He went through three bags before the burning began to dwindle and the insistent tugging around his heart faded to a constant, but bearable, tension.
Someone cleared their throat behind him, and after he drained another bag, he finally closed the fridge. As he shut it, a flyer caught his eye, and he slid the magnet over and took it. He chuckled. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Still holding onto the page, he turned around and said in a clear and strong voice, “Tyler, I want you to take over the plans for the fair. This town needs a little happiness.”
“You can’t be serious,” Angelle scoffed. Her cover girl face paled and wrinkled.
He grinned and placed the flyer on the counter. “I am serious.”
Mitchell knew by the looks he was getting they all thought he had gone mad, and he was sure that his laughter only helped to confirm their suspicions. The only one that looked remotely curious was Eric. His face lit up after a second, and a half grin appeared. He chuckled and then elbowed Mitchell out of the way of the fridge and began guzzling a bag of blood.
“Mitchell, buddy,” Luke said. He took a few hesitant steps towards him and placed a hand on Mitchell’s shoulder. Mitchell tried to pretend he didn’t see the black and blue hand mark on his wrist that was still trying to heal. “You’re not thinking straight. We need to focus on getting rid of the threat.”
Mitchell forged his voice to sound sure and confident. “We are getting rid of the threat. Once the hunters have the girls, they’ll leave.”
“When did you become so stupid?” Lola yelled. “They won’t leave, and you damn well know it. They’ll just use Amelia and Megan against us.”
Mitchell narrowed his eyes. “Like I said before, if you don’t like my judgment, then there’s the door.”
Luke fell for the hostile glare and quickly placed himself in front of Lola. He wasn’t the only one who—thankfully—didn’t want to pursue the useless argument.
“Okay,” Tyler said, snagging the page in one hand and grabbing Angelle with the other. “I’ll get it all together.” He started out of the room, but before leaving, he turned back. “What’s the password to Millie’s computer?”
Cheap shot, Mitchell thought, and his jaw twitched. They all knew her password. It had only been put in place when Fiona had shown up to keep the financial files out of her reach. Mitchell glared at him for even bringing it up, and he almost gasped when he saw the blatant comprehension on Tyler’s face.
“Bonded for life,” Mitchell answered softly. He hated the pain that he heard in his voice and cursed the sympathetic glances he received from his family. Tyler nodded, and after a long searching look, he left.
Mitchell turned from the rest of them and looked out the window, trying to hide the tears that pooled in his eyes. The view didn’t help. All he saw was the empty space where Amelia’s Jeep should have been parked.
Time seemed to stand still. Mitchell wasn’t sure how long he stood staring at the empty space. He hadn’t heard Luke and Lola leave, and he wasn’t prepared for the sudden sound in his ear.
“Dad?” Eric said, and Mitchell rocketed up, startled.
“What is it, Eric?” he huffed, when he got the rush of adrenaline under control.
“Do you think they’ll be okay?”
Mitchell put an arm around Eric’s shoulder and ruffled his hair. “They’ll be fine,” he said, praying it was true.
CHAPTER 27
Clouds rolled in, coating the blue sky with dirty wool, and the gusting wind shrieked against the joints of the car. Amelia gripped the steering wheel tighter, fighting to keep the Jeep on the road.
The first fat drops of rain splattered on the windshield, and she fiddled with the levers, trying to figure out which one turned on the wipers.
“Millie, what was that spell?” Megan’s voice trembled with the question. She was looking straight ahead, her eyes fixed on the vanity mirror, tracing the lines of where Eric’s name used to be.
“It won’t last long. Two or three days tops,” Amelia answered, because in all honesty, she didn’t really know anything more. The words had just come to her. But even now, she could feel the magic fading and spurts of Mitchell’s thoughts filtered into her. “But it’ll give us time to figure this out.”
“They’ll be okay, right?” Megan asked. “They’ll figure out the plan?”
Amelia sighed. “They’ll be fine, Meg. Besides, they’re the ones who set up the cover to get us out.”
