Burned

far away. “Pull that up, honey, and let’s have a chat. I’m assuming you have news of Zoey all the way from Venice. Just think of it—Venice, Italy! I would love to visit . . .” The old woman’s voice trailed off as she looked more closely at Stevie Rae. “I knew it. I knew something was wrong, but my mind has been so muddled since the accident.” Sylvia Redbird went very, very still. Then, in a voice that that was rough with fear, she said, “Tell me quickly.”
    With a sad sigh, Stevie Rae sat in the chair she’d pulled beside the rocker and took Grandma’s hand. “She’s not dead, but it’s not good.”
    “All of it. I want all of it. Don’t stop, and don’t leave anything out.”
    Grandma Redbird held on to Stevie Rae’s hand as if it were a life-line as Zoey’s best friend told her everything—from Heath’s death to the bulls to the present and Kramisha’s prophetic poem, leaving out only one thing: Rephaim. When she was finished, Grandma’s face had gone as pale as it had been right after her accident, when she’d been in a coma and near death.
    “Shattered. My granddaughter’s soul is shattered,” she said slowly, as if the words carried thick layers of grief all their own.
    “Stark’s gonna get to her, Grandma.” Stevie Rae met the old woman’s gaze steadily. “And then he’s gonna protect her so that she can pull herself together.”
    “Cedar,” Grandma said, nodding like she’d just answered a question, and Stevie Rae should be agreeing with her.
    “Cedar?” Stevie Rae asked, hoping the news about Zoey hadn’t made Grandma lose her mind. Literally.
    “Cedar needles. Tell Stark to make whoever watches over his body while he’s in the trance state to burn them the entire time.”
    “You just lost me, Grandma.”
    “Cedar needles are powerful medicine. They repel asgina, which are considered the most malevolent of spirits. Cedar is only used during times of dire need.”
    “Well, this is some seriously dire need,” Stevie Rae said, relieved that the color was starting to come back into Grandma’s cheeks.
    “Tell Stark to breathe the smoke deeply, and to think about carrying it with him to the Otherworld—to believe it will follow his spirit there. The mind can be a powerful ally of the spirit. Sometimes our minds can even alter the very fabric of our souls. If Stark believes the cedar smoke can accompany his spirit, it might just do so and add an extra layer of protection to him on his quest.”
    “I’ll tell him.”
    Grandma squeezed her hand even tighter. “Sometimes things that seem small or insignificant can aid us, even in our most difficult hour. Don’t discount anything, and don’t let Stark, either.”
    “I won’t, Grandma. None of us will. I’ll be sure of it.”
    “Sylvia, I just spoke with Kramisha outside,” Sister Mary Angela hurried into the room. She came to a halt when she saw Stevie Rae holding the old woman’s hand. “Oh, Mother Mary! It is true then.” The nun bowed her head, obviously fighting tears, but when she lifted her chin, her eyes were dry, and her face was set in strong, resolute lines. “Well, then, we shall go on from here.” Abruptly, she turned and began to leave the room.
    “Sister, where are you going?” Grandma Redbird asked.
    “To call the abbey to the chapel. We will pray. We all will pray.”
    “To Mary?” Stevie Rae asked, unable to keep the skepticism out of her voice.
    The nun nodded, and in her firm, wise voice said, “Yes, Stevie Rae, to Mary—to the Lady we consider to be mother in spirit of us all. Perhaps she isn’t the same deity as your Nyx; perhaps she is. But is that question really important right now? Tell me, High Priestess of the Red Fledglings, do you truly believe asking for help in the name of love to be a mistake, no matter what face that help is wearing?”
    Stevie Rae had a flash of Rephaim’s face with his human eyes as he stood up to Darkness and took on the debt she owed it, and her mouth suddenly went dry.
    “I’m sorry, Sister. I was wrong. Ask for your Mary’s help ’cause sometimes love does come from places that we don’t expect.”
    Sister Mary Angela looked into Stevie Rae’s eyes for what seemed like a very long time before saying, “You may join us in prayer, child.”
    Stevie Rae smiled at her. “Thanks, but I have my own kind of pray-in’ to do.”
    Stevie Rae
    “Hell no I ain’t gonna lie for you!” Kramisha said.
    “I’m not askin’ you to