Devour (The Devoured Series Book 1) by Shelly Crane (3)

“I’m fine,” I assured her. “Bye, munchkins.”

“Bye, Clara!” a sweet chorus sang behind me as I made a mad dash to grab my cell and blot on some lip gloss.

I tousled my locks and ran to the door, only to be caught by Pastor.

“Hey, running late?”

“A little.”

“Wouldn’t be running off to see a certain dashing young man, now would you?”

“Maybe,” I said coyly, causing him to laugh, and kissed his cheek. “Bye!”

“Have a good day, sweetheart.”

“I’m sure I will!” I called and barely looked both ways before running across the street.

I thought how strange things were. I was never really close to our pastor and his wife before this. I went to church along with my parents but I never really participated. It was just something I’d always done. Now, however, they really were like parents to me. Pastor worked a lot. A lot. But what did you expect from a Pastor? That was how it should be. And they practiced what they preached. They were the sweetest, nicest, most sincere people I’d ever known in my life. I was extremely blessed that they offered to take me in instead of putting me in foster care. I would always be grateful to them for that. And though I missed my parents with an ache that still stung and burned in my chest and made my eyes prick, I was as happy as I could be in my situation. And I knew that when I peeked back at the house, Pastor would still be there watching to make sure I made it safely. I turned and there he was. I waved and smiled. He waved too and took that as his cue to go back to his work.

I waved to a few people I knew and hastily made my way inside. I had to get to my locker before homeroom. I almost growled when one of the girls from the Spirit Squad stopped me.

“Clara, hey. How. Are. You?” she said in her biggest sympathy voice. It rankled me because that was exactly how people talked to me after my parents died.

“Fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, I heard about everything that’s been going on with Tate. And now Eli. Boy, you sure are busy, huh?”

“What does that mean?” I asked as the hair on my neck rose and buzzed with annoyance.

“Nothing,” she said innocently and flipped her long chestnut hair, “but you can’t really blame Tate for hitting Eli, can you? After he found you out like that?”

“Found out what?” I said suddenly very intrigued.

“That you were seeing Eli behind his back. I heard all about it; how he punched Eli by the cafeteria.”

I sighed and felt my lips pull back in a sneer.

“Get your facts straight, Brittany. I wasn’t seeing Eli behind Tate’s back, for one. For another, Eli hit Tate, not the other way around.”

“Oh, well, Dee is telling everyone that you were caught at the away showers with Eli and that Tate went ballistic.”

I felt my jaw drop and all I could do was stare. Dee was a real piece of work. How dare she? Who did she think she was? I realized Brittany was still going and I’d missed half of the conversation.

“And so anyway, I was like, Mike, please. There’s no way Eli’s head went all the way around.”

“Ok,” I stopped her. “Now Mike?”

“Yeah. They told the whole cafeteria what happened. Poor Eli. I hope his nose grows back straight.”

I almost laughed. “Stop listening to them, Brittany. Just because the words are uttered from their lips doesn’t mean it’s golden.”

“So, it’s true? They kicked you out of their group?”

“I left,” I confirmed.

“And Eli and Dee aren’t dating anymore?”

“They never were!” I yelled and then bit my lip.

“Sorry,” she groaned. “Look, you are apparently strung out about this whole thing, so I’ll see you later.”

“I’m not strung out, I’m just sick of it all.”

“They’re your friends,” she reasoned.

“No, they never were. They were just the people I was stuck with.” I looked at her closely. She was a Sophomore. I felt it was my duty to enlighten her. “Brittany, listen. This is going to sound very after-school special but just listen. High school doesn’t matter. I thought it did. I thought being popular was important. I thought having a hot guy be your boyfriend and everybody knowing your name was awesome but it isn’t. It gets old and it gets pointless. Don’t follow them just because you think you have to. Be your own person.” She gave me the weirdest look, like I was shooting green slime from my ears. I sighed. “Ok, thanks for telling me but everything they said was a total lie. Dee’s just jealous and Tate’s pride is hurt. See you at the pep rally later?”

Her eyes lit up again and she smiled.

“Totally! And don’t worry about Tate. Eli is so much hotter anyway. Tootles!”

There was no way to reach her. My old friends were like a tractor beam; a total façade of coolness and success. I couldn’t really blame her. I used to be exactly like her.

I rubbed my eyes as I pushed through the people to get to my locker. Eli was there waiting for me. I sighed in relief and it made me smile that it was an instantaneous reaction. I really did like him and wanted to be with him.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he said languidly and scooted over so I could open my locker door.

“Hey,” I said and looked up at him. “Have you heard the news?”

“About Tate dismantling my face? Yep.” He rubbed a hand down his cheek. “Feels smooth enough to me.”

I laughed. “Yeah. Smooth.” I grabbed my notebook, took a quick look into my magnetic mirror and shut it easily. “So, how was the rest of your night?”

“Good enough, I guess,” he said and let his arm surround me. He whispered in my ear. “Could’ve been better.”

I pulled back and smiled at him, but it faded away. I don’t know how I knew, he looked exactly like Eli. Exactly. He’d even gotten his eyebrow pierced, which was freaky enough in its own right. He saw the change come over me and smirked.

“Dang. What gave me away? Was it my suggestive tone or debonair looks?”

“How did you get in here?” I asked and tried to pull away, but he held tight.

He gave me a sardonic look. Oh yeah, public school with an emphasis on the ‘public’. Our small town wasn’t bad boned enough for metal detectors or security guards.

“Ok, fine. How did you get a uniform? And what’s up with the eyebrow? It’s creepy.”

“You don’t look happy to see me, Clara,” he sang and when I tried to pull away this time, he let me go. “I don’t want any trouble.”

“Really? Then what are you doing here? And how did you know all about that Tate stuff?”

“Well, I’ve been here all morning waiting for you to come. Everyone apparently knows Eli and have been giving me their condolences all morning. Don’t worry,” he assured, “I kept his precious reputation in tact and acted appropriately shocked at the revelation that a human boy could lay me out flat.”

“That’s not what happened,” I told him, my voice raising in annoyance at the thought that everyone was talking about Eli. I kind of wanted to smile. I’d never been the protective type before. “Eli is the one who… You know, what? Never mind. You still didn’t answer my question.” I crossed my arms over my chest to seem more confident when really I was shaking because I realized I was now in an empty hallway with a Devourer who hadn’t suddenly grown a conscious like another one I knew. The bell must have been about to ring. “What are you doing here?”

“Eli. He needs to come back and stop this ruse. It’s been years. Many. Way too long to play the sullen runaway child.”

“Maybe he doesn’t want to go back,” I countered. “Maybe he likes it here.”

“With a snack like you hanging on his sleeve, I’m sure he does,” he replied wryly, his accent still perplexing me to place it. “That’s beside the point.”

“Why? Why can’t he just be rogue?”

He chuckled. “I can’t believe he told you everything. It’s so out of character for him.” He moved forward to stand over me, his chest almost bumping mine and my pulse jumped. He licked his bottom lip and smiled. “But as I said before, you are unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. Maybe that’s why he stays.” He twitched his head to the side. “Doesn’t want to lose his little candy store…do you, brother?”

I peeked over his shoulder to see Eli staring daggers into Enoch’s back. I blinked to clear my vision because it seemed like Eli’s veins were standing out…and blue almost. When Enoch looked back too, Eli’s face changed to one of boredom.

“Enoch, leave her alone.” He came forward and pulled me to him. He kissed the corner of my mouth then dragged his lips to the place under my jaw. My breath caught as my heart spiked and they both sighed. Eli then let his tongue touch my skin and he groaned before pushing me a little with his arm. “Go to class, Clara. I’ll see you at lunch.” The bell rang. He smacked me on the side of my thigh right as I was about to turn.

Oh no he-

His eyes pleaded. He begged me with them to just do what he said. Oh yeah. The whole Enoch-can’t-know-how-I-feel-about-you thing. I sucked it up and made my way to class. I even turned at my homeroom door and winked at Eli. Even though I kind of wanted to slap him a little, I also understood. But I so didn’t want to leave him like that. I felt like there was a good chance I’d never see him again. He nodded his head to my class for me to go. I went, begrudged. And I was late.

I felt Tate’s gaze on me but I refused to look his way as the teacher eyed me with pursed lips. Homeroom only had  a few minutes left. I was really anxious to see Eli and find out what happened. The school’s morning news was blaring a story about the drinks getting spiked at the last formal and at the upcoming Homecoming Dance, this would not be tolerated. Yeah right.

The bell rang and I dashed to the hall to find it devoid of Eli. Or Enoch. Dang.

 

 

I jumped and squealed when someone put their arm around my shoulder. It was Eli…I thought.

“It’s me,” he assured and smiled. That genuine smile alone let me know who it was.

“What happened?” I asked and put my arms around his neck. “I was worried.”

“Clara, he can’t hurt me.”

“Then why are you so afraid of him?”

“I’m not afraid of him, I’m afraid of what he’ll do. I don’t want you to be in danger because he wants to play with me.”

“Would he really hurt me?” I asked and leaned back to see his face.

“I don’t want to think about that answer,” he said softly. “Let’s go to class.”

He visibly shook himself as if to be rid of the images or thoughts we had conjured. Then he once again put his arm around my shoulders and we made our way through the throngs of students. I saw Sarah, who studiously avoided me, even after I waved at her.

 

~ ~ ~

 

We walked to lunch together and once again I dreaded it, but Eli was oblivious and gently led me to the line and paid for my food, once again. We made our way out to the table and Patrick waved us over. I gave in, feeling the heat of hateful gazes on me, and saw Tate there at my old table. Dee wasn’t all over him though. She was all over Mike. Gross. She was kissing Mike, eyes wide open, and staring at Tate, begging him to look and be jealous. Sad poor girl. It must be miserable to live that way.

Eli called me back to reality with a hand on my lower back. He leaned to whisper in my ear.

“Don’t spend another minute of your life worrying over them,” he commanded softy and kissed my cheek.

“Gross, you two,” Patrick chimed. “I’ll have to kiss Ike to keep up with you if you don’t tone it down.”