Shadows covered the gravel road like skeletal fingers reaching out at the car. The sun had completely set, and the storm masked any stitch of moonlight from lighting their way. Amelia pulled the Jeep to a stop under the big oak tree at Bayview Park. She turned off the engine and peered through the side window, looking for any sign of movement.
This was a mistake, her mind chanted over and over. But even though she knew how stupid this was, she also knew she didn’t have a choice. Not really.
The rumble of a diesel engine caught Amelia’s attention, and bright white headlights cut through the fog and rain behind them as an oversized pickup truck splashed through the mud and puddles on the road. Amelia turned towards Megan and she tried to hide her growing anxiety as she asked, “Are you sure about this, Meg?”
After what felt like hours, Megan said, “Yeah.” She looked a bit green and rubbed at her neck where her mark had been. “You’ll like Cole.” She tried to smile, but it fell flat.
Amelia opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly her car door, which she had been leaning on, ripped open, and she tumbled out into a strong pair of arms. Cold droplets of rain splashed on her forehead and she squealed.
Megan’s arm shot out, and a throaty chuckle brushed against Amelia’s ear as she tried to pull Amelia upright. A solid chest pushed against her back as she was propped back up onto the seat.
Megan grinned, looking past Amelia. “Hey, Josh,” she said, and her eyes shifted back and forth, searching. “Where’s Cole?”
“Busy,” a deep, gravelly voice grunted.
Amelia’s heart was racing, and her back broke out in sweat. She struggled to turn around to see the man that still had his body pressed against hers in a way that suggested he was interested in more than just ensuring she wouldn’t fall again. But before she could swing herself around, a warm hand grabbed her forearm, yanking it behind her, and icy metal snapped around her wrist.
“What the hell are you doing?” Amelia screeched and tried to wrench her arm free, but a clear warning look from Megan made her freeze in mid-struggle.
He wrenched her other arm behind her and click her other wrist into a set of handcuffs before tossing a pair to Megan. “Put them on, Megs.”
“Are you kidding me?” Megan held the handcuffs by a finger, letting them dangle, the metal clanking together. “What the hell, Josh?”
“Boss’s orders. You’re not his favorite anymore.”
Amelia managed to swivel just enough to get a glimpse of him from the corner of her eye, and she forced her lips to curve into a soft smile. “You realize that we can take you out with the cuffs on, right?” She arched an eyebrow with the question.
His hot breath puffed against her cheek with his laugh. “Doubt that, sweetheart. I’m not like the other hunters.”
Amelia gasped. His face and neck shuddered, and she could feel the rest of him quake. His eyes began to glow an unnatural yellow-green, and his muscles that pressed against her back shifted under his skin and hardened.
A wave of spine-prickling panic hit Amelia. Raw energy pulsated from him, an energy that she had never felt before. It was strong and pure and raw, and she hated to admit it, but it was intoxicating. Her eyelids dropped, a ragged breath escaped her mouth, and she leaned against him, pushing herself as close as she could towards the power. She glanced up, pressing her head against his chest and looked into his terrifying, and yet enchanting, eyes and whispered, “Whatever, I just want to get out of here.”
Megan moaned and leaned across the console. “You smell
like…” she licked her lips, “like cotton candy and gum drops.”
“This is just too easy,” he said under his breath and laughed again. His comment resurrected a moment’s clarity in Amelia, but that moment passed when Josh put his arm around her waist and pulled her out of the car and into the rain. “Come on, Megs. Get in the truck and put the cuffs on.”
His hand closed around Amelia’s bicep and he towed her to his waiting truck. “What about my car?” Amelia breathed.
“You won’t need it,” Josh replied, and to her surprise, the response seemed completely logical. And that small voice in her head agreed. Of course, she wouldn’t need it.
Amelia heard Megan’s door open and then slam shut, and then she was picked up and put in the back of the extended cab. He pulled the seat belt over her shoulder, snapped it in place, and then stood back, hesitation etched on his brow.
