Then he added, I mean, I think we are, at least, and that relief drained.
Drained. Not a good word choice, she thought, laughing without humor. Because if what hed said before, about Drainers destroyingif that was true, that would mean. no. No. No! She would not venture down that mental path. Like a hypochondriac, shed only convince herself that her symptoms were real.
Riley pounded to the porch steps and plopped down, resting his elbows on his knees. If you really are a Drainer, youre going to kill everyone I love. He must have been reading her aura, must have realized the direction of her thoughts. Hell, one day youll kill me.
Absolute panic filled her at the thought of his deathat the thought of causing it. I would never hurt you. Ever!
You wouldnt mean to, but His head fell into his upraised hands. Damn it! I cant believe this is happening.
This just cant be right, Riley. I mean, its happening so fast. I was fine, me, myself, only a few days ago. Now everything was crumbling, leaving only ruins around her.
His laugh was as humorless as hers had been. Thats the way of the world, Mary Ann. Everything changes in a blink.
Not like this. Not for her.
No, not true, she thought next. Shed met Aden and in seconds, her entire world had changed. Shed discovered Tucker had cheated on her with Penny and in seconds, her entire world had changed. Shed learned the truth about her mother and in seconds, her entire world had changed.
Shed met Riley and in seconds, her entire freaking world had changed.
Is there a way I can stop this? Reverse it? she croaked out. If its true, I mean.
No. His unyielding tone left no room for doubt or argument.
Still she persisted. Have you tried?
Yes.
And?
And the Drainers died.
How?
Through experiments. He lifted his head and threw a quick glance behind him. He stiffened, sighed. Now isnt the time to discuss this.
She couldnt end the conversation on such a terrible note. I dont want to go inside yet. She couldnt pretend everything was okay. Not when tears burned the back of her eyes, not when she was shaking so much she could have been having a seizure. And really, we cant know for sure whats going on with me. When she got home, she planned to eat more food than her stomach could hold. That would prove her innocence. Right?
Yeah, he replied, but he didnt sound convinced. And I dont want to go inside, either. So lets chat about something else. I asked Aden, but now Ill ask you. Why did you pick him to teach you self-defense? Why didnt you pick me? That matters? Now? she thought. But rather than protest, she grabbed on to the topic switch like a lifeline. This was normal. This proved he still cared.
She could have lied, spared her shredding feelings from further injury, but she didnt. I picked Aden because I knew I wouldnt pay attention if you were the one doing the teaching. I would have wanted my hands on you, or your hands on me. I would have wanted to kiss you. I wouldnt care about what you were telling me.
Some of the tension left him, and he offered her a half smile. Okay, then. You made the right choice.
She relaxed a little, too. That smile, so genuine He hadnt gifted her with one of those in what felt like forever. But that smile also upset herbecause she recalled something she desperately wanted to ask him. Answer a question for me.
All right.
Are you sure you want to do this? Youll probably have to kiss this temporary good mood goodbye. Yeah. She had to; she had to know. What about you and Lauren?
Yep. Bye-bye, good mood. He lost all hint of happiness, scowling again. Why do you ask?
That was answer enough. Just say what we both know youre going to say. Please dont.
A muscle ticked under his eye. Lauren and I used to date.
Just as shed suspected, yet the news was still devastating. How was shea supposed Drainersupposed to compete with such a strong, gorgeous vampire? Quite simply, she couldnt. How long ago did you break up? Please say years ago.
Lets not do this, Mary Ann.
Tell me.
He sighed. We broke up shortly before I arrived here in Crossroads. We were never supposed to date, anyway. Vlad had promised her to someone else.
Stomach churningSo Im the rebound girl?
He snapped his teeth at her, pure wolf. Mary Ann. You were dating Tucker when I got here. I should be asking you if Im the rebound guy.
Good point. Okay, she could let the rebound fear go. She walked over to him and eased beside him on the step. Why did you guys break up?
His green eyes pinned her in place. You really want to know?
Oh, God. No. Yes.
