Seconds later, Owen grabbed Lilla and pulled her close. "You were gone! I saw you die!" His voice broke, and she wrapped him in a hug.

"I'm sorry. I should've told you, but I didn't know if it would work."

My thumbs ran along her cheekbones as Owen studied her. "It's really you." He leaned down to rest my forehead on Lilla's. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again," he whispered, fighting back tears.

I'd never felt Owen so emotional, not even about his own death, so I silently let them have their reunion. Owen had clearly glossed over some details of their relationship. This wasn't only his grandmother's friend. He loved her—I could feel it.

Owen wrapped my arms around Lilla, and she snuggled against me. Burying my nose in her hair, he breathed deeply, my muscles relaxing as he seemed content for the first time since I'd met him.

"God, I missed holding you," he whispered.

Tears filled her eyes. "I missed you too." Her palm moved up my chest and my mouth crashed into hers. My hands slipped down her sides as they kissed, and she let out a slight hum as he squeezed her hips and lifted her onto my lap.

I snapped out of my shock. "Hey! Whoa! Not your body, remember?" They ignored me as Owen undid the top buttons of her shirt and my lips trailed down her neck. "Stop! Not cool, Owen!"

He froze, panting. "Shit, man, sorry." Owen smirked at Lilla. "I got carried away."

She blushed and shifted onto the seat. "That's alright, so did I. Please forgive us, Bash."

"It's okay. I get it, I guess. Hug all you want, but it'd be great if you didn't use my body to make out."

"It's the only body I have," Owen grumbled.

"Same, dude."

"I said I was sorry. It won't happen again." Owen scratched my eyebrow and examined the dash.

Lilla broke the strange tension. "Why don't we go somewhere we can talk?"

"Your house, Bash?" Owen asked.

"My dad's there. It'll be fine as long as we don't wake him up."

"Don't worry, dear. He'll sleep soundly tonight," Lilla said.

"Can she hear me?" I asked.

Lilla chuckled. "Yes, she can."

"This is so weird," I said as she settled herself in the middle with her arm wrapped around mine, and we drove home.

***

As we filed into the bright kitchen, I asked, "You're positive my dad will stay asleep?"

"Yes, he'll sleep until I lift the magic when I leave, then he'll wake as usual." Lilla smiled, but I couldn't help but think that was a little scary.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Owen said. "There's sweet iced tea. Or are you hungry?"

He brushed her hair back and tucked it behind her ear before gliding my thumb down her cheek. He kept touching her, but it was harmless enough. Not something I'd do, but at least they weren't making out.

She grinned up at him. "I'm fine. You can stop looking at me as though I'll disappear."

"The last time I saw you, you did disappear." He gazed into her eyes, and her face softened.

Glancing down, she slid her small hand into mine. "I never deserved you, Owen."

He shook his head, but she kept talking. "My coven told me the spell they performed to freeze my aging would also protect my life and save me from death until the monsters were finished, but I was afraid to trust in that."

"You should've told me," Owen said.

"And give you hope when it might've been nothing? Besides, I wasn't sure it'd be you who stayed."

He lifted her chin. "Of course, I would've stayed for you."

"You've fought enough. I couldn't expect that of you."

They stared at each other; her expression begging him to understand. I knew Owen wanted to believe her, but it seemed like she was hiding something to me. "If she never died, where's she been? She could've gone to your house."

Owen's intake of breath told me Lilla's unexpected appearance had kept him from thinking that far. He squinted, and her mouth pinched to the side; she'd heard me.

"I didn't just go on with life; I was dust. It took years for the magic to rebuild me and years after that for my powers to return. Even if I'd gone to the cabin without my power, I couldn't have seen you."

Owen's words were barely a whisper. "But I'd have seen you. I'd have known you were alive. I wouldn't have been so alone."

Her lips parted, but nothing came out.

"Why did she show up now?" I asked.

Lilla's mouth twisted with annoyance. "I hear you, Bash. Talk to me instead of about me."

"Fine. Why are you here? For Owen or the fifty-year feeding?"

Owen's heart broke at the implication, making my chest ache. "Are you just here for the feeding?" he asked.

"Of course not! The incantation the two of you read is connected to the magic keeping me alive; so when you used it, I'd know. Once I healed and regained my powers, I expected to feel it immediately, but nothing happened. I assumed I'd failed. I never imagined it'd take this long for the right body to present itself."

