I’m all set to start my rant when there’s a knock at the door. Aspen jerks like a startled fawn then races across the room. Remembering who I am, and that a collector is still out there somewhere, I jump to my feet. “Who is it?” I ask her.
Aspen freezes right before she reaches the door, like she’s thought of something. “I don’t know.”
She turns and stares at me, her face giving nothing away. I move quickly and stand in front of her, blocking her body with mine. “Get back,” I hiss. Then I turn the handle, pull the door open—
And see Charlie Cooper smiling back at me.
Aspen slaps me on the back, “God, you should see your face! What the hell did you think was out there?”
I hear her words, but I can’t think of anything else besides Charlie. She stands perfectly still, her long, slender arms hanging loose by her sides. “Dante,” she breathes.
I don’t hesitate a moment longer. Scooping her into my arms, I pull her against me. She’s so close, but it isn’t enough. To touch her is beyond words. Even when we were apart, I carried her soul inside me. But now I have her body, too. And the sensation is enough to make me dizzy with pleasure.
I set her down and run my hands over her cheeks, her neck. I stare at her face and memorize it. We’ve only been apart for four days, but already I’d forgotten just how amazing she is. “My Charlie,” I whisper. Forgetting every strained moment between us, and all the reckless things she’s done, I lean down to press my lips to hers.
But before I can kiss her, Annabelle crashes onto the doorstep, an oversized Nike bag slamming into Charlie and me. “You didn’t think I’d miss out on the fun, did you?”
Charlie laughs and wraps her arm around my waist, looking now at Aspen. “I can’t thank you enough,” she says, but I don’t miss the way she eyes Aspen, sizing her up.
I can barely grasp the fact that Charlie is here, much less what she’s saying. Following her gaze to Aspen, I say, “You did this?”
Aspen smiles at me but keeps a wary eye on Charlie like she might regret her decision. “I asked you if you could have anything…” She shrugs like it’s nothing. “Though I don’t know how you two do long distance. Blows.”
I grin at Aspen, and before I do anything else, I seal her soul so damn hard, I almost feel drowsy. She deserves it, too. Because Aspen doesn’t like being alone, and she probably realizes that if Charlie’s here, my attention will switch from her to my girlfriend. But she did it, anyway. She flew Charlie and her best friend up here because she knew it’d make me happy.
“So what’s going on?” I say to everyone, so happy I’m delirious. “Winter break at the cabin, the four of us?”
“Well…” Charlie responds. The way she says that one word makes my muscles tighten. Eyeing the horn lying against her chest, I realize it wasn’t my own charm I felt earlier, but hers. Because she was here. Because she is here.
“Just be chill, okay, D-Town?” Annabelle glares at me like she’s ready to wrestle if I argue with whatever she’s talking about.
But I don’t know what she’s talking about.
Until I see them.
Behind Annabelle, I notice two guys strutting toward the cabin. One is wearing a blue Cubs hat, and the other is throwing me a sly smile, a smile I’m about to break off his damn face. My hands close into fists, and as Charlie tugs on my arm, I head out to meet them.
“There’s more,” Charlie pleads. “I tried calling you.”
She keeps tugging on me, but it’s like a butterfly trying to block a bull. I swore I’d try to trust Charlie, but this Salem guy has been playing with her life, influencing her to play dangerous games. And now it’s time to pay the fucking piper.
“Wait, listen to me,” Charlie says. “Listen to me. You’re not going to believe—”
But she doesn’t finish, because someone new steps directly into my view.
Charlie stops talking.
My heart stops beating.
The guy looks over my shoulder at Aspen and grins. “Damn, that girl is hot,” he says.
Blue says.
14 
Blue Isn’t Blue Anymore
I stand frozen as Salem and Easton pass by to go inside. Blue continues staring at me, a huge smile plastered on his face.
“How is this…?” I say, trailing off. “I thought you were…”
“Duh-duh-duh-dead?” Blue laughs, his eyes shining with pleasure. “Is that the word you were looking for? You thought I was dead?”
I glance behind me, ensuring no one heard him admit he’s a walking corpse.
“Don’t look so surprised.” He stuffs his hands into his pockets and leans back on his heels, looking up at something. “You’re not the only special person who’s walked the earth.”
And then the answer comes to me. Dropping down to the ground, I rip the leg of his jeans up. “Ha!” I thump his cuff, somewhat embarrassed I hadn’t sensed it before now. “Dead man walking, am I right?” Leaping to my feet, I throw my arms around Blue. I can’t help it. I thought the dude died out there, and now he’s here, sucking air like a politician. “Wait.” I pull away and look him in the eye. “You are a liberator, correct?”
“Of course!” Blue’s chest swells with pride, and I notice it isn’t as small as it used to be. Just looking at him, my body buzzes. I can’t seem to wrap my mind around the fact that this is real.
Turning to Charlie, I notice she’s trying to cover her smile. So is Annabelle. But Salem, Easton, and Aspen just look lost, which is good. I don’t need my assignment or the twin dipshits knowing what’s going on.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Charlie, reaching in to squeeze her hand. She nods before I pull the door shut behind me and drag Blue off the porch. Though the snow sparkles in the morning sun and my nose fills with the smell of fir trees, I can’t seem to relax. Because Blue, who I used to think was six feet under, is standing right in front of me. And that can’t be good.
“Why did Big Guy make you into a liberator?” I ask. I’ve got a string of questions for this dude, and I’m not sure why this is the first.
“More manpower,” he responds with an air of professionalism. “I guess.”
“More manpower for what?”
Blue shrugs. “Beats me.”
Thing is, it doesn’t look like the question beats him. It looks like he might know exactly why. But I’ve got way too many other questions to argue. “How long have you been a liberator?”
He grins. “A few days after I croaked, but I didn’t get assigned until about a week ago.”
“Assigned?”
“Yeah. I was sent to watch her once you were shipped off to Denver.” Blue looks back at the cabin. He’s talking about Charlie. The thing I don’t understand is why he’s got that faraway expression on his face. Then I remember how hot the guy was for her when he was alive. Guess even after death, some things don’t change—one of those things being my ability to kick his ass if he hits on her. Though judging from the size of him, it might not be as easy.
“You look different,” I say. And now that I’ve vocalized the thought, I realize exactly how much has changed about Blue. He’s got muscle, facial hair, and his curly hair looks less wet dog and more rock star. “You get a liberator makeover special?” I laugh because I’m joking, but his face reddens like I’ve hit the money. “No. Seriously? You asked to look this way?” I’d heard of collectors making special requests of Lucille before they got cuffed, but always figured it was a myth. Now I’m not so sure it was a myth, or that it applied only to collectors.