I didnt like the thought of her in danger, and she was always rushing right into it.
Just like Mary Ann had done by going into town on her own. Only, Mary Ann was human, her skin vulnerable. Just crossing the street could put her in danger. Actually, shed never felt closer to death than just then, her hopes and dreams burning to ash around her.
Do you still have feelings for Lauren? she asked softly.
No.
Too quick a response? God, she hated this. Hated her doubt. Hated Lauren, even though the vampire had been nothing but nice to her. And by nice, she meant that Lauren hadnt stabbed her.
Do you still have feelings for me? She wanted to ask, but didnt. Couldnt. The answer might be the final nail in her coffin. Hed say yes, but she would hear the but in his tone. She knew she would.
Well, the danger thing is just something youll have to get over, Riley, she said, as if they were still together and not just a big, fat maybe. You cant be the one to save the day all the time. You cant do everything on your own. You have to accept help. Sometimes thats the only way to get the job done.
I know. That doesnt mean I have to like it, he grumbled.
At least he hadnt denied her outright. That was progress, right?
Right now, I want you to promise me that you wont tell anyone, and I mean anyone, not Aden, not Victoria, about the draining thing, he commanded. Not until I find a way to fix you or reverse whats happening.
Could he, though? Hed already admitted Drainers died when others attempted to fix them. No, not true. Hed admitted that Drainers died during experiments.
Okay? he insisted.
Admission time. She stood, unable to sit still a moment longer, and shifted from one foot to the other, twisting the hem of her sweater. I wont tell. She kept her back to him. Buttheres someone who already knows.
There was a rustle of clothes, then hard hands settled on her shoulders and spun her around. Riley had jackknifed to his feet, and boy, did he look ready to murder someone. Who?
Just tell him. Rip the Band-Aid. The witch. Marie. The one I saw in town. The one whoappeared at the school this morning and told me she could feel me feeding off her.
Pupilswide, thin. Wide, thin. Like a pulse. Why didnt you tell me? Damn it, Mary Ann. I could have hunted her down.
And done what to her? At the time, I didnt know what she meant.
She could have killed you! As quickly as hed exploded, he relaxed. His head tilted to the side pensively. Why didnt she kill you?
I dont know. She didnt stick around and explain her thought process.
Several heartbeats of time passed in silence. Then, Someones developing a smart mouth. Dryly said, without any heat.
I thought you liked my mouth, she replied, kicking a stone with the toe of her tennis shoe. Please, still like my mouth.
He chuckled, and the sound warmed her. I do.
Thank God. Her knees almost buckledand might have, if he hadnt wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her up, holding her close.
You know what I want? he asked softly.
Her gaze lifted, meeting his. She shivered. Tell me.
To go on a date with you. A real date. Just you and me. No war, no being chased, no looking for answers. Just the two of us getting to know each other.
Yes, please. I would like that, she said on a trembling breath.
Soon as the witches are taken care of, thats what well do. There at the end, hed sounded depressed, as if he didnt think it was possible. As if one of them would be dead by then.
Perhaps he didnt realize that he was killing her just then. Pulling her in one direction, then another, letting her hope before crushing her into nothing. Nope. After the witches, well have to start searching for Adens parents. A reminder for Riley, for her. Aden was still their friend, and they still had a mission.
No. Riley shook his head. Aden wont have time to search for his parents yet. Hell have vampire meetings to attend, laws to pass, punishments to issue. Then he can focus on his parents.
At this rate, hell have to drop out of school, she said. Her, too.
Nah. Thingsll calm down soon.
And maybe then we can go on a second date. Fingers crossed. To be honest, nothing had really been worked out between them. Had it? They might be dating, they might not. She might be a Drainer, she might not. Fingers crossed on that one, too.
He chuckled, but it was no more assured than his final words.
The door behind him squeaked, and Riley released her, turning. Victoria and Aden exited the cabin. Both wore grim expressions. Aden looked sick, even. His skin had a greenish tint, and there were bruises under his eyes. And he was limping, dragging one leg behind as if it hurt to bend his knee. Maybe it did. His jeans were ripped and stained with dried blood.
