Heaven shot Layne a glance as Dylan ushered her away. His energy pulled at her with each step they took until she couldn’t see him anymore. Cautious steps had them creeping down the alley like silent shadows.
The pavement curved around a corner as they continued, but before they disappeared around it, she saw Layne in her peripheral vision, bringing up the rear. It brought her a sense of relief to know he was coming along. He could have left. It would have been the perfect opportunity for him to disappear from her life. Part of him wanted to disappear, and while it hurt like hell to know that, she understood why. Their connection overwhelmed her too.
The sounds of the city resonated through the air. Tires screeched in the distance. A horn honked in several short spurts to their right. A siren blared somewhere from the left. Then thunder rumbled above them.
Another curve in the alley brought them to the one thing they’d hoped to avoid—a dead end. Dylan spun around in the middle of the back street, as if he were looking for another way out. She did the same, but neither had any luck.
“I told you we should have gone right.” Resentment rang in Layne’s words. He remained by the corner building, staring at them with an arrogant gaze.
Dylan gave him a death stare as he squeezed her hand and urged her to follow him. They moved around Layne, going back in the same direction they’d come. It took them even less time to reach the junction where they’d argued a few minutes prior.
“So now what?” Layne continued, approaching them from behind. “Are you going to listen to me and go right, or do you want to backtrack altogether?”
“Shut up, Layne. If you want to gloat about this, wait until she’s safe.”
“She’d be safe if you’d listen to me. You never want to listen to anything I say. All you do is point fingers, lay blame, and lie.”
“Excuse me?” Dylan broke away from her side and moved toward him.
Layne didn’t back away. He kept his eyes locked with Dylan’s and met him halfway. “You said you were going to support our connection, but you won’t allow me to do what it takes to keep her safe. You’re a liar.”
“You would know all about that, wouldn’t you?”
The more she listened to them spew their bitterness, the more Heaven wanted to walk away from both of them. At this point, what was stopping her? It’s not like they were worried about her safety. For all they knew, Raphe could come around the corner at any second, trapping them where they stood. She’d be safer on the move.
So she walked away.
She didn’t get far before Dylan’s voice called out to her, “Heaven? Where are you going?”
“Somewhere safe. Somewhere I don’t have to listen to you two. I’m so sick of this.”
She choked back the emotion in her voice, doing her best to prevent her anger from getting the better of her. No matter what she did, they were never going to get along, and that meant she’d never be safe.
Dylan caught up to her, catching her by the elbow. “Heaven, stop. You know you can’t be alone.”
“Then stop this bickering and help me. Help us.” Her hand cradled her stomach as his eyes fell to it. Guilt spiraled through his soul, as well as Layne’s when he joined them.
“She’s right,” he confessed. “We have to stop arguing. Maybe it would be best if we split up. If we go in different directions, it would give us time to cool off and it will help us throw Raphe off track.”
“No,” she cried, unable to hold back her frustration any longer. “We can’t separate. We have to stick together. We have to—”
As the words caught in her throat, both men grabbed her by the arm, echoing each other when they asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s here,” she whispered. “I feel a surge of energy. Dark energy.”
Her answer had them staring intently at the buildings surrounding them. Their eyes swept over every square inch as they circled her.
The once noisy city had calmed to a low buzz of traffic from a nearby street. Between the fire burning through Layne’s energy and the subtle zips of Dylan’s, she had a hard time focusing on the negative energy brewing in the distance. Whoever was lurking remained hidden in the shadows, waiting. For the right opportunity or the rest of their crew, she didn’t know, but the energy around spoke of malevolence.
Just as the air thickened with tension, a sound resonated from the alley’s entrance, like the stretching of a rubber band. She stared ahead of them, waiting for someone to appear, but silence reformed. Dead silence. Even the buzzing traffic died away.
Slowing his pace, Dylan came to a stop just behind her. “We have to get you out of here.”
