The Life After Trilogy: Soul Taken / Soul Possessed / Soul Betrayed. Katlyn Duncan

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      “That’s Jackson. I’d advise you to steer clear of him.”

      “Should I warn you of the same thing?”

      “Definitely,” I said.

      We arrived at the estate just as the sun dipped below the back of the house and pulled into the garage, as if we’d never left.

      Aaron appeared in front of the car, his expression tight.

      “I think you’re in trouble,” Jamie whispered.

      “He wishes,” I said, getting out of the car. I took the crutches from the backseat and tucked them under Ally’s arms, balancing on one foot.

      “If Cooper was here you’d never have done that,” Aaron said, following us into the house.

      “I’m sorry you’re an idiot who can’t take control of a human,” I mumbled.

      Jamie went ahead of us toward the parlor. “I should grab my things. Dad will be here soon.”

      Cooper appeared in the kitchen. “Still getting along well, I see?”

      I grinned at Aaron. “Always.”

      Cooper looked between us, his eyebrows furrowed. “Okay, well, thanks, Aaron, for covering for me. You can head back to the office now; there is another lead.”

      Ally’s heart leapt. Mostly because there was a lead, and the fact that Aaron was going away.

      With that, Aaron disappeared from the room.

      I sighed. “Okay, what did Felix say?”

      Cooper looked everywhere in the room except in my direction. “He, uh, he wants to speak with you himself. Tomorrow night.”

      “About what? The transformation? How can I talk to him while I’m in this body? Do they have a lead?” I had so many questions and now I needed to get some answers.

      Jamie stepped into the kitchen. “Sorry to interrupt, but I have to head out; my dad is outside.”

      “Okay,” I said. “Talk to you tomorrow?”

      Jamie grinned. “Yeah.” She offered a little wave to Cooper before turning toward the door.

      “You shouldn’t get her hopes up,” Cooper said.

      “What do you mean?”

      “When this is all over,” Cooper said, “she’s not going to be able to keep you as a friend. Ally will have enough to worry about.”

      As much as I wanted this to be over and for Ally to be safe, a minute part of my soul wished it would never end. Or maybe it was the new ability to dig deep into my own memories. I knew which path I should go in but the other tempted me. The power that I had felt at Seth’s had been released but a part of it still smoldered within me like hot coals doused with water. It had been unexplainable, and somewhat infelicitous, yet I wanted more.

      “I know,” I said. “But I’m thinking Jamie will be able to help us.”

      “How?” he asked, just as Marie walked into the kitchen.

      “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes,” she said.

      “Thanks,” I said, walking into the dining room. Cooper followed. I closed the door behind me. “We saw Marie get into the office with a key today. The wards aren’t against humans.”

      “I know,” he said.

      I balked. “You knew?”

      “I’ve been with Ally since she was born,” he said. “I know everything that goes on around here.”

      I crossed Ally’s arms across her chest. “And that wasn’t a detail you felt you could share with me?”

      He shrugged. “It’s not a detail worth mentioning. There’s nothing in there that could help us. Like I said before, it’s just her body starting to transform.”

      “Speaking of—” I said.

      The dining room door opened, lightly hitting me. Marie shuffled into the room. “Why are you standing here? Sit, sit.”

      I sat at Ally’s usual seat and Marie placed the plate in front of me. A blend of spices wafted up from the meal: grilled chicken, rice, and vegetables.

      Ally’s stomach grumbled. “Thanks.”

      “Is there anything else I can get for you?” she asked.

      “I’m good, thanks,” I said, managing a smile.

      She left the room, leaving the door open.

      Well, I guess I couldn’t make any dinner conversation with Cooper. He stood at the window, staring outside with a strange expression. I peeked into the kitchen but Marie was still there. I’d have to save my questions for later.

      After I inhaled the food, barely tasting any of it, even though it could have very well been my last meal, I went up to Ally’s room. Cooper followed me there, taking the slow route. I sensed it was deliberate. He didn’t seem in any rush to speak with me.

      “So what did Felix have to say?” I asked, settling on the bed.

      Cooper swiped a hand over his face. “He’d like to speak with you in person.”

      “How is that possible?” I asked, knowing full well Caeleste couldn’t transport to the Living Realm.

      “He has ways,” Cooper said with finality.

      For an immortal soul, he sure looked weathered.

      “That took you a few hours to figure out?” I asked. Ally’s heart sank, he wasn’t telling me everything.

      His head snapped up as if woken from a trance. “We went over a few leads.”

      I sat up. “Anything good?”

      His eyebrows flattened to a straight line. “I didn’t think you were that interested.”

      “Of course I’m interested,” I said, confused. “Why would you think that?”

      He shrugged.

      Had Aaron said something to him? In the kitchen it hadn’t seemed like he had, since he would have probably been Recycled if Cooper knew anything about him letting me out of his sight. Cooper did have a direct line to Ally’s body; had he felt what happened earlier with Jackson?

      Cooper continued. “The Guard followed up on some of the locations that David had sent them in the past but they came up empty-handed. It’s almost as if they are waiting for something.”

      “Her transformation?” I suggested, forming a coherent idea. “Hear me out.”

      Now I had his full attention. СКАЧАТЬ