His thumb rubbed my knuckles. “The devil doesn’t get outmaneuvered. It’s not in his nature, nor is it in ours to beat him at his own game. That you have is proof that the impossible is now possible.”
He gave my hand a squeeze then released it. He leaned back in the chair, his body dwarfing the thing. It groaned as he crossed his ankle over his other leg. “Today is not the day we die. And so help the world if I’m wrong, because I will overturn both earth and hell to reunite with you.”
By the time the sun was about to rise, we had a loose game plan in place. An exceedingly stupid one, but at least it was something. Andre owned a couple properties here in Germany, and we were going to visit at least one of them.
That meant a chance confrontation with any vampires that happened to be there. Vampires that now knew I was fated to kill them. That was the second, more obscure prophecy that I starred in, the one that drove Andre’s right-hand man, Theodore, to try to kill me several months ago.
They know everything.
My head rested against Andre’s chest as he held me tightly to him in the room’s bed. His hand traced shapes into my back. Back when winter break had begun, I had imagined long days with Oliver and even longer nights with Andre. I’d been concerned with the Politia’s opinion of me and plotting how I was going to deepen my relationship with Andre.
Never had I imagined jetting out to Romania to solve a string of murders, nor had I imagined that the devil would make another play for my soul, or that I’d be on the run.
And definitely not this—this intimacy borne from survival and struggle. It was deepening our relationship even now. How could it not? My soulmate gave up everything the instant he chose to jump out of a jet with me rather than handing me over.
Andre was right. In some ways I did have the best luck. I’d landed myself him as a mate. Even if he could be scary as shit at times.
I shifted, causing him to pull me tighter to his body. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and peered down at me, his lips curving up. “My little mate is in my arms. All is well in the world.”
Yep. I had the best luck.
Andre rearranged us so that I was as close to him as I would ever be, save for sex. He’d only just closed his eyes when his body stilled in the most unnatural way.
“Andre?”
Nothing. I reached out from where I laid next to him and touched his skin. It felt cold and lifeless. The last couple of times we’d slept together, I’d fallen asleep with him. I hadn’t noticed just how horrible it would be to see him like this. Lifeless. He’d wake up once the sun dipped below the horizon. But for the duration of the day, he was gone.
Even as sleep tugged at my eyes, my body felt jittery. It still didn’t demand sleep the same way Andre’s did. And right now my mind was too noisy to let me rest.
Pushing away from the bed, I wandered to the window. I fingered the edge of the curtain. Now would’ve been the time to test whether or not the sun could burn me. I glanced back at Andre’s still form, sleeping the sleep of the dead. I wouldn’t risk frying him to test a stupid theory.
Bzzzzz.
…
Bzzzzz.
I turned away from the window. On the table, my phone vibrated, the white of its screen lighting up the dark room. It shouldn’t be ringing. I’d seen for myself that the device had no reception.
I approached the cell, almost afraid to see who was calling me. Air rushed out of me when I read the caller ID.
Caleb.
I couldn’t answer it. Every crime show I’d ever seen recorded and traced calls this way, and chances were high that they’d put him up to this. But crap, it was Caleb.
What must he think of the articles written on me? What must he think of me? My hand twitched, eager to ask him. Instead I shoved my thumbnail between my teeth and paced, impatient for the buzzing to cease.
An eternity later it did. I sank into the chair in front of the phone and gingerly picked the device up.
No reception.
My scalp prickled. Caleb had placed a call that never should’ve gone through. Could magic have been used? If so, had the Politia arranged this, or was it possible that Caleb had gone around them?
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Of course he hadn’t gone around them. They were the Politia, and he was their star pupil. No amount of wishing could change that.
I jumped when the phone buzzed again.
1 new voicemail
My hands felt sticky with sweat and my heart seemed to have lodged itself in my throat when I saw the message. Did I want to hear whatever Caleb had to say?
No, I really didn’t.
I was, however, a glutton for punishment. So I picked up the phone, tapped on the screen, and pressed play.
I brought the phone to my ear just as the message began.
“Gabrielle.” Caleb’s voice was thick with emotion, and after saying my name, a long pause drew out. “I’ve seen the news.” Another pause. “They want your head.” I heard him swallow. “The Politia is looking for you, but shit, so is every other creature out there.”
My hand shook as I listened.
“And … I heard about you and Andre. That he’s your soulmate.” He said it like it was a bad word. “Four months we’ve been friends. Worked together. You knew that entire time, didn’t you?” I could hear the betrayal and the hurt in his words. Perhaps Leanne wasn’t the only one with foresight because I knew this was coming.
He let out a hollow laugh. “Can’t say you didn’t warn me. I just … I feel like a fucking idiot …”
He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. That’s not why I’m calling. Just … I hope you’re far away from the Politia and those that can hurt you. Don’t trust anyone.” He hesitated, then sighed. “Not even me.”
Chapter 3
I woke up to the sensation of fingers running through my hair.
“Mmm.” I stretched out lazily.
Rumbling laughter vibrated beneath me, and I opened my eyes.