“Err, about that,” Eric said. “We didn’t. The whole street is kind of locked up in the dungeon.”

“You what?” Megan gasped, and smacked Eric. “That place is horrible. How could you?”

Eric winced, faking pain, and rubbed at his chest. His green eyes sparkled with amusement. “What were we supposed to do? Send them out to meet you on the road somewhere?”

Megan grumbled something at Eric that Amelia couldn’t make out, and he laughed. His laughter was contagious, and in seconds, Megan joined in. Eric wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close as they walked.

They broke through the willows in the backyard, and the house came into view. Amelia’s breath caught in her throat. The silvery glow from the moon touched the fog that rose around the house, casting it with an otherworldly glow. Soft lighting from the inside lit up the many balconies in a welcoming shine. The turrets towered into the night’s sky, and the stone clad walls winked and sparkled as the waning light splashed upon the rain-dampened exterior. It oozed magic and mystery, and the sight was exquisite—perfect.

“I never thought I’d say this, but damn does it feel good to be home,” Amelia said, gawking at the beauty that stood before her. The day had felt longer than any other day in her life, and the only thing she wanted to do was go to bed with Mitchell.

Angelle brushed past Amelia. “I need to take a hot shower. I’m so done with tonight,” she grumbled. She hadn’t looked at Amelia or Mitchell since the police showed up.

“Ditto,” Erin said, casting a hateful look in Amelia’s direction.

Amelia’s gut twisted and plummeted down to her toes. “You told them all, right?” she asked Mitchell. “They know that the fight between us wasn’t real?” Now that the fight was over—at least for now—the scene from earlier that day was eating away at her insides.

Mitchell grinned feebly and squeezed her hand. “Yes, and they’ll get over it.”

As soon as they stepped into the house, it didn’t take long for Eric and Megan to disappear. Luke and Lola followed quickly after them. Mitchell offered to deal with everyone that had been locked up in the dungeon (or downstairs, as Amelia liked to think), and Amelia scampered off before he changed his mind. A steamy hot shower was calling her name, and truthfully, she didn’t think she could deal with all the commotion and questions that everyone was sure to have.

By the time Mitchell made it back to their room, Amelia had showered and was curled up in bed, snuggled deeply in the overabundance of pillows and cushions. She sat up when he walked in, and she put on her most convincing I’m okay smile. Now that she had time to let everything sink in, okay was far from what she was feeling.

Mitchell saw right through her tough act and sat down beside her. “It’s going to be okay, love,” he assured, rubbing her back gently.

Amelia scowled at him. “How can you even say that? People are dead and the hunters…”

“Because,” he said, stopping her in mid-sentence, and shrugged. His sky blue eyes were full of optimism. “We’re together.”

“That’s some pretty crappy logic, Mitch,” Amelia said, shaking her head, and then she grinned. “But I won’t argue with it.”

Mitchell grinned and gave her a quick kiss. “I don’t know about you, but I need a shower,” he said. His expression changed to deviant, and he wiggled his eyebrows. “Want to join me?”

Amelia laughed and swatted at him playfully. She thought about pointing out that she had already showered, but instead she ran her fingers through her damp, tousled hair and said, “You go. I’m just going to grab some Advil. I’ll be right behind you.” Mitchell winked at her, and his smile widened. “Don’t be long.” He jumped up from the bed and padded over to the bathroom, giving her a smirk before shutting the door. Within seconds, Amelia heard the shower turn on.

With another glance at the bathroom door, Amelia got up and headed to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. She rounded the corner into the foyer, and stopped when one of the outside motion lights flicked on and she noticed Megan’s red hair through the window.

Amelia went straight to the front door, threw it open, and stepped outside. “Hey, Meg, what are you doing out here? Where’s Eric?”

Megan looked at her, eyes wide with terror. Her mouth was moving, but Amelia couldn’t hear a thing. Megan nodded to the right, and Amelia followed her panicked eyes.

“Shit,” Amelia breathed. Cole stood pressed against the house with an arrow drawn, pointed at Megan.

The door clicked shut behind her, and Amelia spun around. “Make a sound and she dies,” Josh whispered.

Josh flicked his wrist, and a blast of energy hit her, covering her in a blanket. She could see the white force field knitting around her and closing in. It molded around her, sucking out the air as if she was being wrapped in plastic. And then, everything went dark.