The Stranger Trilogy Box Set

by Isadora Brown

  “And what does that have to do with me?” she asked.

  “Everything.”

  His one word answer caused Sophie’s eyes to snap at him. She hated looking at him, because doing so reminded her body that he was there, in front of her, the only male of her kind. And he happened to be beautiful. It was why she wanted to be away from him physically as much as she could. However, it didn’t seem to make much of a difference, and Michael obviously knew it.

  “You are the only female physical of your kind, Sophie,” he explained. “Do you know how valuable that makes you?”

  “I haven’t put much thought into it, to be honest.” Her tone was flat, careless, but her heart beat fast. She needed to slow it done, get control of her breathing.

  “Peculiars have an innate ability to help people,” Michael said, his voice getting thick with passion. Sophie turned away, hoping to pay attention to where they were heading, but she was still new to the island and already the scenery was unfamiliar. “Especially with our powers and immortality. We have the ability to help our government develop new and innovative ways to protect ourselves and our country. We can further research by participating in experiments and letting them take our blood. They would be able to study us, study what we can do. Based on their findings, they can develop life-saving, preventative technology that would provide immortality to others—to humans.”

  “Wait,” Sophie said, not sure she understood. “You kidnapped me … for good?”

  Michael paused. “I suppose so.” He tilted his head to the side. “Is that surprising?”

  Sophie shrugged, avoiding eye contact with him once more. “I don’t know,” she muttered. “I’ve never been kidnapped before. But I assumed it was to further your own nefarious agenda rather than something positive, to be honest.”

  Michael smiled, but Sophie didn’t notice.

  At that moment, the Mercedes pulled up to a mansion; this one, a residential home much smaller than AckPec but bigger than the houses scattered throughout the island. It was single story, which was good because it meant Sophie didn’t have to jump in order to escape. There also didn’t seem to be a security system. The mansion itself was white and modern, with navy blue tint. Tall palm trees surrounded the place, providing shade during the summer heat and privacy from curious tourists. A three-car garage unattached to the house was off to the right, and the Mercedes pulled into the driveway and up to the front of the house.

  “Come, let’s get you acquainted with your new home.”

  “This will never be my home,” Sophie muttered under her breath.

  Again, Michael smiled, but this time, it was in amusement. He opened the car door and walked around to Sophie’s side, opening it for her as well. Before she could protest, he grabbed her arm and proceeded to lead her up the three brick steps, past the potted plants that decorated the front of the house, and up to the door. Instead of a key, there was a seven-digit numerical code required for entry. Sophie tried to watch him press it in, but his thumbs were too fast, and the majority of his back blocked her view. The machine—located on the door where doorknobs should be—pinged, and the door popped open. Michael pushed it in, holding it open for Sophie.

  “Why don’t you have me restrained?” she asked honestly.

  As she walked through the doorway, she looked up, trying to take in everything she could. The ceiling was relatively high; she was five foot seven, and couldn’t reach up to touch them. There was hardwood floors—a dark color, though Sophie couldn’t tell what kind of wood it was—and Michael led her to the left, down the short entrance hall and through a quaint dining room that probably could hold up to ten people comfortably. There was a long table—the same dark color with a crisp white tablecloth—and ten chairs, each place set with silver eatery. A large chandelier hung over the center of the table. When it was turned on, it had to be incredible.

  “You’d just break out of them,” Michael replied, looking back over his shoulder at her.

  “You must trust me,” Sophie said. “Not the smartest thing to do.”

  Michael grinned. “I trust your curiosity,” he pointed out. “So far, it’s proven correct.”

  They passed a kitchen, with two large cabinet doors, refurbished sinks, and a marble island right in the center of it. The latest appliances littered the room, including a huge black fridge with an integrated ice machine, a matching microwave, an eight-burner stove, and a dishwasher. If she had to guess, Sophie believed food filled the brim of everything, and judging by the sparkling cleanliness of the kitchen, it wouldn’t surprise her if everything was organized. There was a little room through the kitchen, just past the cabinets, which Sophie imagined was a laundry room. The door was left slightly ajar, but besides a metal heater, she couldn’t make out anything terribly important located in there.

