“I’m Egan, what’s your name?”
She stared daggers at him, but said nothing. Internally, she was a mess. Egan? She knew the name. He was the brother of Sable, and a shifter. She struggled to maintain her outer calm, but she was flying apart on the inside. She was in the car with a shifter and they were speeding away from her home to who knew where.
And no one had seen her leave. She was completely and utterly alone.
“Suit yourself. It’s going to be a long trip if you’re going to act like that.”
“Act like what?” she spat out. “Like someone who’s been kidnapped and held against her will? How should I act? It’s not like I was a damsel in distress, just waiting for you to save me. I was fine where I was.”
She turned and stared out the window, giving him the cold shoulder and making her intentions clear. Cambria buried her face in her sleeve, pretending she was tired or avoiding speaking to him. But she was hiding tears. The moment she’d seen Laskin turning into the very thing that she despised kept playing over and over in her head. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t push the image from her head.
She felt his hand squeeze her knee, but she was already as far away from him as the compact car allowed.
“I’m sorry. I know you don’t believe me, but I wish you didn’t have to go through any of that. If I could protect you from ever feeling that kind of pain, I would do it.”
“Then let me go.”
“I can’t do that. I know you don’t understand now, but I’m doing this for you. For us.”
“You’re delusional. There is no us. You don’t even know me.”
“I do know you, but not in a way that will make sense to you right now. Just give me a chance to prove to you that we’re meant to be.”
Cambria laughed, but the sound was humorless. This man was ridiculous, but Cambria was also a little frightened. There was so much conviction in his words. Even if what he said was unbelievable, it was obvious that he believed it. And that was a problem.
The miles stretched before them, giving them both plenty of time to think. She had no family and no one to turn to but him. He was a complete ass for taking advantage of that. She would get away from him, it didn’t matter how long it took.
Cambria rested her head against the glass and closed her eyes. She needed to rest, and she wasn’t about to spend the next few hours of her life making small-talk with a shifter. She meant to stay awake, feigning sleep to get him to leave her be. But she was exhausted and it was late. Within minutes, she was asleep.
Egan continued to drive in silence, glancing at her every few minutes. Slack-jawed and deep in sleep, Egan reached out more than once to touch her, but changed his mind. He longed to stroke her soft cheek, and move the chocolate colored tendril of hair out of her eyes. Her hair was shoulder length and thick, with soft waves framing her tiny face. Exactly how she’d been in his dream. Even her voice was the same, higher and melodious, with a slight trace of an accent he couldn’t place.
In his dreams, she’d been so loving and so free with herself; nothing like she was tonight. But she was scared, and with good cause. So much of her world had changed in an instant that he couldn’t blame her for being so overwhelmed by everything. His heart had torn into pieces when he’d held her in the woods as she’d watched Laskin reveal his true form.
Even Egan had been surprised that Laskin had taken such a chance in front of all those humans. But in the end, Laskin had been too wrapped up in himself and his battle with Sable to realize what he had done. By the time he had, Egan was sure that it had already been too late.
Looking at the sweet woman of his dreams while she laid there, curled in a ball in an attempt to protect herself caused Egan physical pain. He wanted to hold her, to touch her. He knew if she would just listen, he could make all her fear and pain go away and he felt so helpless.
But he knew she wasn’t ready, and he didn’t want to push her. She was angry enough, not that he blamed her.
He’d been driving for hours and had no idea where he was going. He assumed he would figure it out when they got there. In a few miles, they would cross the border into Alabama. He had no plan and was just following his instincts. When they got where they were going, he would know.
She stirred beside him, her face slack with heavy sleep. Suddenly, her eyes flew open, shock registering on her face as she realized where she was. Egan prepared himself for the barrage of fists, but she sat quietly in her seat.
“I have to go to the bathroom.”
Egan regarded her suspiciously. “I can’t risk you getting away.”
“Look, I’m not going to run. I have nothing to run to. The rest area at the state line is up ahead. It’s the middle of the night so there won’t be anyone there and I have nowhere to go. You can come in the bathroom with me if you want, but I need to go.”
She looked at him, pleadingly.
“Please don’t run.”
“I won’t. Not this time. I’m too tired. I’m going to run eventually, but right now when I’m exhausted, and hungry.”
“How can I trust that you mean what you’re saying?”
“I need to get somewhere more populated before I make a run for it. Running away here would be stupid. You could easily catch me and no one would ever see it. I’m better off running somewhere a lot more populated. That way, if you catch me, I can scream for help.”
He had to laugh at her honesty. She was a firecracker, that was for sure. He didn’t doubt she would run when the opportunity presented itself, but for now, he was the lesser of the two evils.
He exited the highway, pulling into a parking spot and killing the engine.
“I’m going to use the restroom too. If you’re not at the car when I finish, I’m coming after you.”
“Geeze, okay. I’ll hurry. No pressure or anything.”
