She led the way to the kitchen. Echo and I followed slowly. Raine had just acted out of the norm, totally blindsiding me. Did magic affect her that much? There were certain things she didn't discuss with me, but this was one I needed details about. Everyone knew my reaction to possession. Heck, they kept Twizzlers in every house just for that. I often craved them once I was done with souls. She obviously craved Torin.

Femi, Mr. Cooper's nurse, cut us off, her eyes on Echo's face. "Ah, here's my hero and his lovely girlfriend."

Echo stiffened, and my antennas buzzed.

"Hero?" I asked.

"We fought side by side, that's all," Echo said quickly.

"He's being modest," Femi corrected. The combination of blue eyes and golden-brown skin gave the Egyptian an exotic look. She only reached up to Echo's chin and had to tilt her head back to stare into his face. "You saved my life more than once."

"It was nothing."

Femi chuckled. "I'll have you know, my dear, that my life means everything to me. If you ever need a favor, find me."

"That won't-"

"Ever happen, I know," she finished and laughed. "What could I, a mere Immortal, possibly do to help Hel's favorite son? Men." She shook her head, and we exchanged a smile. Female bonding moment ensued. "Come find me if you need anything, doll."

I nodded. "I will."

She patted my arm and continued toward the den where Raine's father now slept. Echo and I joined the others. He was uncomfortable with praise. How silly.

"You're my hero," I whispered, hugging his arm.

"That cape I wear with pride."

In the kitchen, Torin was busy arranging condiments on the counter. Echo had been itching to leave when we were in the forest, but now he seemed, I don't know, content to stay. Worse, I saw the look he and Torin exchanged. It had serious ominous undertones.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Torin paused in the process of opening the fridge door. "Echo told us evil souls were around. The Earl lost about six Immortals, and their souls disappeared before the fight ended. They might be gunning for us."

"We just want to make sure we're on the same page on what to do if they bother you," Raine said, going to stand by Torin. She rubbed his back. She couldn't seem to keep her hands off him.

I glanced at Echo. He looked preoccupied. "You didn't tell them about Dev?"

"He is none of their business," Echo whispered back. "He's mine."

"Ours," I corrected.

Lunch turned out to be fun and long. Echo even relaxed and teased Torin about his miniature sandwiches, which were amazing. Then conversation became serious.

"I think you should go on a helping-souls freeze until we round up all the souls of the Earl's Immortals," Torin suggested. Echo nodded with more enthusiasm than I liked. Raine didn't jump on their bandwagon. Possibly because she knew me. I never ran from anything.

I shook my head. "What if I knew the people before they died? I've helped quite a few from the local hospitals and nursing homes, and I'm not going to stop just because of a few angry souls."

"Cora," Torin and Echo said at the same time, but Raine raised her hands and stopped them.

"Don't gang up on her," she said. "I agree with her. She can't stop helping others out of fear." Both men groaned. She just ignored them. "We have to come up with another way to protect her."

"Thanks for the support," I said, and we high-fived.

Torin looked ready to argue. He glared at Echo. "You need to reason with your woman."

My jaw dropped.

Echo laughed. "How about you focus on yours. I don't see her agreeing with you. One kiss and you turn into a doormat."

Torin glanced at Raine. "Really?"

"We don't kiss," she said, leaning into him. "We affirm. With a touch, a look, or a smile." She kissed him again. Or maybe it was the other way around because when he lifted his head, she wore a dazed expression.

Okay, whatever she was on, I wanted some of it. I tried to jump from Echo's lap and drag her upstairs for a girly chat, but Echo's arms tightened. He'd pulled me onto his lap during lunch.

"Where were we?" Torin asked. "Oh yeah. You said you had everything covered when Cora's not at school."

"Yep." Echo rubbed his cheek against my arm. "They won't bother her, or if they do, I'll know."

Torin frowned. "What if you're at the bottom floor in Hel?"

"I'll know, Valkyrie," Echo vowed.

Their gazes locked. Then Torin nodded as though some super macho message had just passed between them.

"Alright, the others will cover the school. If you see any soul you don't recognize, find Raine, Blaine, or Ingrid. Yeah, I'm bringing them in the loop," he added when Echo scowled. "Andris and I are gone most of the day. We only have one class this semester, and even that's for show. Do you carry your artavus to school, Cora?"

"Yes. I've used it to threaten a few difficult souls."

"Make good on your threat next time," Torin said. "Immortals' souls are not like Mortals'. They're sneaky and will not leave your body until they're good and ready. By then it'll be too late."

"Not if I have anything to do with it." Echo's voice was chilling.

"Your scythe won't work on them the way it does on regular souls, Echo," Torin snapped. "Once they're inside her, there's not much you can do unless you slice her open."

I shivered while Echo snarled. "Is that supposed to be funny?"

Torin shook his head. His expression was calm. "No, it's not. She's one of us and we'll do whatever it takes to protect her, but I want you to be realistic."

Echo told him what he could do with his realism in three different languages-English, Druid, and sign. If they were plotting to scare me, they'd succeeded.

Raine elbowed Torin. "You didn't have to be so graphic."

"We're dealing with dark souls, Raine. Graphic is all I have."

"If a possession happens, I can take care of it. My staff is a lot more powerful than a scythe or an artavus."

"Staff?" I asked.

She glanced at Torin, who didn't look too thrilled with the change of topic. "The dagger the Norns gave me is not what it seems."

I sat up. "Really? What is it? Can we see it?"

Another glance at Torin then Raine nodded. He wore a weird expression as he watched her walk away. Once she disappeared through the portal, he sighed, glanced at us, and scowled. I noticed why. Echo was studying him with a half-smile.