“Dude. No,” Ike said in horror, as if that scenario would ever actually play out.

Everyone laughed and I took a bite of my mac-n-cheese, leaning into Eli’s side. I laughed as he plowed through his bowl. For a guy that wasn’t human, he could sure put away the food. That thought stopped me in my tracks.

He wasn’t human.

What kind of future could I have with a guy like that? Would we get married one day? Could he have kids? Would they be what he is if we did? Could I be with him knowing I’d get old and die and he’d just watch me do it?

Eli’s arm jerked on my back and he sucked in a long breath.

“Stop, Clara. Please,” he begged in a whisper into my neck. “Why are you all of a sudden so upset?”

“Nothing,” I answered.

“Clara-”

“Not here.”

He nodded and leaned back in his chair. He took a few deep breaths and then smiled uneasily at something someone at the table was saying. I turned back to my plate and tried to relax. I didn’t understand why I was only now thinking of those things. But I was young, why was I worried about them? I didn’t really believe in forever anymore anyway. Things and people can be taken from you whether you wanted them to be or not. I was tired of being attached to things and them leaving or turning out to not be what I thought.

 

~ ~ ~

 

The rest of the day was a blur. I tried to not think and just focus on my teachers and schoolwork but it was kind of impossible with Eli in every class. In Art we had to draw a pencil sketch of one of our football teams helmets. You’d think that would be easy but it wasn’t. At least not for me. I peeked at Eli’s as he was done…and it was a masterpiece. If a perfect portrait of a football helmet could be called that.

“What’s with you today?” he asked as he caught me looking.

“Nothing. What?” I said nonchalantly as I began to draw again.

I was struggling to put it mildly. Without a word he put his hand over mine on the pencil. He showed me how to turn it lower and sideways to make my short strokes. It smoothed out the lines instead of it being so fine and choppy.

“Thanks,” I told him. His arm went to the back of my chair, his heat was almost a tangible thing. “I suck at this.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Major suckage,” I disagreed.

He laughed and again guided my hand easily, not cheating and doing it for me, but showing me how to do it myself. He had a way of doing things so sweetly and carefully. It was intriguing.

“Mr. Thames,” the teacher called, “are you finished?”

“Yes, ma’am, I am,” he sang.

“Well, thank you for helping the less fortunate students.”

“Hey,” I muttered, vexed, but Eli just nodded to her and chuckled in my ear.

“You are not less fortunate. She just envies the talent in her classroom all day. She’s jealous of youthful, steady fingers.”

“Well, she’s not jealous of me,” I assured and looked at the picture. “Though with your help, Picasso, that may change. Thank you.”

“You are absolutely welcome,” he said and then inched a little closer. “Do you want to come over tonight?”

“Nuhuh.”

“Nuhuh?” he repeated disbelievingly. “What does that mean?”

“It means no,” I said with a giggle.

“I know what it means, you tart, I meant what do you mean?”

“I mean that tonight is reruns of Buffy….or Vampire Diaries…or Angel. Take your pick.”

“I’m assuming these are television shows that portray the teenage angst and drama of high school whilst throwing in supernatural twists and danger?”

“Exactly,” I said amused.

“And you’re going to watch them tonight instead of coming to hang out with me?” he said incredulously. “Alone?”

“Eli, you’re cute, but you are no Salvatore.”

“I’m going to guess that you just insulted me,” he muttered dryly.

I burst out laughing and the teacher asked if she needed to move me. I shook my head and ducked behind his arm to stop the giggle. I thought for a second if what I was about to say would be ok. I had only ever brought home Tate as a dating material kind of boy before to the Pastor’s house.

“Why don’t you come over and watch it with me?” I suggested.

“You are serious aren’t you? What is so great about it?”

“Come over tonight and I’ll show you,” I countered.

He thought, his lips curling and twisting. I saw when I’d won. I could practically read on his face that he thought I was going to be trouble for him pertaining to getting my way. I smiled and kind of liked that idea. What girl wouldn’t?

“Alright, Clara Belle, you win. Can I at least take you to dinner?”

“Why don’t you just eat with us tonight? Mrs. Ruth won’t mind and she cooks enough food to feed a small army. She loves guests and this way they can get to know you a little and be really comfortable with my being with you all the time. Please?” I begged and smiled.

He seemed perturbed. I gave him a questioning look.

“I’m just thinking that it’s going to be impossible to say no to you. I’ve never in my life not been in control before,” he mused looking around the room. “It’s very strange.”

“I’m sorry?” I asked, not sure of his meaning.

He looked back at me and his smile broke all forms of concentration for me.

“I just meant that I’ve never wanted to give anyone anything. I’ve never done something for anyone or wanted to constantly be with someone. I’ve never been human before.”

“Well, I like you like this.”

“You only like me because you’re getting your way,” he said grinning.

“That is absolutely not true,” I taunted. “Although, I’m going to talk you into many things in the days to come,” he chuckled but I kept going, “I also enjoy your company.”

I smiled angelically and batted my eyelashes over exaggeratedly. He smiled, too, and softly played with my fingers under the table on my leg.

“I’m very much looking forward to it,” he said in a deep rumble.

I felt my cheeks tinge with pink a little and turned the promise ring on my finger so I’d have something to do. He smirked and looked up when the bell rang.

“Ok, I’ll meet you there in a little while. I have to go home and feed the bird,” he said.

“I forgot to ask you about that,” I mused. “You have a bird. That just seems strange for you.”

“It’s not actually my bird. It’s a long story. Cavuto is a nasty little piece of work that I would gladly be rid of.”

“Ok,” I dragged out, not completely understanding. “Cavuto is the bird’s name? Who names a bird that?”

“Come on, Clara,” he edged the topic away and pulled me from my chair. “The faster we go, the faster I can meet you at your house.”

“Ok,” I agreed reluctantly and grabbed my bag from the floor. “I’ll prep the fam for your arrival,” I said playfully.

“Sweet.”

He kissed my cheek and lingered for a moment. I felt my pulse speed but before I could hear the tell tale intake of his breath at my reaction, the teacher cleared her throat and hastily ejected us from the classroom.

He walked me to the street and then left for his house. I was just about to cross the four lane when someone said my name to get my attention behind me. I turned to see two girls, or Goddesses I should say. One was an Artemis of a girl with blazing red hair and big gold earrings. Her long white dress, belted with a gold and brown belt, reached her ankles. The other girl had long blond hair down to the small of her back and her tiny tank top showed her mid drift.

Her smile was a cruel copy of Dee’s and I felt my guard immediately snap to attention.

“Yes?”

“You’re Clara, right?”

“Yes,” I said cautiously and folded my arms. “Who are you?”

The Artemis smiled and stepped forward a bit. She held her hand out to me.

“I’m Angelina. You go to school here?”

I looked at the books in my arm and back to her, trying to not show on my face how stupid that question had been.

“Yep.”

“Then I think…you’ve met my fiancé, Eli.”

 

 

My heart stopped. My hand dropped before it even reached her.

“Eli,” I repeated. “You’re engaged to Eli?”

“More than engaged really,” the other girl said. “They’ve known each other since they were kids. They were practically betrothed at birth. Isn’t that sweet?” she crooned and extended her hand. I took hers this time. “I’m Mara. He doesn’t know we’re in town. It’s a surprise.“

“It will be a surprise, I think,” I mused and tried to smile when all I wanted to do was hurl. “You know where he lives?”

“Yeah, we’re just headed to his place now.” She nudged the other girl and started to push her the way of Eli’s house. “Nice to meet you, Clara. Maybe we’ll see you around? We’ll be in town for a few days.”

“Yeah,” my mouth said but my head said heck no. I swallowed hard and took a deep breath. “Bye.”

Eli was engaged, to a freaking gorgeous creature who was surprising him at his house as we speak. And he didn’t tell me. I marched across the street and slammed the door too hard. Harder than I wanted to but everyone was too busy to care.

My room was not the emotionless haven I wanted but I took it. I plopped face down on the bed and buried my face in my pillow. I wanted to cry but I refused. If I started, I’d spend all night doing so. It felt silly to cry over a guy I’d only known for a couple weeks anyway. But I just felt so connected to him. He cared about me, protected me, thought about me, he visited me at night when I closed my eyes and took me to sweet places. What other guy had ever done any of that and didn’t want anything in return?

The doorbell interrupted my internal tirade. I got up and glanced in the mirror. Ugh. I’d cried anyway. I wiped the smeared mascara from under my eyes and smoothed my hair back. The doorbell sounded again and I rolled my eyes and bolted down the hall, grumbling out loud.

“I’m sorry. I forgot I’m the only one in this house equipped to answer the door.” Just then I saw Mrs. Ruth with peas smeared down her shirt, one kid on her hip and another one crying at her feet for more Goldfish crackers. “Sorry,” I told her, because she had definitely heard me mumbling. “I’ll get it.”

“Thank you.”

She made her way back to the kitchen and I opened the door and …what the…the nerve!

“Eli? What are you doing here?” I asked harshly and almost slammed the door in his face when I saw him register how upset I was. His mouth opened, his eyes blinked, staying shut a little too long to be normal. “Stop it!” I snapped.

“You’re doing it, not me,” he countered. “What is wrong with you? I told you I’d come over after I took care of some things at the house. Did I take too long or something?” Then he inched forward a little and his voice dropped to sympathetic levels. “Are you crying? What happened?”

He looked genuinely clueless. It had to be an act. He was apparently an Oscar award winner because he’d fooled me this whole time.

“Are you through with your visitor so soon?”

“What? What visitor?”

“You can drop it now, Eli. She told me.”

“Who?” he asked, but then his face turned hard and I knew he knew. “Who?” he asked again, but harder and even held the door open further with a hand.

“Who do you think?” I asked softly, begging myself to not cry in front of him. “Your fiancé.”

His face took a shocked direction and that was confession enough for me. I slammed the door and ran back down the hall. He didn’t ring the door bell again like I thought he might. Well, that was it. He knew I knew and he was done with me. Good riddance. Boys!

