Page 24 (2/2)

She’d never seen Riley so fierce, so intense, but she planned to stand up to him exactly as she’d stood up to Marie This was too i her palms on his chest His heart thundered to the sa to take I’m part of this tea in danger any different froerous slits, even as he pressed deeper into her body "I heal"

"So do I!"

"Not froht back? Hardly, she wanted to snort

She paused Wait He had been brought back She recalled the night he’d told her about his brothers’ curse He should have been cursed that way, too, ugly to anyone he desired, but for him, the requirement of that spell had been met He’d died, and the olves’ version of ht hi her back, as well, she thought defiantly

Still Thinking of his death filled her with fear She couldn’t lose him She needed hientled her tone "I’ue with you about this, Riley I went into town, yes, but I’ht, and I knohere" Marie had threatened Mary Ann, as good as told her not to return Which meant she would want to know if Mary Ann disobeyed her Which"We can capture her"

"No, we can’t" His hands settled on her waist, locking her in place "She’ll be prepared now We’ll walk right into an aive up "She thinks she’s warned me away Intimidated me" She told him a bit about their conversation, but left out the part about feeding; she didn’t understand that, and until she did, she was sharing the details with no one And even though she’d thought to talk to hi to Marie, she left that part out, too Noasn’t the tirip tightening

True "Even if you’re right, we still have the advantage We’ll be prepared for an aht And Riley, do not even think about leaving me behind"

"I’ll do what needs to be done, Mary Ann"

Finally she rose on her tiptoes and kissed him He didn’t respond, and she tried not to let it edsecond period" With that, she turned and opened the door He released her without protest and she strode into the hall, never once glancing back

ELEVEN

GO AHEAD AND FLUSH this day down the toilet, Aden thought as he and Shannon walked home from school

Cars whizzed past them on one side, and trees stretched on the other They were taking the main roads today rather than the forest Riley had insisted, and agreeing had been the only way to get rid of him

All day, Aden had been too tired to listen to his teachers He had no idea whatattention, the souls had been too chatty to allow hi-induced stupor They’d wanted to knohat had happened with the vampires, but he hadn’t had a chance to reply

On and on they’d asked--were still asking--until he’d wanted--still wanted--to bang his head against the wall It was probably a good thing, then, that Riley and Mary Ann hadn’t spoken to him at lunch Actually, Mary Ann hadn’t spoken to anyone at lunch She’d sat at the table, food untouched in front of her, frowning at everyone who passed Aden would have asked her rong, but trying to carry on a conversation hadn’t seemed wise

Especially since she’d looked ready to throw so at Riley’s head when the wolf announced he would be walking Aden hoirlfriend But Aden had refused his escort with a firood times But a babysitter? No, thanks

To his surprise, Riley had accepted his refusal after only a few halfhearted protests He’d been free to go with Mary Ann, after all Hopefully, they’d work out their probleroup was supposed to meet up and head into town to hunt--and kidnap--a witch

Aden was still reeling about that Kidnap? Really?

Again, there hadn’t been an opportunity to discuss it Not just because of the souls, but because of their audience And now he had to rush to the ranch so that Dan could take hiency session

"This sucks," he said

"W-what does?" Shannon asked, flicking hiainst the rest of the noise inside his head, and Aden took adoctor’s appointo"

If that stupid doc forces anyto shoot rumbled

Good luck with that, Julian replied dryly I don’t think I ever told you this, but it’s always been a dreaun

Well, bodiless or not, we ht e could shoot ourselves after today’s session, Elijah said gri?" Aden deht would happen, happened Usually, he only knehen people were going to die Yet s Like blood flowing in rivers

"Knohat?" Shannon asked

This time, he didn’t have to pause to decipher the words The different conversations were finally strea clearer "Sorry," he said to Shannon, cheeks heating "I meant, this has just been such a crappy day, with Mary Ann’s silence, Riley’s bad mood and the doctor’s visit, like I mentioned"