“How?”
She’d barely asked the question before Layne darted in front of her. Swishing filled the air as his hand shot up toward his head like he was capturing something. And he did. She blinked her eyes, disbelieving what she saw. Metal—razor sharp metal that came to a point at the end. That same pointy end stopped less than a foot from her head.
Layne held onto a long, slender stick, his eyes still focused on something in front of him. She had just enough time to realize it was an arrow in his hand when he pushed his other one forward. A flame as vibrant as the sun shot from his palm toward a nearby building. It morphed into an orb before it combusted against the corner.
As if witnessing his abilities wasn’t shocking enough, seeing a dark figure falling toward the ground stunned her. She didn’t doubt it was one of Raphe’s crew, which meant the rest weren’t far behind.
Oddly enough, there was no sign of a bow. If he’d shot the arrow, it should have been in his—
Another swish resonated between the buildings. She didn’t see where the arrow went, but she didn’t miss the way Layne hurled another flame in the same direction. This flame remained in his palm. It hit something a moment later, curling around a dark form not far from the other he’d burned.
Grunts and cries echoed as the victim of Layne’s wrath floated just above the ground. Their enemy was engulfed in an inferno that he controlled. She froze in place, watching the stranger before them writhe in agony. Then his screams, as well as his energy, died out.
What was left of the body dropped to the ground in a heaping, black pile. The breeze from the approaching storm blew smoke their way, as well as the scent of charred flesh. She fought against the sickness rolling in her belly, the sickness that the baby’s kicks made worse.
“We gotta get out of here,” she said, struggling to get the words out for fear that someone else would hear them.
The warmth of Dylan’s hand heated her skin as he curled his finger around her arm. “If we cut down this alley, it will take us to one of the main roads. We’ll find someplace safe to hide. I’ll call for a cab and go back for the car. Layne can stay and guard you.”
“Then let’s go.” She stepped forward and tugged on Layne, trying to get him to follow, but he didn’t move. “This isn’t the time to be stubborn,” she grumbled. “Please, Layne, let’s just—”
Air burned through her lungs when she gasped. No amount of oxygen could keep her head from spinning or her heart from beating with such force that it made her chest ache. This couldn’t be real. This couldn’t be—
“Oh. My. God,” The words rushed from her mouth, but not with the intensity she’d meant. Tears rushed to her eyes as caramel ones gazed back at her.
Layne parted his mouth to speak. His lips trembled but no words came out. Nothing did, except blood. He stood there, his body wavering back and forth as he stared at her. Her legs felt like they’d been encased in cement. She couldn’t get them to move. She couldn’t get any part of her body to move. All she could do was stare at him, horrified by what she saw. His eyes rolled back a second later, then he fell to the ground.
The cool pavement scraped her knees when she dropped beside him and leaned over his body. She pressed her hands to his chest, feeling the heat of his energy weakening under her palms. The whole world seemed to be in slow motion, her voice
the only sound penetrating her ears. She screamed Layne’s name, screamed it as loud as she possibly could, and touched the arrow penetrating his heart.
CHAPTER 21
Thumping vibrated the bottom of Heaven’s shoes each time the car passed over a break in the pavement. It was nothing compared to the thumping in her heart. Each painful beat echoed in her ears, drowning out all other sounds short of her sniffling.
A soft glow from sporadic streetlights faded in and out, lighting up the interior just enough to see Layne’s face. The natural pink of his cheeks turned ashen as he lay there, his head resting against her stomach, eyes closed and unmoving. Splatters of dried blood clung to the skin around his mouth. It covered her hands and sweater too.
She gazed up to the front of the vehicle, her tear-filled eyes making it hard to see much of anything. Her father sat in the driver’s seat, his eyes locked on the road ahead of them. She’d never been so happy to know he’d followed her somewhere, or that he could read minds. If he’d left a few minutes sooner, he would have been there when she spotted Raphe. He would have known what to do, could have gotten them to safety, preventing Layne from being struck by the arrow.