That was what my head said, but the rest of me was devastated.

Was I not worth it? Was I not something that a guy would find precious and worth the trouble of being honest and straight forward with? Mike had always been a jerk to me and every other female on the planet. Tate had been good to me, but only to my face. Behind my back he was a cheating abusing idiot. And Eli. I thought I’d finally found someone who was going to be completely mine. I knew his secret! I thought that meant I was in a class all by myself, but apparently not.

I twisted the promise ring on my finger; the promise ring my mother had given me and made me promise her I’d follow it. She told me her and Dad’s story. About how she wished that they had waited until they’d gotten married but luckily, they’d still only ever been with each other. She said how it felt like her wedding night had been robbed from her because it was just like every other night, nothing special. She bought me this ring and made me promise.

I wondered if I’d ever find a guy who respected and loved me enough to want to wait for me. Instead, I found boys who lied and cheated and snuck around. It was ridiculous how much they didn’t care about my feelings at all. I felt so alone. I wanted to break down my mom’s bedroom door and fall into her lap to cry. Or knock on Dad’s office and sit on his couch with him while he scratched my head and listened to me babble. But that was no longer an option for me and it sucked royally.

I decided to call my sister. We were never really close, but I needed to talk to someone, anyone. And these days, it seemed to be slim pickings.

“Fannie?” I said when she answered.

“Don’t call me that,” she grumbled. “You know I hate it when you call me that.”

“Sorry, Fay. Old habits.”

“What’s up?” she asked and I could tell she didn‘t really want to be talking to me.

“I, uh…I just wanted to talk.”

“About what? I’m a little busy.”

“About…do you miss Mom and Dad?”

“What kind of question is that? Of course I do.”

“Do you miss me?” I asked. Her silence was a ringing in my ears. “I miss you. I know we weren’t really close, but I miss having you around.”

“Pastor’s treating you good, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then you’ve got nothing to complain about. You got lucky. Some of us had to fend for ourselves,” she said bitterly.

And there it was. The reason she had barely spoken two words to me since our parents death. She was angry that I got a place to stay and she had to re-enlist in the military, because she had no where else to go.

“I’m very grateful to them but I’m also a minor. I’m still in school. I’m not being treated better than you, I wasn’t given special privileges. Stop playing martyr, Fay. You always tried to act like I was spoiled.”

“You were spoiled, but that’s beside the point. I’m busy, I’m gonna go.”

“Whatever,” I grumbled.

“Look,” she sighed in exasperation, “I’m working, ok? I’ll call you later if you really need to talk to me and aren’t just sulking about a boy or something.”

“That’s what sisters are supposed to be for,” I countered.

“Not me. Bye, Clara.”

“Bye,” I said but she’d already hung up.

So, I hurriedly tried Addison’s number. If I didn’t get someone to talk to, I didn’t know what I’d do. Although, Addison hadn’t talked to me a whole lot since my parents died. She thought I blamed her on some subconscious level and avoided me like the uncomfortable situation I was. But I still felt like I could call her. So I tried.

It rang and rang. Then she picked up.

“Clara? Something wrong?”

“No, I just…wanted to talk to you.”

“Clara, I love you, but please don’t call me anymore. I can’t handle it. Do you know I’ve been in therapy for the past four months? Therapy, Clara!”

“Why are you in therapy?”

“Because of you!” she yelled and I had to inch the phone away from my eardrum. “You blamed me for your parents' death. Do you know what that did to me?”

What the… Was she really turning the tragedy of the death of my parents around for me to feel sorry for her?

“I never blamed you, Addy. You’re the one who brought that up. I never, ever said that I blamed you. We went out to a movie, there’s nothing wrong with that. If I hadn’t been gone with you I’d probably be dead, too.”

“Oh! So now you’re suicidal? You wanted to die with your parents and I denied you that?” she yelled and once again I had to pull the phone back.

“What is wrong with you? Why are you doing this? I just wanted to talk to my friend, about a guy.”

“Well, I’m not your friend anymore, Clara, I can’t be. It’s too hard for me to hear your voice and know that we can never be friends like before.”

“Why can’t we? I wouldn’t have called you if I didn’t want to talk to you.”

“Please call Dee or someone else when you feel the need to unload on someone.”

Then she hung up.

It was the last straw, the final blow, the thingy that broke the camel’s back. The tears flowed and the sob raised and I bawled into my pillow. I hadn’t felt this abandoned and alone since my parents died. And I had absolutely no one to talk to about it.

But then, Eli was there. I knew he had dragged me into a Reverie and I tried to drag myself out. I pulled my eyelids up, but I couldn’t be rid of it. I looked around and saw it was blank. We were nowhere. It was all white and nothing else.

“I thought I’d cheer you up by letting you pick the place,” he explained behind me. I turned to look at him. “Ah, Clara,” he said, seeing my state. His face fell. “I’m so sorry. I have so much to explain.”

“I don’t really want to hear it,” I answered quietly without any real fire.

“I need you to,” he insisted. “You believe something that is a complete lie.”

“Eli, please don’t. Why do you feel like you have to torture me?”

“I’m not,” he assured and came close. He put his hands on the tops of my arms and spoke low. “Pick a place, anywhere you want.”

My mind immediately went to the night we’d spent in Pastor’s car at the docks. My cheeks burned at the memory and the fact that he knew why I chose this spot. I squeezed my eyes shut in frustration.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I love this place, too.”

“Eli, what do you want?” I pulled from his grasp and went to stand at the edge, looking over the water. “I don’t think I can take much more tonight.”

“I need you to understand something.”

“What’s that?”

“That you are the most important person there is for me and I have never loved nor wanted anyone before I met you.”

“So,” I turned to look at him, “you were just going to marry her and not love her?”

“Don’t you remember what I said about our kind?” he answered slowly and came forward. “We don’t love. Angelina doesn’t love me,” he said and I hated her name coming out of his mouth. I grit my teeth. He huffed and rubbed his neck. “Sorry.” I shrugged so he went on. “I don’t love her. She doesn’t love me. It’s a game. My parents orchestrated our marriage when we were born. She has always had some fantasy about it and when I left, it just made it worse. She finds it all a game to play and, like my brother, tracks me from city to city. Sometimes she finds me, sometimes she doesn’t. Usually, I just head out of town as soon as I catch wind of her. But I have a dilemma this time.”

“What?”

“You.”

“Don’t let me stop you,” I said sulkily.

He inched closer. “I blanked at your house when you told me, and for that I’m sorry. I know what it must have looked like to you to say that to me and for me to not respond.” He inched even closer. “But I was so shocked that she’d found me so quickly. My brother must have tipped her off. And that she had talked to you... It wouldn’t be wise to provoke her and the idea of her speaking to you when I wasn’t there…made me sick with worry for you.” He inched the final inch. I was shivering in the cold, my arms crossed over my chest. Eli put his arms around me and slowly pulled me to him. He sighed when he realized I wasn’t going to fight him. It was as if my arms uncrossed themselves and wound around him. He looked down into my face. “Clara…you have to know how I feel about you by now. I’d never, ever do anything to hurt you. The very thought of you in harm's way makes me hurt. Please. I need you to believe me. Angelina is a hellish witch who cares for no one and nothing. Her sole want of me is to carry on our race and make her parents proud.”

“But what about the other one? They both lied? That’s what you’re saying?”

“Ah,” he said in understanding. “You must have also met my sister. Mara and Angelina travel together sometimes. She’s equally as unpleasant. I’m so sorry. I hoped we’d have more time before my past came to catch up with us.”

“Are you leaving?” I asked and was very unhappy with that thought. Even though I was still processing everything he was telling me.

“No,” he said vehemently. “Why do you always jump to the conclusion that I’m about to skip town?”

“Because I…” I sighed and pulled back some, twisting my ring.  “I don’t…”

“I am not Tate,” he insisted. “Tate was an idiot who took for granted what he had. I have no intentions of doing that. That is, if you’ll still have me.”

“I don’t know. I’m so tired, Eli. I’m tired of feeling like I can’t trust anyone anymore.”

“You can trust me,” he said softly. “Tell me what I can do? I need to earn your trust, Clara. I want to.”

“I don’t know what you can do. I’m scared.”

“I know,” he said knowingly and I looked up to his face to see him. He was holding it back, but I saw how hard he was straining. “Everything will be ok.”

“How?”

“Because I’m here and I’m not going to leave you. I could have left a hundred times already. I could have just used you and been on my way. I could have just left after Angelina and my sister showed up. But I’m here,” he insisted. “I’m here because I need to make sure you’re ok and safe. I want you, Clara.”

He was right. Why go through all this trouble? Why put up with my ex and come talk to me if there was a chance he could leave? He wanted to be here. I turned my ring and looked at him. Could he be the guy my mom always told me about? A guy who loved me and would do anything for me? Who loved me for me?

He saw me rubbing my ring and moved my fingers away as he took over. His thumb caressed it lovingly and I felt my anger melting away.

“I’m not going anywhere. Even if you won’t have me, I’ll still be here to make sure you’re safe-“

I cut off his response with a swift hug around his neck. He pulled me up off the ground and held me tightly.

“I want you to stay.”

“You believe me?” he asked quietly.

“Yes,” I breathed. “This is going to sound very cheesy, but please don’t hurt me. I don’t think I can take anymore heartache right now.”

“You have nothing to worry about on that front,” he promised and put me down gently. He took my face in his hands. For a few seconds we just stared at each other with silent understanding. We were announcing that we were together, a couple, in for the long haul, we were defining the relationship. I pushed up on my tip toes to kiss him quickly and was awed at how right it all felt. It was like my body knew something I didn’t. He pulled back slightly. “I’ve been given a gift, a chance at a new life with you. There’s nothing in the world worth risking that.”

I nodded and smiled when he laced both our hands together. His fingers lovingly caressing mine.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I wish I had let you explain before, but…your sister and …the other one were very convincing.”

“That’s what they’re made to be like,” he replied. I nodded again and yawned. He smiled sadly. “I’ll take you home so you can sleep.”

