by Sherry Soule
“Who? Was it Saxton?”
“Nope. It turns out to be my former friend, Tanisha—who also happens to be a Meleah!”
“Lower your voice,” he says, rubbing my back. “Are you sure?”
“Yup. I confronted her just now and she didn’t deny it. She said something about it being some sick test by David. I gotta go.” I turn to leave, but he touches my arm.
Hayden shoves both hands into his pockets, a tightness to his firm lips. “I wanted to talk—”
“Is everything okay?” Muscles clench in my belly. “Is it the reapers?”
“No.” Hayden drags a hand through his tousled hair. “Nothing ST related.”
Leaning against the car door, I draw a shallow breath. “Did you find Xavier?”
“Not yet.” Hayden stares at his feet, and then lifts his head. “I don’t think he’ll be bothering you again.”
“Um, I hate to break it to you, but I saw his stalkery-butt spying on me while I was shopping with Viola and Tanisha.”
His jaw tightens. “I’ll have my father talk to him. He won’t be back.”
“Are you clueless? Don’t you even read my column?” I release a disgusted noise. “The haunted house might appear to be cleansed, or the werewolf shot with a silver bullet, or the killer might be stabbed, but one thing is inevitable with trope-worthy certainty, the villain will always be back. This is classic horror movie survival. Never underestimate the enemy. The moment you do, that’ll be the exact instant when the evil returns for its final scare…which means, Xavier will be back!”
He pursues his lips. “Okay, I get it. Just relax. I’ll take care of it.”
“Good. Now what’s going on with Zach dating a human? I thought he was such a hater. Or is it just me he loathes with an alien passion?”
Hayden studies me for a moment. “He’s such a hypocrite,” he says irritably. “According to him, they aren’t actually dating. Just hooking up once and awhile, but I think he might really like Viola.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “If he hurts her, you had better warn him, that he’ll have to deal with me. And I have no problem chopping off his alien jewels.”
“Message received.” He shifts toward me, and now only inches separate us. “Someone told me you’re going to the prom with Saxton.” His tone is clipped and cold.
I shrug. “Yeah, so?”
“I hoped it wasn’t true.” Taking my hands in his, he gazes at me. “I thought you didn’t like him.”
“He’s not so bad. We’re friends.”
“Yeah, you keep saying that.” His brows wrinkle, and his lips flatten together. “But I don’t understand. Why go with him and not me?”
“With you, it’s all too complicated. With him? Not so much.” I fiddle with my car keys. “Are you still going?”
“I hadn’t planned on it,” he says, his voice low. He raises one hand to my face and hesitates, before brushing a lock of hair away from my eyes. His knuckles graze my cheek, and the gentle touch causes a sigh, accompanied by a quiver to course through my body. “Not if I can’t go with you.”
“Why not?”
“It won’t be as fun.” He shrugs offhandedly. “Anyway, the dance seems kinda…primitive.”
“Oh, I get it.” I not only tap his chest to make a point, but I can’t seem to control the deep desire to touch him. “A high school dance is too pedestrian for your high intellect, is that it?”
He chuckles darkly. “No. But I figured a girl like you would be above the silliness of going to a senior prom, too.”
I glance at the keys in my fist. “I don’t see why you’d care if I go.”
“Because I worry about you. So please don’t go with Saxton. We can go as friends.”
I’ve been officially friend zoned again. It’s so much worse than a slap in the face or a punch to the gut. Or finding my Goth-Clone-Barbie swinging from a noose in my locker.
I gape at him. “I have enough friends.” I turn around, but stop. “We done here?”
“Sloane.” His eyes blaze at me, an intrinsic challenge in his bold stare. “Don’t go to the dance with Saxton,” he repeats.
“Sorry, Hayden,” I say. “I already told him I’d go.”
Cursing under his breath, he says, “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“How’s attending a dance going to hurt me? Besides the blisters from getting my groove on in spiked heels?” I yank open the car door and drop onto the seat.
He catches the door and holds it. “He’s a player. You can’t trust him.”
