Grimm Consequences by Kate Serine

blood surged in my ears, pounding like a funeral drum.
    Demetrius’s liar’s lips curved into a smile as he witnessed my terror. He lifted a hand and ran it slowly down Tess’s hair, inhaling the scent of her, taking her in.
    â€œTess, run!”
    She frowned at me, perplexed by my sudden alarm, unaware that Death stood at her shoulder. She glanced around, habit making her search for the danger instead of running from it. Time slowed, my legs turning to lead, refusing to carry me fast enough.
    A horn blared as I dashed across the street. I didn’t spare it a glance. I didn’t care what happened to me as long as I got to Tess. I’d just made the sidewalk when Demetrius tittered and vanished. To my relief, Tess was now rushing toward me. I took the cathedral steps two at a time, meeting her midstride and folding her into my embrace.
    â€œOh, God, baby,” I panted, my voice choked. “Are you okay?”
    She pushed back to look up into my face, her brows drawn together. “I’m fine, Nate. What the hell is going on?”
    â€œHey, you guys all right?”
    I relinquished my hold on Tess just enough to give her space to turn in my arms and offer Lavender a smile. “Yeah, we’re good. Nate just . . .” Her words trailed off as Lavender came toward us.
    â€œI just thought I saw someone I knew,” I finished for her. Red’s head snapped around, her eyes asking a silent question. I gave her a slight nod, then forced a smile and extended my hand to Lavender. “You’re looking good, Lav.”
    She grinned. “Thanks. Much better than last time you saw me, right? It’s a process, but I’m getting there. Even doing a little writing. You know, catharsis and all that. Turns out there’s quite a lot I need to get off my chest.”
    From what I’d seen of Lavender, she wasn’t exactly a delicate flower and had no problem speaking her mind. If that’s what holding back was like for her, I could only imagine what she’d been writing....
    â€œCan we give you a lift home?” Tess offered.
    Lav waved away the offer. “Nah, I’m good. You two lovebirds run along. I’ll be fine.”
    â€œAre you sure?” I asked. “It’s no trouble.”
    She laughed. “Really, guys, I’m fine! It’s not like I’m going to pop into Ever Afters for a drink on the way home and get snookered. I’m going straight to chez Charming. Already have my ride arranged.” She gestured across the street to where a blue Prius was idling.
    â€œA Prius?” I said. “I kinda figured you’d be in something a little more . . . flashy.”
    â€œI know, right?” she said with a shrug. “It was supposed to be a Mercedes, but I guess the spell’s a bit rusty. Gonna have to work on that one.”
    As soon as we saw Lavender safely to her car, Tess turned on me with a worried frown. “You saw him again,” she charged. “What happened?”
    I hurried her to my car. “Nothing.”
    When I opened the car door for her, she planted her feet and folded her arms across her chest, pegging me with that expectant look of hers.
    I sighed. “I’m not lying to you. He was just standing there. And, okay,” I waffled, “he touched your hair.”
    She gaped at me. “Pardon me?”
    â€œAnd he kind of smelled it,” I admitted, cringing a little inwardly.
    â€œThat qualifies as something, Nate,” she snapped as she got in the car, adding before I could close the door, “and it’s fucking creepy!”
    I ground my teeth together as I drove us home and could feel my anger rising now that the immediate danger to Tess had passed and I was able to process how close Demetrius had been. He was growing bolder, more blatant in his taunts. And my fear of what he could’ve done twisted my gut into knots. Not only had he been within striking distance,