LAX is buzzing as people walk around us, some rushing to get their tickets or get to their boarding gate while others are lazily strolling by without a care and with all the time in the world. Shifting in my incredibly uncomfortable seat I watch as Stevie laughs with the woman at the desk. He's been at her desk ever since we got here and has been flirting with her for at least ninety per cent of that time. 

"Does it always take that long to get tickets?" I mumble under my breath.

Seth's only response is a grunt and in all honesty, I wasn't expecting anything more than that. Glancing back at the desk I scoff as the lady bats her fake eyelashes and hands him three tickets. Turning on his heels he starts to walk back towards us but not before blowing her a kiss which almost makes me vomit. 

"Was all that flirting necessary?" I ask as he swaggers over to us. 

"You jealous, Ice Girl?"

"No," I snap. "I just can't believe she liked it let alone enough to give you tickets."

"Tickets and her number," he says holding up a small piece of paper where a number was scribbled on with black ink. 

"That poor woman."

"You know what, Ice Girl, there are women in this world who find me charming."

I roll my eyes. "How many of them haven't been in a mental institution at some point?"

He chuckles but he's not happy its more shocked. "Why you little-"

"Can we just get the tickets already before they catch up to us again," Seth snaps. 

He's been quiet ever since we left the farm and its horrors. It's hard to believe is almost been four hours since it all happened. I don't blame him for not talking nor do I think he's in the wrong for snapping at us like this. Stevie and I may have been targets of Christian's raid, but he was the one who lost people today. He lost his grandparents because Christian was hellbent on getting me back. He lost family because of me, and I don't know if we'll ever be the same because of it. 

"Yeah," Stevie nods handing us each a ticket to New York.

"Where are you sitting?" I ask him as I take note of every detail on the ticket. 

"I'm not coming with you guys," he says and Seth and I both look up at him shocked.

"What do you mean?" Seth asks his voice cracking slightly causing tears to start forming in my eyes. 

Stevie pulls a nearby chair closer and sits in front of us. "Listen, guys, as much as I've enjoyed our time together I can't be part of your little journey. This meeting with the sorceress is for the two of you... well, mostly Seth. Either way, I'm not supposed to be part of this so I'm going to sunny Miami where hopefully I won't get killed."

I reach forward and slap his arm, "Who says you're not part of this? You're our friend of course you're part of this." I look back at Seth who looks like he's trying to hold back tears. "We need you, Fire Boy."

He smirks, "Is that my nickname now?" 

I shrug, "I couldn't think of anything better."

"It's fine, I didn't exactly put a lot of effort into your nickname anyway." He looks between the two of us but his eyes eventually rest on Seth. Reaching out he pats Seth's leg, "You'll be okay, man. It will take a while but one day you will be okay. I'm sure, Ice Girl, here will make sure of that, right?"

"Of course," I quickly say. 

Seth's gaze drops to his lap and he starts to pull at his fingers. "I am going to see you again, right?"

"Of course, you're going to see me again. You're my best friend, which trust me is a sad thing for a twenty-two-year-old to admit." His dark brown eyes light up as he chuckles and even more so when he sees the small smile on Seth's lips. "I'll tell you what, when you guys are done with whatever this sorceress wants or if she turns out to be a total bitch and you can't stand to be around her give me a call and the three of us will go on an adventure of a lifetime. I hear Hawaii is amazing this time of year."

"It's almost winter nowhere is amazing this time of year," I say. 

"I just wanted to say that." He sighs and grabs my arm. "Can I talk to you quickly?" I nod and let him pull me off to the side. "Listen, I need you to look after him now more than ever."

"I know that." 

He shakes his head, "No you don't," he sighs, "I met that kid after his dad died. He would come to the bar pretend he was twenty-one and drink until the sun started coming up. It took me a while to see what was going on and I don't want you to make the same mistake. He lost his grandparents today, and as much as he wants to hide it I can see how broken he is. Don't let him fall down the rabbit hole again not after all the work he did to claw his way out of it." 

Staring into his eyes I realize that this is probably the most serious I've ever seen him. He cares about Seth as much as I do and I won't let him down by letting Seth slip through my fingers. 

"I won't let you down."

His shoulders slump with relief and I can see the weight being lifted off his chest. Wrapping his strong arms around me he pulls me into his tight embrace. "Goodbye, Ice Girl, try not to kill anyone while I'm gone."

I stifle back a cry. "Don't worry, Fire Boy, I'm saving that icicle for you."

Pulling away he walks over to Seth, pulls him into a hug and whispers something to him in their native tongue, which I can briefly make out as 'Keep well my brother'. The intercom buzzes above us calling for everyone boarding the flight to Miami to make their way to their gate. With tears clouding his eyes Stevie picks up his bags and waves at us. 

"Take care of each other!" he calls out to us as he enters the masses of the airport disappearing into the crowd. 

Not long after Stevie leaves the announcement of Seth and I's flight is called through the intercom and the two of us start making our way to our gate. The security check goes without a hitch and we make it to the plane in no time.

"Do you think we're going to be okay?" I quietly ask him as we take our seats. 

"We'll be even better once Christian is dead."

A chill shoots through my body as I look at him mouth agape and eyes wide. "What are you talking about? We can't..."

"Yes we can," he snaps. He scoffs and shakes his head. "He killed my grandparents, he wants to take you away and kill me... we have to stop him."

I glance around us hoping to God none of the other passengers can hear us. "I don't think you're thinking straight. You've been through a lot today and I think that after some rest we can discuss our-"

"This is the clearest idea I've had all day. Christian is trying to start a war bigger than the last and he needs to be stopped. He has to die."

As he turns to look back out the window I know the conversation is over even though I don't want it to be. He is stubborn and there is nothing worse than a stubborn man on a mission. I wish he was joking and I wish there was a reality where I wasn't agreeing with him. Christian used to be my friend, he was there for me whenever I needed help. He was my protector, my helper, my guide and my brother. But he is also my hunter, my walking nightmare, my killer and he will never stop. He needs to die.