"She probably doesn't know it yet. Please, stay away from this girl, whoever she is, until I find out what to do." She shook her head and smiled. "What are the odds of two of you in one place?"

Part of me wanted to tell her about the witches, but I had to talk to Torin first. "Okay. I'll see you later." I opened the portal to the mansion and entered the grand foyer. It was quiet.

"Is anybody home? Andris?" Thuds came from upstairs and the dining room, which was across from the living room. Mrs. Willow must still be around. I assume she came on Saturdays.

I peered inside the dining room but it was empty. The door connecting it to the kitchen was slightly opened.

Voices came from upstairs. I stopped at the foot of the stairs and called out again. Andris had a room upstairs by the library. Even when he wasn't feeding his inner geek with some sci-fi book or a gadget, he loved to be surrounded by books.

Maybe he had his latest conquest up there or was deep in some science fiction world and didn't want to be disturbed. I turned to leave.

"Hey," came from upstairs and I looked up. Ingrid stood at the rail with a sheet around her. Her boyfriend must be around, which might explain why Andris was gone.

"Where's Andris?"

"With Torin."

"Oh. Torin said he was leaving him in charge."

She shrugged. "Uh, about earlier," she added. "You weren't just meeting with ordinary friends from school, were you?"

I frowned. "Why do you say that?"

She started downstairs, the sheet dragging behind her. I wondered if she was naked underneath it. What if she stepped on it? Stupid thing to think about now, but she tended to walk around the house half-naked. I often wondered if it was an attempt to draw Andris' attention or because she was a cheerleader and comfortable in her body.

She glanced upstairs when she reached me then whispered, "I felt the magic, Raine. You found the sister witches, didn't you?"

So she knew. "I did. At school. They came to see me at the shop, so I took them to Nikos to talk."

She pouted. "Oh, phew. I was going to impress you guys with my news. You know, call a meeting and tell everyone about them."

I grimaced, feeling bad for her. The others were just starting to see her as a useful member of the group. "Sorry."

"It's not your fault." She gathered her sheet. It was starting to slip.

"We can pretend I don't know about them if you like," I said. "Call the gang and wow them. I'll act surprised."

A weird expression on her face. "You would do that for me?"

I shrugged. "Sure. That's what friends are for, right?"

She smiled. "Thanks, Raine. Happy to know you have my back, but you don't have to. I'll be okay." Her cheeks grew pink. "Oh, uh, you can be the first to know my secret. I've decided to leave at the end of this school year. Femi has contacts in the fashion industry and she made a call for me." She grinned. "I did an interview last month with a market editor at A-la Mode last week. She loved that I know so much about the fashion industry and market. I'm going to intern for her in New York."

"That's great, Ingrid. I'm happy for you." Andris had wanted her to have a hobby. This one was taking her far away. A portal away, but still... Oh, he was so going to hate this.

"Don't tell anyone yet, including Torin," she warned.

I pretended to zip my lips, which made her chuckle. Another sound came from the dining room and the hairs on my nape rose. "Is Mrs. Willow working late today?"

Ingrid shook her head. "No. She left already. Why?"

"I keep hearing sounds from the kitchen. I don't want her to see me use the portal."

Frowning, Ingrid angled her head. "I don't hear anything. Blaine left with the others and Echo doesn't come here unless Torin is around."

She gathered the sheet tighter around her, engaged her runes and zipped down the stairs past me and into the dining room. Within seconds, she was back.

"There's no one there, but one of the guys left a mess in the kitchen again. I'm not cleaning it." She muttered something in her language. Sounded like a curse. "They never admit it."

"Maybe you have a ghost in the house," I teased as I headed toward the foyer portal.

"Don't joke about that, Raine." She shivered. "I don't like souls. I used blocking runes so I don't have to deal with them."

Most Immortals did. Funny how I was the opposite. I wanted to see souls. I couldn't be a Valkyrie and work with Torin unless I saw them. I waved to her.

