Okay, it was definitely a weird night. I chose my words carefully. “Sky cares about you, and you hurt her. I think her coldness is the way she reacts to being hurt. If I were you, I’d give her another chance,” I said. Then, before things could get any weirder, I grabbed my toothbrush and headed for the bathroom.
Robbie was already standing in line, listening to the sound of the shower. I wondered if that meant Hunter was alone in the living room but didn’t have the nerve to ask.
“Bree’s still in there,” Robbie reported, rolling his eyes at the bathroom door. “I think she’s washing every strand of hair on her head individually.”
“That’s okay—I’ll wait.” A daring idea suddenly occurred to me. “Robbie…how would you feel about switching places with me a little later tonight?”
Robbie’s eyebrows rose. “Morganita, you sly dog!”
“Not for the whole night or anything. Maybe for an hour or so.”
“I dunno,” Robbie said. “That means you get an hour with Hunter, and I’ve got that same hour with Bree and Raven.”
“We’ll wait till one,” I said. “Everyone should be asleep. You can just slip in next to Bree. Raven will never know.”
Robbie eyed me doubtfully. “What if Raven wakes up?”
“Then just explain you were sleepwalking and stumbled into the wrong room.”
“Yeah, that’s believable.”
“Oh, come on, Robbie. Please.”
“Shhh,” he whispered. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
My heart skipped a beat as Hunter walked toward us, toothbrush in hand. He was wearing a long-sleeved black T-shirt over gray sweats that just seemed to emphasize how long and lean he was.
I felt his eyes on me, taking in the white nightgown and my hair brushed out and hanging loose, and I knew that Mary K. had been right. I could feel Hunter’s senses reaching out to me, wanting me, drawing me toward him.
Robbie must have sensed the electricity between us. “I’m going to hang in the kitchen,” he said. “But if Bree ever gets out of the bathroom, I’m first.”
Neither Hunter nor I said anything until he left. Then Hunter came close. “You look beautiful,” he said in a husky voice.
“Thanks. Um—you too,” I said in my eloquent way. My hands, ridiculously, trembled a little, and I folded my arms so he wouldn’t notice. I debated whether or not to tell him what Robbie and I had been planning. But before I’d worked up my nerve, he spoke in a rush.
“Do you think I could possibly persuade you to change places with Robbie for a little while tonight?” he asked. I heard the anxiety in his voice, the fear that I might say no, and I loved him so, so much.
“I already asked him,” I said, my heart hammering.
Hunter blew out his breath and grinned. His eyes danced with emerald green light. “Great minds…” he said, and bent to kiss me. Just then the bathroom door swung open and a cloud of steam floated out.
“Whoops,” Bree said.
Hunter and I pulled apart. “Robbie,” I called, grateful for the steam that hid my red cheeks. “The bathroom’s yours.”
An hour later we were all tucked in. I was too excited to even consider sleep. Periodically I extended my senses, identifying the patterns of the people in the apartment. Bree was sleeping, and so were Raven and Sky. Hunter and Robbie were both wide awake.
Finally it was one A.M. Moving quietly so as not to wake Bree and Raven, I made my way out of the guest room. In the living room a single candle flickered. Hunter and Robbie were sitting on opposite ends of the couch, waiting for me.
“Bree,” Robbie whispered. “Is she—”
“Asleep,” I told him. “Be careful you don’t startle her. Any sign of Mr. Warren?”
Hunter shook his head. “Not yet.”
I was keenly aware of his being just a few feet from me. My heart began to beat faster, and that funny anticipation feeling—that mix of pleasure with just a thread of uncertainty—began to hum through me. I waited till Robbie had gone, and then I sat beside Hunter.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t come,” he said. He reached out and closed one hand over mine. “I thought you might fall asleep.”
“Almost did,” I teased.
“Did you really?” he asked.
“No,” I admitted, suddenly feeling vulnerable and unsure. It occurred to me again that Hunter had never told me he loved me, though I’d told him I loved him. Was it just a guy thing, not being able to say the words? Or did he not feel the same way? Hunter was honest to a fault, and I was certain that he cared about me. But maybe it wasn’t love, and that’s why he’d never said the words. Could Bree be right about love? Maybe Hunter was about to break my heart and hand it back to me in little pieces.
Maybe I shouldn’t be here now, I thought, feeling a tickle of panic. Maybe I should just go back to my own bed, not get close to anything I can’t handle.
Then Hunter turned over my hand and began to gently stroke the underside of my arm. His touch sent shivers of delight racing through me.
“You were like a vision, you know,” he said, his voice soft and low. “Standing there in the hall in that innocent gown, your hair shining, holding a toothbrush of all things. I just wanted to run away with you.”
“Really?” I whispered. “Where to?”
“I don’t know. Didn’t think it through that far.” He brushed back a strand of hair from my face. “You know, I never had second thoughts about becoming a Seeker. It seemed necessary, fated. But lately…” His voice trailed off on a note of longing.
“Lately what?”
“I wish there were a way to take a break from it. I wish I could just steal away with you for a while.”
My heart was pounding like a drum. I fought desperately to keep things grounded, realistic. “My parents probably wouldn’t be too keen on that idea,” I said.
“Right. Parents,” he said. “They probably wouldn’t approve of this, either.” He bent forward and kissed the side of my neck.
Chills raced through me. The energy flowing between us felt so strong and right and good. I didn’t want to walk away from it. Not anymore. Gently I lifted his head so that I could put my mouth on his. He wrapped his arms around me.
At first our kisses were soft, searching, as if we were just getting to know each other. Hunter’s hands slid along my nightgown, caressing my waist, my side. Every inch of my body was alight with desire. Everything in me streamed toward Hunter. I slid my hand under his shirt, felt the smooth skin of his chest over a hard sheath of muscle. Gently he pushed me backward so we were lying on the foldout bed. He pulled back for a moment, and I saw his face in the light from the window, intent as always. But now, this time, he was totally focused on me. His lips came down on mine again, harder now, more urgent.
Then, without warning, Hunter broke away.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, breathless.
“Don’t you sense him?”
And then I did. It was Mr. Warren, coming down the hall.
“He can’t!” I groaned. “It’s not fair.”
“But he is.” Hunter held me close with one arm. He ran his other hand along my face and kissed me gently. “We’d better call it a night.”
“No! Can’t we do a spell to make him think he’s dropped his keys and has to go back down to the garage, or—”
Hunter swatted at me lightly. “You know better. Come on, now. Go give Bree and Robbie some warning.”
I got up with a groan. I could hear Mr. Warren’s footsteps coming down the hallway. “Okay.” I leaned forward and gave Hunter one last kiss. “To be continued,” I promised.
5. Gifts of the Mage
July 16, 1981
We’ve been in Ballynigel less than twenty-four hours, and everything has changed. I know now why I kept dreaming of this place, why I’ve felt drawn back here, as though there were an invisible string connecting it to my heart.