Ink & Dagger (Sins of Eden #1)

15. Chapter XV

Chapter XV

Emily

I ’d spent half of the time arguing with Charlie as we checked out from the hospital. No matter how many times I told her that I was fine, she wouldn’t believe me.

It took almost an hour, but I finally managed to convince her to stay in my guest room across the hall and just help me around the house while I healed, instead of her initial plan to watch over me like a Gargoyle as I slept. The room across the hall was technically hers anyway and was already filled with everything she needed from the many times she’d stayed at my place.

I wanted her to drop me off at my studio on the way home so I could assess the damages, take note of all that needed to be repaired around the shop, and pick up my car, but of course she wasn’t having it.

“So, Erik, huh?” She asked as she drove, not taking her eyes off the road.

We hadn’t really discussed the events leading to my latest - situation, but we didn’t need to. I sighed as I looked out the passenger window.

“I’m not going to lie, I’m almost glad I wasn’t wearing the necklace when it happened. That was -,” she paused as she blew out an exaggerated breath, remembering the pain she must have felt through our connection when she put it back on. I remained quiet and she continued.

“Something needs to be done about that, Em. He can’t keep showing up and putting you in the hospital. Hex him, curse him, fuck. Just find a way to keep him away from you. Do you realize that you could have died? Shit, girl. You did die,” she said, an edge of hysteria in her voice as she spoke her last words.

“It wouldn’t be the first time I died,” I whispered darkly as I glanced over at her.

We had our own suspicions of what occurred all those years ago, but no way to prove it. Her and I both survived, but how? I had no fucking clue.

“I was hoping that I’d killed him. I really think that’s the only way to ever escape him,” I admitted quietly, more to myself.

She’d let me know while I was in the hospital that by the time her and the ambulance had shown up to the studio, it was just Ghost and I alone in there, so it seemed that he’d unfortunately made it out with nothing more than a snake bite and a concussion from the blast.

“So what are you gonna do? Kill him?” She asked.

“I don’t think I should answer that truthfully,” I told her.

Fuck if I was going to get her mixed up in all of my shit, more than I already had.

“Bullshit. We tell each other everything,” she said angrily, narrowing her eyes at me.

I mirrored her expression. Did we tell each other everything? I knew there were secrets she was keeping, but now wasn’t the time to bring that up.

She gave me a look of curiosity, tilting her head slightly as she opened her mouth to say something, but snapped it closed quickly before shaking her head and looking back at the road.

“Listen, don’t get me wrong, that’s dark as fuck but if you think that’s really the only way, then I’m with you,” she said without meeting my eyes.

A slight smile lifted at the corner of her mouth. “I’ll be there to hold the shovel. I love you and all, but don’t expect me to dig the hole for you.”

A bark of laughter escaped me as I looked over at her. We sat in thoughtful silence for a while, the music of the radio playing softly in the background as she drove. I picked at my chipped black nails as I tried to determine how best to bring this up before deciding it was best to just rip the bandaid right off.

“Char, I don’t know how, but I did something the other night that I’ve never done before. Something I didn’t know I could do,” I admitted as I looked down at my hands.

I turned them over to look at my palms as I recalled the bolt of light that had shot from them and the blast that had sent Erik flying.

“Maybe you’ve just never tried before. You’re pretty fucking strong you know?” She said with a soft smile as she nudged me gently with her elbow.

I scoffed. “Back at you, girl.” I told her with a smirk.

We were two badass Witches and the world needed to learn not to fuck with us. We drove the rest of the way in comfortable silence, her giving me space to think as she focused on getting us home.