He walked briskly to the men’s room, taking care of his business and listening to the water run through the wall the separated the men’s and women’s bathroom. He washed his hands thoroughly and dried them on his jeans.
He was surprised to see her leaning up against the car when he walked out. She arched an eyebrow at him, her face rigid and angry, but her posture suggesting that she was slightly amused.
“I will run, but when you least expect it. If I run every time you stop the car, you’re just going to throw me in the trunk.”
Egan winked at her, drawing another angry look from her cute little face.
“You’re so right.”
He opened the door and got in, waiting for her to adjust her seat belt and settle in before he started the car.
“I’m hungry too. Do you think we could run through a drive-thru? I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
“Of course we can.” He pulled out of the parking space and merged back onto the highway. “So, are you going to tell me your name?”
“Don’t push your luck.”
Egan threw his head back and laughed. He was in over his head with this one, and he was already in love.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The sun was starting to rise in Arkansas when Egan pulled into a hotel parking lot. Egan looked at her, his face showing his exhaustion after driving all night.
“I can’t safely drive another mile, and I’m not about to trust you at the wheel. Climb over the seat and get in the back.”
Cambria’s eyes grew wide. What was he planning to do?
“I’m not going to hurt you, just do as you’re told. Please.”
She climbed over the back, feeling nearly sick to her stomach with fear. She was exhausted, and she doubted she could run far if she got away. But he wouldn’t believe her, so she kept her mouth shut.
He buckled her into the middle seat, producing a set of handcuffs. He cuffed her hands behind her back and used a zip tie to secure her to the lower anchor in the seat. Satisfied that she couldn’t escape, he covered her with his jacket, hiding her cuffed arms from any nosey passersby.
“I’ll be righ
t back.”
He ran into the office, and was back within minutes, a single key card in his hand. He drove around to the back of the property, parking in front of the back staircase and looking around before he got out.
He cut the zip tie and undid Cambria’s cuffs.
“We both need to get some sleep, and I’m not in the mood to chase you, understand?”
She nodded, walking alongside him as he led her to their room on the second floor at the end of a long hall. He worked the key card with one hand, never letting her go as he opened the door and pushed her inside.
He hung a “do not disturb” sign on the door and latched the extra lock so that housekeeping couldn’t barge in.
Egan checked the bathroom, happy to see that there was no window.
“Do what you need to do to get ready for bed,” he said. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
Cambria hurriedly took care of her business, looking longingly at the shower. She stepped out of the bathroom and a handcuff slapped around her wrist with an ominous click. Egan attached the bracelet to the curtain rod just outside the bathroom.
“I’ll be on the other side of this door. I’ll hear you if you try to break free and leave. I’m much faster than you.”
She glared at him, but didn’t respond.
“I’m glad we understand each other.”
He was in and out of the bathroom in minutes, unlocking the cuff from the rod and dragging her to the bed.
“Get in and get comfortable,” he said, stopping her when she opened her mouth to protest. “I’m tired and it’s been a long day, almost two. We can argue about the sleeping arrangements when we wake up.”
“It won’t matter then,” she muttered as she climbed into the bed and scooted all the way to the edge, bracing her back against the wall to get as far away from him as possible.
“Exactly.”
He stripped out of his clothes and slid between the sheets completely naked before she could protest. Grabbing the free cuff, Egan slapped it onto his wrist and turned out the bedside lamp.
Cambria didn’t say a word, but she couldn’t stop the tears that flowed. She was trapped in a nightmare with no end in sight. As she drifted off to sleep, one hand cuffed to a shifter lying naked in bed with her, she vowed that she would get away from him at the next opportunity.
Or die trying.
She woke up, the later afternoon sun brightening the room with a cheeriness that Cambria didn’t feel.
She was cuffed to a decorative cut out in the massive headboard. She yanked a few times, but her heart wasn’t in it. She knew that there was no way to break the headboard and she knew the cuff wasn’t going to break.
Cambria pulled herself up into a sitting position, straining to hear any sign of Egan. But the room was silent.
She was starting to get worried when the door to the room opened and Egan walked in. The aroma of hot food made her mouth water as Egan emptied the bags and spread his offerings on the small table beside the television.
“I didn’t know what you wanted, so I got a bit of everything.”
He wasn’t exaggerating. There was enough food in front of them to feed a small army. Cambria was suddenly starving, but she wasn’t going to eat while tied up like an animal. She gestured towards her hand and gave him a withering look.
Egan released the cuff from the bed, but left it dangling from her wrist.
“Please?”
He sighed, unlocking the other bracelet and stuffing the cuffs in his back pocket.
“You’d better not run.”
“I won’t.” Not right now, anyway, she thought to herself.
She sat down in one of the two chairs, looking through her options before choosing a grilled chicken sandwich and a large salad. She grabbed the large bottle of chocolate milk and drank greedily from it.
