Harley Merlin 12

the first to know if that changes. The first whiff of global domination, and I’ll be speed-dialing you.”
Her eyes glistened. “You’ve really been through the wringer, haven’t you?”
“About a hundred times, yeah.” I choked out a laugh. “I should be flat as a pancake by now.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you told me everything. Even if I can’t help, at least I can understand why.” She chuckled sadly. “Let’s face it, if I were in your shoes, I’d run off trying to do it all solo too.”
“You did try to do that, remember?” I managed a smirk, but it felt off. All of me felt off. This tall glass of milk had soured. It made me glad that Harley couldn’t use her Empath mojo on me, or she’d have been able to tell that I was on the edge and struggling to keep up appearances.
“Yes, and now I’m getting major déjà vu. I’ll be honest, I don’t like it one bit, but you’ve made a heck of a case.” She sighed and shook her head. “I hate that you’re going through this. Erebus should’ve let you go by now, but he was always a snake. And I’m worried about you, still tied to him like this. I’m worried about Ryann, I’m worried about the rest of us, but you’re the one with the ax hanging over your head. I hate it. And I hate it even more because it should’ve been me.”
“Then we’d be having this conversation on opposite stools,” I reminded her. “And I’m friggin’ thrilled you’re not sitting where I am. I don’t have the willpower that you do. I’d have wound up dead a long time ago by sticking my nose in, if you’d been tied to Erebus instead.”
“Still…”
“Or I’d have offed myself for having to deal with a mopey Wade. He’d have had all this separation anxiety and jealousy, wondering if you were having a wild fling with some Polynesian beefcake while picking up an Ephemera for the Prince of Darkness.” I forced myself to lighten the mood, and it seemed to work.
She chuckled. “I suppose I wouldn’t have been able to tell him, would I?”
“Not unless you wanted Erebus dangling him over a sea of Purge beasts or threatening his life at literally every possible opportunity. He just loves to whip that one out. I think it might be his party trick.”
“Why Polynesian?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Why not Polynesian?” I shot back, with a grin. “They are some beautiful people. I nearly got a tattoo during my stay, but it wouldn’t have had the same impact as the guys out there. No one wants to see me roaming around with my top off.”
She flashed a genuine smile. “You didn’t nearly get a tattoo!”
“You’re right, I’ve already got two I don’t want. If only they were drunken mistakes I could laser away.”
“You know, I used to hate this thing.” She pulled up her sleeve to reveal her golden Apple of Discord. “But now, I look at it and I remember everything we did. I remember that we finally killed Katherine. And it doesn’t feel like her symbol anymore—it feels like ours. Yours and mine, bonding us together.”
“Has Wade been reading self-help books to you again? How to turn a negative into a positive—that sort of fluff?”
She gave me a despairing look. “He doesn’t read self-help books.”
“He does. I’ve heard him rattle off philosophical garbage like he’s center stage at his very own TED Talk.”
She stifled a snort. “I’ve missed having you around.”
“I’ve missed being around.” I lowered my gaze. “And I like what you said about the apples. You know me, I struggle with the warm and fuzzies, so I say something snarky instead.”
“I love you, bro.” She put her hand over my tattoo.
“I love you, too, sis.”
“You’re going to get through this. You know that, don’t you?”
I shrugged. “Some days, yes. Some days, no.”
“If Erebus tries to screw you over, or he hurts you, then I’m sorry, but I’ll break my promise not to get involved. He’ll learn what human wrath can feel like if he does anything to you.”
“Hell hath no fury, right?”
She nodded. “Exactly.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
A tense silence stretched between us, both of us waiting for the other to break it. In the end, Harley took the leap.
“We should probably go see O’Halloran. He’ll know you’re here by now, since you came through the front door, and he’ll be eager to see you.” Harley got up, and I had no choice but to follow. Even if every step felt like trudging through that proverbial mud pool. Only it wasn’t Satan and his pitchfork waiting to jab at me—it was my mind gremlins.
We hadn’t gotten too far through the coven, when the man himself appeared around a corner. Diarmuid the leprechaun sat on his shoulder, the two of them dressed in identical black suits. Ugh… I’d forgotten about you. The angriest, scariest creature under ten inches.
“Finch, there you are. I hoped to catch you before you left.” O’Halloran put out his hand. I gave him a handshake, as firm as I could muster.
“We were just coming to find you,” Harley replied.
“Ach, so ye’ve brought me on a wasted trip, ya great, daft mushroom.” Diarmuid threw up his tiny arms. “I told ye, they’ll come te ye. Ain’t that what being director is all about?”
O’Halloran laughed. “I think he’s pleased to see you, as well.”
Diarmuid shot him a dirty look. “Stuff that up yer arse. I ain’t pleased to see no one.”
“It’s good to be back, Director O’Halloran,” I said, trying to keep my distance from the leprechaun.
“Where’s yer red hair? Ginger ain’t good enough for ye no more?” Diarmuid peered at me.
“Just trying not to look like a Shipton,” I replied.
“Aye, that’ll do it.” Diarmuid barked a laugh, somehow more terrifying than his perpetual anger.
“Now then, I hear you’ve been on a mission for Erebus. How’s that going?” O’Halloran took me by surprise.
“Uh… fine. The usual.” I stumbled over