Eban by Allison Merritt Page B

fear.
    â€œPlease don’t do this, Tell. He’s your family.”
    â€œDon’t listen to her. You think you know best, then you’d better get on with it. Before I turn on you.” Eban grabbed Tell’s arm, pressing the bolt into his own flesh a little harder.
    Tell’s finger remained on the trigger. Beryl’s heart clogged her throat and she buried her face in her hands, unable to bear the sight of Eban’s lifeless body when the deed was done.
    â€œDo it,” Eban ground out.
    Beryl muttered a prayer, hoping the angel might intervene. She heard footsteps on the stairs, but couldn’t force herself to look and find out who it was.
    â€œDammit, I leave for a week and come back to find the two of you at each other’s throats. What the hell is going on?”
    Beryl peeked through her fingers. Wystan stood in the doorway, hands on his hips. He didn’t look like himself, or at least not the sheriff she’d come to know. He wore a three-piece suit and boots polished to high shine. His dark hair was covered by a felt bowler hat. He’d become Bat Masterson in the time he’d been gone instead of the Wild West demon-slaying town dictator.
    Eban and Tell didn’t take their eyes off each other, but they both started talking at once.
    â€œGone crazy, summoned an angel. You know—”
    â€œIf Tell’s going to kill me, I wish he’d hurry up and—”
    â€œEnough.” Wystan’s gaze landed on Beryl. “What are you doing in here and what’s that smell?”
    â€œI-I…” She couldn’t find any words.
    He turned and bellowed down the stairway. “Rhia! Beryl needs your help. I’ve gotta take care of these two dumbasses before they murder one another.”
    With a sigh, he reached out and jerked Tell and Eban apart. “Let’s take this to the jail.”
    They both protested as he dragged them out of the room. Beryl sat frozen, wondering if this was the last time she’d ever seen Eban. Wystan was sure to be even angrier than Tell once he found out what Eban had done.
    Rhia entered, shaking her head. Her eyes were wide, but she had the flush of a woman who knew she was loved and had enjoyed her honeymoon. “I’ll never understand the three of them. I’m not sure I want to know what’s happened since we left. So much for a peaceful place where demons can reside.”
    Beryl hated the heat that scorched her face as Rhia’s hazel eyes took her in.
    â€œI’m not sleeping with Eban,” she blurted. The hateful throb between her eyes worsened.
    Rhia surveyed the room. “You don’t have to explain that part.” She smiled. “It’s good to see you, even if you look like you’ve been in a fight with a barghest. You weren’t, were you?”
    â€œApparently I took off last night and went drinking.” She rubbed her palm against her forehead. “I don’t know why. Eban was going to tell me, but Tell burst in.”
    â€œThe angel. We saw him. Or Wystan did. He looks like a man to me. Well, maybe not a man. He could be Seere’s twin. I assumed he was another demon, but Wys was wary of him from the second they laid eyes on each other.” Rhia picked Beryl’s crumpled dress off the floor and wrinkled her nose. “We should get you into a bath. You’ll feel better. Then you can explain why the town is suddenly falling apart again.”
    An hour later, dressed in clean clothes and nursing a cup of strong coffee, Beryl had recounted most of the details over the week. There was no sign of the Heckmasters and she couldn’t decide if that was good or bad.
    Rhia’s brow furrowed as she listened. “So the angel, Eliakim, is here to help Eban with a problem he won’t tell you about. And Tell thinks Eban’s…one of them now.”
    â€œI think so. Everything is a mess.”
    â€œWys will get it straightened