“I think it’s time we had a chat, don’t you?”
Her heart ground to a halt as she looked at the man she’d been trying to get something on for weeks.
Jonas Holson.
Drew heard the people fleeing the building even before he reached the church. Unfortunately, he couldn’t pick up on anything that indicated the hostile was still inside. He checked the tracking device shoved in his pocket, not surprised to find nothing of interest flashing on the screen, then headed up the steps. Nothing moved inside the foyer or the main church. He followed the scent of burning candles and discovered a small balcony that looked down on the festivities.
This was where Blair had been. He could still pick up the faint trace of her shampoo here. Below, he spotted another door. Probably the one everyone had escaped through. He scanned the floor and surrounding walls, finding no drawings or symbols that pointed to a Scion coming across. Not a sacrifice, at least not a traditional one.
Was this the cult his threesome belonged to? He moved to the edge of the balcony and lowering himself over the side, dropped the short distance left to the floor. Another sweep of the area didn’t reveal anything helpful, and he quickly double-checked out back to see if anyone had been dumb enough to stick around.
He backtracked through the church and hit the front steps. Outside, it had started to rain. Hard.
His gaze shot down the street and he took off at a dead run.
Blair shrank back against the seat on instinct, everything inside her pushing toward the surface. She darted a look over his shoulder, sweeping the small pizza place for any signs of the Shadow Demon Holson had looked ready to share center stage with.
“Don’t worry,” he began, “this won’t take long anyway.” He nodded to the bag on the seat beside her. “If you called the police, I assure you, I will have an alibi that puts me miles away from here.”
She resisted the urge to look at her watch, wondering how long until they arrived. Three minutes? Five? Ten?
“You’re not looking well, Ms. Murphy. Been having some trouble adjusting?”
She went perfectly still.
Holson studied the rain splattering the window. “Takes some getting used to, doesn’t it? More so for some than others.”
She didn’t respond. She’d rather go head-to-head with another war demon with nothing but a smashed bottle for protection than give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d surprised her with his comment.
“It’s already pulling at you, isn’t it?” He leaned closer. “Tell me, did you feel the woman’s excitement when you were watching? Did you feel her lust?”
“The police will be here any minute.” Not to mention Drew. Drew who she wanted to kiss absolutely senseless for showing up when he had. She only wished he was here with her now.
Holson shook his head. “That was a serious mistake on your part.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Of course not. You’ve been told Shadow Demons are the enemy.”
And to think she hadn’t doubted the man’s sanity—until now. “One almost killed me.”
“Yes, I heard about your unfortunate…encounter.”
Unfortunate because the demon hadn’t killed her?
“Regardless,” he continued, “your Destroyers aren’t everything they claim to be.” Holson stood. “A word of warning, Ms. Murphy. If you try to implicate me in anything you imagined earlier, I will make sure your family pays the price.”
A crack of thunder exploded overhead. To his credit, Holson didn’t look at all fazed. “Your brother,” he clarified. “Sisters, mother. And I won’t stop there. Drew Reid will be on my list, as well as his very special little girl.”
Now the bastard was threatening a child?
He started for the door, and she shoved herself out of the booth.
“The next time you see one of your Destroyers do be sure to ask how much time you have left.”
She knew he was baiting her, but she’d say anything to keep him here longer. For the police, for Drew, for whoever got there first. “Time I have left?”
He tsked. “You mean they never told you that people initiated by storm demons are the most volatile of all? Perhaps you should ask Parker about that.”
The profiler? “Why?”
“His mother was like you. Smart. Brave. Determined. Not that it saved her in the end. She hungered for the emotions of others so much she turned on her own family, even killed her own daughter.” He shrugged. “Things could go either way for you, but of course they know that. Why else do you think they’d be interested in you? To recruit you?”
Holson laughed and stepped out into the rain and into the car waiting for him at the curb.
Blair couldn’t make her feet move to go after him, couldn’t hear anything past the blood rushing in her head. Things could go either way?
She’d been worrying for days she wouldn’t be able to get a handle on the changes inside her, but she’d never suspected that Rae or Brax or even Drew might believe that too. If Holson was telling the truth, then they’d known from the beginning she might not beat this. They’d learned from people like Parker’s mother just how badly things could go. Killed her own daughter?
“All you all right?” the woman behind the short counter asked.
She shook her head, realizing the rain was coming down in torrents. She slammed her eyes shut. She needed it to stop.
Needed it all to stop.
The woman’s concern teased across her senses. Nausea clamped down in her stomach.
“Blair?”
A streak of lightning lit up the sky behind him.
Not good. And she still wasn’t looking at him.
“Blair?”
She finally turned around, and he noticed her eyes first, her pupils heavily dilated. But most alarming of all were the streaks of silver he could see threading the black. Really, really not good.
Drew reached for her, his heart hammering against his ribs. He’d thought she would have been safer here, not more vulnerable.
She shied away from him. “Please, don’t.”