"Something funny, Grimnir?" Torin asked.

"They gave her a staff, Valkyrie. Who's not being realistic now?"

Torin leaned back and pushed his fingers through his hair, but the locks fell back on his forehead. "Evil hags."

"Ahh, they're the good ones. Sometimes you can't fight the inevitable."

Torin cocked his eyebrow. "Wanna bet?"

"How many rules are you willing to break?" Echo shot back.

Torin's eyes drifted to me before reconnecting with Echo's. Then he smirked. "Every last one of them."

His British accent tended to be more noticeable when he was angry. He hated what Raine was becoming.

"What do you think, doll-face? Should he break rules to stop Raine from joining the Norns?"

"Absolutely. As long as Raine is in on it," I said. "You go behind her back and she'll never forgive you." I tilted my head, and my eyes met Echo's. "You help him and you'll be sorry, too."

"You couldn't hurt me, doll-face," Echo said.

Torin laughed softly, but I ignored him, choosing to focus on Echo.

"Could too. And I don't mean what you two do, pounding on each other. That's just stupid."

Echo kissed my arm. "But it's also a fun way of releasing steam."

I cocked my brow. "There are more fun ways of de-stressing."

He glanced at Torin, and the two of them exchanged grins. Heat rushed to my cheeks. Seriously? "I didn't mean the two of you should, uh, you know."

"Define you know," Torin said, blue eyes twinkling.

"Yes, Cora-mio," Echo piped in. "What exactly is you know?"

The stinker. He was supposed to be on my side. I elbowed him and jumped off his lap. "You two," I pointed at them, "have filthy minds, worse than old man Reeds." My watch said it was a quarter to two. "I'm going to find Raine. Then I'm heading to the nursing home before my shift starts."

"Who in Hel's Mist is Reeds?" Torin asked as I walked away.

"One of her charges at the nursing home. He has a crush on her and is always complimenting her. I'm thinking about putting the old fart out of his misery and personally escorting his soul to the island."

I stopped by the portal and looked over my shoulder at them. They were laughing, having a bro-moment. I almost felt bad I had to intrude. "You touch one of my boys and I'll make you sorry, Grimnir."

He grinned as though relishing the thought. He knew the way I'd make him sorry and, in his perversion, actually enjoyed it. I shook my head and turned to face the portal. It led to Raine's room. I couldn't see her, but I heard her.

"Stay," she said. "And if you're really nice, I'll take you downstairs."

Curious, I walked into her room. She was by the window seat. "Who are you talking to?"

She glanced over her shoulder at me and made a face. "A cat."

"You have a cat? Since when?" A black cat with gorgeous green eyes curled up on the window seat and watched Raine as though listening to her words.

"Since last night. She refused to leave my room and now I'm stuck with her."

"Oh, she's cute." I reached out to pet her, but she hissed and I snatched my hand back. "Is she feral?"

"No, just weird. She hates everyone, except me."

"Even Torin?"

"Yep. He calls her Evil Claws while Femi insists I name her Bastet or Isis." Raine rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I got the dagger."

I dragged my attention from the cat, who I swore was listening to us. Her eyes volleyed between Raine and me, and seemed to become less adoring whenever she looked my way. Didn't witches have cats as companions? What was that word? Familiars!

"Is she your familiar?" I asked.

Raine rolled her eyes. "She's an unwanted guest. I'd tell you how I got her, but that's a story for another time. Let me show you how the dagger transforms."

Moonbeam Terrace Assisted Living's parking lot was packed. It was a typical Saturday. Visitors walking in and out. Couples plotting how long they'd stay or trying to come up with an excuse for a quick exit before leaving their cars. Adults scolding their children to stop whining or reminding them Grandpa was paying for their music lessons. I'd heard it all. People didn't like being around sick, dying, or elderly people. I worked mainly with residents whose families dumped them at the facility and rarely visited.

We found a place to park, and I turned to study Echo. He'd gone silent and broody after Raine showed us the dagger. Like his scythe, when she engaged her runes while gripping the handle, it elongated into a staff, except her blade coiled into a round end the size of a baseball, and cradled in its core was a blue crystal. I'd seen enough witch movies to know that witches channeled their power through a crystal.

I reached out and stroked Echo's cheek. "What is it?"

"I'll always know when you need me, but just in case I'm detained, find Raine. Wherever you are, you can create a portal to her."

He really was worried about this. He might act cocky in front of Torin, but with me, he always kept it real.

"I will, and I promise to stay away from dark souls." Silence followed. I wasn't sure whether he believed me or not. I indicated the entrance of the building with a nod. "I have to go."

"I know." He stroked my cheek, brushed his lips across mine, and smiled. "You remember what I taught you about air portals?"

It was a work-in-progress. "Yes," I fibbed so he wouldn't have to worry. "I. Will. Be. Fine."

"You better be or I swear..." His eyes glowed for a second. Then his hands left my face and dropped to his side. "I'll see you tonight."

His movements fast, he etched runes in the air in front of us, and in seconds, the windshield, the dashboard, and the steering wheel disappeared and a portal took their place. All I had to do was stand and I'd be in it. This was why I sucked at creating air portals. You had to be really, really fast. I didn't recognize his destination, but it looked like an empty room. When the portal closed, I grabbed the pie box from the back seat and headed toward the entrance of the nursing home.

Mrs. Sallie Jepson was the resident I spent time with every Thursday and Saturday, and sometimes Tuesdays. She had some weird neurological disease that left her bedridden. She was one of the many residents who were wheelchair bound, but one of the few who was still mentally sharp. She had a mouth on her and rarely got visitors.