The message from Tanisha that told me to go to the prom with Saxton has seared my brain cells. I want to tell Hayden, but the words won’t get past my lips. I still have to protect him and my family. Just because I know who the blackmailer is, doesn’t mean she won’t make good on her threats. But when I see my dad again, he’s gonna get more than an earful of extortions!
“I’m not marrying the guy. Just going to a dance with him,” I say firmly. “Please let go of the door.”
“You’re so damn stubborn.” Hayden’s eyes flare. “I don’t want you to go to the prom with him—”
“And I don’t like being ordered around and nothing bad is going to happen. You can be off-duty for one night.”
“Fine.” His voice comes out in a husky, breathless growl.
Hayden’s studying my face so closely it’s as if he’s trying to memorize every detail. His body leans closer to me as I sit inside the car. I take in his gorgeous face, and the beauty of his pale skin against those beautiful eyes that never fail to make the breath catch in my throat. During this sexy stare-off, I’m unable to move or blink. I want to go with him to the prom, but Tanisha’s threats might become a reality, especially now that I know her identity.
His expression darkens as though he wants to say something else, but he’s unsure how. Then he exhales and steps back, breaking the spell.
Hayden lets go of the car door. “I know I’ve screwed things up between us, and like you, it takes a lot for me to trust someone,” he says quietly, almost pleadingly. “So maybe you could stick it out and give me more time.”
“I’m trying to be patient, Hayden,” I say. “But I’m still going to the prom with Saxton.”
He stares over the roof of the car. “Shit!”
I jump out of the Jetta to follow Hayden’s gaze. Xavier, wearing dark jeans and a black button-down shirt, stands at the edge of the lot. I stare at him with squinty eyes, imagining Xavier twirling his non-existent evil mustache and plotting world domination. Two powerfully-built reapers flank him. Our three enemies don’t move. Only scowl intently in our direction.
The big muscles in my thighs tremble as though I’ve just finished running a marathon. “How did Xavier find us?”
“It’s that damn residue. It hasn’t worn off yet.”
“What the hell is his problem? Is he a GB leader?”
“No…” Hayden shakes his head, and now he won’t look at me. “He’s my future father-in-law.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
Record scratch—whaaat? I punch Hayden hard on the arm. He grimaces, rubbing his bicep. Blood pumps through my body faster and my limbs quiver.
Another friggin’ secret kept from me!
“Wait, a damn minute,” I say. “My stalker is going to be your father-in-law? Like you’re engaged? But I’m not supposed to go to a dance with Saxton?”
Hayden is flipping my inner-bitch switch like nothing else. He’s been keeping more shocking secrets than my parents. First, the mysterious adoptive sister, and now a crazyass father-in-law. Which means…
Hayden is engaged to be married.
I can’t even say it out loud—it sounds bizarre enough in my head. I can only hope it progresses into a leaving-her-at-the-altar scenario…
“Who the hell is she?” I ask, my voice screeching like a cat that just had its tail stepped on. “When were you planning to tell me? After you got hitched?”
When one of the reapers snarls, the
threat forces me back to the present danger.
“You need to get into your car and go home,” Hayden orders. “I’ll throw them off your scent.”
Give him a free pass while he has a fiancée? Ha! Fat chance.
Tears burn my eyes. “You know, your ability to crush me is unparalleled.”
“Sloane, I’m sorry—”
“Hello again, Hayden!” Xavier yells, his voice guttural. “I see you are still comingling with your human pet.”
Hayden ignores him and grabs my shoulders. “Listen to me, Sloane. I’ll explain everything later, but right now you need to leave.”
I shake my head. “No, Hayden—”
“Yes. No arguments. Please just do as I say.”
There are three of them and only one of Hayden. The odds aren’t stacked in his favor.
I clutch the sleeves of his shirt and tug him forward. “Please don’t fight them! Come with me—”
“I can’t,” Hayden says sternly and pulls back. “There might be kids or teachers still around and I need to protect them. Drive off when I tell you.”
Hayden’s shoulders square and he faces the enemy. “And you claim humans are dimwitted? I choose my own destiny. I will not abide by an arranged marriage now or ever.”