He let his hand fall back to his side. “Let’s sit down a minute, okay?” Preferably before a bolt of lightning actually struck something.
Blair shook her head. “As if the world is easier to deal with when someone is sitting on their ass.”
“You’re shaking.” He didn’t try again to touch her. If the rigid line of her shoulders didn’t warn him off, the almost feral edge to her gaze definitely would have.
“Let’s just get out of here.”
Edgy and looking for action. He’d felt the same way often enough to easily recognize it in her. “The police—”
“Won’t do any good. He can’t be touched.”
“Who?” How could he have been so stupid to leave her? “Tell me what happened.”
She stepped out into the pouring rain, spinning around to face him. “How did you find me?”
He gestured down the block to his Jeep without answering her. That was definitely not a conversation he wanted to get into now. Preferably never, or at least not without Brax and Rae present.
She followed hesitantly.
“Who can’t be touched, Blair?” He waited for her to get in the Jeep. “Tell me.” He started the car and pulled out into traffic. He needed to get her back to the field office. Yesterday. Her fists were clenched so tight her knuckles were completely white.
“I can’t do this,” she whispered.
“You’re still adjusting.”
“For how long?” She turned in her seat, sudden calmness turning her expression to stone. “What if I can’t adjust, what then? This could kill me, couldn’t it? Or I could kill someone else.”
“No!”
“I don’t believe you. Something is wrong with me. Isn’t that why you came looking for me? Because you were worried something might happen? You didn’t answer me. How did you find me?”
He kept his eyes locked on the road. “A tracking devi
ce on your car.”
“Why?”
“Blair, you need…”
“Don’t tell me what I need. What are you worried will happen to me?”
That I’ll lose you. But that wasn’t what came out. Voicing that thought would be one step closer to admitting it was possible, and he refused to consider that. He met her gaze. “I don’t know.”
“So letting me come and go from the field office, wanting to train me, bringing me home—it was just about keeping tabs on me.”
He clenched his hands on the wheel and traffic came to a standstill at a red light. He came to a standstill. He didn’t know what to say to—
Blair threw open the door and sprinted into the rain.
Fuck.
Cars honked as he whipped around traffic and took a right, slamming the Jeep into park. He got out, spotting the blur of gray through the rain, and took off after her.
She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t feel anything but the itch under her skin that scraped and clawed. Her vision wavered between light and dark, colors muting and then brightening. She half ran, half stumbled through the park gates. Her teeth started to chatter and her drenched clothes stuck to her like a second layer of skin.
All she wanted was for the ice to stop spreading through her limbs. The sound of the rain droned in her ears, the drops growing colder and colder. She collapsed on the bench, trying to stop the rain, to stop herself from shaking.
A shadow fell across her, and she lifted her face, half expecting it to be Drew.
A man she didn’t recognize watched her. His eyes skimmed over her, then he darted a look in either direction. “I want money.”
She wanted to laugh, and probably would have if everything didn’t hurt so damn much. “Go away.”
He took a menacing step in her direction, and a streak of lightning ripped through the sky, striking the ground somewhere behind her.
He flinched, looking almost as desperate as she felt, and took another step, freezing when another bolt struck the earth.
“The next one hits you,” she vowed darkly, feeling the man’s desperation turn to fear.
He retreated a few steps, and she shoved herself to her feet, not taking her eyes off him until he was nothing more than a distant blur in the rain.
The second he was out of sight her knees buckled and she dropped to the soggy ground. She wouldn’t lose herself to this. She couldn’t. Not now.
She dug her fingers into the wet grass, clinging to the small bit of warmth left inside her.
From across the field, Drew watched a man back away from her. Another boom of thunder split his eardrums.
“Blair!”
He knew she couldn’t hear him over the storm. He sprinted up the pathway, watched her go down.
Damn it. He skidded to a stop, dropping next to her. She tipped her face up and deep black pools stared back at him—rimmed in silver.
Oh, fuck. “Blair?” He reached for her, ignoring her mouth the word “no”.
He touched her shoulder and blinding pain shot up his arm.
Then everything went black.
Chapter Thirteen
Water dripped into her eyes, bringing Blair closer to consciousness with every cold splatter that ran down her face. She groaned, and started to roll to her side. Nausea fisted her stomach and every muscle screeched in protest.She let out a breath, going still.
Cold. Wet. Hard.
Assessing her surroundings was the best she could do. More drops of rain splashed her skin, and she realized she was staring up at a tree. Her head pounded from the effort of remembering how she’d ended up lying on the ground in the woods. No, the park.
The cult. Holson. Like she’d stepped out in front of an oncoming train, the memory slammed into the back of her skull. She’d been in the church, then with Drew…
Drew!
She breathed hard through the dizziness that tipped her world sideways and crawled to her knees. He’d been here. She remembered him calling her name. Dripping wet, he’d crouched next to her, his face paling when he looked at her, afraid. God, the choking pressure of his fear had invaded every cell. She’d wanted to move, but no part of her body cooperated.
