Sweeter words had never been spoken, and she should have been flying through the clouds, lost to happiness. Except, she found herself saying, RileyI just dont know. I mean
Oh, no. Hell, no. He rolled over, pinning her to the bed, his weight smashing into her. He was heavy, but it wasnt unpleasant. She liked it, liked having him there. Are you trying to break up with me?
No. Yes. Oh, God, she couldnt believe shed just said that. He was her everything, and yet, she was dangerous to him. She wasnt going to risk his life, even to keep him, which she wanted to do more than anything else in the world.
Things are more complicated, yes, but that doesnt mean were over.
Tears burned her eyes, springing up, spilling over. Yeah, it does. Stop it. Stop talking. Dont do this. Wereover. If there were any other wayand maybe there was. She would find it, if so, as planned. Research, experimentation. Whatever.
But until then, no Riley. No feeding her addiction to him. No enjoying him, relying on him, expecting and needing him.
His eyes narrowed. If thats the case, then you wont mind taking your self-defense lessons from me.
And have his hands all over her? How would she resist him? That kinda defeats the point of what Im trying to do. Protect you for once.
And what are you trying
Mary Ann, her dad called from downstairs, his voice echoing from the walls and interrupting. You up?
Yeah, she called back.
Breakfast will be ready in twenty.
Thanks.
Welcome.
She squirmed free of Riley and stood, keeping her back to him. You should probably go. I have to get ready.
He sat up. Ill leave, but Ill return and walk you to school. Unless you want to skip and head into town to find another witch. The more bargaining power we have, the better off well be.
He was asking for her help now, rather than trying to leave her behind to keep her safe. Powerful stuff. He had to know how much that affected her. Cant. Ive got a Chem test, and I cant miss. Not that a perfect grade point average mattered in the afterlife, but part of her wanted to pretend this was a normal week.
All right, Ill
Victoria suddenly appeared in the center of the room, and Mary Ann yelped, hand fluttering over her heart. The vampire princess was paler than usual, her features tight with concern.
You have to come with me, she said to Mary Ann. Adens trapped inside Shannons body and cant get out.
Mary Ann had seen Aden possess a body beforeRileys wolf form, actuallyand the sight had shocked her to her soul. Now hed possessed Shannon? Ill dress and meet you at the ranch.
No. That will take too long. Ill teleport you.
She stifled a groan. All right. I have to get past my dad, though, and convince him Im headed to school. No Chem test, after all. Ill meet you at the gate to my neighborhood.
Im going with, Riley said, standing.
Victoria shook her head, adamant. You cant. You prevent Mary Ann from using her muting ability. You have to stay behind.
Stubborn, he said, Ill walk her to the gate, then, and you can leave me there.
After a harried nod, Victoria vanished.
Mary Ann was silent as she tugged a sweater and jeans from her closet; she was silent as she dressed in the bathroom. When she finished, she gathered her books and backpack. Still silent. Riley had already removed his jeanswhere had he stored them?and transformed into a wolf.
Together, they raced down the stairs and into the kitchen. The scent of eggs and bacon wafted through the air. Her mouth didnt water, but her stomach didnt threaten to revolt again, either. An improvement.
Dad, she said in greeting.
He turned, spied Riley and froze, his expression both disgusted and terrified. There were lines of tension around his eyes, as if he hadnt slept after hed left her room. Dear Lord. I didnt realize how big that thing really was.
Sorry, Dad, but I dont have time for breakfast. I forgot I wanted to get to school early and study for my Chem test.
He frowned. Youve barely even picked at your food lately. Dont think I havent noticed. At least take a piece of bacon with you. Its brain food.
She didnt want to argue, so she claimed the piece he held out for her. Thanks.
Want a ride?
Nah. Too casual? Oxygen to the brain, and all that.
Good luck, honey.
Thanks. Love you. With that, she was out the door and running for the gate, Riley keeping pace at her side.
Funny thing. On the way there, she could have sworn she spotted Tucker, running with them, but Riley didnt seem to notice him, and Riley noticed everything, so she convinced herself she was seeing things.
Besides, even if Tucker was here, even if he was following her, she didnt have time to stop and question him. Aden needed her. She just prayed she could help himrather than hurt him further.