I felt a spike of unease about that. The thought of Eli alone, or me alone for that matter, was unnerving after everything that happened. Eli’s grip tightened on mine and I watched him closely.

“Does it ever get easier for you?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never felt positive emotion before. Your negative emotions affect me just like everybody else’s, but your positive emotions have ten times the effect on me.”

“Is that normal?”

“Yes,” he said cautiously, “but, usually when we pair up with someone, they are…” he looked uncomfortable, “the mates are…they’re evil, like us. The Devourer feeds off the despair and hatred of a human who matches their own and it makes them all the more powerful because they are never starved. I’ve never heard of a Devourer feeling positive emotion before. It seems you and I are one of a kind.”

I smiled despite what he had just said. The end part was pretty good.

“I kind of like that,” I mused softly.

“Me, too,” he said against my forehead. “Home,” he said and then I was standing in my bedroom again.

 

 

After Eli left, I sat on my bed and contemplated the day. It was only about six o’clock by this point. Eli had promised that he’d come over, as planned, tonight for dinner. He left me so I could take a nap and think about everything that had happened. I was thinking alright…

About his tongue ring.

Was that shallow? After everything that happened I couldn’t get the feel of his tongue ring - a smooth little silver ball - as it moved against my tongue and lips, out of my head.

When he’d dropped me off in my room, he had kissed me for a very long time. He’d been afraid that I was done with him and needed assurance that I truly believed him and was going to wade through the craziness to make this work.

If I was completely honest, I was scared myself. I didn’t know what his sister and Angelina were up to or how to get rid of them. I didn’t know what to do about his brother either, but Eli assured me that he had no intentions of leaving me. We’d work this out somehow, and then he had kissed me silly. His hands on my lower back pressed and pulled to bring me close as I gripped his upper arms. When he had finally pulled back he said, “Do you feel that?”

I had no idea what he was talking about, but he swiftly said his goodbyes and promised to see me in a couple hours.

I lay back on the bed and closed my eyes to accept the darkness. I knew I’d be alone when I closed my eyes and that was ok. If Eli was going to be coming to me and taking me to places when I closed my eyes at night, I’d have to start learning to take a nap or two.

 

~ ~ ~

 

The doorbell woke me. I jolted up and glanced in the mirror, smoothing my hair. I ran down the hall and stopped to take a calming breath - so it didn’t look like I’d just ran down the hall - and opened the door to find Eli with a little sly grin. I bit my lip and started to return it but once again I just knew.

“Enoch,” I said angrily. “What are you doing at my house?” I tried to keep calm. Knowing he could literally feel and taste my fear made it that much worse.

“So it’s true,” he said in an angry awe and came a little closer as if examining me. “I can feel it.”

“Feel what? What are you talking about?”

“You’re bonded with him.” He gazed at something between us with disgust. I watched him curiously.

“With Eli? What?” Enoch came even closer to completely invade my space. I sucked in a quick breath and he groaned slightly. “I’m not going to hurt you, silly. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. You don’t see this?”

He motioned between us. I looked and saw nothing but air and space. I looked at him questioningly.

“When we mate-“ he started, but was interrupted by Mrs. Ruth.

“Eli! Nice to see you again.” She glanced between us. “Well, let him in, Clara, don’t just stand in the door, honey.”

“No,” I said quickly, “this isn’t Eli.”

She raised her eyebrow and gave me an amusing look. “Ok,” she said sarcastically. “Eli, come on in. Dinner’s almost ready.”

“No really, this is Enoch, Eli’s twin.”

“Oh,” she said and looked closer to him. “Identical. Wow, I’d have never known. How nice that you came, too. I’m sure we have plenty if you want to stay for dinner.” She held out her hand to him. “Ruth, the Pastor’s wife.”

“Enoch,” he said smoothly and took her hand, bringing it to his lips, before I could stop him, and kissing it. “Pleasure,” he rumbled.

Her face flamed a shade between red and pink. “Oh,” she whispered. “Um.”

I pulled her hand free and glared at him.

“He’s not staying,” I assured her. “He just came by to say farewell as he skipped out of town. Isn’t that right, Enoch?”

“Well, it doesn’t look like there’s much fun to be had here anymore,” he explained flatly.

“Goodbye, then. Safe travels,” Mrs. Ruth said briskly before turning to go back to the kitchen.

“What is wrong with you?” I hissed at him.

“Evil being,” he said and pointed to himself. “If that’s not an excuse, I don’t know what is.”

“There’s no excuse for being a jerk.”

“But she’s the Pastor’s wife… Do you not understand the irony of this whole situation?” he said clearly enjoying himself. “One evil being at your door, kissing the hand of your adopted mother who’s married to the Pastor with whom you live. You, the sweet, innocent, unscathed mate of my twin brother who renounces what he is, but is also…an evil being. I mean, you can’t write this stuff.”

“Just get out of here,” I said and tried to shut the door.

“’Fraid I can’t do that, love,” he said sweetly as his hand snapped out swiftly to hold the door open.

“Don’t call me that.”

“But you’re family now,” he said sarcastically and jerked me forward with a hand on my wrist. He pulled me out the door and pushed me against the house side, my wrist still in his surprisingly gentle grasp. “Don’t you understand what I’ve been trying to tell you?”

“No, I don’t.” I tried to pull away, but he held tight. “You’re hurting me.”

“No, I’m not.” He grinned and inched forward. His face was almost touching mine and I held my breath. “You little liar,” he breathed and I felt it wash against my lips.

It was true, he wasn’t hurting me, but I wasn’t comfortable like this either.

“Let me go,” I commanded in a whisper.

“Not until you hear what I have to say.”

“What?” I said in exasperated annoyance. “What do you have to say?”

“That you’re in trouble,” he said low and foreboding.

Before I could speak I heard a growl off to the side. We both looked in that direction to see Eli. I wasn’t surprised to see him. He’d told me he was coming over, but I was surprised to see his face at least a shade too red to be normal and the veins in his neck and arms were blue. Yes, blue and bulging. He shook with rage and I felt a second’s spike of fear as he speared his brother with a glare.

His gaze immediately shot to mine and he visibly calmed; his veins seemed to be less prominent and his fist shook less as he heaved a long breath.

“Don’t be scared of me, Clara,” he said gruffly.

“Have you looked at yourself, brother?” Enoch chimed happily, but didn’t release me nor back away. “I haven’t seen you this enraged since I stole that girl from you in Philadelphia.”

“That was over a hundred years ago and I was stupid back then. I am not the same, as it seems to so easily escape your grasp, brother,” he spat.

“I’m not the only one who lets things slip their grasp.” He leaned back a little, but held me firmly to the wall. Eli’s eyes shifted to the space between us and his eyes widened to impossible half dollars. Then his gaze settled on me.

Anyone else would have been frightened out of their mind. But you see, the look on Eli’s face was something indescribable. The way he felt for me, the affection, the care, the...love, was all over him as if I could see it written in ink there.

“Clara,” he said, his voice was almost a beg.

I didn’t understand what was going on, but I wasn’t scared of it either. Enoch interrupted anything that was going on between us.

“You see?” He turned to look at me again and sneered. “I couldn’t hurt her even if I wanted to. So you can relax, little girl.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked in a harsh whisper.

“You don’t see that?” Eli asked.

“See what?”

“Come here, Clara. Enoch, let her go.”

Enoch’s hand gently released my wrist and he backed away. I made a swift move to Eli who had completely returned to himself. He was no longer filled with rage, and his eyes never left my face.

I let my fingers hover over the skin of his neck over a vein, plump it pumped his blood, but was invisible now. I asked the silent question with my eyes as I took my hand away.

“Forgive me for that. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“What was that?”

“It was protection,” Enoch said across the porch. “He thought I was hurting you.”

I ignored him. “What do you see that I don’t see?” I asked Eli.

“We’re bound,” he said, barely a whisper, in fact I really just read his lips.

“What does that mean,” I asked in the same fashion.

“It means that Enoch is correct. He can not hurt you…because he, too, is bound to you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“There’s a string…” His fingers moved between us into clear air and nothingness. “Why can’t you see it?”

“A string?”

“There’s a barbed strand here…between you and I and between you…and Enoch.”

I gulped. I glanced at Enoch and he was stoically watching me. He didn’t look like he was surprised so he’d apparently already seen it. I looked back to Eli. He touched my face softly, almost as if seeing if I was real. I heard Enoch tell him, “No, don’t,” but I didn’t understand why. Then my gaze snapped alive with a new brightness.

Although it was darker I could see better than before. Like it wasn’t dark, but a bright sunny day. The colors of Eli’s white shirt and black button up and the grass below us was contrasted to high definition levels. But most importantly, I saw the string attached around my wrist and his. It was black and barbed as he said, like it hooked into us like barbed wire, taut and ridged, but I didn’t feel anything. It had a haze around it and the ethereal look of it made it seem smoky and unfocused.

His fingers barely caressed my cheek and then slid down my neck and arm. When he looked back up his face changed. He tilted his head to look more closely into my eyes. His jaw dropped slightly and a stunned breath blew across my face.

“I told you to stop,” Enoch said behind us. “Idiot.”

“What?” I said confused. I felt a prickle of unease shoot through me that whatever he was going to say wouldn’t be something I’d be thrilled about.

“My eyes.”

“What about them?”

“Your…I completely forgot. Your eyes…are like mine now.”

“What do you mean?” My heart pounded. “They’re purple?”

“No, they’re green, but you can see like me. When I touched you I gave you my perspective. The green is just a backlash, some kind of mishap or something. We have no idea why they turn green instead of purple, but it happens when the two bound ones touch for the first time. You noticed the sight?”

“Yes,” I answered and looked around again, “everything is brighter and more focused.”

“How are we going to explain this to your guardians?” he mused more to himself.

“Wait,” I asked in my most calm voice. “My eyes are really green? Really?”

“Yes,” he nodded solemnly, “and they’ll stay that way.”