  “Where are you taking me?” Sophie asked, testing the grip he had on her arm. Each time she pulled away, even just a little, his grip on her tightened.

  “Your room.” He stopped at the first door down the hallway to the left. There was a keypad instead of a doorknob, and she noticed the door itself was stainless steel. He typed in another code and the door whooshed open, sliding up quickly. “Go on.” He gestured for her to enter.

  “Why invest in technology that won’t keep me here?” Sophie asked, refraining from entering the room just yet. “You know I can lift cars and punch walls, things like that. I’m like you.”

  “Trust me, I’m well-aware of what you are capable of,” he told her, his voice humming. It sent on odd ripple throughout Sophie’s body, and she pressed her lips together to keep from reacting to it. “I don’t think you know what you are, however.” He ushered her in the room before finally releasing his hold on her so she could explore it.

  In all honesty, it wasn’t incredibly special. It wasn’t big—probably the size of a master bedroom in an apartment—but it wasn’t small. It had a sizable walk-in closet with full-length sliding glass mirrors as doors. There was a small antique desk that was placed next to the window—probably bulletproof, or something thick that would make it hard for her to bust out—so if she chose to sit at it, she could look out at the ocean. There was no television, no computer. There was a small bookcase, but it was empty. The floor was carpet; smart, considering Sophie could have ripped up the tile and used it as a weapon … or used the hole in the house as a means to escape. The bed was a twin—no luxury California king in this room of the mansion—with plain red bedding and three pillows. It looked comfortable. To sum it up in one word, Sophie would probably consider it plain. Maybe a tad boring. Definitely not a room for a young woman.

  “And what is that supposed to mean?” she asked, turning to face him. She crossed her arms loosely across her chest, giving him a pointed look. It was odd; she wasn’t intimidated by him in the least, but he did strange things to the inside of her body, and that, more than anything else, scared her.

  “It means you are still young,” he explained, leaning against the doorframe with a smile on his face. When he smiled, he was beautiful; when he did not, his was stoic. Sophie had to look away. “You’re still learning what you’re capable of. Just because you have the power to break down this door doesn’t mean you know how to just yet. If anything, it’ll take you a little time, and we’d be warned before you could do real damage.” He indicated a camera in the corner ceiling of the room. “If you need to change, I’d suggest stepping into the closet. We don’t have cameras in there.”

  “Why would I need to change?” she asked him.

  “The gala tonight,” Michael reminded her. “I had Dianna get you a dress. It should be hanging in your closet. I’ll have her bring you in something to eat, and then we need to get ready.”

  “I’m not going.”

  This time, Michael threw his head back and laughed. “You don’t have much of a choice, Sophie,” he told her when he finished.

  “They’ll find me, you know,” she said, her sapphire blue eyes narrowing into his pa
le green ones. “Especially since you decided to keep me on the island … dumb move, by the way. Will will find me. I know it. You know it.”

  Michael’s face darkened when he heard the shifter’s name. “I agree, and that’s why we aren’t staying here. Another reason why I’m not terribly worried about you escaping; we’re only going to use this place for a few hours. Then, a helicopter’s going to take us back to Washington D.C. where our studies will begin. And trust me when I say, you’ll learn much more with me than you will at your academy.” With that, he turned and headed out the door.

  Sophie didn’t know why she felt this urge to call after him—perhaps it was pride, perhaps it was stubborn determination, most likely it was both—but she refused to have him believe he had the last word.

  “And what if I have to go to the bathroom?” she called after him.

  He didn’t turn around, however. The bastard wouldn’t even give her the satisfaction.