SEVENTEEN
TWO VOICES CALLED TO ADEN. Both female. Both alarmed.
Try something else.
Like what? Ive tried everything! Screaming at him, shaking him, slapping him.
Hes inside that body. Get. Him. Out!
What do you want me to do? Reach inside his chest?
Yes!
You are such a pain! How does Aden stand you? But fine, Ill do it. Ill try.
One second Aden was inside Shannons body, drifting through his friends mind and memories, reliving a past as painful and lonely as his own, and the next he was standing beside Mary Ann, his hand resting in hers.
She was panting, sheened with perspiration, gaze glazed with shock and fatigue. Did you see that? she gasped out. Did you? I cant believe I just did that. Tell me you saw that!
What happened? he croaked. God, he ached. Every inch of him ached as if hed been in a hit-and-runhit with a baseball bat and run over by a truck.
Victoria moved to his other side, her mouth hanging open with an equal measure of shock. Youre okay. Youre going to be okay now.
Was she trying to convince him? Or herself? What happened? he asked again.
Sheshe reached inside. Jerked you out. You were like a ghost at first, not truly solid, then you were here. IveIve never seen anything like that.
Any collateral damage? Aden took stock. His knee hurt the most, and he was shaking, but he wasnt puking and wasnt paralyzed. The poison had passed through him. Thank God. He almost collapsed in relief.
Elijah, Caleb and Julian were no longer moaning, babbling and incoherent. They were quiet. There, Aden could tell, but quiet, as if they were exhausted from their ordeal and needed rest.
Despite Mary Anns nearness, Mr. Thomas was also present. A mere outline of himself, but Aden could still see him. He sat at the desk, arms folded over his middle, expression mulish. He couldnt hide the interest in his eyes, though. He was watching and cataloging every detail.
Odd. Riley wasnt here. Mary Ann should have muted all of Adens abilities completely. Why hadnt she?
Uh, A-Aden. Shannon slowly sat up and looked around the bedroom. He scrubbed his face with trembling fingers. W-what just happened? I was standing in f-front of you. Wasnt I? Howd I g-get on the bed?
He didnt know that Aden had been inside his mind, then. Thank God for that, too. You passed out. It was the only thing his fogged brain could come up with so spur of the moment.
P-passed out? Why? Shannon looked at the clock and shook his head, rubbed his eyes. Its n-nine-fifteen. How is it nine-fifteen? I tried to wake you up at six-thirty. I should be at school. C-crap! Im late. D-Dans gonna freak. He
He thinks youre sick. Aden remembered Dans visit, and what hed said. And you were. For a little while.
Shannon calmed, focused on the girls and frowned. What are you guys d-doing here? And when did you get here? God, this is w-weird. Ive never passed out before. Never lost t-time like that.
Shannon, Victoria said, her voice suddenly thick, layeredpowerful.
The voice. Aden reached out and grabbed her wrist. When she focused on him, he shook his head. Dont do it. Shannon had felt defenseless and out of control all his life, and Aden wouldnt add to thatwhether his friend realized what was going on or not.
Though she was clearly confused, Victoria nodded.
Shannon, do you feel up to going to school? Aden asked.
Yeah. II feel fine. Except for that loss of time.
You can still make it, if you want.
One dark brow rose. You going?
Aden shook his head. Yeah, but not just yet. At this rate, he wasnt going to get any kind of education anytime soon. Im still not feeling one hundred percent.
O-okay. I dig. His friends head tilted to the side. But maybe o-one day, youll trust me with your s-secrets. See you later, he added before Aden could reply. Motions slow, Shannon stood, bent down and grabbed his backpack, then headed out of the room, out of the bunkhouse, the door beating shut behind him.
So. Shannon suspected something was going on.
Worry about that later. Aden glanced down at himself. He wore boxers and sweat, and that was it. His knee was caked with dried blood, the skin still shredded. His skin was pale with a grayish tint. Nice. Can you guys stay while I shower?
Of course, Victoria said.
Yeah, Mary Ann agreed. She was peering at her hands, turning them in the light. But will you tell us a little about what happened first? Just a small detail to tide us over before we grill you.