I wanted to panic and I wanted to do…something. But I knew my reaction was important right now. The way Eli viewed me and handled me from now on hinged on my reaction to this moment; my reaction to something supernatural and awe inspiring happening to us. We were bound somehow. And that part of the equation thrilled me. It was the other stuff that was making me want to bolt. I thought long and hard about my next statement. One, to make sure I wasn’t lying to him and the words were true and two, to make sure my voice was calm before I said them.

“Well…I’ll tell them I got contacts or something. I’ll tell them I was tired of blue,” I tried to come to a solution when really, weirdly, strangely, I found it oddly satisfying that I was in possession of something that only Eli could give me; his view of the world.

It hadn’t really hit me that this might change my world entirely. It scathed by my thoughts that things may be different in every way but Eli seemed to function, so could I, right?

“Maybe,” he thought, “but they are really green, Clara. In the mean time, put these on.” He took the aviator glasses hanging on his shirt collar and put them on me. I grimaced and wrinkled my nose. “What?” he asked me, his lip twitching as it fought a smile.

“Aviators are so not my style.”

He laughed and smoothed my hair before saying, “Please try not to be such a girl right now.”

“I am a girl,” I countered.

“A girl who looks fine in my sunglasses,” he insisted with a little smirk. “Besides, we have bigger things to worry about.”

I looked back down between us to see the barb connecting our wrists and looked back up to Eli’s face.

“What does this mean? What is this?”

“It’s a linkage,” he explained in a soft voice. “A bond.”

“Like what you were talking about before? Because I’m your…mate?”

“Not quite,” he answered carefully.

“Tell her, brother,” Enoch said snidely. “Tell her what it means.”

“Shut up.” He looked at me closely and carefully. His face was lit with a glow I’d never seen before. He almost smiled. “Later,” he promised in a low rumble.

“Why not now?” I insisted. “I’m not exactly known for my patience.”

Enoch laughed, “Oh, we can see that.”

“Shut up,” Eli told him again and looked back to me. “I will explain, but not right now. Besides…” He stepped back and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Pastor, good to see you again.”

Pastor had just turned the corner and look up startled.

“Oh, Eli, hello. And…” He looked at Enoch with a hilarious expression. “Eli?”

I giggled nervously and both Eli and Enoch chuckled.

“This is Eli’s brother, Enoch,” I told him.

“Nice to meet you, Preach,” Enoch stated and shook his hand. “I’m just visiting my little brother here from out of town.”

“I thought you were twins?”

“We are. But I was born first.”

“By 6 minutes and he never lets me forget it,” Eli offered. He extended his hand, too, and smiled. “Good to see you again, sir.”

“You, too, son. You staying for dinner?”

“If the Mrs. will have me.”

“I’m sure she will. Enoch?”

I started to butt in and state that he was absolutely not staying, but he declined. “Nah. I’m on a strict diet, but thanks anyway.”

“Ok,” Pastor said easily, but quirked a brow at him. “Do you mind if I ask where you’re from? Your accent is more pronounced than Eli’s. Where did you boys grow up?”

“Amsterdam,” Enoch answered while Eli said, “Africa.”

Eli laughed and then said, “We moved around a lot, lived all over. I guess that’s why our accents are hard to place.”

“Huh,” Pastor said. “Well, good to meet you, Enoch.”

“And you as well,” he answered slowly.

Pastor turned to look at me and cocked his head, looking thoroughly amused. “Sunglasses at night? Do I want to ask?”

“I wouldn’t, Pastor,” I said grinning, trying to deflect. “It’s a Diva thing.”

He laughed and nodded. As soon as he went inside I turned to stare at both of them.

“Answers,” I demanded.

“All in good time, princess,” Enoch said grinning. “You need to enjoy your family dinner and I need to…trick some silly girl into feeding me. We’ll meet somewhere tonight and discuss it all.”

I groaned and turned away, disgusted. Eli grasped my fingers and I looked at the barbed string connecting us all. I turned back to the door. Although I was in awe of the whole situation, I didn’t want to think about how Enoch got his kicks.

“Get out of here,” Eli told him. I heard footsteps retreating and then Eli’s arms came around me from behind. “I’m sorry.”

There was so much in his sorry; hurt, love, trust…regret. I turned in his arms and looked at him. What was he sorry for? As if he read my mind he answered me.

“I’m sorry for dragging you into my world.”

“I’m not exactly kicking and screaming,” I said coyly.

He didn’t laugh at my joke. He lifted my hand and placed it to his cheek. He inhaled the skin at my wrist and rubbed his scruffy chin on my palm. He then kissed it and held on to me as he pulled me inside to have dinner with my family without another word.

 

 

“I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. We could have done this another time, Clara,” Mrs. Ruth said in response to my ‘migraine’ excuse for wearing sunglasses at the dinner table.

“It’s ok, it’s not too bad, I just wanted to head it off, you know?” I explained and she nodded.

“So, Eli, where are you planning to go to school?” she asked him as she spoon fed one of the babies.

“I’m not sure, to be honest. I’ve thought about moving away somewhere. Like Colorado or something.”

“What’s in Colorado? A certain school you’d like to go to?”

“Well…I actually already took my core college classes, I just need to figure out my major. I’m just not sure what I want to do yet, but I‘d love to live somewhere really secluded. Maybe finish college online.”

“Ahh. Well, Clara would miss you,” she said with certainty. Eli and just looked at each other over our rice pilaf.

“Well,” Pastor replied, “I for one think it’s commendable that you’ve got a head start on college. Clara, it would seem, isn’t all that interested,” he said, stating facts.

“I’m a little confused right now…on what I want to do and what my parents wanted me to do,” I muttered. I hadn’t even realized I’d said it out loud until I felt Mrs. Ruth’s hand on mine. I glanced up to see everyone staring at me in understanding. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” she said and patted my hand. “And don’t worry about the dishes. You guys go on and do something, I’ll get them.”

“Would it be alright if I took Clara to the park for a bit?” Eli asked cautiously.

“Sure,” Pastor said easily, “as long as you bring her home-“

“By midnight,” I answered for him and laughed as I grabbed Eli’s hand to drag him with me. “I know.”

“Have fun, kids, and be careful.”

“We will,” I called and shut the door. I didn’t bother to grab anything. “So,” I started, “we’re meeting your jerk of a brother at the park?”

“Yep.”

“Did you text him or something? How do you know that?””

“We’re family. We can call each other in our minds but I’ve been blocking them all out for years. I opened up and told him where.”

He grabbed my hand after we crossed the four lane.

“So, you see this way all the time?” I asked as I squinted at the streetlights. “It’s strange. It’s not like night vision, it’s just…bright.” I again felt a tick of nervousness as having to see this way all the time. What would things look like in the day time? What was I going to do about my green eyes, that I hadn’t even seen myself yet?

“It’s ok,” he assured me and squeezed my fingers, “it’s normal.”

“I think we are well past the realm of normal, Eli,” I muttered even as I continued to take in my surroundings. The string between us was particularly interesting. I copied his earlier movements and wrapped my fingers around it, almost expecting it to cut me with its sharp looking barbs. It floated between my fingers and my palm and it seemed to flex and move with me, like I was a part of it. Or it was a part of me. I couldn’t feel it between my fingers and it didn’t make any sense.

I pulled him to a stop.

“Please tell me what this means,” I said on a voice that left no more room for stalling. He nodded.

“I want to explain it to you before Enoch shows up anyway.”

“Ok,” I edged.

“This,” he moved his fingers along the string, “means that we’re bonded.”

“And that’s different than just being your mate?”

“Yes,” he said quietly. “When we choose a mate, that’s exactly what it is. We feel a connection with you and choose to keep you and you don’t really have much say. Yes, you feel strange around us and you feel connected but other than that, technically you could walk away and be fine if we let you. But this…this linkage is a decision, Clara.”

“A decision? What…you decided to bond yourself to me?”

“No, Clara.” He paused for an agonizing dramatic affect. “You did.”

“What?” I said in my stunned high voice. “How could I have known? I don’t even know what you’re saying.”

“I’m saying,” he said softly and pulled me to him. His hands held my waist loosely, as if he was telling me he wanted to touch me but wasn’t holding me against my will. I could leave when I wanted. “You may not have realized what it meant, but somehow, you made the decision subconsciously…that you wanted to keep me.”

Even though this was Eli, even though we knew there was more between us than some lame crush, I still flushed at his implication. I saw his smile as he gazed at me, but oddly he didn’t flinch or gasp as he registered my emotion. And his smile was genuine, not cocky, not smug. I swallowed hard and took a deep breath, my hands made their way to his upper arms.

“So you’re saying that this is my fault,” I said and motioned between us. “I don’t understand how this is different from the mating thing.”

“When we mate, like I said, it’s something that happens to us both but ultimately, it’s almost slavery. They really shouldn’t even call it a mate because it’s anything but romantic. A consort is more like it. The Devourer owns them, carts them everywhere, parades them around. The mate just stays because of the strange feelings they have for the Devourer. And most of them are shady and don’t mind the protection and lifestyle they get from us.”

“So,” I thought carefully, “that’s what I’m going to be? Just following you around everywhere like a puppy?”

“No. Of course not.”

“But before this you said I was your mate. What were you going to do with me?” I asked, not unkindly.

“I wasn’t sure. I had no plans to use you if that’s what you mean.”

“I just meant…I don’t know what I mean,” I sighed and looked at the ground between us. “I just don’t know how to take all this. You’re telling me that I chose this, wanted this. But I don’t see how that’s possible when I didn’t know it was something I could do.”

“It doesn’t matter.” He smiled a brilliantly bright and happy smile. “Do you have any idea what it means, that you did this. I can keep you safe now, my family has no choice but to protect you. I won’t need anything but you for the rest of my life to sustain me.”

I got his meaning and it thrilled me in an odd way.

“Is that why you aren’t freaking out and breathing funny?”

He chuckled.

“Yes.” He laughed again. “Yes, that’s why. The bond gives me everything I need. I’ll only actually feel it when you have a sudden or intense spike of emotion.” He leaned forward and kissed the corner of my mouth. I sucked in a quick breath and he laughed before he groaned slightly. “Like that.”