She sniffed and wiped a tear from her cheek. "When I felt someone use the magic, I rushed to your house, hoping it was you, but it was empty. I've searched for you ever since. At the restaurant, I couldn't be sure until I looked into these eyes and saw yours. Please don't be angry with me."

"I can't be mad at you. I'm just so glad you're alive." Owen pulled her against my chest and held her. She wrapped her arms around me, and my cheek rested on the top of her head.

"What have you been doing for fifty years?" I asked. "You hunt mimics, too, right? Are there less of them?"

"There are fewer," she murmured. "I believe they're down to about twenty."

"That's better," Owen said.

She stepped back and booped my nose. "I did more than that; I located Catriona."

Owen gasped. "You found the first!"

"I was already traveling this way when you used the spell. I haven't located her, but she's close."

"We'll find her." Owen was determined. This would be our priority.

"So we kill her, and that's it? They all die?" I asked.

"End her, and this will finally be over." Lilla's sweet voice was so full of hate it surprised me. But she'd been hunting these things before anyone; it made sense she was ready to finish it.

I said, "You've killed so many of them. What makes her different?"

Owen answered, "She doesn't go out as much as the others. They hide her to protect themselves. I only saw her once. Lilla's seen her a few times, though."

"I have, and she'll be out now; hunting with her children for the fifty-year feeding.

"But if we get to her fast enough, they won't kill anyone, right?" It was exciting to know we could stop them before they started.

Owen clenched my fists. "We could end this."

Lilla clapped and bounced on the balls of her feet. "Alright, time to begin. Is my trunk still in the basement?"

"Of course," Owen answered.

She smiled. "Good. I'll attempt some location spells on Catriona. You boys get some rest, and I'll see you at Owen's in the morning."

"We'll be there." Owen nodded, and she caressed my jaw before pivoting on her toes and striding to the exit. He watched her until the front door closed, and he still didn't move.

"Are you alright?"

It took him a second to answer. "I'm more than alright. She's alive, she's here, and she's given us direction."

"Doesn't it bother you that she waited fifty years to find you? I mean, it seems like you guys were really... close."

"We were. We are."

I tried to block the images of Lilla flashing through my mind as Owen got his memories under control. Thankfully, most of them were just her smiling and laughing.

"Yeah, I wish she'd come sooner, but she had her reasons. All that matters is that she's here now."

This was surprising. Owen hadn't given the impression he was someone who would let his emotions lead him. Maybe he'd closed that part of himself off when Lilla was gone.

It thrilled him to have her here, and if anyone deserved some happiness, it was him. I couldn't shake the idea that something was off, but I wouldn't say anything to dampen his mood.

He pulled me from my thoughts, running up the stairs, talking. "You need to get some sleep. Big day tomorrow."

***

The following day, I peeked at Dad, then left the house with me in control. I'd been a little worried, but Dad seemed fine curled up under his dark green comforter with the fan on full blast like usual, and Owen assured me that Lilla's magic wouldn't leave any lasting effects.

On our drive to the cabin, Owen was a bundle of nerves oscillating between excited and nervous. After twenty minutes, I couldn't take it anymore. "What are you so stressed about?"

"What if she's not there?"

"Where else would she be? This was her idea."

"Yeah, that's true," Owen said, but he continued to worry.

"Dude! I feel you freaking out. She'll be there, and we'll be there in about five minutes. You'll see her."

He sighed. "You're right."

"Then what's the problem?"

"There's nothing for us anymore. A future was unlikely before, but now..."

I didn't know how to comfort him, so I stayed quiet. The pain and loss was something I couldn't imagine. I lost Mom, but he lost everyone. The dusty rooms of his cabin filled my mind. He'd taken care of it all these years, alone. Most of the home kept the same as when his family filled it—a monument to the life he had.

A minute later, he said, "I'm glad to be near her again, but it makes everything harder too. I'm not me anymore, and if we kill the mimics, we'll both be gone."

I'd considered that, but couldn't bring myself to ask. Since he'd brought it up though, I asked, "What happens to you two when we win?"

"When? I appreciate the optimistic attitude." Owen chuckled. "What her coven did was designed to keep her alive to fight them. When they die, she dies too."

"What about you?"

"I'm already dead."

"You know what I mean."

"The spell said it holds us together until the monsters are none; I guess that means when they're gone, I'm gone."

"But where will you go?"

"Are you asking about the afterlife?" He huffed. "Bad news—just because I'm a spirit doesn't mean I know what happens after this. I hope we end up somewhere peaceful. I'm tired of fighting, and I'd like to see my family again. I miss them, especially my brothers."