Itime-traveled through Shannons past. Aden gathered some clothesa plain gray T-shirt and jeans.
That was Eves ability, Victoria said, not yours.
I know. Maybe, I dont know, maybe when she left, her ability somehow stayed with me. Or maybe she gave it to me, even. A final gift in case I ever needed to right a wrong.
Or maybe you time-traveled so much, your body simply learned how to do it without her, Mary Ann said. Youve heard about muscle memory, right? When a movement is repeated over and over again, a long-term muscle memory is created for that specific task and soon a person can perform that task without any conscious effort.
That made senseas much as anything in his life did these days. You, Mary Ann, are a genius.
She grinned. I know.
He rushed to the bathroom, where he hurriedly washed and dressed. By the time he returned to his room, Riley was there, sitting on the edge of the bed, stiff, obviously uncomfortable. Mary Ann stood as far away from him as possible, leaning against the closet door and looking anywhere but him. Clearly, whatever had plagued them yesterday had yet to be resolved.
Only thing they could be fighting about was that defense lesson. Was Riley still throwing a tantrum? Baby.
Victoria sat at the desk, composed again. Thomas had moved to the window, no longer an outline but as clear and sparkly as always.
Oh, good. Youre back. I found this. Victoria handed him a sheet of paper. Its for you, from Dan. Dont worry. He had no idea we were here. I made sure of it.
He peered down and read.
Aden,
You have another session with Dr. Hennessy this evening. Sorry for the late notice. He only called me this morning. I thought you were sick, so I told him no. Then I ran into Shannon, who was better and on his way to class. He reminded me you were better, too, and already there, so I called the doctor back. Glad youre feeling better. Ill expect you to do your chores after school. On another note, Ive hired a new tutor, and shes coming to dinner tonight to meet you boys. Itll be after your therapy session, so no worries. Even though she wont be teaching you, Id like you to be there to help welcome her.
Dan
Great. More Dr. Hennessy. And another tutor? Aden flicked Thomas a glance. Would the next tutor be a fairy, too? Even the harbinger of death that Thomas had promised? Hed find out tonight, he supposed. Aden crumpled the paper and tossed the wad in the trash can.
So what happened to you? Mary Ann asked, and he knew what she meant. All the details this time.
Once upon a time, a goblin took a bite out of my leg He told them everything but what hed learned about Shannons past. That was Shannons secret to share. He no longer cared about Thomas getting an earful. Wasnt like the guy could do anything with what he learned.
Im sorry I didnt protect you, my king, Riley said, standing and bowing his head. I take full responsibility for your ordeal.
Im not your king. The denial slipped from him automatically. And the responsibility lies with me.
Thank you for the exoneration, my king. Such a stiff, formal, irritating tone. I can promise you nothing like this will happen again.
Aden rolled his eyes. Youre such a jerk, Riley.
Victoria wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder, her body hot as fire. Youve been injured too much lately. No wonder Elijah thinks youre going to die soon.
What? The single word exploded from Rileys mouth.
Oops, Victoria said with a grimace. Sorry.
Looks like Ive got another non-fairy-tale to weave. Sighing, Aden explained about Elijahs prediction. That soon Aden would die on a darkened street, a knife in his heart. Though he tried, he couldnt keep the fear from his voice.
Oh, Aden, Mary Ann said, tears in her eyes. I already knew, but still. Its
You knew? You knew and you didnt tell me? Thanks for keeping me updated, sweetheart. Riley practically vibrated with sardonic rage.
First, I only found out the other day. And second, we had other things on our minds, she snapped. I planned to tell you after this week from hell was over.
The wolf accepted the explanation with a stiff nod. You wont be hurt on my watch, that I swear.
Thank you. Later, Aden would tell him that nothing could be doneand yeah, hed once planned to try something himself, still planned to try something himself, really, but he didnt want to get the wolfs hopes up. Later, though. Always later. As Mary Ann had said, they had enough to worry about during this week from hell. So whats the plan for today? he said, changing the subject. He walked Victoria to the bed, sat down and pulled her down on his lap. After everything hed just endured, he wasnt ready to let her go. Thankfully, she cuddled close, unconcerned by their audience.