Youre yelling now! And for no good reason, that she could tell.
Yeah, he said, still with that fury, but now, it was tinged with something else. Something low and raspy. His eyelids dipped to half-mast as he traced a fingertip along the slope of her nose. But now we get to kiss and make up. Even his voice had dipped.
Yes, please. First, why would you have yelled? Clearly someone had told him what shed done, but she wanted to hear him admit it before she spilled her guts. Second, we cant kiss. She backed away from him, not stopping until she hit the door. The closer they were, the headier his wild scent became. The closer they were, the better she could feel the heat radiating off him. The closer they were, the closer she wanted to be. I need to get to class.
Actually, youll have to miss it. Were talking right now.
Uh-oh. The words echoed around her, a threat. I cant keep putting off my studies, Riley. Yeah, Im fine with missing Geometry right now, but anything after that? No. As you know, Spanish is my worse subject, and I need all the help I can get.
Ill tutor you later. Si?
Yeah, right. Like theyd really pay attention to their books if they were alone in her room. No. The only other Spanish she could recall at the moment was: No hay tenedor limpio, tenemos que lavar la. There is no clean fork. We have to wash some.
That wasnt really applicable here.
Well, youre not going to class until we discuss a few things. Namely, you went into town last night, he said, jaw clenched.
And there it was. The admission. She gulped. Yes.
Alone.
Yes. How did you find out?
My brothers. They followed you.
The two wolves who tailed Pennys car. Of course. She should have guessed.
They said you encountered a witch. Tell me, Mary Ann. Why would you endanger yourself like that?
You are not the weak link. You are not the freaking weak link. Did your brothers also tell you that I stayed in the car? Did they tell you Penny and I drove away before Marie could reach us?
His nostrils flared in outrage. You know her name now.
Uh-oh.
Youve talked to her. Again, not a question.
Yes, she admitted softly.
He slapped the wall beside her temples, caging her in. Hed done that yesterday, on the walk to school, and shed loved it. Hed kissed her, after all. Now, he just looked like he wanted to choke her. The funny thing was, she still loved it. She had only to lift onto her tiptoes and she could kiss him.
A witch doesnt need to be close to you to bespell you, Mary Ann. If he knew the direction her thoughts had taken, he gave no notice. She needs only to see you. You were in danger the moment you left your house. Do you not recall what I told you about spells?
I do, she said with a nod.
Tell me.
A tremor slid the length of her spine. When a spell is uttered, that spell becomes alive, its sole existence to fulfill its purpose. There is no breaking it. Ever. Even by the witch who cast it.
As shed spoken, his gaze had lowered and remained on her lips. Tension had wafted from him before hed snapped his attention back to her face. Thats right, he croaked. And what would happen if a different type of death spell were cast over you?
I would die twice? she asked dryly.
Yes, smartie. Thats exactly what would happen, and neither time would be pleasant.
Shed never seen Riley so fierce, so intense, but she planned to stand up to him exactly as shed stood up to Marie. This was too important. Guess what? she said, flattening her palms on his chest. His heart thundered to the same erratic beat as hers. Thats a chance Im willing to take. Im part of this team, and I will help in any way that I can. How is my being in danger any different from you being in danger?
His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits, even as he pressed deeper into her body. I heal.
So do I!
Not from death!
But his kind could be brought back? Hardly, she wanted to snort.
She paused. Wait. He had been brought back. She recalled the night hed told her about his brothers curse. He should have been cursed that way, too, ugly to anyone he desired, but for him, the requirement of that spell had been met. Hed died, and the werewolves version of modern medicine had brought him back. Modern medicine could bring her back, as well, she thought defiantly.
Still. Thinking of his death filled her with fear. She couldnt lose him. She needed him.
Mary Ann slid her hands around his neck and gentled her tone. Im not going to argue with you about this, Riley. I went into town, yes, but Im not sorry. Marie will be there tonight, and I know where. Marie had threatened Mary Ann, as good as told her not to return. Which meant she would want to know if Mary Ann disobeyed her. Which meant she would have to be there, watching, waiting. We can capture her.