Lavania had insisted that I didn't need to escort souls or do anything because I was a Seeress. The gods would take care of me, whatever that meant. She didn't understand. I didn't want to be a pampered Seeress just because I could see when Ragnarok and the end of the world started. I wanted my life to have a purpose. Like Torin, Andris and Echo reaping souls. Even Cora had found a way to use her abilities.

Just before I entered the portal, I stopped. I had a weird feeling that I was being watched. I turned and studied the foyer. Ingrid was gone and there was no one but me. A chill filled the air and I shivered. Weird. Shaking my head, I engaged my runes and went home.

CHAPTER 13. DOUBLE TROUBLE.

The lights in the bedroom across the yard from mine were the first sign that Torin was home. He didn't come to the window. The stinker.

I found the perfect outfit. I wasn't a dress person, but this was going to be a one-time DD. Two alpha males just didn't mix. They'd knock heads over everything. Who drove us, the bill, where to go, the whole evening was bound to be a disaster.

I was putting final touches on my makeup when the portal opened. Torin. Finally. I turned, expecting to see him saunter into room.

"Can I come in?" Cora called out.

Disappointed, I sighed.

"Sure." I got up and went to close my bedroom door. "Your dad's still here, so keep your voice low." I turned and caught her studying my outfit. "What do you think?"

"It's perfect. Simple but elegant. Love the accessories too."

"I raided Mom's jewelry box." The dark-blue dress with white zig-zag across the chest flared down from my rib cage. It was flirty and girlish without being over the top. The navy-blue, three quarter sleeve cardigan was the same length as the dress. The stacks of bracelets, dangling earrings and necklace had lots of red and matched my heeled boots. I grinned at Cora. "You're rocking a bathrobe tonight?"

"I can't seem to decide on anything, but seeing your outfit helps. I think we're going somewhere private tonight."

"Really? In Kayville?" We had national restaurant branches galore and they were usually packed on Saturdays.

"They actually got together this morning to discuss the details without starting World War III."

"No way."

She laughed. "Oh yeah. See you in a few."

She disappeared through the portal and I headed downstairs. Sounds came from behind Dad's door. Femi was preparing two dinner trays. She stopped fussing with the tray and beamed.

"Look at you. You look amazing. You should wear dresses more often."

"You sound just like Mom," I said and wished I hadn't. I missed her. "Do you need me to carry anything?"

She gave me one of the trays.

Inside the room, Dad and Cora's dad were watching ESPN. Dad was propped against the pillow while Mr. Jemison sat on the chair at the head of the bed. Dad usually perked up whenever Cora's dad visited. I stayed with them for a few minutes.

Five to six, Torin entered our living room and my heart trembled. He looked amazing in a dress shirt and a dinner jacket.

His eyes narrowed on me, a slow smile curling his lips. Hel's Mist. That grin was downright sinful. Warmth infused my body. And he had no business looking at me like that. Not when my father was in the next room.

"Keep drooling and we'll skip dinner," he warned in a voice as smooth as satin.

"That should be my line, dufus. Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise." He closed the gap between us, bringing all that pure deliciousness my way. My breath caught. He smelled amazing. "Can you handle that?"

"I can handle anything you dish out." He chuckled and I realized how that sounded. Like a challenge. He loved challenges. I bit down on my lower lip and wrapped my arms around his. "Am I going to like this surprise?"

"What's not to like. I'm part of the package."

I rolled my eyes. "Bring that arrogance down a notch, pal, or this evening will be a disaster."

He turned his head and pressed a kiss on my temple. "Did I mention how amazing you look tonight?"

"No, but that's a start."

He laughed, then glanced over my head and said. "See you later, Femi."

"You kids have fun." There was laughter in her voice, which meant she'd heard every word we'd exchanged.