I allowed him to pull me up to him and kiss me. He moved with surety and conviction, like there was nothing else to do in the moment. As he held me, I felt something in my world crack. I realized that I should be completely freaking out. Completely.

This guy I’d only known for a few short weeks had somehow convinced me that I’d bound myself to him, literally, with an invisible barbed connection from my wrist to his. My life in the past few days seemed to have been flushed down the toilet in a un-ceremonial kind of way and then lifted up again by someone who could only be described as a bad guy turned good.

It wasn’t the first time I’d thought about what my parents would think of my dating him. I had so many questions that my head hurt to even begin to organize them. But in the turmoil of my internal tirade I’d come to one conclusion: somehow, this guy who seemed to know me, who cared about me, who was intensely enjoying my lips right now, had saved me.

Saved me from what, you say? I had an ok life, you say? I was spoiled and privileged and had everything most people wanted and could never have, you say?

True to all accounts except for one minor thing and in my book the most important thing. I wasn’t free.

I had been trapped; in my life, my memories, my friends, my guilt, my need to be what everyone else wanted me to. No one could save me from that life. No one but someone on the outside who saw me for who I was and not what everyone else had painted me to be.

Eli saved me from myself. I had every intention of taking advantage of it and figuring out exactly who I wanted to be from this day on.

He interrupted anything else I may have thought or said by pulling slightly away and looking down into my face.

“Wait…” He stepped back and I knew nothing good would come from that act. “Wait. No, this is wrong.”

“What?” I asked confused.

“I could no sooner ask you to do this than I could ask you ask you to run away with me.”

That idea actually sounded kind of appealing but I jerked back to attention as he went on.

“You don’t know what you’re doing,” he said in a voice that was like boxes being dragged on concrete. “You were right, you had no idea and somehow did this haphazardly. I’m sorry, I can’t tell how sorry I am to have dragged you into all this. I’ll find a way - a way to release you-“

“What are you talking about?” Talk about an about-face. “Where did all that come from? I thought you were happy about this?”

“Clara, it’s too much. I couldn’t ask it of you.”

“I didn’t ask you to. I’m offering.”

“Don’t,” he ground out. “Don’t tempt me to just take you. I can’t do that. You have a life here, a way of living that suits you. I’m just a passing distraction, a phase. You’ll forget about me one day and be ok.”

“I hate this part,” I sighed in aggravation and jerked the sunglasses from my eyes, setting them atop my head into my hair.

“What?” he said in a voice that clearly didn’t understand where I could be leading things.

“This is where the leading man tries to save the girl from herself. She is willing to give up everything for him and he, in his misguided attempt to save her, tells her he’s skipping for the hills and she has to beg him to stay and convince him that her love is real and that she is sound of mind.”

He watched me and took a small step towards me even as he tilted his head a little.

“Love?” he whispered.

Had I said that? Yikes. I ignored that he’d said that at all and continued on.

“Furthermore, I think it’s juvenile to assume that just because a girl makes a romantic gesture that she can’t possibly know what’s in her own head.” He moved even closer, but I kept my gaze on the top button of his shirt. I felt a little loony, but the words kept spewing out. “I didn’t exactly have a great life here, you knew that, and for you to just assume like you could come in here and alter everything I knew like this and then just leave is-“ My breath caught as he made that last inch between us non-existent. “It’s just cruel. I mean, you gave me these green eyes, you made me want you and then you want to just-“

He pulled my face up to look into his, but I kept my eyes away. He sat silently until I caved and directed my gaze to his. When I took in the amount of gratitude and - oh, I must be imagining the rest – I shivered in response.

He didn’t say anything, just snaked an arm around my back and held me tightly as he looked at me for several long, loaded seconds. Then he bent his head and let his lips skim my forehead. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I know what I want,” I answered in rebuttal.

“Why don’t you let me lay it all out for you?” He pulled back to look at me. “My world is…dangerous, crazy, it never sleeps. You may want no part in it when you know exactly what comes in the whole package.”

“I’m so glad we’re back to treating me like some ditsy damsel in distress that can’t decide what’s good for her,” I said sulkily.

He chuckled at me, which in any other circumstance might have made me mad, but right then, I was just trying to figure out why he wanted me to say ‘no’ so badly.

“Clara,” he sighed my name. “Ok,” he gave in, “I’ll let you decide for yourself, but just let it be said when you hate me one day that I tried to warn you.”

His words were harsh, but his expression was solemn and deciding.

“I could never hate you, Eli. And I may not know everything about your world and the people who we’ll meet along the way, but I’m graduating soon and I have no intentions of staying in this town. I want to…go everywhere, see everything. I want to go with you anywhere you’ll take me…and I want you to want to take me with you.”

“I do,” he said roughly and let his fingers move across my chin. “I want you. This isn’t about not wanting you. It’s about keeping you safe and you not regretting your life.”

“Then trust me. I think the safest place for me is with you, and I won’t regret it. I don’t regret anything. The things that we do and the things that happen…to us,” I gulped and pushed down memories, "make us who we are.”

“You are a fascinating, breathtaking creature, CB. I hope you understand that to the fullest.”

“I do,” I said coyly and he cracked a smile. A real smile that was genuine and in no way to appease me. 

“Last time I’ll ask and then I’m done. You’re sure you want this? You’re sure that I’m worth this?”

“No question. I think…” I felt the answer to one of my earlier internal questions come flitting to me and I rubbed my promise ring, “if my mom were here, she would have loved you.”

“You have no idea what you’ve done for me,” he said and his face twisted into an anguished expression. His hands on my sides squeezed a little and it hurt to see him so upset. “I’ve spent my whole life being a…parasite. I never wanted this, Clara,” he said in a vehement beg. “Do you understand? I never wanted to be what I am.”

My breathing took ragged steps to work properly as I tried to comfort him by saying, “I know. But Eli, you’re not the same person anymore.”

“Because of you,” he said with a conviction that rumbled into my bones. “I won’t ever feed again from anyone. You’ve given me a gift beyond what I can imagine. I’ll never have to hurt anyone to survive again. I’ll be able to live normally and be myself with no fear of my nature taking me over. I’ll be free,” he mused and I smiled in understanding and nodded my head, but he continued. “You saved me from being the monster I could have been.”

We were both free now and the impact of everything he said hit me like a piano from the second floor.

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said softly as he wiped under my eye. “I was harsh.”

“No, dummy. They’re tears of happiness.”

“Then, I’m honored,” he said quietly.

I smiled and hugged him tighter, my wet cheek resting on his chest. His warm arms encircled me once more and he kneaded my body with them, as if to assure and comfort me. He pressed and moved and I felt him kiss my hair. We stayed like that, content in our own thinking processes of what was happening.

And then the jerk who shared my guy’s face came and decided to grace us with his presence.

“Gross,” he muttered behind us. “If I’m going to have to bear witness to this every day, just kill me now.”

 

 

“Buzz off,” Eli said in dismissal and to my enjoyment and chagrin, he pulled my face up and planted a kiss on me that melted bones and forewent apology.

“Oh, bother,” Enoch groaned. “He’s told you already hasn’t he?”

“Yes,” Eli answered against my lips and pulled back to grasp my hand instead. “It seems we didn’t need your expertise after all,” he said sarcastically.

“Oh, this is not over,” Enoch promised and came forward looking menacing and every bit of upset and angry as his fist hardened at his sides. “I thought you were going to try to talk her into letting you go.”

“What?” I looked at Eli accusingly. “You told him about that? I thought you just decided that when-“

“Clara,” Eli chided and smoothed my hair, “I have no idea what my idiot brother is talking about.”

“Standing right here,” Enoch muttered and crossed his arms. I noticed his eyebrow ring was gone now. Huh. “Look, I didn’t need you to tell me. I knew you, the selfless hero, would try to save her from her own stupidity and lack of self preservation.”

“That’s what I said,” I muttered under my breath, “only without the last part.”

“What?” Enoch hissed at me.

“We should talk, yes,” Eli agreed. “Let’s go into the park and find a spot.”

“You two are idiotic. I hope you know that,” Enoch muttered as he led the way through the grass. It crunched under our feet and the night air had turned a little chilly. I regretted not wearing sleeves.

“Just shut up,” Eli answered him.

“This is not going to fly and you know it.” He turned to glare at us both, his gaze lingering on me a little longer than Eli. “You know what our kind will say, and to drag the feeler into it is just…cruel.”

Feeler?

“You care, brother?” Eli asked and smiled cockily.

“You can see the string just as easily as I can. I don’t want to care about her!” he yelled and came to stand in front of Eli with a swiftness that startled me. “I wasn’t made for this. I was not made to want to protect,” he looked down at me with disdain, “human girls, just use them.”

“Enoch,” Eli growled in warning.

“And for the record, this is by far the stupidest thing I’ve witnessed by you, brother. Her, I can see, but you? “

I stayed quiet, though I wanted to say something in retaliation.

“I didn’t choose this, but I wouldn’t change it,” Eli explained. “I know we have a rough road ahead, but I fully intend to avoid our kind at all costs. I know you weren’t made for this and it rubs you the wrong way to feel something for her,” Enoch let out a guttural retort to that, “but the thing is, you don’t have to like Clara. You just have to protect her.”

“Wait,” I could hold off no longer as my gaze latched onto the barbed string connecting my wrist to Enoch’s, “I don’t understand. Why does he have to protect me? Are we in trouble? Is your kind not supposed to…” I motioned between us to the string, “do this? Be connected like this?”

“They’re no rules. It’s not that we’re not supposed to, it just doesn’t happen very often,” Eli explained and rubbed my knuckles with his thumb. “It makes the others think the Devourer has gone soft. They think we’ll want to change the way things are for everyone. Like I told you, usually it’s a slavery type situation and though the mate may enjoy it - all the parties and the wild lifestyle - they don’t…love their Devourer.”

My cheeks burned. I pressed on.

“So why does Enoch need to protect me?”

“When one of us has a linkage with our mate, it means something a little different. Because my family is bound to you too, they will feel the need to protect you as well.”

“But we don’t have to like you,” Enoch made sure to point out.

