Thirty-Three

Iris and Silos sat silently in their car, parked just down the street from the Beverly Hills Hotel. The Armada was still out front, confirming that Arlo and Belinda had not left yet for Burbank. Thick bruma whipped through the iconic palm trees that manicured the front of the building. It was a harsh reminder of what lay ahead.

“So,” Silos said, interrupting her focus. “You’re really going to do this? You’re going to try to stop Belinda from going to Wava’s?”

“Yes,” Iris said without blinking an eye. “I’m going to be honest with her. Belinda is a survivor. She’ll go back to the lair when I tell her my dad is trying to kill her. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll have to try to stop my dad myself.”

“So I take it Wales is out.” Silos chuckled, putting his hand on hers.

Iris looked at the beautiful warlock. His rugged good looks were undeniable and there was definitely a part of her that wanted to go with him. His scruffy face and piercing light eyes still made her stomach flip. But in the middle of the butterflies, the thought of Arlo still crept into her head and a twinge of guilt ran through her body.

“Look,” Iris pulled away. “You need to get out of here. Belinda is going to freak out if she sees a warlock. I don’t want her distracted by anything,” Iris asserted.

Silos sighed loudly. “I don’t feel good about leaving you here.”

“I’ll be fine.” She squeezed his hand. “I know what I’m doing. I promise.”

He sighed again. “You realize you may get yourself killed, right?” His tone turned snappy.

“Silos.” She squeezed his hand tighter. “I have to do this. I can’t let Arlo get hurt. I just … I—”

“You love him.”

His words made Iris jump. “No I don’t,” she snapped back.

“Yes you do.” Silos moved closer. “Believe me, I wish that wasn’t the case. I think it’s obvious to everyone but you.”

Iris blinked. “Look, I care about Arlo, a lot. I don’t want him to get hurt. And yes, maybe there’s a part of me that loves him, but I’m not sure if I’m in love with him, or if I even like him like that. If anything, I feel like I’m more into—”

She wanted to say “you” but she couldn’t. Iris wasn’t sure how she felt about Silos either. She knew she loved kissing him and that he made her body feel alive in ways she didn’t think possible. Her heart ached for a warlock she desired, but her mind thought only of the Lixi she couldn’t let go.

And there, sitting in the witches’ Range Rover with Silos, Iris knew what she had to do. This wasn’t about love, or a crush, or figuring out who she wanted to be with. She had plenty of time for that. This was about protecting people, taking a stand against those who had treated her poorly, and putting her own life on the line so others could be safe. This was about doing what was right.

There was a reason Iris was the first girl to carry the Hunter gene.

Being a Hunter was her destiny.

“I’m sorry, Silos, but I have to go,” Iris said, jumping out of the car.

“Iris, wait.” Silos grabbed her arm and turned her toward him. “Here, I snagged this at the witches’ lair.” He held up a long gold chain with an A on the end. It was Arlo’s necklace.

Iris gasped. “My necklace,” she whispered. “But how are you able to hold it? It’s real gold.”

“I’m a Curas,” Silos said with his typical smirk. “It’s basically burning my hand right now, but nothing a little spell can’t fix.” He lightly chuckled.

“Thank you,” Iris said, grabbing the necklace and throwing it over her head. She clutched the gold A tightly in her palm.

“And, Iris, I’ll be here,” he said, running his fingers down her face. “If you need me, just call. All right?”

Iris threw her arms around Silos and hugged him tight. For a moment, she thought about staying with him, going to Wales, finding her father, and putting this all behind her. But the moment passed as quickly as it came.

She said one final good-bye and watched Silos drive away. A pit formed in her stomach. It was time for her to enter the battlefield.

Iris ran toward the hotel with fierce determination. The mild November sun felt like it was scorching her skin.

She wondered what she should say to Arlo and where she would even start. Hey, Arlo. Guess what. You’re a Lixi and you have crazy powers. Oh and I met your warlock father, and also, we need to get Belinda away from you so you don’t get her killed and release a horrible plague.

This was not going to be easy.

Before checking the room, Iris made a stop at the pool area. Something was pulling her there. Something she’d never felt before.

The infamous lounge looked like a Caribbean resort with cabanas, pink hacienda walls, and tropical gardens. There was a bar and a posh restaurant, and the pool water looked as clear as the Hawaiian sea. A whiff of pineapple and mango filled the air, masking the pungent smell of the pool’s chlorine. More than anything, Iris was concerned with how many bystanders were there.

She made a quick turn. A few more steps, and then she saw him.