We entered the portal and appeared in Echo's living room. Now I was confused, but I refused to give Torin the satisfaction of asking again. Then Cora and Echo entered the room. She looked preppy in black shorts, stripped blue shirt with matching high heeled shoes, and a white dinner jacket. Echo wore his usual duster, but he traded his leather for a black dress shirt and matching pants.

He led us to the front of the house where a limo waited. Cora and I exchanged glances. I was sure I wore a bemused grin on my face. A date with these guys was out there. I'd never been inside a limo or a city like Miami, except at Echo's.

The nightlife was in full swing, people crossing from their cars to restaurants and clubs, some like us rolling in limos. This was an upscale neighborhood and it showed in the clothes the people were rocking. I was happy I'd worn a dress.

Torin drew my attention when he chuckled. The sound sent a warm shiver down my spine. As though he felt my response, he slanted me a half a smile. I had no idea what he and Echo were discussing. He ran the tips of his fingers up and down my bare skin, from the elbow to my palm.

Sensations turned me into a puddle of goo. I couldn't remember accepting a drink, yet I held a sparkling something in a chute. I sipped. Non alcoholic. Cora stared at her man with a love-struck grin.

I forced myself to focus on Torin, the words coming out of his mouth, and I got distracted again by the sensual curve of his lips, the way the blue lights inside the limo made his sapphire blues glow with an unearthly brilliance. The shadows under his high cheek bones were just as fascinating.

He bumped me with his shoulder and I gave him a broad grin.

"Would you like some music?"

Wasn't something already playing? No, that was the pounding adrenaline hurtling through my veins and the fantasies I was weaving. "No, I'm good."

We pulled up outside a building. Going by the name, an Italian restaurant. Someone opened the limo door from outside and the guys ushered us toward the entrance. I overheard a hostess say on the phone, "We are booked solid for the rest of the night. We do have a few openings for tomorrow night."

The club must be popular, except it was empty when we entered.

Nice interior. Very upscale. Candles graced every table, but the focus was on the one in the middle of the room. They'd even pushed the other tables and chairs back to create space for our table. The setting was for four and four servers waited with napkins draped over their arms.

It was surreal. Our servers were super nice and polite. The female with a cart of drinks lost her train of thought a couple of times. I didn't blame her. Torin had that effect on most of the female population. Throw in Echo and the entire female population didn't stand a chance.

I got ginger-lemongrass soda. The menu listed ten dishes and they all looked so good.

"Is there something you don't like," Torin asked.

"Shouldn't that be 'what I like'?"

"Nope. We're going to sample all of the dishes listed. If you want Chef Vincenzo to make anything else," he lifted his hand and a hovering waiter whipped out a notepad and pen, "he can add it to our menu."

"This is good," I said. I couldn't believe they'd arranged all this.

"I agree," Cora seconded.

"I'm reserving judgment until I eat this carefully planned menu." Echo gave Torin a mocking smirk.

"Don't start, Limo man."

Listening to their exchange, everything fell into place. Echo had been in charge of transportation and Torin our diner. I was sure the evening would be a disaster, but we all found a common ground. First was the great food by an enthusiastic chef who came out to personally check on us. Second were horror movies. Who knew reapers would like zombie apocalypse.

"Everyone dies in the series," Cora complained. "What's so great about that?"

"That's the fun part of it," Echo said. "Now if only something like that could happen in real life."

Cora punched his arm and murmured something I didn't catch.

"Dead Mortals means more reaping for you, Echo?" I teased.

Echo smirked. "No, it means Ragnarok is around the corner."

I frowned. "How do you figure that?"

He leaned forward. "Best way to kill zombies is by chopping off their heads. Best weapon for that is a sword. No more guns, just machete-wielding Mortals trying to avoid the inevitable."

From what I recalled, the first signs preceding Ragnarok was "sword age", a period of violence and battles followed by three years of nonstop winter when families would turn on each other. Then Ragnarok itself would be next, the death of the gods and destruction of the world to make way for a new world.

"Don't be so bloody literal," Torin said.