Now he just had to hope Allie liked it, Magnus thought, and felt a flutter of anxiety push in to join the pleased feeling. He wanted her to like it and she’d seemed to like the clothes he’d chosen her, so he hoped their taste in rings would match up too, but jewelry could be such a personal thing. Maybe he should have waited until he could have taken her with him.

“She will like it,” he reassured himself, but was still oddly nervous about presenting it to her. Maybe he should do something special. Take her to dinner, or—

His thoughts fled as he approached Casey Cottage and saw Teddy’s SUV in the driveway. The lights were flashing and the door was wide open. Hands clenching on the steering wheel, Magnus hit the gas, sending Mabel’s car shooting the last twenty feet up the street and squealing into the driveway. He was out of the car the minute it stopped, rushing inside, leaving the door open as Teddy had, the pale blue bag forgotten on the passenger seat.

Eighteen

The main floor of the house appeared empty when Magnus rushed in, but he could hear the murmur of voices from upstairs. Hurrying around the kitchen counter, he headed for the stairs, his feet stumbling to a halt when he spotted the blood splattered on the front door and the pool of it on the entry floor.

Desperate to find Allie and assure himself she was all right, Magnus turned and ran up the steps. The door to Allie’s room was wide open, showing that it was empty. His footsteps slowed a bit as relief coursed through him. She hadn’t been hurt, then. It was someone else, he thought, and then a surly voice barked, “She saved my life, Harper. If she hadn’t screamed out that warning I wouldn’t have my head. We have to get her back.”

“I know, honey. And we will. But you have to let them give you more blood so you’ll heal. You took a terrible wound.” Harper’s voice drifted down the hall to him, sounding as anxious and upset as Magnus had been feeling just moments ago. Turning that way, he headed down the hall to see what he could do to help . . . and get a look at Allie. He’d feel better once he could actually see her and know for sure that she hadn’t been injured.

“No. We have to go look for her. I’m an Enforcer. I have to find her. She saved my life.”

“Honey, I’ll go look for her. I promise. But you have to stay here and let them give you more blood.”

“No. She saved my life. I have to—”