I pulled to a stop in front of the cabin and cut the engine. Opening the door, I took a deep breath of the surrounding pines. "You never talk about them. That's the first time you've even mentioned your brothers."

"Yeah, well, I'm not starting now. Let's go."

I stepped into the silent yard. If he wouldn't discuss it, fine, I'd wait and ask him later.

As we entered, Lilla yelled from the basement, "Down here, Owen!"

We never repaired the steps, so I descended carefully. Lilla sat cross-legged in the chair with a thick book in her lap. She gave me a big smile that faded when she looked more closely.

"Oh, hello, Bash. Might Owen come out to play?" Her tone suggested she didn't want to deal with me.

"Do you mind switching? We won't get carried away," Owen said.

It wasn't a problem, but Lilla's attitude bugged me. "Go ahead." I relaxed but didn't sit; a few seconds later, Owen smiled at Lilla.

She grinned. "Well, that was very impressive, fellas!"

"Thanks." Owen tipped his chin at the book. "Is this what you've been doing?"

"Not all night, but I did miss my books."

Anger simmered inside me, and I said, "She could've gotten them anytime she wanted for the last five decades."

Lilla's eyes narrowed. "I told you yesterday, I hear you. I also explained it took time for me to be whole."

"You could've come after that."

She sat up straighter and glared at me, but Owen spoke, "Were you able to track Catriona?"

After taking a second to compose herself, she simpered at Owen. "Not as well as I'd hoped, but being closer helps. I can focus on her power and shrink the search area."

"What do you mean, power?" I asked.

"She's the mother of another species. You didn't realize she was powerful?" Lilla raised an eyebrow.

Again, she seemed put out with having to answer me. We'd gotten off on the wrong foot, but I didn't care. I wasn't sure I liked her either.

"She's the mom of all of them?" For some reason the thought made me want to cringe. "What about the other mimic's kids? Aren't they monsters too?"

Lilla dropped the book she held on the table in front of her. "The other mimics are infertile. Every one of those monsters came from her womb and, thankfully, took a small piece of her magic with them. Otherwise, she would've kept creating them until they were strong enough to make hiding and curbing their appetites unnecessary."

That's a lot of kids. If they weren't monsters, Catriona could've had a reality show. "If they each took some of her power and there are so many of them, doesn't that mean she should be easy to stop?"

"No." Lilla sighed. "It means she was even more formidable before she had them."

Owen held her shoulder as his regret ran through me. "We'll stop them, Lilla."

She reached up and squeezed my fingers. "I know we will. I've never been this close. Catriona made a mistake when she started returning to this town."

I could tell Owen didn't like bothering Lilla while she was already frustrated, but I needed to understand. "Why does she come back here?"

"Are you under the impression I've spoken to her, or she shares her thoughts with me?" Lilla snapped.

"It was just a question." I tried to keep the irritation from my tone.

Lilla scoffed. "I miss Betty. She never played twenty questions. I'd tell her where mimics could be, and she'd go."

Her words hurt Owen, and I had to speak up. "Who's Betty?"

"My grandma," Owen answered me and squinted at Lilla. "Sorry, but you're stuck with me."

She jumped up to grab my forearm. "Owen, that's not what I meant. I'm lucky you're here with me." She frowned as though a bad taste filled her mouth. "It's only your body-buddy I find irksome."

She was pissing me off, but this was Owen's girlfriend, or whatever she was, so I stayed quiet. Things were hard enough without the bickering.

It surprised me when Owen pulled back, letting Lilla's fingers fall from my arm, and said, "His name's Bash, and he has a right to have questions. This wasn't his fight, but he agreed to help, anyway. If not, I'd be stuck here alone, and there'd be no hunters. Don't treat him like he's stupid for not knowing things you've spent hundreds of years learning."

She started to say something, but he stopped her with a wave of his hand. "We're going outside to practice."

I was silent as Owen went upstairs. He got the knives out of the glove box before heading toward the tree he used as a target.

When Owen's anger calmed, I said, "Thanks, man, but you didn't need to fight with her over me."

"Yes, I did. You deserve some respect. I'm glad it was you who saw me; I couldn't have hoped for anyone better. What you're doing is brave and selfless."

I was shocked Owen was so appreciative and sappy. I sensed his discomfort with the conversation, so I tried a joke. "Dude, that was really nice. Are you hitting on me?"

Owen laughed. "You wish. Shut up and switch. You can practice first."

"Fine. Let's do this."

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