I wanted to take each step carefully to make sure I didn’t trip, but Bryant pulled me faster. Leading the way was probably not the best way to describe what he was doing.
"You play any games, and you will see my mean side."
"I haven't seen it yet?" I asked shakily.
"No you haven't." He slammed the car door closed.
"You are safe," Lochlan attempted to reassure me, but no words were going to make me feel reassured about being blindfolded with my hands bound in the backseat of a car headed for a cemetery. Besides, it was obvious Bryant was calling the shots. Lochlan could do nothing to protect me.
"You got enough air back there?" Bryant called as he jerked the car onto the road. At least I assumed he was driving,
“Fine."
I was pretty positive complaining would lead to more trouble than it was worth.
"Good." Bryant called back. "I might be starting to like you again."
"Have you tried any of the exercises I taught you?" Lochlan asked.
"Reaching out to dead people when I'm blindfolded isn't at the top of my to do list.” There I went with the flippant comment again. I needed to rein those in. “Plus I haven’t had much of a chance.”
"It's going to make it easier, even if it just means you have gone through the motions a few times." Lochlan’s voice oozed with confidence. It sounded fake, and I wondered if he realized that. I also wondered what would happen to him if he couldn’t get my abilities to work.
I focused on the feel of the car—and the reality that we were moving toward a place I knew nothing about. I was tired of feeling so lost.
“Why not try again now?” Lochlan called back.
I was tired of being lost in my thoughts and worries. “Fine." I clenched my eyes closed tighter. They were already closed since staring at the dark Bandana wasn't helping anything.
I thought of my grandpa. His tweed jacket, his warm brown eyes. I needed him. I needed him to have prepared me for this. I knew he'd been trying to protect me, but in the end that only made things worse. Way worse, and now I was alone and in over my head. I was angry. I didn’t want to be. It hurt to be angry at someone you loved so much, but I didn’t know how else to feel. He’d put me in danger, and whether that was intentional or not, it had been the result.
I need you. I spoke in my head and pushed the words away from me. Reaching out the way Lochlan had explained, I mentally pictured the words drifting away, hoping that part might help.
Nothing happened, I felt nothing and heard nothing. I wasn’t surprised. It hadn’t worked the first time, so why would it work now? Besides, Lochlan had said it was more difficult to communicate from afar. The closer you were to the dead, the more natural the connection became. This process wasn't going to be easy on me. I was sure of it.
I moved on to the next exercise. There was no reason to avoid it. I was stuck. Trying to escape was impossible at the moment and thinking about my situation only made things worse. By the tightness in my chest, I was heading toward a panic attack.
I pictured myself floating. I envisioned an endless ocean with light waves that moved me to and fro. I left out the water in my ears part that always happened when I actually floated. The image was relaxing, and I could feel my body calming down. I could almost pretend I was really floating, with my hands untied, enjoying a cool breeze on a hot day.
I cleared my mind. I left it open for anything that could come, but I didn’t want anything to come. I wanted to be left alone to float into nothingness.
"Bring me home, please bring me home." A light and unfamiliar voice ran through my head.
I continued to float, but the enjoyment was gone. I froze and my chest clenched.
"Please. I'll do anything to go home.” The voice was female, young, and pleading.
I wanted to reach out to Lochlan to get help, but I was too deep. I couldn’t make my mouth move. I hadn’t actually expected to find anyone.
"Will you. Will you help?” The voice implored. “Please. I’m begging you.”
I felt sick, my stomach lurched. Never had I imagined the exercise could work. And I was stuck. Stuck in some weird place in my mind. I could see nothing. It was only darkness.
“Are you listening? I need help. This is all a mistake. I need to go home.” The voice wasn’t quieting. It was growing louder.
After a few moments of hesitation I made a decision. “Can you hear me?”
“Yes. I can hear you. You aren’t here for me are you? You’re here for someone else.”
“I’m not here for anyone. I don’t even know where here is.” I spoke honestly.
“I don’t know where I am exactly either. I’ve been here a long time though. A very long time.” She sighed.
Things had gone from bad to freaky, and I needed to leave. “I can’t help you. I don’t even know how we’re talking.”
“If you figure it out, come back for me.”
“I don’t know who you are.”
“Netta. I’m Netta.”
“Ok. But if you’re dead, I can’t just bring you back.”
“I’m not supposed to be dead. It was all a big mistake. I was tricked.”
“Tricked by who?” She had my attention now. Well, she’d actually had it all along since I didn’t know how to snap out of whatever I was doing.
“Him of course. He tricks everyone.”
“Who?”
Someone shook me, the voice faded away and the bandana disappeared. I blinked, taking in sunlight.
“What happened?” Bryant demanded. “What were you doing?”
I blinked again, still trying to get my bearings.
“Answer me!” Bryant shook me harder.
“I can’t.” I struggled to fully come out of the trance-like state I was in. It was jarring to be back to reality. “I don’t understand it.”