It was too late for what ifs. Her worst nightmare had come true. Literally. How ironic it was that tonight’s events mimicked the dream in Jamaica, the one she shared with both Dylan and Layne. And just like the dream, her Keeper had been attacked. He’d fallen to the ground, covered in his blood.
The only difference between the nightmare and reality was the fact that she and Dylan hadn’t been attacked. She stroked the underside of her belly, feeling grateful that there wasn’t a stab wound like the one she had in the nightmare. It may have happened tonight if her father hadn’t shown up when he had.
There was no way she and Dylan could have carried Layne back to her mother’s car. Her husband couldn’t leave them behind while he went back for it either, not when Raphe and his crew were looking for them.
How was it possible that he and his people were real? Worse, how had they found them? Did that mean Nate knew where they were?
As another streetlight lit up the car, she caressed Layne’s cheek, willing him to open his eyes. His energy pulsed in the slowest rhythm she’d ever sensed in him. If he didn’t get medical attention soon…
She couldn’t lose him.
Her eyes caught her father glancing at her through the rearview mirror. She didn’t doubt he was listening to her thoughts, which angered her even more. He knew how scared she was, but continued down the interstate heading toward their home. Did he want Layne to die?
A crease formed between his brows as the thought flittered through her mind. He shot Dylan a quick glance, but his eyes were glued to the window beside him. Her father stole another peek in the mirror before refocusing on the road.
“Don’t think so little of me, Heaven. His life affects yours. I wouldn’t do anything to cause him, or you, more pain.”
“He’s lost so much blood,” she sobbed, glancing at the arrow still piercing his chest. “We have to take him to the hospital.”
For a moment, he looked as though he would cave and find the closest medical center, but he released a long, exaggerated sigh instead.
“We can’t Heaven.” His voice was gentle, though his energy beat with concern. “If we involve ordinary people, it will jeopardize all of you.”
She didn’t care about her safety right now. She cared about her Keeper, cared about the fact that he was fighting for his life. If getting him to a hospital would save him, she’d take the risk.
“I’m willing to take my chances, Dad. His life is just as valuable as mine. If we take him, he’ll survive. He’ll be alive.”
“There’s no guarantee on that, Heaven. He stands a better chance at the house. We know someone who can help him—a Healer. Delia’s already made the call.”
“A Healer?” she didn’t mean it as a question, but more as an echo of his statement. “I’m not really sure what that entails, but if this person helps Layne, I don’t care. Will the healer be waiting for us when we get there?”
“No,” he answered, refocusing on the road. “But she’s on her way. It will be a couple hours.”
She noticed his eyes move to the clock in the center of the dashboard. Green digital numbers showed just how early it was. Three-fifty a.m. They would be back in Brightsville in twenty minutes. A lot could happen before the Healer arrived. Layne could wake up. Then again, he could take a turn for the worse.
As if he’d picked up on the anxiety spinning in her soul, Dylan turned toward the back seat. His eyes roamed her face then dropped to Layne’s. He never said a word to her. She didn’t need him to speak. His energy spoke of the guilt consuming him. He blamed himself for this mess. She sensed it in his soul and she knew why. He hadn’t forgiven himself for leaving the note for Layne, because it was that note, along with Faith, that sent Layne over the edge.
She felt just as guilty for the same reasons. Had they not left for the weekend, she would have been there when he ran into Faith. She could have been there to support him and talk him through it. Instead, he had to deal with the painful news of not only Faith’s pregnancy, but also the fact that the baby wasn’t his.
On top of the mess of hate that her sister evoked, he had to deal with being separated from her, had to deal with the one thought that worried him most—that he wouldn’t be around to save her.