Xavier snarls. “Was a betrothal not planned by your parents? Were promises not made and sworn in blood?”
“Those were made before I was born,” Hayden replies, his hands balling into fists. “I never promised anyone anything.”
Arranged without his permission? Now that I can handle…
I’m still standing half in the car and half out while I listen to the Meleah talk to each other from across the parking lot. I’m on the verge of hyperventilating, but I stay with Hayden. He might need backup. If only my superpowers had emerged.
Late afternoon sunlight highlights the greenish coats on the pair of ugly mutants. Then the smaller female with hateful black eyes fastens her cold stare on me. My pulse jolts. I must look like easy prey. Just a weak half-human girl. The bigger male reaper snarls, displaying sharp fangs. Saliva drips from the sides of its powerful jaws. Muscles ripple under the mutant’s pelt and its front paws drag at the ground, long claws raking the asphalt and shooting sparks.
“What are you saying?” Xavier’s forehead wrinkles and he squints. “My daughter is not good enough for you? Neela is considered a royal!”
Hayden shakes his head. “Sorry. She’s just not my type.”
“Please do not tell me that your relationship” —he points a long finger in my direction— “with this girl has clouded your judgement! Or those preposterous rumors regarding an integration program have changed your mind. You should vote against such nonsense.”
“You must be one of these anti-integration advocates that I’ve heard so much about,” Hayden says. “Do you honestly believe the Zetas have some greater plan to colonize Earth when they return?”
Say what? My stomach tumbles like a dryer with a heavy load.
“Maybe you need a reminder of where your loyalties lie,” Xavier says.
“Unnecessary.” Hayden’s voice sounds tough and stony. “However, you’re apparently not intelligent enough to understand the word no.”
Xavier snaps his fingers, making the reapers roar like bears in unison, the sound rippling through the air like fierce pain and slow death.
Hayden’s face hardens and there’s the unmistakable just try it message in his stare. “So you want to play?” He scans the terrain as if checking to make sure no one else can witness the deadly mayhem about to go down, then he laces his fingers and cracks his knuckles. “I can’t have you hurting innocent people, like my best friend, Xavier. Guess, I’ll have to get you to listen to reason another way.” His body shakes with rage. Fists curled.
I suddenly have this brief movie image of Hayden going all Terminator on Xavier’s wacky-ass.
Hayden points to a lamppost and a metallic groaning shakes the concrete foundation, shuddering the post. Then he drags his fingers through his hero hair and glances at me. “I got this.”
A deafening crack echoes as the ground opens and the streetlight floats in the air. Hayden is moving metal objects with his mind. He has mad skills! Another pole shakes at its base, ripping out of the sidewalk. Several parked cars tremble and slightly skid across the asphalt toward Hayden, as if they’re being pulled by an invisible magnet.
Holy crap. It’s going to be a bumpy and bloody ride.
Now he’s just showing off the power of ferrokinesis. I’m so gonna stay on Hayden’s good side from now on.
Hayden causes a steel pole to come crashing down on the male reaper like a baseball bat, sweeping him several feet along the road.
Yes! Golf claps. I’m on hashtag Team Hayden!
He glances at me. “What are you still doing here? I told you to leave!”
“I’m not leaving,” I say firmly, shutting the car door. “You need my help.”
The ground beneath us shakes and I sway into the side of the Jetta, clutching the hood for support. All along the intersection, street signs and lampposts break free from the sidewalk. Two fly straight at Xavier like hurling spears.
Xavier dodges the posts zinging past his head, throwing back each one just as fast like a javelin, and I duck behind the car. One of the poles lances through a rusty car’s windshield, the glass shattering on impact. I peek over the hood at our enemies.
Power lines snap and livewires crackle with sparks. The remaining reaper advances, slipping under power lines and sidestepping the steel posts.
Hayden throws out his arm, and the female reaper is struck by a truck sliding at incredible speed into its side. The reaper whimpers, tumbling along the ground, but landing on its four paws. The mutant lifts its huge bear-shaped head and howls like an unholy beast from Middle Earth.
