Chapter 16
“I knew you were coming,” Maya said mysteriously when she opened the door for me.
I blinked. “Really?”
She laughed. “Jacob texted me. Yeah, this psychic thing doesn’t work like that. At least, I don’t think so. In fact, until you and David came along, I didn’t see much of anything.”
I followed her to the living room, trying to focus. I’d just laid it out there, told Jacob how I felt. And now there was a hole in my heart. Having a relationship with a vampire was just as complicated as having a relationship with a human.
“Maybe it’s because you’re getting stronger. Or something triggered it,” I suggested. “Maybe it’s because you’re trying to read things from people you know. I mean, Jacob said you saw David and Jonathan in a dream. And then you clearly saw something with me, right?”
She propped her hand on her hip. “That’s true. Usually, I just give ‘readings’ to people I don’t know. So, basically, I just read them and try to figure out what they want to hear. But, yeah, it was different with you.”
“Do you think you could it again?”
“Do what? Give you a reading?”
“Yes. Or do whatever you did before. If there’s anything we can do to find out who that guy was—the one who told me about your clan—I want to help. If he really was a vampire hunter, then we need to know if anyone is in danger.”
Maya gestured to the table in the middle of the room. “That would be helpful. I just…” She joined me at the table. “I’m not sure what I did last time. It’s not like I really know what I’m doing.”
“Maybe just…focus on what you want to know? Or maybe don’t focus on anything at all and just see what comes.”
She frowned, but more out of concentration than disagreement. She held out a hand and I took it, then the laid her other one over the top. “I’m just telling you in advance that this might not work.”
“I’m willing to try anything. Jacob is worried and it…” I shook my head. I barely knew her. It felt odd baring my feelings to a practical stranger.
“What?” she asked, looking genuinely curious. “I know this is an adjustment for both of you but we’re all pretty close. And now, well, you’re part of that family.”
Her words surprised me. “I really appreciate that.”
“It’s true. David fits in with us, and you do, too. It just takes time. And since you’re human…I guess some of the others are still unsure about you. It’s an adjustment for Jacob, too.”
“It is. That’s what I’m worried about. Being human. I know it makes me more fragile—and it also makes me feel like there’s nothing I can do to help. If a hunter comes here, I’m useless.”
She squeezed my hands in sympathy. “But if you’re a vampire, then they’ll be after you.”
“That’s what Jacob said.”
“Ah…” She smiled. “I see. He doesn’t want to put you in danger.”
“He’s already in danger. And I am because I’m on your side. That puts me right in the middle.”
She nodded. “I see both sides. And I—”
She gasped, her eyes going blurry. I winced as she squeezed my fingers. God, she was strong. But I didn’t dare pull away.
“Maya?” I said softly.
Her lips parted like she was trying to say something, but nothing would come out.
Her fingers squeezed tighter and I winced.
“Maya?”
After another long moment, she blinked. Then she closed her eyes and released me to press her fingers against her temples. “Shit,” she whispered. “That was intense.”
“What happened? What did you see?”
“I saw—I saw someone. He is a hunter.” She nodded, her eyes locking on mine. “Tall—as tall as Jacob—and long hair. But—but it was in a bun? And he had a tattoo on his neck—”
“Yes, that’s him.” Unease settled in my stomach. “He’s a hunter?”
“Yes. That was clear. He was fighting like a hunter. No one could fight a vampire like that unless they were a hunter.”
“Wait, he was fighting someone? You saw them fighting? Who?”
She averted her eyes. “Chris. He was fighting Chris and…”
“Maya,” I snapped. “You need to tell me.”
She looked back up, fear in her eyes. “He was fighting Jacob.”
“Fuck.” I stood from the table. “Do you know when?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. They were outside, though, and it was sunny.”
I glanced outside, and even though it was cloudy, that didn’t help ease my nerves. It could be sunny some day later this week, and that could be the day he was coming. We had to be prepared.
“Thank you, Maya,” I said, starting toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
I didn’t answer her, just opened the door and stepped out.
“We should tell Jacob, right?” she asked.
“He’s at the police station.”
She followed me down the steps. “Is that where you’re going?”
“I need to make a stop first,” I told her, hedging the truth. “But I’ll be there soon.”
I got into the car and started it. If Jacob was in trouble, there was something I could do to help.
I drove toward the hospital. I should have come here first. Not that I’d known what Maya was going to say, but I had already made up my mind what I needed to do. Now I just knew how urgent it was.
After I parked, I rushed inside, looking around. I stopped at the nurse’s station. “Is David around?” I asked the woman there.
She gestured down the hall. “He was just getting ready to leave, but you might be able to catch him.”
I raced in the direction she pointed. When I came around the corner, I nearly got hit in the face with a door.
“Whoa—shit, Hawk,” David said, stepping out from what looked like some sort of employee’s lounge. “I didn’t see you. Are you okay?”
“I need your help.”
“Of course. What’s wrong?”
I took a breath and then lowered my voice. “I need you to make me a vampire.”