“Your family is linked to me,” I repeated. “I’m bonded to your family. Does that mean you can all read my thoughts or something?”

“No,” Eli laughed, “it doesn’t really mean anything to you. You won’t ever feel anything from it, and neither will they except if you’re in danger. It sounds complicated but really, it’s not. It’s simple.” He pulled me to him again. “You chose me, Clara, and I chose you. End of story.”

“Bloody hell,” Enoch muttered as I looked into Eli’s fathomless violets. “I’m out of here.”

“Where are you going?” Eli asked, keeping his eyes on mine.

“Away.”

“But we still haven’t discussed Angelina,” he told him and finally looked away from me to glare at Enoch. “Low blow, brother.“

“Well,” he gloated, “I thought your life here could use a little spice.”

“You brought her here?” I asked and accepted his hard stare with as much courage as I could muster.

“If it’s any consolation, it was before you were bound,” he said and smiled cruelly. “Man, I’d love to see a cat fight between you two. Though it wouldn’t last long,” he waged and shook his head thoughtfully.

“Enoch,” Eli barked, “I swear if you don’t stop I’ll-“

“You’ll what, brother? Behead me like they tried to do in Italy, or run with through with spikes like in Rome? Since you don’t remember, apparently, I’ll remind you; I can’t be killed, just as you can’t. So spare me your pathetic threats. It’s demeaning to our kind to watch you play human.”

“Don’t toy with us. Be on your way and leave us alone, but don’t play these games and invite trouble where there doesn’t have to be any.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

“Everything isn’t about fun!” Eli yelled and even in the darkness and dim streetlights I saw the veins in his arms begin to bulge a hue of dark blue. “Sometimes things are serious and need to be handled as such. You’re a fool if you think that this can be settled with a little fight. This will cause problems all the way around if you don’t stop meddling. Angelina won’t take this lightly and you, being that you’re tied to Clara now, will have no choice but to help in the cause. Fitting, sense you caused all this to begin with.”

“I’m done,” Enoch said harshly. ”I didn’t sign up for any of this. I’m going to go somewhere far away. Somewhere anywhere but here.”

I thought Eli would try to say something, stop his brother who was clearly upset by all this. He didn’t. So I did. Little did I know it was a huge mistake.

“I’m sorry, Enoch. I didn’t realize-“

“Don’t,” he sneered. “You really think I want your pity?”

“I just thought…I didn’t mean for this to happen. I had no control-“

“Just stop talking,” he growled and took a step towards us.

“Watch it, Enoch,” Eli boomed beside me.

“What? You may not claim to be one anymore, brother, but I do. I am a Devourer! We don’t care if little girls are scared, in fact we revel in it. I can’t stay here, don’t you understand? I don’t care if something happened to make it this way between us all, I’m not sticking around to see the outcome. I don’t care if your human is happy or safe, ok? And it shames me to my core that you do.”

I’d never had that amount of poison directed at me before except from Deidre and even then, it was popsicles compared to this.

“It’s probably best that you leave. Right now,” Eli said carefully and I rubbed his arm where the veins threatened to burst.

“Gladly.”

He marched away from us. We watched him go in silence that wasn’t pregnant, but instead was waiting and patient. The sooner he left, the faster we could regroup and come up with a plan. But as he stepped into the pathway to weave between the bushes, I heard an ‘oomph’ before Enoch skidded in the dirt and grass in front of us ending at our feet.

We all looked up and the first thing I saw was long legs in skinny jeans as the moonlight skimmed its way up her body. Then a white blouse with a black bra. Then blazing red hair that was now cut into a seriously short shorn bob. Angelina. And she looked all too happy to be interrupting our little get together.

“Enoch, I think you should stay. We have much to…discuss…” her words faltered as she eyed the string from me to Enoch…and the one from me to Eli. Her pretty white face twisted into rage and hatred as the veins in her neck and forehead bulged and blazed blue like rivers and streams down her skin. She eyed me with clear intent. She was going to end me or go down trying.

“Angelina,” Eli said easily and I still cringed at hearing him say her name. He glanced back for a split second and squeezed my hand before going on. “You know what this means. Just go home.”

“Oh, I don’t think I’ll be doing that, darling,” she said sweetly. “See, I thought Clara and I had an agreement. When I told her I was your fiancé she was supposed to run away, not bind herself to you.” She glowered at Enoch, who hadn’t gotten up from his crouch on the ground yet. “Gee, I wonder how she knew to do that?”

“Why are you looking at me?” Enoch growled before hopping up moving quickly off to the side. “I’m the one who called you, remember?”

“Yes, well, you are the one to always stir up trouble. Having fun yet?”

He sneered, “Oh yeah. Buckets and buckets.” He dusted off his jeans for good measure.

“Leave,” Eli called loudly. “Just leave. You can’t do anything more here. You know that. The linkage is permanent.”

“Well, I wonder what would happen to your bond if she were to perish?” Angelina mused and tapped her finger on her hip in contemplation.

I felt my breath leave me and waited for Eli to snap his arm around me, and he did, but the thing that surprised me was Enoch’s arm around me too. I looked at him curiously and he looked at me. Then grimaced and took a step away.

“Bloody hell,” he said and looked as if he’d be sick and then punch anyone around just for being there.

“What are you…” Angelina questioned. “Did you just…” She laughed humorlessly, a peel of ringing tones that grated my nerves. “I’m sorry, I’m just trying to process what I’m seeing. I could not have seen you attempt to save the feeler…from me?” she asked Enoch incredulously.

“You know how the bond works, Ang. Don’t get sulky. I have no choice,” Enoch replied sweetly.

“Don’t call me Ang!” she screamed and even stomped her foot in the dirt.

I took all my power not to laugh at her. It literally hurt to hold it in.

“Fine, no Ang, but you know I’d never protect her unless I had a choice, which I’ve already stated that I clearly do not.”

“You know I can take you, Enoch,” she said with a little smile. “I was always better and faster than you. Come on, say it,” she taunted.

“Sure, I’ll agree with that, when I’m dead,” he said steadily, but his veins gave him away. They began to bulge just as Eli’s had.

“That can be arranged, Knocky,” she said as an endearment but her actions were anything but. She charged him.

I froze in terror. There were really going to have a fight to the death in the park, right here in front of us? Angelina and Enoch both glanced my way and licked their lips.

“Oh my,” Angelina sang, “she tastes divine, Eli. I could almost forgive you for betraying me with her for that.”

Enoch recovered more quickly and took that as his opportunity for a pot shot.

As I peeked around Eli’s arm, I saw Enoch pick her up by one leg and one arm and toss her into the high pine trees. I heard crunches and thrashing branches and gripped Eli’s arm tighter to hold in my scream. But him and Enoch both were still tense and on alert. Then I saw her…she was flying.

Or falling rather.

She fell from the sky as fast as a bullet and landed in a crouch on the ground in front of Enoch. She had jumped that high, I realized, and landed perfectly fine and cat-like. There were apparently more things that Eli hadn’t told me about yet in regards to the things their kind could do.

“Nice try, but foul ball,” she told Enoch and moved, too fast for my eyes to see, around to his back. She snapped his neck and he fell to the ground in a heap of awkward arms and legs.

I could no longer contain my scream. Eli clutched me to him and then placed me behind him completely when Angelina made her cat like strides our way.

“He’s not dead, Clara. He’s very much alive and will be madder than hornets when he awakens,” he told me before turning back to her. “You’ve wasted so much time. You have chased me across every continent, state, and ocean. Don’t you think it’s time to let go of this? Find yourself a mate and be done with this game,” he said to her and it strained with trying to keep it steady.

“Oh, Eli,” she said softly. “You don’t understand anything do you? After all this time, all the long years and many places we’ve been. All the people who know of our…situation, I can’t just let you go. This isn’t about having you for myself anymore, don’t you see? I just can’t lose. I refuse to lose face in front of my entire race because you had some freakish moral breakthrough years ago. Before that, you didn’t seem to be so disgusted by my advances, as I recall.” She smiled and I felt the blood drain from my face.

Were they together? Eli had said he’d never cared about nor loved her. I assumed that meant he’d never been with her…

“CB,” he whispered. I looked up to find him watching my silent freak out. He shook his head a ‘no’. “She’s trying to plant the seed of doubt. Don’t let her. I didn’t lie, we were never together.”

“Of course you would lie,” she laughed. “What would you have to gain from telling her the truth?”

“Trust,” Eli told her harshly as I gripped his arm, “something you’ll never understand.”

She sighed and came forward slowly, stepping over Enoch’s body as if he were nothing.

“Elijah, it’s not just about saving face,” she said and put on a serious expression. “I miss you. I miss the way you used to be. Back then, you were feisty and I admired your rebellion of our union because it meant you wouldn’t be told what to do. It was a clear sign of your leadership and kingship. I knew eventually you’d come around on your own terms one day and that we would be magnificent together. But then when I found you in Bangkok, and you told me that asinine story about the little feeler boy in the diner…I wondered then if you’d ever come back around. But you know what, I never gave up on you. And I’m not going to now.”

“I don’t need saving,” he insisted in a hiss. “This is what I want.”

“But you’ve been put under a spell,” she replied and I almost believed her, she sounded so sincere, if it hadn’t been for her carefully matriculated steps towards us. “Can’t you see? That boy was a sorcerer of some sort. And her,” she spat and glanced at me, “she’s somehow found a way to bind you to her. That’s the only reason you want to stay.”

“I wanted her before she bound me. She was my mate. She’s the reason I stayed in this town. I’m not budging, so you may as well get it through that arrogant head of yours that just because every other male on the planet may find you irresistible, doesn’t make it true and doesn’t mean that I have to.”

Her lips twisted and turned, pursing into a frown. “That was almost a sweet thing to say. So we’re at a stalemate, then? You won’t give up your pride to come back with me and I won’t give up mine to let you come back on your own. Hmmm.”

“That’s not what this is,” he yelled. “Just leave!”

“But then who will direct the Horde when they finally get here?” she said and smiled in her knowledge that she had him. Whatever it was she was talking about apparently wasn’t good.