No, we cant. His hands settled on her waist, locking her in place. Shell be prepared now. Well walk right into an ambush.
Mary Ann shook her head, refusing to give up. She thinks shes warned me away. Intimidated me. She told him a bit about their conversation, but left out the part about feeding; she didnt understand that, and until she did, she was sharing the details with no one. And even though shed thought to talk to him about what she was, according to Marie, she left that part out, too. Now wasnt the time. Shell be careless.
So you hope, he said, his grip tightening.
True. Even if youre right, we still have the advantage. Well be prepared for an ambush. Either way, I guess well find out tonight. And Riley, do not even think about leaving me behind.
Ill do what needs to be done, Mary Ann.
Finally she rose on her tiptoes and kissed him. He didnt respond, and she tried not to let it matter. So will I. And guess what? I changed my mind. Im hitting second period. With that, she turned and opened the door. He released her without protest and she strode into the hall, never once glancing back.
ELEVEN
GO AHEAD AND FLUSH this day down the toilet, Aden thought as he and Shannon walked home from school.
Cars whizzed past them on one side, and trees stretched on the other. They were taking the main roads today rather than the forest. Riley had insisted, and agreeing had been the only way to get rid of him.
All day, Aden had been too tired to listen to his teachers. He had no idea what material had been covered, and even if he had been paying attention, the souls had been too chatty to allow him to concentrate, having just come out of their drug-induced stupor. Theyd wanted to know what had happened with the vampires, but he hadnt had a chance to reply.
On and on theyd askedwere still askinguntil hed wantedstill wantedto bang his head against the wall. It was probably a good thing, then, that Riley and Mary Ann hadnt spoken to him at lunch. Actually, Mary Ann hadnt spoken to anyone at lunch. Shed sat at the table, food untouched in front of her, frowning at everyone who passed. Aden would have asked her what was wrong, but trying to carry on a conversation hadnt seemed wise.
Especially since shed looked ready to throw something at Rileys head when the wolf announced he would be walking Aden home rather than his girlfriend. But Aden had refused his escort with a firm shake of his head. Having a friend beside him, sure, good times. But a babysitter? No, thanks.
To his surprise, Riley had accepted his refusal after only a few halfhearted protests. Hed been free to go with Mary Ann, after all. Hopefully, theyd work out their problems before midnight, when their little group was supposed to meet up and head into town to huntand kidnapa witch.
Aden was still reeling about that. Kidnap? Really?
Again, there hadnt been an opportunity to discuss it. Not just because of the souls, but because of their audience. And now he had to rush to the ranch so that Dan could take him to Dr. Hennessys office for their emergency session.
This sucks, he said.
W-what does? Shannon asked, flicking him a glance.
The question battered against the rest of the noise inside his head, and Aden took a moment to decipher it. My upcoming doctors appointment. I dont want to go.
If that stupid doc forces any more drugs down your throat, Im going to shoot myself, Caleb grumbled.
Good luck with that, Julian replied dryly. I dont think I ever told you this, but its always been a dream of mine to watch a soul without a body wield a gun.
Well, bodiless or not, we might wish we could shoot ourselves after todays session, Elijah said grimly.
Do you know something? Aden demanded. Elijahs predictions never failed. What the soul thought would happen, happened. Usually, he only knew when people were going to die. Yet more and more lately, he knew other things. Scary things. Like blood flowing in rivers.
Know w-what? Shannon asked.
This time, he didnt have to pause to decipher the words. The different conversations were finally streamlining, becoming clearer. Sorry, he said to Shannon, cheeks heating. I meant, this has just been such a crappy day, with Mary Anns silence, Rileys bad mood and the doctors visit, like I mentioned.
Yeah. What was wrong w-with you yesterday, man? Ive never seen y-you like that.
Aden wanted to confess. He wanted to trust Shannon fully. He really did. But he couldnt predict the boys reaction to vampires and werewolves and ghosts, which meant he couldnt say a word. If Shannon told Dan, Dan would think Aden was crazymore than he already didand send him back to juvie or to another institution. For help.
