He didn’t see Thomas, and wondered where he was.
“You go home and get some rest, too. Because tomorrow,” he said, placing a soft kiss on Victoria’s lips. “We’re going on a date.”
She grinned slowly. “Is that an order from my king?”
“That’s a plea from the guy who loves you.”
“Then I accept.”
“YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, Mary Ann,” Riley said, stuffing her clothes in a bag, several pieces at a time. Even as she pulled those clothes out. “And I’m going with you.”
“I’m not leaving my dad. And no, you’re not.”
“It’s the only way. If you’re here with him, he’ll be killed to get to you. Everyone knows what you are now. Aden can command the vamps and weres to leave you alone, but he has no power over the witches or the fairies. And they’ll be very eager to destroy you. Especially after tonight. So just so you know, there’s no way I’m staying behind. I want to protect you.”
He was right about the danger. She knew he was right. That didn’t make this any easier. “I can’t just leave.”
“Write him a note,” Riley continued as if there was no question of her course of action. “Tell him goodbye. That’s the only way to save him.”
Save him. Nothing else could have propelled her into action. Tears filled her eyes, but she stopped stopping Riley from packing and walked to her desk. She wrote her dad a letter, telling him she loved him, but needed to get away for a little while and she’d call him when she could.
He was going to be distraught and blame himself. God, she hated herself just then.
“All packed,” Riley said, resolute.
“My dad…he’s still in his room. The fairy told him to stay there, no matter what he heard. I think he’s been there all night.” She’d been home less than half an hour, but she’d checked on him twice. Both times, he hadn’t heard her, hadn’t noticed her, had merely remained perched at the edge of his bed, his eyes glazed.
“I’ll contact Victoria and she’ll release him from the fairy’s compulsion. Any other objections?”
“Yes. No one knows Vlad is still alive. What’s going to happen to Aden when everyone finds out? You need to stay here and protect him. Or have you lost your loyalty to him?”
His lashes fused together, but she could still see the way his pupils expanded and retracted. “No, I haven’t lost my loyalty to Aden. No one else will, either. Believe me, he has more than proven himself, taming the beasts, and our people would now rather deal with Vlad’s wrath than Aden’s. He’ll be fine. Now, let’s go.”
Gulping, she stood and faced him. Telling her dad goodbye wasn’t the only tough thing she had to do. “No,” she whispered, then added more firmly, “No. I told you. I’m going alone.”
“Not just no, but hell, no.” He slung the bag over his shoulder. “Let’s go. Together.”
“I’m going alone or I’m staying here.” She wasn’t going to allow Riley to give up everything for her, not when such an act would get him killed. If not by her, then by the people he left behind. Protecting her after the battle with the fairies was explainable. She’d saved the day, defeated their adversary. He’d felt obligated. And yet still the others had growled and hissed at him as if he were the enemy. They would have killed him right then if Aden hadn’t stepped out and ordered them to back down.
They’d forgive him, though, welcome him back into the fold. Surely. Unless Riley chose her over his brethren a second time. Then they’d hunt him down—as they were going to hunt her.
“I’m not kidding, Riley. If I stay and he’s hurt, I’ll blame you. You have to let me go alone.”
“And just where will you go?” he snapped.
She didn’t know, but she wouldn’t have told him if she had. “It’s best if I keep that to myself.”
He popped his jaw.
“For both of us,” she added, and had to fight a fresh spring of tears. This is for the best. Don’t forget.
“Fine,” he said, his knuckles white as they clutched the bag’s handles. “Do it. Go.”
“I will.” The words choked from her as she pried his fingers loose and anchored the heavy nylon in place. “I guess this is goodbye, then.” She turned away before the tears started falling and strode out of her bedroom. Then stopped in the hall. She couldn’t leave like this. Couldn’t end things like this.
Quickly she backtracked, pausing in front of a scowling Riley, grabbing him by the back of the neck and jerking his mouth to hers. The kiss was swift, hard and teased her with the wildness of his taste, the unwavering strength of his body. Seconds passed, and she wished for eternity. This was it. The end. Their last kiss. She committed the moment, the boy, to her memory.
She’d need it.
With a groan, she released him and spun. She ran out of her house and into the bright sunlight.
She threw her bag in the car Riley had stolen last night, recalling how he’d sped along the roads, whisking her from somewhere in Texas to Oklahoma in record time. Then she drove, just drove. She never stopped crying.
ADEN SAID NOTHING about his plans to Dan or the boys while they ate breakfast and discussed Ms. Brendal and how she’d seemed to disappear exactly as Mr. Thomas had. And how Dan wanted to give up on tutors entirely and try and enroll the other boys at Crossroads High with Aden and Shannon.
They were, of course, excited.
He said nothing as he gathered his books and backpack, the souls chattering inside his head—Caleb making plans to find the witches again, Julian amusing himself by pointing out the flaws in each of Caleb’s ideas, and Elijah trying to figure out why he saw more turmoil in the future than ever. Aden ignored them, still flying high. Even Shannon and the other boys remarked on how happy he seemed, how light his mood was.
He didn’t know what he’d tell them yet, or even how he’d tell them. But he wasn’t going to worry about that now. After everything that had happened, he was simply going to enjoy the day. And the evening, of course, when he took Victoria on their first official date. He grinned. He frowned. Would evening never arrive?
The school day passed with agonizing slowness, the classes sheer torture. Despite the fact that he was free. Free of the witches’ curse and its consequences. Victoria was absent, but then, so were Mary Ann and Riley. Aden wasn’t worried. They needed a break. Hell, he needed a break, but he kinda owed Dan.
After school, he rushed through his chores. Or tried to. Finally, though, he finished shucking and bailing and showered. He changed into his best clothes, jeans and a black T-shirt, just as the moon made its appearance in the sky. He wanted to buy Victoria flowers, but didn’t have any money and didn’t want to destroy Meg’s roses.
He would just have to give her his heart. Again.
Because he didn’t have a car, and wasn’t allowed to date while living at the ranch—girls equaled trouble, Dan said, because they kept boys from working hard and studying—Victoria had to pick him up and convince everyone to think he was right there with them.
And God, did she look beautiful. Some of her wounds were still in the process of healing, and there were scabs on her arm, but she wore a tight blue sweater and a barely there miniskirt in a lighter shade. The colors transformed her from Vampire Chick to Little Slice of Heaven. Her hair hung down her back in silky black waves, and all he wanted to do was find a dark corner and run his fingers through them.
They climbed through his window and strolled away from the ranch hand in hand.
“Do you like?” she asked. She even pulled from his hold to twirl in front of him. “I borrowed it from Stephanie, naturally. And speaking of my family, the girls have decided you’re, and I quote, not so bad. You tamed their beasts, outwitted the witches and sent the fairies to their knees.”