Then he’d tried to touch—
A scream of warning had built in her chest, but she couldn’t get it out. Couldn’t stop him…
Blair pressed her face to the ground, wanting to reach in and rip the memory from her mind.
Drew? She spotted him lying on his side a few feet to her right. “Drew!” She scrambled across the ground, skidding in the mud. She felt for a pulse, a soft cry of relief breaking past her lips when she felt it soft, but steady under her fingers.
“Drew?” She moved to his other side, sweeping his body for any other sign of injury. But then there wouldn’t be. She’d done this to him.
Tears burned behind her eyes, but she blinked them back. Crying wouldn’t help her now. Wouldn’t help Drew. She dug quickly through her bag, but when she couldn’t find her phone, she pulled Drew’s out of his pocket.
A scorch mark stained the back of it.
Panic bubbled up inside her. “Help me! Someone!” On her knees she scanned the area. The storm had driven people inside, away from the park. Helplessness crept in, snaking around her throat until it nearly strangled her.
“Drew? Open your eyes, baby. Please.” He’d be okay. He had to be. She pressed her cheek to his, willing him to wake up. Willing him to get up and throttle her for running from him, for losing control.
God, his skin was so cold. What had she done?
“Somebody!” She yelled through the sob building in her chest. “Help me!”
The sound of rushing steps registered, and she stumbled toward the man and woman approaching cautiously. “Do you have a cell phone?”
The man quickly handed one over. “What happened to him?”
Her lips wouldn’t work to form a reply and she fumbled twice dialing, her fingers sliding off the buttons as she called Rae. Rae would know what to do. How to help him.
“Drew?” She said his name once more, her heart wrenching in two. “Come on, Drew. Wake up.” He had to open his eyes, prove to her he was going to be all right.
Rae’s voice came over the line.
“Drew needs help. He won’t wake up. I don’t know what to do. How do I get him to wake up?”
“Where are you?”
“The park downtown. I didn’t mean to do it.” Didn’t mean to hurt him. She wanted to take it back. Wanted him back.
She felt the couple watching her. “I tried…tried to tell him to stay away.” Blair closed her eyes, heard Rae issuing orders in the background.
“It wasn’t a hostile?”
“No. I was upset and then everything got out of control. I didn’t… Why won’t he wake up?”
She needed him to wake up. She needed his strength and his courage. She couldn’t do this without him. From the beginning he’d believed in her and without that…
“Help is on the way,” Rae said. “Just stay put. This isn’t your fault, Blair.”
No. Rae was wrong. This was very much her fault. There was no else to blame here. No demons or cult members. Just her. This was her mistake, and Drew had paid the price.
Thunder boomed in the distance, and she slammed her eyes shut, struggling in vain to tame the darkness building within her all over again. “What happened to Parker’s mother?”
Silence. Then, “Who told you about her?”
“Did she kill her own daughter?”
“You’re nothing like her, Blair,” Rae finally said without answering her question. If Holson had lied, Rae would have denied it, but she hadn’t.
“I’ve got to go.” She hung up, cutting off Rae’s protest.
She bent and cradled Drew’s face in her hands, pleading again for him to wake up. Around them, the rain came down harder. She brushed her lips across his, covering his icy mouth with her own. More than anything she wanted to feel his arms come around her, hear him promis
e they’d get through this.
But it was too late. She’d made sure of that, hadn’t she?
A streak of lightning struck a nearby tree, and the couple jumped.
Blair held the phone out to the couple, not looking at Drew as she stood. She needed to get away from him before she made everything worse. “Help is coming.” Though it ripped at her heart, she forced herself to start walking.
“Where are you going?”
She didn’t dare look back. Drew needed help, not the person who’d done this to him. She couldn’t risk staying and hurting anyone else. The next time…
“Wait,” the man yelled.
Blair cut through the trees, moving farther away from the siren she heard in the distance. Branches slapped at her face, snagging her clothes, scratching her skin.
A small price to pay for what she’d done to Drew.
She walked until the rain began to slow and her legs gave out. Then she crumpled to the ground, and cried.
Drew breathed in the sweet smell of bubblegum shampoo and sighed.
“Daddy?”
He turned his head in the direction of the voice, the fuzzy images of a dream slipping away from him. Drew pried his eyes open, surprised by the effort it required.
“Hi, Daddy.”
He blinked to bring Molly’s face into focus.
She tipped her head back to meet his eyes. “You’re awake. Finally. Want to play with me?”
He grinned at the hopelessly angelic expression on her face. “Any more bad dreams?”
She shook her head, and he frowned at the familiar surroundings. If dumping him in the clinic was someone’s idea of a joke…
“Can we play I Spy?”
He tried to sit up, floored by the amount of force he had to use just to pry his arm off the bed. Even that much exhausted him.
What the hell had happened?
He needed to think a minute, to figure this out, to understand why his muscles seemed so sluggish and unresponsive. He scanned the room, looking for some clue to tell him how and when he’d gotten here. “Where are Nanny and Gramps?”
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