“Hey. That was mine,” he said, his voice light and teasing.
“Not anymore. I haven’t chocolate milk in ages.” She flashed him a devilish grin and finished off the milk before turning her sights on the food before her.
They ate in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Egan smiled at Cambria every now and again, and Cambria returned the gesture. She wanted his defenses down.
It would be easier to get away if he thought she was starting to like him.
“So, explain this fated mate thing to me.”
Egan took a bite of his sandwich, chewing slowly while he carefully considered his next words. He wasn’t ready to tell her that he was a shifter yet, but otherwise, explaining the fated mate concept was harmless. She would either believe it or not, and that wouldn’t change anything for Egan.
“It starts around puberty. You start having dreams about the person you’re meant to be with. They’re vague at first, but then they get more and more detailed.”
“Do you remember your first one?”
“I do, but it’s a little hazy. I see a beach, and a plane, but not much else. I was eleven years, so it’s been twelve years since the first dream.”
“What about after that?”
“They get more and more clear.” He continued talking between bites, explaining how the dreams had progressed over the years, his need growing stronger with each stage.
Cambria listened carefully, trying to keep him talking while she ate. More than once, she had to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
Did he really believe all of this nonsense? A look at his face said that he believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was real.
She sat there, chewing on her food as he talked. She tried to ignore him, but the more he talked, the more she heard things that paralleled her life. But those things were easily explained; until he got to the dream he’d had six years before.
“It was you. You were running in the dark with a deer. The deer disappeared, and in its place was a silver fur and teeth, then darkness.”
Cambria perked up a little bit. Could it be that the silver light was the silver tiger she’d seen in the woods? But she dismissed it. His dreams were ambiguous enough that they could apply to anyone’s life, really. Like a so-called psychic stumbling around a room full of people with open-ended observations until someone took the bait, he could present these dreams to any woman and she might find something similar to her real life.
That didn’t make his dreams prophetic.
Egan stopped talking and watched her face.
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
“Not really. But you believe it, so that’s all that matters.”
“How do you explain that I knew where to find you?”
“Dumb luck?”
“I traveled all the way from Canada’s west coast directly here. I didn’t have any missteps, and I not once did I look for you somewhere you weren’t. I looked one place for you, and that’s exactly where you were. How can you shrug that off as if it means nothing?”
Cambria shrugged again. “I guess I need more proof than just dreams.”
“I know your name.”
“Impossible.”
“It’s Elise.”
Cambria laughed. “Wrong. It’s Cambria.”
She clapped her hands over her mouth, but it was too late. She’d already let the cat out of the bag. She expected him to gloat, to point out that he had fooled her. Instead, he looked confused.
“You really thought my name was Elise, didn’t you?”
“I did. But getting one thing wrong when I got so many right doesn’t really mean anything. I was in physical pain while I looked for you. The pull that led me to find you felt as if it was pulling me to pieces. The closer I got, the more the pain eased. It wasn’t until I had you in my arms in the forest that I finally felt like myself again. How do you explain that?”
“Maybe you took a blow to the head or something.”
Egan threw back his head and laughed.
“It doesn’t matter if I knew your name or not. I knew from the very first dream that you were a handful. Trust me, you have
not disappointed.”
*
Egan pulled the car into the parking space, killing the engine and turning in his seat to look at Cambria.
“I need you to promise me that you won’t try to run. We need supplies and you need clothes. You can come in with me and act right or I can drive around and find a place to hogtie you and toss you in the trunk. Your call.”
She let out an exasperated sigh, blowing some stray locks out of her face as she did.
“I promise not to tell anyone that you’ve kidnapped me and are holding me against my will.” Her tone was sarcastic, almost playful, and Egan couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Smart ass,” he muttered.
He got out of the car and she slid out behind him. Cambria slipped her hand into his, looking away when he smiled at her.
“You know, so people don’t know you kidnapped me.”
“Of course.”
They walked hand in hand to the store and Egan led her straight to the outdoor department.
Her concern mounted as Egan piled an armful of camping MREs into the basket. He asked her to pick from the many meal options available, but none of them looked palatable. No matter what you did to it, she doubted that scrambled eggs would ever come back from freeze-dried even remotely resembling edible. She grabbed a few packages of “ice cream” and beef jerky, but she didn’t touch the packages that were meant to be complete meals.
Egan worked his way down the aisle, grabbing things as he went and placing them in the basket. She was surprised when he bypassed the matches entirely, and she wondered how he intended to stay warm without a fire.
A television hung from the ceiling suddenly flash breaking news across the screen. Cambria and Egan both stopped, watching the news anchor as he interrupted whatever programing was piped through the store’s television.
The close caption was on and the sound down. Cambria watched in horror as the details of the massacre at the compound flashed across the screen, followed by her name and a vague description. There was no picture, and no last name, but the rest of the information was correct.
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