Another pause, this one writhing with tension.
“Ali, you’re shutting me out and it’s hurting me.”
Yes, I could hear the pain in her voice.
I stepped up to the door, reached for the knob, stopped myself. Hot tears cascaded down my cheeks. “I’m sorry,” I repeated. “I would rather die than hurt you, but if I open that door I could hurt you worse. I just... I need a day to work through this, okay?”
Several minutes passed in silence before she said, “You’ve got one day.” Footsteps resounded.
I picked up the tray, placed it inside my room, my stomach a twisted mess. I couldn’t bring myself to eat.
Finally eternity came to an end and eleven-thirty arrived. I loaded myself with weapons and sneaked through the secret passages Mr. Ankh had built throughout the house. He’d wanted his daughter to have an escape route if ever it proved necessary—not that she would know what chased her.
Reeve. I frowned. My nose wrinkled after I inhaled. I smelled her perfume. She must have used the passage, and quite recently.
Huh. The passage led to a hatch just beyond the front yard, seconds from the road. Still. I’d have to be careful. Mr. Ankh had cameras everywhere and—as I eased my out, I caught movement several yards away.
Gaze zooming in, I palmed a blade. Was that...Reeve? Had to be. Dark hair swished as a slender girl matching Reeve’s height and build walked north. She’d sneaked out.
Dang you, Reeve! No matter how badly I wanted answers, no matter how dangerous I currently was, I couldn’t let her wander the streets without backup.
As I followed her through the shadows, I dialed Bronx.
“What?” he snarled.
“Reeve snuck out. I’m a few yards behind her. I just thought you’d like to know.”
He spewed a mouthful of curses. In the background, I heard a girl giggling.
“You’re with someone?” I asked, shocked.
At the same time he said, “Where are you?”
I gave him our current location, and he hung up.
Thank you, Ali, I inwardly mocked. I appreciate your help.
A car drove past, and Reeve darted behind a tree trunk. I did the same, only to stiffen when the car slowed, stopped.
Reeve stepped from the shadows. “Ethan?”
“It’s me, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart. Hello, new boyfriend.
“Thank goodness! I realized the car was slowing down, and I almost peed my pants.” She walked around the car and opened the passenger side door. “I thought you were meeting me at 7-Eleven.”
“You were late, and I worried.”
Bronx, who was in spirit form, moved through the trees and swept up beside me. The hair he’d dyed blue was now green, but it wasn’t spiked. Tonight, it shagged over his forehead. There were several lipstick stains on the collar of his shirt—and not all of them were the same color.
“She just got into the car,” I said, beyond grateful a slayer’s ability to see spirits extended to human ones. Although...
Would this make my dark urges worse?
I tensed. Backed away.
No hunger pangs.
I stopped, unsure. I was...better? Once more safe to be around?
Look how easily you gave in to my desires.
That was what Z.A. had said. And she had been right. I did. Because I’d been mad at Veronica, my defenses weak. And every time before, I’d been a mess about Cole.
If I remained calm from now on, focused, I wouldn’t have to ditch my friends or my grandmother. I could be around them without worry.
I wanted to shout with the force of my relief.
Scowling, Bronx waved me away. “Go home. I’ve got this.”
His tone grated—my first test. Calm. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back to bed and cuddle?” I asked sweetly.
He leveled me a look that would have frightened the most violent criminals. “The girls caught me at a bad time.”
Girls. Plural, as I’d suspected. “Pig,” I muttered. Could no guy stay faithful anymore? Sure, Bronx and Reeve weren’t actually dating, and she was currently seeing another guy, but come the freak on.
“Whatever.”