“Are you okay? I mean comfortable?” A shy smile crept upon his lips and his eyes faded to a soft silver.
Amelia could only nod as she took him in. He had that jaw. It was strong and chiseled in a way that drove her crazy. She licked her lips and tried to reach out to run her fingers along the perfect line, but ended up wincing as the metal dug into her skin. The pain brought on a swift clarity, and before thinking, she flinched away from his outstretched hand that had been about to rest on her cheek. The sweet and shy smile vanished, and he scowled.
“What are you?” Amelia whispered. The cloud that had been pushing away her reason was starting to lift, and her heart began to pump in overtime as his scowl deepened and his silvery eyes narrowed at her question.
“Hey, Josh,” Megan shouted. “Give me a hand.”
He searched Amelia’s face for a long moment. His eyes lingered on her neck, and she didn’t have to ask what he was looking for. He arched an eyebrow. “You killed him?”
“Josh!” Megan yelled again, and with a smirk, he shut Amelia’s door.
Moments later, Megan was in the truck beside her, and as soon as he shut her door, Megan warned in a frantic whisper, “I don’t know what’s going on, but don’t say anything. Just do what he wants until I can speak to Cole.”
“Okay,” Amelia whispered her agreement.
****
By the numbness of her butt, Amelia wasn’t at all surprised to find that they had been driving for about two hours when they finally reached their destination. Josh hadn’t said much on the drive, but Amelia guessed that was only because they had refused to answer his questions.
Amelia had spent most of the drive looking at the back of Josh’s head, counting the thick black curls and tracing the outline of his broad shoulders with her eyes. Every once in a while, the mouth-watering scent of cotton candy would waft about the cab of the truck. After the first hour, she clued in enough to realize that her infatuation with his hair and his honey-tinted skin had something to do with the scent.
When they pulled up in front of a small log cottage, Josh jumped out and came around to Amelia's side; opening her door and reaching across her to unlock her seat belt. Once it clicked open, he reached around her, cupped her butt, and turned her body so her legs were dangling out the door.
Amelia was just about to jump to the ground when his hands traveled upwards. At first, she had assumed he was going to pick her up, but when they landed on her chest, Amelia squealed and shot back, hitting Megan so hard that Megan’s head banged against the window.
“Josh, what the hell are you doing?” Megan growled as she shouldered Amelia in an attempt to sit her back up. “I swear if you touch her like that again, I’ll break every finger on your hands.”
Josh chuckled. “Just having a little fun, Megs.” He reached back into the truck and enclosed his hands around Amelia’s thighs so tightly that she was sure there would be bruises soon, and he winked at her. “She better get used to it. Cole promised her to me so it’s really none of your business what my hands touch.”
Megan’s temper sparked, and a blast of heat hit Amelia’s back as her steamy energy spiked with her temper. Josh’s eyes started to change, glowing, and the soft candy scent became a bit stronger.
“It’s okay, Meg,” Amelia said in a rush, struggling against the fog that was seeping into her brain. She gave Josh what she hoped was a seductive smile, praying he couldn’t see how much her stomach was turning at the thought of him touching her again. “I’m just a bit jumpy. I wasn’t expecting it.”
Josh chuckled again; the scent receded, and he grabbed onto her thighs and yanked her out of the truck. Amelia stumbled when she hit the ground, her foot catching on a root, and fell into him, leaning against his chest. She felt his hot breath against her ear, and she fought not to squirm away from his touch. His hands traveled from her waist cupping her butt, pulling her tightly against him. His lips brushed across her earlobe as he whispered, “We’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
“Can’t wait,” Amelia breathed, swallowing the bile that rushed up her throat.
Luckily, Josh let go of her then, and seconds later, she was being dragged across the uneven ground. “Josh, take these bloody cuffs off,” Megan growled as they were towed up a few steps. Josh didn’t acknowledge her, and he shoved open the cottage door.
“Cole,” Megan shouted as she was pushed across the threshold. “Get this crap off of us.”