He was sitting on a striped lounge chair staring at his cell phone and running his hands through his chocolate-brown hair. Iris could have sworn his shiny green eyes seemed brighter today, and even in her somber state, he brought a grin to her face.

Arlo jumped up and ran toward Iris. He looked concerned and joyful all at the same time.

“Iris, what are you doing here? I was so upset when you left! I’ve tried to call you like a million times.” His eyes darkened. “What’s wrong? Iris … are you okay?”

She peered at him, her eyes glazing over. The hole in her chest was deep. So deep in fact, that she wondered if anything could ever possibly fill it. So much had happened. So much she needed to say. She didn’t know where to begin.

“Iris … what is it?” He grabbed her hands in his and clutched them closely to his chest. “You can tell me, Iris. You can tell me anything … What’s wrong?”

She couldn’t look his direction anymore. Her heart fell to her knees. The sorrow of what was to come overwhelmed her. She had a feeling all of their lives were about to change.

Iris couldn’t find her words and she could barely feel her body. Arlo reached up and wiped the lone tear from her cheek. He inched closer and she could fell his breath on her face. She sighed and embraced the moment she’d been craving since the minute she met Arlo at the airport.

He pulled her closer, finding her lips and covering them with his. The moment their mouths touched her body jolted with electricity all the way down to her toes. She threw her arms around his neck, grabbing his hair and consuming even more of him in the process. Arlo wrapped his hands around her waist, and Iris was overcome with a wave of desire and excitement.

His lips moved down her neck and then back to her mouth with the perfect mix of passion and sweetness. For a moment, Iris forgot where she was. There were no witches, no Hunters, no “save the world” dilemmas. It was just her and Arlo.

Nothing else mattered.

They finally separated and Iris met Arlo’s eyes with a fiery intensity.

“Arlo … I …” She paused.

“Oh my God,” he said, staring past her. Iris turned around and saw Belinda standing at the other end of the pool area. She wore tight jeans and an even tighter long-sleeved white blouse. Her bright pink cheeks stood out even against her cherry-red lips. She stared at Iris with a menacing look.

“Belinda!” Iris yelled, running toward her. “I need to talk to you!”

“Iris, what the hell?” the witch spewed. “You left and said you weren’t coming with us to Burbank and now you’re getting it on with Arlo by the pool—”

“It’s not what you think,” Iris interrupted, raising her hands. “You need to listen to me very carefully,” she said with haste.

Belinda rolled her eyes, giggling and sauntering closer. She was just inches away from Iris’s face. “Why would I ever listen to you?”

“Because my dad is trying to kill you!” Iris yelled, “and I’m trying to stop him!”

“I don’t believe you!” Belinda seethed through a tight jaw. “You’re a Hunter.” She turned to walk away.

Iris went after her, grabbing her arm and turning Belinda toward her. “I know,” Iris said softly. “But you need to listen to me. Arlo is not a Hunter. He’s a Lixi. Wava is one too.”

“A Lixi.” Belinda’s lavender eyes raced. “Can’t they borrow magic?”

“Yes! That’s why your spells are amplified.” Iris tried to explain as fast as she could. She knew she was running out of time.

She stared at the ground before she peered at Belinda with determination. “Is this what you want? To have all these innocent witches and humans die because you were pissed you didn’t get some part years ago? I think there is more to you than bitterness and rage, Belinda,” Iris said softly. “Show me I’m right.”

Belinda’s face softened and her bottom lip started to quiver. “I forgot.” She looked away. “You’re right,” she said in a hushed voice. “I shouldn’t have put the plague in place but I was really pissed off.” Belinda wiped her eyes. “But do you know what it’s like to be mocked and ridiculed? To be told you’re not good enough, and never get the credit you deserve?”

“Yes,” Iris huffed, slumping her shoulders. “I do know. I’m treated like that constantly by the Hunters and it freaking sucks.”

Iris slowly reached for Belinda’s shoulder and gave her a gentle pat to try to console her. It was weird, a Hunter soothing a witch. But Belinda always seemed to cross Iris’s path in her defining moments. And now was no exception.

“Well.” Belinda cleared her throat. “There’s nothing I can do about it now. If I could stop the plague I would, but it’s connected to my heart. If my heart stops, the plague gets released.”

“I know!” Iris exclaimed. “That’s why I’m trying to stop my dad from killing you. You need to go and let Arlo come with me so he’s as far away as possible—”

“Um, Iris …” Belinda interrupted her.

There was a terror in Belinda’s eyes. A terror Iris had not seen before.

She turned around and gasped.

The real nightmare had just begun.