“May I talk to her?” Lochlan asked. “It may be that she’s too confused to answer.”
“You have five minutes. If I find out she’s hiding something you are both in trouble.” Bryant stepped back.
“Where are we?” I asked as Lochlan replaced Bryant in my field of vision.
Lochlan looked over his shoulder at Bryant. Bryant shook his head.
“The where doesn’t matter.”
“Are we near a cemetery?” Surely they could tell me that.
“You communicated with someone?” Lochlan’s eyes bore into mine.
“Yes.” I nodded. Holding the truth back would only get me in trouble. Besides I needed to find out more about this Netta girl. “How’d you know?”
“Bryant noticed you convulsing in the backseat.”
“Convulsing?”
“Yes. We stopped the car and tried to bring you back.”
“How long did that take?” I had no concept of how much time had passed while I floated.
“Several minutes. You had us worried.”
“I talked to someone. A girl.”
“Who was she?” Bryant pushed his way in front of me again.
“All I have is a name… she said she shouldn’t be dead. That someone tricked her.” I’d never forget that voice. It was so young. She couldn’t have been much older than her teens.
“We aren’t near a cemetery that I know of, but to have had a conversation with a deceased you didn’t know… as your first connection. It makes me suspicious.” Lochlan looked down..
“Suspicious of what?” Had I managed to get myself in trouble by doing what I was told to do. “I only did what you told me to do.”
“Which one?” Lochlan glanced up again.
“The floating thing.”
“We should test this.” Lochlan nodded. “We should see if the body is around here.”
“What?” Bryant gasped. “That could take hours.”
“Not if Mara can connect with her again.”
“And how does this benefit us?” Bryant leaned against the car door.
“One it proves she is a true Séancer, and if I’m right, i
t means she’s far more powerful than either of us thought.” Lochlan’s eyes were wide.
Bryant’s eyes gleamed. “Fine. Have her work fast though.”
“What am I doing exactly?” That kind of information was a bit important.
“Finding the girl. She’s likely in an unmarked grave.” Lochlan made it all sound obvious and simple.
“Whoa.” I shook my head. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” Lochlan’s brow furrowed. “Of all reasons to use this ability, isn’t that an important one?”
“What are we going to do if we find it?” Poor Netta. I wanted to help the girl, but I couldn’t. She was already dead I reminded myself.
“That’s going to be up to you.” Lochlan stepped back. “Meaning, we’ll see what you have the power to do.”
“Uh, I assume you’re insinuating I might be able to bring her back or something and well, I can’t and won’t. That’s scary stuff. Even Bryant said if you bring someone back they’re never the same.”
“But this could mean justice.” Lochlan’s eyes practically glowed. “She may not be the only one.”
“This is what you do, isn’t it?” There was more to Lochlan that I originally thought.
He shook his head. “I find the bodies, yes. But I’ve never worked with a Séancer who can bring them back.”
“What makes you think I can do it?”
“Because I’ve only met one Séancer who can.”
“And he’s related to me?” I knew the answer before I even asked the question.
Lochlan nodded. “Yes. He was your grandfather.”
12
Ian
Running with Claire would never be comfortable anymore. Even in my bear form, I couldn’t forget my anger at her. She’d used my brother to get back at me, and that wasn’t something I could forget. He was grown up, but he would always be my little brother.
But I had to forget about what she did. She was helping me, and even if it was for her own interests, it was help I couldn’t turn away. I couldn’t trust Claire, not in the traditional sense, but our packs had a bond, and I knew that when push came to shove she’d have my back. Well, as long as is it didn’t put hers at risk.
The lake was on the far side of town, but as a bear, the distance was easy enough to cover. I tried to enjoy the sensation of running in my true form, but it was impossible. My bear wanted Mara back as much as my human side. Both sides needed her and would never be happy or satisfied until she was back where she belonged.
The old cabin had been there for as long as I could remember, but it had been empty for just as long too. Teenagers had used it for parties—until that use became so well known that the local police added it to evening patrols. I hadn’t been inside the place in years, but I doubted it could have changed much.
Claire beat me there. I wasn’t surprised. Being a cheetah she could outrun just about anyone. She liked to remind me of that detail time and time again. To shut her up you had to remind her that her speed was in sprinting. She couldn’t do it too often without a rest, and then if she was caught, there were many other shifters that were much stronger. She had to carefully pick and choose who she messed with.
I sensed no one. My senses weren't perfect, but they were good, even by bear standards.
By the way Claire went right up to the house she’d noticed the same thing.
I hung back carefully to make sure I wasn't walking into a trap. I would be useless to Mara if I were captured or dead.
Claire let out a low growl, signaling me to follow.
I looped around the house, glancing into the woods and out onto the expanse of lake in front.
I saw nothing and felt nothing. Either the information was wrong, or we were too late. The faint trail I picked up made the latter more likely. There was bear and something else.
