Renegade (Heven and Hell #4)(26)
Author: Cambria Hebert

Riley was shaking his head adamantly. “It’s been in the last two days.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Cole said. “The point is they’re out. We all need to be more careful now. Who knows what he’s going to do?” He looked at Gemma when he spoke, as if her safety was the most important thing to him. And judging from his aura, I would say it was.

Kimber watched Cole carefully. Thank goodness she couldn’t read auras.

“I’ve got to release those souls,” I said, almost to myself. It was going to be a lot harder now that he was out and we didn’t know where he was.

“About that,” Riley began. “Like I said, hell is huge. I’ve been looking around. There’s no sign of them. I think the only way we’re going to find them is if we follow one.”

“Follow one?” Gemma asked.

He nodded. The Princes steal them. Then they have to take them to the graveyard. Why don’t we just follow a Prince around until he steals a soul and then watch and see where he takes it?”

Sam nodded. “It could work.”

“Of course it could.” Riley scoffed. “I thought of it.”

“Egotistical,” Kimber muttered.

Riley flashed her a smile and she rolled her eyes.

“How are we going to find another Prince?” I ask.

“Riley says they have their own land, like kingdoms down there. He can show us where to go and then we can follow him.”

“I think we should stay away from Leviathan. He’s a little ticked at me for the moment.”

“Riley.” I sighed.

“He had it coming.” He got up from his chair and started rummaging through the cabinets again. When he found a box of Ho Hos he got this weird look on his face and then went outside. I looked at Sam, who just shrugged, and then Riley reappeared with a backpack in hand, which he proceeded to stuff the entire box into.

“Like those much?” Kimber asked.

“Something like that,” he said and continued to explore. I offered to make him a sandwich and he offered to eat two.

“So when should we go down there?” I asked while spreading mayo on slices of bread.

“We have school tomorrow. And a football game Friday night.” Kimber pointed out. “Plus, I’m planning a party.”

“A party?” I asked.

“My annual Halloween party,” she said like it was obvious. “You didn’t think I was going to let all this crazy get in the way of that, did you?”

“I guess I thought stopping Beelzebub from killing people might be more important.” I found it extremely ironic we were planning our trips to hell around our school and party schedule.

“Well, excuse me for wanting to have a life.” She sniffed.

“It’s almost your birthday, Hev,” Cole said, and I glared at him. Was he taking her side?

I would like nothing more than to forget about my birthday this year. Finding out it wasn’t on the day I thought it was and the reason it was changed was because a Prince of hell tried to kidnap me on the real date twice… well… that put a damper on things.

“This weekend?” I ventured.

“I have to work Saturday,” Sam said.

“Why don’t we let Riley make sure he really has gotten out and where he is?” Gemma suggested. “Running off to hell without knowing any of these things is asking for trouble.”

“I don’t think Riley should go back down there,” I said. Gemma was right. We needed to know more about what Beelzebub was up to.

Riley looked at me like I had three heads as he grabbed a sandwich off the counter. “I’m going back to hell. To my castle.”

It was my turn to look at him funny. “He’s going to want his castle back.”

“Too bad,” Riley said, shoving a humungous bite into his mouth.

“That’s suicide,” Sam told him.

“Please,” Riley said. “He won’t kill me. I’m supposed to be his errand boy, remember?”

“What’s he talking about?” Kimber asked me.

“Riley’s cursed.”

Kimber laughed.

Riley scowled.

Gemma slid into the chair next to Cole at the table. He shifted slightly so he was closer to her. She looked at him but said nothing.

Kimber stopped laughing and went dead silent.

Her aura bloomed black.

“Kimber…” I began, but she ignored me.

“It’s you,” she said low, looking at Gemma.

Gemma gave her a puzzled look. “What?”

Kimber stood, her chair clattering to the floor as she pinned Cole with an accusing look. “You’re in love with her?”

Cole got to his feet. “Kimber…”

Everything in the kitchen began to float for the second time that day and outside a clap of thunder broke through the sky.

“Cool trick,” Riley said and kept eating.

Gemma seemed to realize things were about to turn ugly so she stood as well and said, “We’re not together.”

Kimber glared at Gemma, and Sam’s empty dinner plate flung off the table, heading straight for Gemma. Cole stepped protectively in front of her and knocked the plate out of the way. “That’s enough,” he said.

But protecting Gemma was the worst thing he could have done. The red and black in Kimber’s aura began to battle. The windows and doors began to shake. Sam, who was closest to Kimber, reached out and grabbed her arm. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go outside.”

Kimber shook him off, but she did storm outside.

“I think I should go,” Gemma said.

“Stay. Let’s see how mad she’ll get,” Riley said.

We all ignored him.

Gemma walked into the family room and Cole followed. I went after them both, wanting to explain. When I walked in they were standing beside the couch, only a few feet between them.

“You promised, Cole,” Gemma was telling him.

“I haven’t come to see you at all,” he said and held up his hands. “I’m not touching you.”

“You should go talk to her. Tell her there’s nothing between us.”

“No.” He growled. “I won’t lie.”

“But it’s the truth. There’s nothing between us.”

“We might not be together, but nothing has changed. I’m still in love with you.”

Gemma’s face softened for a moment, but then she turned away.

“Wait,” I said, coming farther into the room. “I need to apologize. I invited her here to stay… I thought Cole wouldn’t have to spend so much time with her.”