Chapter 9

“Don’t worry, this won’t be painful,” Amara assured Nova. Then she paused, her hand on the door knob. “Well, at least not terribly.” Her grin was mischievous at best. It only widened when Nova rolled his eyes.

“I’m not worried, Amara,” he replied, shifting the bag of groceries to his other arm. “I have met mothers before.”

She cocked one manicured brow. “Yes, but have you ever faced my mother?”

“Well…” Nova’s voice trailed off, and she could tell he was beginning to get nervous. Good. “Okay, so maybe your mom is a little bit different but that’s just because I want to make a good first impression.”

Amara swallowed hard. If she were being honest, she was quite nervous as well. She wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with both Nova and Kal being there tonight. If only her mother knew the reality. Her mother had become agoraphobic after Amara was attacked just three short years after her husband, Amara’s father was killed. She rarely left her house anymore, and when she did, she was a nervous wreck by the time she got home. Just the thought of her mother not knowing the truth of this night made her stomach turn.

“Alright. Come on, Lover Boy. Let’s go inside.” Taking a deep breath, Amara opened the door. She loved her mother’s house. It was filled with bright colors and cozy furniture. And it always smelled like freshly baked something. Today it was corn bread muffins.

Amara set her purse on the scrubbed wooden table. She motioned for Nova to place the bag of groceries on the kitchen counter. “Mom?” she called, reaching for Nova’s hand. She led him through the rounded archway to the living room. “Mom?” she called again. This time, she heard voices.

Her mother and Becca were sitting on the couch going through a cook book. Becca’s father, Dan, was reading a book in the arm chair beside them, his hand resting on Becca’s cane. Amara stopped short and glanced over her shoulder at Nova. Did he recognize her? It was he and Nemoy who had saved them ten years ago.

Nova, to his credit, had gone a little white, but kept his cool none the less.

Amara’s mom looked up. “Hey, kiddo!” Closing the book, she stood and rushed over to her daughter. She threw her arms around her.

“Hey, Mom. This is Nova.” She gestured behind her. “My boyfriend. Nova, this is my mother, Cathleen.” They shook hands, and Nova turned on the charm. It didn’t take much, she knew. One smile, and that was it. And, if she didn’t know any better, she’d say her mom was smitten.

She couldn’t blame her.

Nova leaned forward to shake Dan’s hand as he and Becca were introduced. Amara watched with pleasure as Becca’s tan cheeks flushed a beet red. She so rarely got out anymore to see anybody. It was just too hard for her to get around. And what with all the scarring around her face and throat…well, she understood why Becca kept to herself and her small circle of people most of the time. Still, it was nice to see she was still the same sweet Becca, even when meeting strangers.

“We were just about to leave,” Becca apologized, reaching for her cane. Amara rushed forward to help her up.

“Don’t be silly,” Cathleen replied. “You’re more than welcome to stay for dinner.”

Amara started to agree before she remembered Kal would be joining them as Sadie’s guest, and clamped her lips down tight. There was no way she was letting that bastard anywhere near Becca. If only she could get him the hell away from her sister, too.

Becca smiled, but shook her head. “That’s so sweet of you, Mrs. Townsend, but we really do need to be going.” She shared a warm yet exasperated look with her father. “My mother starts to worry whenever we’re out too long. Especially me.”

Dan chuckled and Cathleen blushed scarlet. She knew exactly how Becca’s mother was feeling, Amara knew. “Another time then,” Cathleen conceded.

“It was lovely to meet you,” Nova said, taking Becca’s hand again.

Becca flushed and murmured something that sounded like “you too,” but Amara couldn’t tell. Amara smiled and threaded her arm through her friend’s. “Come on,” she said. “I’ll walk you out.”

“He’s so cute!” Becca exclaimed once they were out of earshot. “I thought Zoe was exaggerating, but nope! He really is the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. And look at those muscles! I wish Brandon had muscles like that,” she grumped, referring to her own boyfriend. She lowered her voice further still. “Speaking of Zoe, have you talked to her much lately?”

Amara frowned. “No, why? Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. She’s been a little strange lately.” Worry creased Becca’s brow. “I think she and Mitch are having problems. She won’t admit it, of course, but I don’t believe her.”

“Really? They seem to be working together alright to me.” Amara thought for a moment. “Then again, I did just take a couple weeks off with Nova, so I’m not entirely sure that’s correct.”

“Would you mind keeping an eye on her for me?” Becca asked.

Immediately, Amara softened. “Of course I will. Anything for you, Becs.”

By then, Dan had joined them, so the two women said their goodbyes and Amara opened the door. Sadie and Kal stood on the porch. Kal’s lips turned up in a cold, cruel smile as he stared from Becca to Amara, and back again. He recognized her. He must have. The lumps of scar tissue along her jaw and neck were sure to give it away.

Amara clenched her teeth together and forced a cheery smile for her sister’s benefit. She was almost certain it came out as more of a grimace.

“Excuse us,” Becca said politely. She and her father pushed through the door. Her voice was uncharacteristically timid, and Amara had to wonder if it was just because she was shy, or if on some level, she recognized Kal for the dangerous monster that he was.

Kal let them pass without a word before turning his leering grin back on Amara. “Well, well, well. That was a pleasant surprise.” Leaning forward, he brushed a kiss over her cheek, lingering to whisper in her ear. “Maybe I’ll finish her off when I’m done with you.” The sickeningly hot feel of his breath against her skin, mixed with his threat made Amara want to gag.

She glanced over her shoulder to where Nova stood, grateful to see his expression was one of stoic reserve rather than the open hostility she knew he was looking to show. As much as she hated Kal and his pack, her mother couldn’t handle any added stress, especially with all of these recent attacks.

Cathleen rushed forward and enveloped Kal in a hug. It was like watching somebody transform right before her eyes. Kal became an entirely different person. He wrapped his arms around Cathleen’s ample frame and hugged her tight, a broad smile across his sharp-featured face.

The sight was sickening. Amara looked at Nova in alarm.

Next to her, Sadie frowned, clearly getting angry. “What is wrong with you two? You’re looking at him like he’s going to kill somebody. It’s not like Kal’s an ax murderer or something. Lighten up.” Still shaking her head, Sadie stepped forward to say hello to her mother.

“This is not good,” Amara whispered to Nova, groping for his hand. She could seriously use the reassurance from someone who wasn’t absolutely terrifying.

Nova scowled. “No,” he agreed slowly, eyeing the other man with dislike. “It definitely is not.”