The bloody arrow came back into her view, causing her cheeks to burn. He’d worried for nothing because he’d been there when she was attacked. He had risked his life for hers, taking the second arrow to the chest. No wonder she hadn’t seen where it landed. She couldn’t have when he’d been standing in front of her shielding her body with his.
As she continued replaying the last few hours in her mind, she leaned her forehead against Layne’s. His skin felt cool and clammy, not like the inferno that normally burned within him. She’d gotten used to his warmth. She’d do anything to feel it heating her skin at this moment.
Once the car began to slow, a large green sign stared back at her, the word Brightsville written in reflective white letters. Her father veered the car to the right, taking the exit they approached. The thought of arriving home did little to ease her mind. She still thought Layne needed a doctor. This Healer had better be as good as her father said.
If not, there would be hell to pay. She’d make sure of it.
* * *
Heaven kept pace with her father and Dylan as they carried Layne upstairs to her old bedroom. She ignored her mother’s voice, as well as Delia’s, when they kept asking if she was okay. Didn’t they realize she wasn’t important? Layne was all that mattered. They needed to be focused on him.
The bedroom door slammed against the doorstop when her father kicked it open and backed into the room. He took care bringing Layne through the doorway, waiting for Dylan to do the same. Once inside, they quickened their steps toward the bed. Grunts filled the air as they struggled to lay him on the full-sized mattress. She wished it were Layne grunting instead. It would mean he’d regained consciousness. It would mean he was pulling through.
She focused on his energy, the way it flickered like an ember that would soon extinguish. There had to be a way to stoke it, and him, back to life. If not, he wouldn’t make it much longer. They needed the Healer her father mentioned. If they waited, it would be too late.
As her father and Dylan stepped away from the bed, her mother and Delia replaced their spots. They worked their hands over Layne, checking his pulse, his temperature, even his pupils, before moving toward his chest. The second their hands neared the arrow, she rushed to the bed, pushing her mother out of the way.
“Don’t touch him!”
She used her body like a shield, protecting him from their probing hands. He’d been through enough tonight. She refused to let them cause him more pain.
“We need to assess the damage, Heaven.”
She met her mother’s weary gaze, fighting against h
er quivering lips to form words. “You’re going to hurt him. Can’t you see he’s in pain?” She gazed down at him. Her hand lingered near the arrow. There was an urge to grip it and rip it from his chest. His body couldn’t begin to heal as long as it remained inside him. “He’s in so much pain, Mom.”
Tears spilled from her eyes, forming a wet but warm trail down her cheeks. She didn’t understand why this was happening. How could she lose him now, when she needed him most? He was created to protect her. She wasn’t out of danger yet. Far from it. If Layne died…
Another round of sobs shook her chest. She buried her face against his neck, allowing the hurt to consume her. “Please, wake up,” she whispered. “You can’t do this to me, Layne. I need you.”
All eyes were on her. She didn’t need to look up to know they were. The energy inside the room quaked with fear, sympathy, even guilt. She sensed the emotions in their thoughts, as well. They knew that if Layne died, her chance of survival was slim. She knew it too, but it angered her to know that it was their first concern.
Layne wasn’t some emotionless robot created to protect her, nor could he be easily replaced. He was a man who lived and breathed as much as they did. He was a passionate man who cared more than anyone knew, a man who hurt when his heart was broken.
More than anything, he was her friend. It didn’t matter that he’d tried to end their friendship. She knew deep down he cared. He cared a lot, maybe too much, if such a thing existed. The crazy part was the feeling was mutual. He’d found his way into her heart and made a permanent impression, one that went so deep it would rip her apart if she lost him.
She didn’t want to care this much about him. She didn’t have the right when she belonged to someone else. Dylan would always have her heart, but her heart would always have a part of Layne within it. Denying it wouldn’t change the facts, but she’d do her best to keep the feelings to herself.
“Sweetheart,” Delia cooed as she sat on the edge of the bed. “If you don’t let us examine him, it could cause more damage. We need to get the arrow out of his chest.”
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