticing piece of bait...

I shook my head, shaking the thought loose before it could take root. I was not going to use my own cousin for demon bait. Even if she sometimes deserved it.

“Harmony will be back on her own, and the best thing we can do is wait for her.”

“But what if Avari has her?” Nash demanded. “He has Kaylee’s dad. How do we know he hasn’t taken my mom?”

My uncle stood. “If he had your mom, he’d tell us. It does him no good to take her hostage and not tell us how to bargain for her freedom.”

“What if she’s not a hostage?” Sophie asked, and Emma sank slowly onto the arm of the couch next to Nash in obvious horror. “We weren’t hostages when he took us. What if he has Harmony but doesn’t intend to give her back?”

Nash stood. “I’m going after her.”

Uncle Brendon rolled his eyes. “You can’t get there on your own, son.”

Nash turned to Sabine. “Take me. Please.”

“Nash...” She took his hand, and I realized I’d never seen her look at anyone else the way she looked at him. Like it broke her heart not to be able to give him whatever he wanted. “I can’t. It’s not safe.”

“I know!” He pulled his hand from her grip. “That’s why I have to go find her.”

“Nash, I want to protect her just as much as you and Tod do,” my uncle said. Tod looked skeptical, but Nash looked furious. “But if anyone knows how to get in and out of the Netherworld without getting hurt, it’s your mother. She’s been gathering stuff for her homemade remedies since she was younger than you are. I’m sure she’s fine.”

“If she’s not, I’m holding you responsible.” Nash stomped into the kitchen and out into the backyard. The door slammed shut behind him, and Sabine stared at it like she wanted to go after him but knew better.

Tod crossed his arms over his chest. “One hour.” His voice was calm and quiet, and betrayed no hint of indecision. “If she’s not back in one hour, I’ll go after her myself.”

No one argued with Tod.

“Okay. Until then, we need to decide on a plan to get Aiden back. How did you find out Avari took him?”

I dug my dad’s phone from my pocket, woke up the screen, then handed it to my uncle.

His face paled instantly. “Well, that does seem...certain. Is that crimson creeper near his foot?”

“Yup.”

“And you know where he’s being held?”

“The basement of the Netherworld version of Lakeside.”

“Buried beneath the mental hospital. That’s not creepy,” Emma mumbled.

Sophie flinched. “Did you really kiss a hellion to get that information?”

I met her gaze as boldly as I could, considering that I was still incredibly creeped out by what I’d done. “Everything has a price, Sophie. Someone has to pay.”

“Okay. Back on topic.” My uncle headed into the kitchen, aiming right for the cabinet over the microwave. “We’re going to need two teams. A small one, to cause a distraction, and another one, a little larger, to get Aiden out.”

“I’m going to turn myself in.” I said it softly, but every head in the room swiveled to stare at me. When my uncle turned, he held the bottle of whiskey my father had confiscated from Nash the month before.

“No, you’re not,” Tod said. “Even if any of us was willing to let that happen, it won’t help your dad. We want to get him out, not leave you behind.”

“I know. This is a trap. I’m going to pretend to fall for it, while the rest of you get my father the hell out of there. You and Sabine can cross my uncle over.” I glanced into the kitchen to find Uncle Brendon pouring whiskey into a short glass of ice. “The two of you should be able to carry him if he can’t walk, and Sabine can get you out if anything goes wrong or Tod can’t cross with you both. Two who can’t cross, two who can.” That was the safest ratio.

“No,” Tod said, and I glanced at him in surprise. He’d never refused to help. “I’m staying with you. Nash can go with them. He can help lift your dad if necessary.”

“But I can cross. My dad, uncle, and Nash can’t. They need you more.”

“He’s right, Kay-bear,” Uncle Brendon said. “No one goes in alone.”

I stood, my irritation mounting. “That doesn’t make any sense. Sabine can’t get you, my dad, and Nash out all at once, especially if my dad’s still unconscious. You need someone else who can cross over!”

“And we have someone.” Luca pulled back the living room curtain to reveal Harmony’s car pulling up to the curb in front of my house. As I watched, relieved, she got out and locked her car, then started up the driveway.

The back door opened, and Nash came in, ignoring Styx when she came to growl at him, again. “I heard a car.”

Harmony knocked three times, then opened the front door, and, I swear, Nash nearly melted with relief. She stopped in the doorway, sliding her phone into her purse, and glanced around at everyone, surprised to be the center of attention before she was even in the house. “Any news about Aiden? And why are you all staring at me?”

“We thought Avari got to you, too.” Nash hugged his mom, then shoved his hands into his pockets, looking both sheepish and relieved at the same time.

Tod ran one hand through his hair, then gave his mother a hug. “Please don’t disappear at the same time someone else goes missing. That’s very misleading.”

She patted his back, then let him go. “I’m fine. I know my way around the Netherworld, sweetie.”

Uncle Brendon shook his head, but he was all smiles. “I tried to tell them....” He opened his arms, and she walked into his embrace. Then they kissed, and Nash groaned while the rest of us averted our eyes.

“Dad, gross!” Sophie made a show of covering her eyes, and Luca laughed.

“Okay, so do we have a plan?” Harmony took the glass of whiskey from Brendon, made a face, then dumped it straight down the sink. “And by the way, this is not the time for... this. ” She held up the glass for everyone to see—including Brendon, who frowned but didn’t argue.