“Relax, Megs,” a deep voice resonated down the hallway. Amelia jumped; unfortunately, right back into Josh’s groping hands which lingered far too long along the side of her chest before he unlocked her hands.
Cole rounded the corner and strutted towards them. He stopped in front of Megan smiling as if it was just any other day, and he gave Megan a friendly hug before taking off the handcuffs.
“Relax!” Red streaked up Megan’s neck. “You had us handcuffed. How the hell am I supposed to relax?”
Cole smirked and shrugged before turning away from them and walking down a long, bright hallway. “It was a needed precaution.”
Josh’s hand nudged at the small of Amelia’s back, and without much of a choice, she started forwards, following Cole. She noticed Megan furiously glaring at his back and grabbed hold of her hand, towing her along.
The end of the hallway opened up into a cozy looking living room. Cole was already sitting on a blue and green-checkered couch; a small girl with mousy brown hair was curled up beside him.
Beside them sat a boy with saggy looking blonde hair, and he wore a goofy smile—not in the Eric kind of way—more of a fifteen year old boy discovering that girls don’t really have cooties kind of way. And by the looks of him, Amelia was sure he wasn’t a day older than fifteen.
Amelia didn’t waste time on him and looked around, surveying the situation and all the while wondering what the likelihood was of Mitchell seeing her surroundings.
There really wasn’t much to the cabin, and it reminded Amelia of the hunting cabin her dad used to take her to as a child. The walls were made of logs, and the furniture was all mismatched. Off to the right was a narrow staircase that Amelia guessed led to the bedrooms, and to her left was a small kitchenette. Through a window, she noticed the silhouette of trees, but with the storm, she couldn’t even make out what kind they were.
Leaning against the fireplace were two boys—twins. The boys—or maybe men was a better classification, she couldn’t really tell their age—were tall and lanky with sharp facial features and buzzed-cut black hair. They looked bored, with their arms folded over their chests and eyes half closed.
“Why is she hanging off of you?” Megan asked through clenched teeth, pulling Amelia back to the situation.
“Things change, Megs,” Cole replied with a smug grin, and he draped his arm around the girl. With the way he was eyeing Megan, Amelia was certain that the action was only to try to get a rise out of her. And by the way Megan’s hands were beginning to glow and spark, he was definitely succeeding.
Josh laughed and pulled Amelia closer to him, and she gritted her teeth, trying to hold in the urge t
o slap him away. For once, she was determined to feel out the situation before causing more of a mess, but if he didn’t screw off with all the touchy feely crap, she was sure she’d lose it.
“Boss, the marks are gone,” Josh said. “Looks like they got rid of the fangers for us.”
Megan spun around, and before Amelia could stop her, she slapped him. “Josh, keep your hands off her already!”
Josh’s hand shot out in a speed that Amelia would have sworn was reserved for vampires, grabbed Megan’s wrist, and the sound of her bone snapping filled Amelia’s ear.
“No,” Amelia screamed, but her voice was like a whisper compared to the cries of pain that erupted from Megan.
Amelia frantically tried to loosen Josh’s grip, but his fist was like a vice grip. He squeezed tighter, and Megan’s wrist snapped again. “Let go,” Josh growled at Amelia. His eyes began to glow, and his body started to shutter, muscles jumping around under his skin and bulging out as if they were growing before her eyes.
“Please stop hurting her,” Amelia begged, refusing to let go. “Please.”
Someone grabbed the hood of her sweatshirt and yanked her out of the way. Amelia crashed to the floor in a heap. The meaty crack of a fist hitting flesh reverberated, bouncing off the log walls.
CHAPTER 28
Out of the corner of her eye, Amelia saw that the twins had grabbed Megan by her shoulders and pulled her out of the way of the fight. An ear-piercing scream ripped through her, and Amelia slapped her hands to her ears. When it did nothing to silence the sound, she realized it was coming from her own body.
This can’t be happening, a voice shrieked in the back of her mind, and cold seeped into her veins. She wanted to run, and she tried to force herself to get to her feet, but her legs refused to listen.