  28

  “She’s still on the island,” Professor Angelina Neal told them, her voice filled with certainty. “But she won’t be for long. Her spread is showing something of importance tonight and then a hasty departure. If she leaves the island, tracking her will be all but impossible, even with highly specialized peculiars.” Her green eyes crept over to Depogare, who kept his face frozen, blank.

  “Thank you,” Will said, his hand still clutching his thick hair.

  Angelina nodded, a small smile on her face. “You will find her, Will,” she told him. “Even your name implies stubbornness. Just find out where he would take her. What’s going on tonight that might require their presence?”

  “I’ll talk to Ethan. Maybe he’ll know something.”

  Jane turned to go, along with both Will and Depogare, but Professor Neal stopped her by calling her name. “A moment,” she gave as explanation to both professors.

  Will nodded, but Depogare held back, looking at Jane with his black eyes. How could they go from pitch black to midnight blue? It was one of those questions Jane doubted she would ever get an answer to.

  “I’ll be right there,” she promised him, curious as to why the professor would need to speak with her in private. She wouldn’t admit it out loud, but she liked that Depogare would wait for her. He had pissed her off today, but he still made her feel special. The man was notorious for inspiring conflicting feelings, that was for sure.

  When he closed the door, Jane turned back to the professor, who was currently reshuffling her deck. Her outfit today was unique, as it usually was. She wore a coral-colored maxi dress with black diamonds scattered across the colorful material. Her feet were bare, her toes occupied with simple, silver toe rings. Her hair was left long, but she had small braids scattered throughout, making her look younger than she probably was. Her face was void of any makeup, yet she still possessed such a striking face, one could not help but do a double-take. She was quirky, attractive, and there was something about her that was pure magic.

  “You wanted to see me?” Jane asked.

  Professor Neal did not speak. Instead, she slid the deck over to Jane and had her student cut it. From there, the professor shuffled it three more times, then began to pick three cards and lined them up in a row.

  “Professor?” Jane asked, watching as she unfolded the cards, curious to see what the woman was doing.

  “You remember the three-card spread?” she asked, quirking a brow.

  Jane nodded and pointed to each card. “Past, present, and future,” she recited. “The past and present have come to pass and is happening now. The future gives me a head’s up of what’s to come, but it’s not set in stone.”

  The professor nodded and flipped over the first card. It was a woman sitting on a concrete slab, a white blindfold over her eyes, holding two swords crossed above her. She sat in front of blue water, and a crescent moon was in the blue sky. The professor smirked when she saw it.

  “Two of swords,” she said. “You faced a choice in your past, Jane. And instead of being proactive about it, you let the decision make you. You turned away from your intuition, you turned blind to your reality. Perhaps you’ve put off a decision to gain control over your emotions. However, the decision must be made lest your procrastination make the decision in spite of you.”

  She flipped over the middle card—the present. There, in the center, was a naked child riding a pure, white horse with no saddle, carrying a red flag is shown. The only thing he wore was a headdress with a feather. There was a bright, powerful sun taking up the top half of the card, with sunflowers in the background. The Sun.

  “You feel rebirthed,” the professor said. “Passionate. Brought back to life. Obstacles have been surmounted. You are happy in love, life, and school.”

  Before Jane could stop herself, she felt a blush taint her cheeks. There, the last card. The future. Professor Neal flipped it. A man wearing a black cape hung his head in sadness. He was disappointed over the three cups in front of him, all spilled, not noticing he still had two left behind him, still upright and full. He stood in front of a small blue stream pitted against a yellow background.

  “The five of cups,” the professor murmured. “Interesting.”

  Jane furrowed her brow. Five in the Tarot always represented unrest or change. Her numerology life number was five, symbolizing the same thing. Tarot wasn’t her best subject, so she felt unease tease at her stomach.

  “Why?” she asked before she could stop herself. “What’s it mean?”