Claire waited on the front porch and nodded to tell me to go in while she kept watch.
If I’d sensed anyone currently I'd have refused, but I didn't. I wanted to be the one to go through what was left behind first.
Someone had clearly been there. There was no question about that. A few empty beer bottles made someone’s presence known. The ripped and dirty clothes made it obvious it was a shifter. Our kind forget to change in time more often than not.
I surveyed the one bedroom and bath as a bear, before transforming back into my human form. My senses were stronger as a bear, but there were things I needed hands for.
“You look good from behind.” Claire spoke from beside me.
I didn’t turn around. I wouldn’t give her the time of day.
“You ignoring me now?” She huffed.
“I’m busy.”
“Mmhmm. Sure you are.”
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
“More like something to show you.”
“If this is just you naked, I’m done talking to you.” I turned around prepared to be angry, but the anger faded. She held up a phone.
“Someone forget something.”
“Who would be that stupid? Maybe it’s a plant.”
“I found it under the curtains. If they were planting it, it would have been more obvious.”
“Let’s see it.” I held out my hand.
“Who says I’m going to hand it over to you? I found it.” She gloated.
“It’s my mate that’s missing.”
“I haven’t heard from my sister in days. I’m in the same boat.” She tilted her head to the side.
“Let’s both look.” I stepped into pants. I couldn’t make her get dressed, but that didn’t mean I’d stand around naked with her.
“Did you have to cut off my view?” she whined.
“Don’t.” I glared. “Don’t even try to go there.”
“Just because you found your mate doesn’t mean you have to have a stick up your ass.”
“I’m not in the mood for jokes. I wouldn’t think you would be either considering your sister is missing. Isn’t that what you were telling me?”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t relieve the tension. You don’t have to be so single minded.” She flipped the phone over in her hand.
“It’s called being focused. You should try it sometime.”
“I am focused.” She gave me a cold, long stare.
“On getting what you want.”
“Exactly. Isn’t that a good thing?”
“When what you want doesn’t get in my way.” Which it did plenty, but right now we wanted the same thing.
She smiled. “Ready to look at the phone?” She waved it in front of my face.
“Once you get dressed.”
“Get over the nudity already.” Claire frowned. “It’s ridiculous. You’re a bear. Not a human.”
“Put on clothes.” I wasn’t being silly. I felt disloyal to Mara. Maybe it would be different if I hadn’t slept with Claire, but I had, which meant her being naked in front of me had a sexual edge to it.
“Why? We’re going to leave in two minutes.”
“Fine.” I pulled the phone into my hands. “Then it’s mine.”
The phone was locked. No surprise there. That also suggested it wasn’t a plant. Of course that could have been part of the whole plan to fool us, but that was some deep thinking for the kind of guys we were looking for.
“Any good at breaking these passwords?” I tossed the phone to Claire.
“No.” She shook her head. “But I know someone who is.”
“Who?”
“Lawrence.”
I shook my head. “I’m not getting him involved in this. It isn’t happening.”
“He can break anything.”
“I hate him.”
“He doesn’t hate you—as much.” She brushed her hair off her shoulder. “He does hate you a little.”
“Which means you want to handle this?” I should have known where this was going.
“I’m not trying to steal it. Ok?” She put a hand on her hip.
“I neve
r said you would.”
“You didn’t need to say it. It’s in your expression. Your expressions are very—expressive.” Whatever she was going to say, she changed her mind at the last minute.
“Great.”
“Maybe you can catch up with Tyler doing whatever he’s doing.”
I pulled out my phone. “I got a text from Noah. I have to check in with him.”
“Sure you don’t want me to do that?”
“I’m not going to give you the pleasure of a response.”
13
Mara
“I can't do this." I shook my head. “Whatever I just managed was a fluke."
I felt a nudge in my chest. Netta. I needed to help the girl. But was it even possible?
"You did it once, doesn't it follow you could do it again?" Bryant pressed. His voice wasn't soft exactly, but it was more like it had been before I’d set him off and he’d tossed a table.
“Not everything works that way." Most things didn’t. That would make life too easy. That was another of my grandfather’s sayings anytime I complained. The saying made no sense though because what could possibly be wrong with life being easy?
"It usually does, if you believe." Bryant put a hand on my arm.
"You don't believe that." I held in a laugh.
"I believe power is important. Your power is important." His eyes met mine with a new sort of intensity. “Very important.”
"You don't care about the girl or justice." Not that I was surprised. Bryant didn’t care about anything that didn’t involve him.
He shrugged unapologetically. "No I don't. I care about your potential."
"My potential." I nodded. “Right.”
"Yes. You have lots of potential."
"Potential to deal with death." I sighed. “Lovely.”
“Why be so negative about death?” Lochlan bent down so he was at my eye level. “Death is something we all must face. Focus on the beauty not the darkness.”
“Beauty?” I raised an eyebrow.
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