Are you okay? Mary Ann asked him.
Yeah, fine.
I asked him the same thing, and he gave me the same answer, Victoria said.
Aden smiled, and for a moment, he looked all better. Because its true. Im fine. Just tired.
Youll be home soon, I swear, my king. So did the witch tell you anything? Riley asked. He didnt release her, but moved to her side.
No. So were going to leave her tied up for the rest of the night, Victoria replied. Perhaps boredom will make her more interested in talking to us tomorrow.
They were running out of time, though, the week the witches had given Aden to attend their stupid meeting nearing its end. So what now?
Now we spread the word that weve got a witch, Riley said, grim. If they want her back, theyll call their meeting to order.
Theyll curse us, Victoria said.
They already have. Therefore, youll do what I suggested and spread the word.
One by one, Victoria, Aden and Mary Ann nodded.
As for whats left of tonight, we go home, rest. Rileys gaze met Mary Anns, just as grim as his voice. Soon the real battle will begin.
FIFTEEN
TUCKER REMAINED in the shadows for a long while, covered by his illusion of trees, darkness and night birds. Thankfully, no one at the cabin had noticed him.
So hed watchedand listened
Hed been ordered to follow Aden, which was easy for him, as Tucker could somehow sense wherever the boy went, and he had. Followed, that is. Yet Mary Ann was most often with the boy, and that delighted him, even as it frustrated him.
When it was just the two of them, Aden and Mary Ann, Tucker would lose his ability to cast illusions, forced to hide by regular means. He would wonder what the hell he was doing, following them, watching them and listening to their secrets when he should be protecting them. Oh, yes, there was a small part of him that wanted to protect the two people responsible for saving his dreaded life. And he would hate himself for what he was doing, vow not to do it anymore, and walk away. But the farther he walked, the more he would hear Vlads voice, whispering to him across the distance, commanding him to spy on Aden, and so, Tucker would return to Adens side. If Mary Ann was gone, the desire to please his king would spread again. He would watch, listen and wait. An urge to hurt the boy would bloom, grow.
Thankfully, that hadnt been the case tonight.
Tonight, Mary Ann was with the other boy, Riley. When those two were together, Tucker could cast his illusions. For whatever reason. So, knowing Aden was inside, Tucker should have gone inside, too. And he could have, no one would have knowneven when Aden was with Mary Ann, Tucker could use his illusions if Riley was therebut Tucker had stayed out here. For Mary Ann, determined to protect her from the rage of the other boy.
As hed watched them, hed realized he was glad she had a new boyfriend. She deserved happiness. She deserved love. She was the light to Tuckers darkness, pure where he was tainted. Hed never been right for her. But damn it, why couldnt they remain friends?
And why couldnt Penny be more like her?
Penny. Sometimeswhen he was around Mary Ann and calmhe was glad theyd made a baby, even though he most often denied responsibility. Penny would be better off without him. Unlike Mary Ann, she didnt make him feel better about himself, his actions, his future. He would make a terrible father.
Without Mary Ann, he wanted to hurt those around him. Penny, yes, and probably the baby.
The boy. Follow the boy
As Vlads command drifted through his head, his teeth gnashed together. How did the vampire always know what Tucker was doing? How did the vampire wield such unbreakable control?
Disappointed, angry, dreading what was to come, Tucker straightened, unable to do otherwise, and headed south, toward the D and M Ranch where Aden lived. Thats where the vampire princess, Victoria, had taken him when theyd vanished in a blink. As always, Tucker sensed it, felt a pull tugging him in that direction.
So far, there hadnt been much to report to the king. Aden had gotten sick, Aden had gone to school. Aden had returned to the vampire strongholdwhere hed been treated like royalty.
The last had infuriated Vlad. So much so, Tucker had feared for his own life. For with the former kings fury, invisible hands had wrapped around Tuckers neck, choking him. Finally, though, the vampire had released him and sent him on his way for more spy duty.