  “You’ll be upset over a loss,” she replied, her low voice all the more wistful. “Perhaps disappointment. You don’t realize you have friends and loved ones right here, waiting to be there for you and offer the support you need. You’re too focused on the loss to realize the abundance you have.” Her long finger pointed to a tiny bridge, something Jane had not yet noticed. “Don’t forget you always have a way home, Jane Cabot.”

  “Thanks,” Jane murmured, unsure if she meant it or not. Why would Professor Neal want to give her a reading? What was the point? A loss? Could that be in reference to Sophie? What if it meant her parents’ divorce? Or, God forbid, her grandfather’s passing? Jane shook her head, attempting to clear her racing thoughts. She couldn’t worry about that right now.

  “What was that about?” Depogare asked, by the front of the academy building. She was surprised he had waited for her.

  “She wanted to give me a quick, three card spread,” Jane told him. “Where’s Will? What’s the plan?”

  He opened the door for her, muttering something about Professor Neal and her perfect sense of timing before following her out. “She gave us an approximate location where they might be,” Depogare explained. “Will went to go put fuel in the gas tank. You should be back in bed. You’ve already had a long day.” Jane opened her mouth to argue, but Depogare beat her to the punch. “However, you’re stubbornness refuses to allow you to take a break. You can come, but you must do exactly as I say, Jane. Do you understand? Do not argue with me because of pride or a sense of justice. Do not attempt to play hero. You are valuable.”

  “Because I’m a quis?” she asked. The two headed to the garage, swift and sure.

  All of a sudden, Depogare reached out and grabbed Jane’s hand. “Because you are mine,” he told her, his voice simple but earnest. Such conflicting sounds molded perfectly together. “And I am yours. Nothing will change that. Not even the fact that we cannot be together.” His eyes dropped to her neck. “You still wear the pendant I gave you.”

  “I shower with it on.” She didn’t mean for it to come out that way. She was merely implying that she never took it off, no matter what. However, she noticed the way his eyes darkened, the way his jaw clenched, at the sound of it.

  That, and the fact that he held her hand in public … if only for a moment. Her hand still tingled, still brimmed with electric current from where his skin had hers within his grasp. It sent a shock throughout her system. She needed to get a hold on it, and herself.

  “Never
forget that I gave it to you for a reason, Jane.” He whirled around, towering over her as only he could do. They waited for Will, but neither of them remembered him for the time being. They were too focused on their counterpart to realize other people existed outside of them. “I have never given a woman jewelry. I want you to know that. Never. The fact that I’ve done that with you should speak volumes.”

  “How am I supposed to know that?” she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

  “You’re not,” he replied, his face leaning toward her, so close that if she just rolled up on the balls of her feet, they would be kissing. “But I do.”

  “I don’t understand you.”

  “Perhaps you’re not supposed to.”

  “If you had your way, I wouldn’t be allowed to do anything.”

  “If I had my way, you’d be mine and everybody would know it.” He clenched his jaw. “You take for granted what you do to me. Just because I don’t say it doesn’t mean I don’t feel it. When I went back to our flat and you weren’t there, I lost it. I never lose it. Do you understand? I’m crazy for you, Jane. And you will never know the gravity of my feelings for you. But I do. And I am in utter agony being so close to you, and being unable to do anything about it.” He caught his breath; a quick pause. “Hiding my affection for you would be both a disservice to my feelings and impossible. Surely you can see it in my eyes every time I look at you how I feel about you. If you doubt anything, do not doubt that. I want nothing more than to touch you, to make you mine, to love you openly and proudly. The best I can do is give you a spare bedroom in my flat and make you tea. I cannot be a halfway person, Jane. Either, I am yours completely, or I’m not yours at all. I cannot sneak around here. I will not hide my feelings for you.”

  Jane swallowed. Her hands shook, her eyes watered. She bit the inside of her bottom lip to try and get a grip on the situation. This was everything she wanted to hear. This was everything she ever wanted.