 

 

“You summoned the Horde?” Eli asked incredulously. “How could you do that? You’re not only damning me, you’re damning my whole family.”

“Yes,” she said gleefully. “The price you pay for being a Thames just went up it seems.”

“My sister… How could you do this to her? Your friend?”

“She won’t know I did it until it’s too late. Friends count under casualties of war.” Her pretty face turned hateful once more and she boomed her words. “She’ll pay for your crimes and it will be on your newfound conscience, Eli! This is all your fault! If only you’d given into me. Is it such a big thing to ask?”

“I’d rather burn in hell,” he barked.

“Well, it looks like you’ll get your chance.”

Suddenly, Eli turned to me quickly and kissed my lips. I gasped at the quickness of it. Then we were somehow in the brush and thick bushes, he had his hand over my mouth as we knelt on the ground. He’d carried me here.

“Don’t make a sound. Stay down,” he whispered. I nodded but he must have seen my indecision in my eyes as he took his hand away. “CB, I am the most serious I have ever been in my entire life,” he said, his words rough. “You stay here and wait for me, no matter what you hear or see, you got me?” I tried to nod but it apparently wasn’t good enough. He jerked my chin up so I had to look directly into his face. “Answer me,” he commanded.

“What’s going on?”

“Trouble, that’s what. They will not hesitate to…hurt you, Clara. Answer me,” he almost growled.

“Ok,” I whispered in response.

He kissed me roughly and then put his thumb over my lips. His violet eyes begged me to obey him. “I can’t lose you,” he mouthed, but I still heard. “Please.”

I understood. I couldn’t lose him either, not now. I nodded. “I promise,” I replied as strong as I could.

“I’m immortal. They can’t hurt me,” he assured quietly. “They only way they can get to me is through you. Say it.”

“I understand, I’ll stay.”

“I have no idea what’s going to happen but you must not come out for any reason. We have to do this the right way, and them meeting you here like this is not.”

“Ok.”

“I…” He gulped. “You’re all I have.”

“I won’t move a muscle, I won’t come out, I’ll be quiet, I promise. Besides, I’m not the hero type.“

He chuckled uneasily and chided me, “Clara, not the time.”

“Be careful,” I said, my voice grating and cracking.

“One more thing,” he edged and it seemed like he didn’t want to say it. “They’ll see the string so you have to hide it. Only you can hide it,” he continued when I opened my mouth to argue. “It might be uncomfortable, but it’s the only way. You have to pull it back in your mind and hold it. It’ll push against you, it’ll want to get back to me but you have to hold on tight.”

I nodded, what else could I do, and said, “Show me what to do.”

He told me to mentally pull it in my mind, like I was using my fingers to yank it toward me. I did that and felt it tugging back. It was true, it didn’t want to leave Eli. I felt angry for no apparent reason. Eli pulled my face up.

“It’s ok. I know it sucks, just do it. Hurry.”

I did it again and saw it detaching itself from his wrist. Eli’s face grimaced and he groaned. At first I thought it was because he was picking up my emotion but no…his skin bloomed a blue spot that grew the more I pulled. His blood. I looked horrified up to him.

“Hold it,” he hissed. “Don’t let go or we’ll have to do it again.”

I kept my mental hold on the string and watched as it pulled and raced from his wrist up his arm, like pulling a cord from a wall, all the way to his chest. I felt it yank all of a sudden and enter my wrist and a zing shot up my arm to my chest. Eli fell back from the force of it and grunted. The pressure of it, pushing and pressing against my ribs, was uncomfortable as he had said, but it was more than that. It felt wrong. I looked back to his shirt.

“Is that your blood? Why are you bleeding?” I asked him as he sat back up. “Your chest…your arm…”

“Well…” he groaned a little as he took off his now destroyed white shirt and pulled back on his black button up, rolling down the sleeves, “it was attached.” As he buttoned the sleeve I saw the angry black skin around the hole as it still oozed blue.

“Then why did we do it?” I said angrily. “I wouldn’t have done that to you had you told me-“

“And that is why,” he interrupted, “I didn’t tell you. I knew you would never have been able to hurt me but we needed it done so they won’t follow the string back to you.”

I held back my tears at his sacrifice. He was trying to keep me safe, apparently at all cost. Instead, I told him a half truth.

“I’m going to be mad at you about this later,” I told him quietly and too softly for the threat to be credible.

He nodded and kissed me again, but this time it wasn’t rough. In fact, it was creamy and fluid as he pressed his lips to mine. I gripped his arm to convey the thought that I didn’t want him to go. He lingered in my space for a second before moving away and shooting through the woods behind us. When I looked for him in the park I saw him emerge from the other side. He was trying to divert someone from my location. But who?

“Mr. Thames,” a gruff male accented voice called, “I’m delighted to have you join us.”

“Everyone here knows that’s not true, Hatch. Let’s get right down to the matter, if you don’t mind.” I saw Angelina come up near Eli but he gave her a look that said to keep her distance. Surprisingly, she did. I still couldn’t see anyone else in the field as Eli went on. “Angelina called you unnecessarily. We don’t have a problem here.”

“Really? My dear Angelina, tell a lie?” Hatch laughed gravelly. “If we’re playing the honest card, I assumed that she was spouting lies since it was concerning you. I knew she was just trying to end whatever it was that you started in this town.”

“And yet you came,” Eli muttered quietly. “Why?”

“Because they have to,” Angelina interrupted smartly and grinned. “What would our people say if the Horde plays pick and choose instead of following credible leads?”

“Bite your tongue, wench,” one of Hatch’s men growled.

“Whoa, Miles. We’ll have our turn with her,” Hatch said and looked back to her face that had suddenly gone white, “in the mean time, we need to determine what’s going on here. Eli, care to elaborate?”

“I mated with a human here and Angelina can’t handle rejection.”

Everyone laughed and it echoed and bounced around me. It sounded like there were lots of them out there. Then one of them stepped forward and the trees were no longer in my line of sight. I assumed it was Hatch. He was a large man with cannonballs in the arms of his jacket. Or I guess it was just his arms. I tried to tamp down on my fright so they wouldn’t feel me there.

He crossed his arms and cocked his head looking at the ground. Enoch’s prone form still lay there and he kicked Enoch’s head with his boot to make it roll to the other side. I felt bile rise but held it together. The pressure in my chest was almost painful now.

“And poor, Enoch,” he laughed and nudged him once more in the shoulder for good measure. “Not playing nice was he?”

“He was trying to save a feeler girl from me,” Angelina explained. “Eli is the one telling lies. A human bonded herself to him,” she shrieked.

Everyone stilled. I knew that was it, the thing that Eli had been so afraid of. Mating was ok, it even seemed to be well looked upon, but for some reason bonding was not. I watched in frightful anticipation as Hatch’s men gathered closer around them.

“Where is my connection then?” Eli held his arms wide. “Where is she?”

“She was here earlier,” Angelina insisted frantically. “I saw the string myself!”

“I took her home to sleep,” Eli said as if bored. “Can’t have my plaything getting too tired to play, now can I?”

Hatch laughed and looked Eli over closely. “I heard you were in the capitol.”

“I was,” Eli replied, “but country bumpkins suit me.”

Another round of laughter that had Angelina’s veins becoming bold in her arms and wrists. “He had her here and they are bloody bonded! I saw it with my own eyes!”

“Eli’s right. If they were bonded, there would be a string,” Hatch said smoothly.

“But you can pull back the string,” she rebutted. “You can hide it.”

“From what I hear it’s agonizing. Are you in agony, Eli?” Hatch asked slyly.

“Yes, but not from a bond. From red heads with too much time on their hands.”

Hatch came forward then and clapped Eli on the shoulder before saying, “Besides, I think Eli is too smart to let something so stupid happen to him. Keeping our mate unhappily satisfied is the whole point, right? Gratitude in painful pleasure and all that?”

Eli stayed silent. Angelina puffed her ragged breaths into the air between them. I was so focused on the string I barely felt the cold. It pressed harder every time I thought about it. I felt a thud against my chest that resounded down my arm and realized I was about to be losing my battle with it. It wanted Eli as much as I did.

“Me, of course,” Hatch continued and made his way around Eli to Angelina’s side, “I prefer a different treat every night. I’m not the mating type, but to each his own.”

“Until it comes to bonding,” Angelina spouted.

“Yes,” he drawled, “until it comes to bonding. I’m doing our race a favor by getting rid of the traitors who threaten to pollute our young with human blood.”

Pollute with human blood? Devourers and humans could have children? The string yanked in my chest and I actually fell forward to the ground with the force. Luckily, I landed in dirt, not crunchy leaves, and my fall was silent. I glanced back up and held a hand to my chest as if that would help.

Eli visibly looked shaken for a second. He gripped his chest and grit his teeth prompting Hatch to ask, “Something wrong?”

“No. I’m just ready to be done with this,” he answered steadily.

“As am I. Angelina, I see no cause for your summons of the Horde. We are busy people, what with dealing with humans who find out about us, the few and far between traitors, the ones who wish to change our ways. I resent this waste of my time.”

“But, Hatch,” she yelled and stepped forward a little, “they are bonded. They’re…hiding it somehow.”

“I see no evidence to that and I don’t take lives lightly. If he was bonded with a feeler and can hide is this well, then kudos to him.” He moved forward and trailed a finger down her arm. “As for you however, I say we have more to discuss. Bring her,” he snapped to someone and she was snatched into big arms. They carried her off as she screamed and bucked against them, but they held steady. Hatch started to follow them but stopped. “I’d leave this town, Elijah. It’s never good to stay in one place for too long.”

“I’ve been thinking that myself,” Eli answered easily and crossed his arms. “See you around, Hatch.”

“Yeah…around.”

And then he, too, moved towards his men at a pace that was swift and too quick to be normal. As soon as they were gone, I waited. I knew Eli was making sure they were gone. I counted the seconds…1…2…3...4…5…6…7. The bond jerked, and this time I couldn’t contain my grunt. It hurt. I looked up to Eli at the exact second that his resolve ended…or maybe it was mine.