Stress, he said, and left it at that. In a way, that was the truth.
Know what you m-mean. Sometimes life just seems to be t-too much.
Having trouble? Aden knew kids liked to tease Shannon about his stutter, and that embarrassed the boy unbearably.
What if I t-told you that II Shannon rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. His stutter was more pronounced now, which meant his emotions were jacked. M-my parents, they knew I was d-different and He pressed his lips together, now mute.
Come on. Aden grabbed his arm and tugged him into the woods completely, seemingly leaving civilization behind. Yeah, hed told Riley hed stick to the main roads. No, he didnt feel guilty. When a friend needed you, you delivered. Its okay, man. You can tell me anything. Believe me. Hed been different his entire life. Hearing voices, talking to people who supposedly werent there. Now, summoning creatures from fairy tales and nightmares.
Yeah, but Im not d-different like you. Horror blanketed Shannons expression. I-Im sorry. II didnt m-mean that in a b-bad way. I j-just He pushed out a shaky sigh. Ive n-never really told anyone else a-andNo, thats n-not exactly true, b-but
A boy Aden didnt recognize stepped from behind a tree.
Aden and Shannon drew up short.
Another boy he didnt recognize swung from around the next trunk over. Both were relaxed, seemingly unarmed. The first had pale hair, pale skin and pale blue eyes. Multiple shades of brown and gold colored the others hair, the same shades swirling in his eyes. Both were tall, stretching over Adens own six feet. They were leanly muscled, and both wore T-shirts and soft-looking slacks.
Not another fight, Caleb groaned.
Aden reached for his daggers.
Riley sent us, Majesty, the pale one said, his voice deep and husky. He held up a palm in greeting. Were his older brothers. Be glad you arent meeting the younger brothers. Im Nathan.
Maxwell, the other said with a nod.
Thank God, Julian said after a relieved sigh. Werewolves.
The horror returned to Shannons expression, though Aden suspected it was because hed almost confessed his secret, whatever it was, with strangers nearby.
Nice to meet you, Aden replied.
Shannon tossed Aden a strange look. M-Majesty?
Nickname, he muttered. To the new boys, he said, I prefer Aden.
They nodded as they straightened from their relaxed poses.
Why are you here? More babysitting?
Maxwell waved his arm, motioning them forward. To see you home safely, of course. Just in case you deviated from your promised route.
He still wouldnt feel guilty, he told herself as he surged forward, dragging Shannon with him. Nothing he could say in rebuttal, not now. Riley, though, would get an earful later.
Wish Riley would have sent a girl to guard us, Caleb said.
There are more important things in life than girls, Elijah admonished.
Name one.
A moment passed in silence.
Caleb laughed. See!
The list is so long I got lost in thought, the psychic grumbled.
Yeah. Right, Julian said, his own laughter blending with Calebs.
Guys. Please.
Shannon tossed him another strange look, and Aden motioned to their escorts, trying to pretend hed been talking to them.
Sorry, Caleb said, repentant. My bad. I just, I miss Victoria, I guess.
Aden missed her, too. Monster and all, whatever shed meant by that. He still didnt fully know. Her demon-possession example hadnt told him much. Did she morph into an actual beast or just exhibit beastly qualities? Either way, shed been mortified to tell him.
Didnt she realize he would care for her, no matter what? Didnt she realize that this, whatever it was, made her better able to understand him and his differences, and offered more proof that they belonged together?
There was absolutely no way hed date those other girls. That simply wasnt going to happen, whether Victoria was fine with the idea or not.
The newcomers didnt speak again, even when they reached the edge of the forest and the ranch came into view. They simply backtracked, soon disappearing. Aden didnt get a chance to ask Shannon about his problem, though. Ryder and Seth were at the edge of the property, smoking.
When Shannon spotted them, he drew up short again. Only this time, a little color flooded his face. He wasblushing? Really? Why?