That’s my cue.
I fling the car door open, stumble inside, and fasten my seatbelt. Fumbling with the keys, I drop them on the floor under my feet. Crap! I lean down, feeling around with one hand. My fingers touch the metal and I exhale, but before I can jam the key into the ignition, the Jetta violently shakes, and slides across the lot in the direction of Xavier and the reaper.
No! A scream bubbles in my throat.
Stomping on the brake with both feet does nothing to stop the Jetta from being pulled as if by a ghostly chain. The stench of burning rubber fills the car. I crank up the emergency brake, but it only slows the movement. With a whiplash-worthy shudder, the car comes to a jerky halt in front of Xavier.
A current of electricity buzzes through my blood as I unbuckle my seatbelt. Not many choices here. I can try to get out and run. Or stay put and hope Hayden rescues me before they attack.
I turn my head and glance back helplessly at Hayden. His is jaw tense. Posture stiff. Biceps taut.
Maybe I should’ve listened to him and burned rubber outta here when he told me to.
Hayden retaliates by throwing several metal posts at Xavier, wicked fast. The rods whiz through the air, and Xavier manages to avoid each of the steel missiles by teleporting out of the way. The poles stack up behind Xavier and the reaper, rolling and crashing into each other with a resounding clang.
After every single metal post in the lot and on the street is lobbed at our enemies, Hayden slumps over, hands on his knees, breathing roughly and dangerously low on ammo. He’s weakening and becoming vulnerable.
The male reaper that was flung down the road comes loping back to join the others. His serious limp doesn’t slow him down much. Now they stand together on the opposite side of the Jetta, with me stuck between them and Hayden.
As Hayden straightens, another male Meleah teleports behind him in a gust of blue lightning. The hybrid has big almond eyes and a sort of egg-shaped head, which makes him the most unhuman-looking Meleah I’ve ever seen. Egghead lifts a leg and kicks Hayden in the spine, dropping him to his knees. I scream, the sound bouncing around inside the car I’m trapped within.
Egghead r
aises a fist and punches Hayden in the side of the head, sending him toppling over, then proceeds to kick him repeatedly. Hayden moans and tries to curl into a ball to protect his face.
When Hayden stops moving, Egghead yanks him up by the collar, his face battered, bloody, and bruised. Egghead and Hayden vanish in a bright flash of bluish light, then reappear beside the reapers and Xavier.
“Weary of playing such childish games yet, Hayden?” Xavier asks him, and then turns to Egghead. “Son, please put him down.”
Egghead drops Hayden and he crumbles to his knees with his head lowered in defeat.
The keys dig into my palm, biting into my flesh. I open my fist and blood drips on the keychain. I jam the key into the ignition and start the engine. Shifting into gear, I slam my foot on the gas and whip the wheel toward Xavier. The car spins and shoots forward, barely missing Hayden, who dives out of the way. Xavier teleports as the car races at him and straight into Egghead. The Meleah hits the grill, and rolls onto the hood, then flies into the air, landing with a bone-crunching thud. He doesn’t move. Good.
One down. Three to go…
Sirens blare in the distance. Someone must’ve called the police.
Xavier takes a step back and our gazes lock. His eyes are wide and his expression horrified. Then Xavier gives me a slight nod before teleporting into thin air. The reapers run off into the growing darkness of the forest bordering the school.
I glance back to the Meleah I hit with my car, but Egghead has vanished, too. I’m not sure if it’s the cops or my brave attempt at rescuing Hayden that scares them all off and really don’t care. I’m just glad their gone. I get out of the car and scramble to Hayden’s side. He’s fallen over and lying face up on the ground, his eyes closed. I have no idea how badly he’s hurt or what I should do to help him.
“Hayden, are you okay?” A sob rises in my throat. “Can you move?”
He doesn’t answer, but he does moan softly.
I should call Zach. He’ll know what to do. I rush back to the car to get my cell phone from my backpack. Removing the phone from a zippered pocket, I squint at the screen. I don’t know Zach’s number, but Viola does. I send her a text message stating I need Zach at the school ASAP.