WANT ONE?” ASKED THEO AS he climbed back in the car from charming the cashier for free gas and whatever else he wanted. “Unlike you, doll face, I share.”

I looked at the black and white cookie he offered.

“I only eat them with peanut butter,” I mumbled.

Dani and I had gotten in the habit of dipping Oreos in peanut butter from summer camp.

Theo pulled out a squirt packet of peanut butter. “I know. Come on, I know you want one.” He waved a peanut-butter-slathered Oreo in front of my face.

“Thanks,” I said, taking it from him. “But how do you even know that?”

He smiled crookedly. “I know everything about you, Mara.”

“That’s not unnerving at all,” I replied sarcastically. “If you know everything about me, it’s only fair you tell me something about yourself.”

He looked like he wasn’t going to say anything but surprised me by replying with, “I have a cat. His name’s Nigel. He’s a Russian Blue. Does that suffice as something personal?”

“Not really.” I smiled. “But I’m sure it’s all I’m going to get from you.”

“You’ve got that right.”

We sat quietly in the car as the gas poured in. It clicked, and Theodore hopped out to return the nozzle. A moment later, we were racing down the road. Dark had long since fallen.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say the darkness unnerved me now. It had never bothered me before but knowing something might be out there, watching, hunting me … It was scary.

I watched the speedometer near a hundred miles per hour. We had yet to be stopped by the cops, so I figured Theo had some sort of magic trick to keep them away.

“You can go to sleep,” Theo told me.

“I’m fine,” I lied.

He sighed. “You’re no good to me if you’re dead on your feet.”

I closed my eyes and laid back. “Happy now?”

“Very.”

“Night, Theo,” I said sarcastically.

“Night, doll face.”

* * *

“Shit, shit, shit,” someone cursed. “Wake up,” the same voice said and shook me.

I cracked my eyes open.

Theo’s gray eyes were wide and dark with concern. “We have company,” he said as his gaze darted to the rearview mirror. “I need you to drive.”

“What?” I asked, still groggy.

“Move, Mara,” he growled and forcefully switched places with me. “Drive as fast as you can,” he commanded.

I pressed down on the gas. I hated driving in the dark and with the added speed and an unfamiliar car I was spooked. Then I noticed the headlights trailing us, and my heart rate spiked from fright.

“You’re doing great. Don’t worry about them. I’ve got this.” He rolled down the window. “Drive steady.”

“What are you doing?” I shrieked.

“I can’t exactly get them from here, can I?” he snapped as he climbed out the window and onto the top of the car.

“Theo!” I cried.

“You’re doing great, Mara,” he called back, his voice muffled by the speed. I was too frightened to care that he said Mara instead of doll face.

A green light shot from the top of the car and hit the car behind us. The light shot in a single streak before billowing out and enfolding the entire car.

When I looked again, the car was gone.

Before I could rejoice in the fact that they were gone, another car appeared. I heard Theo’s curse above me. Despite my desire to make the car go even faster, I kept it steady.

Theo did something else this time. I watched red and orange flames in the shape of a dragon engulf the next car.

Luckily, this time, another car did not appear. I kept watching for one and apparently Theo did too because he didn’t climb back in the car.

My heart roared in my ears, drowning out the sound of the wind whipping through the open window.

I’d believed Theo when he spoke of these iniquitous that were after me, but believing it and seeing it were two different things.

I was officially terrified.

After a while, I asked, “Theo, are you okay?” Hopefully it was loud enough for him to hear. I hoped he hadn’t fallen off the car. I hadn’t heard a thump or anything, so surely, he was fine.

“I’m fine.” He slipped back into the car easily like he did this sort of thing every day. “Just making sure no more appeared. They’re sneaky bastards.”

“How did they find us?” My voice shook with fear.

“Your guess is as good as mine. Now come on, move on back over here.” He motioned for me to switch places with him.

“Why do they want to kill me?” I asked as we did a very awkward dance changing places.

He flopped down into the driver’s seat, his foot replacing mine. “I told you. It’s because you’re powerful.”

“There’s more to it than that. I can tell when someone’s hiding something. And you are definitely hiding something.”

Theo sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m not lying.”

“Yeah, you are. You see, that thing you did with your hands, it’s called a nervous tic.”

“That is not a nervous tic,” he defended. “My hair was in my eyes.”

“Of course it was.”

“I saved your butt. Why are you arguing with me?”

I rolled my eyes. “Thank you for saving me, Theodore. Happy now?”

He shook his head. “You’re a piece of work.”

“And you’re annoying.”

He smirked. “I think you like me.”

“Of course you do. You’re a self-centered, egotistical jerk,” I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. Theo brought out the best in me.

He grinned cockily. “When you’ve got it, you’ve got it. And I’ve got it.”

“That was a lot of got its,” I remarked.

“I can’t win with you, can I?”

“No, you’re arguing with a girl. You’re gonna lose.”

He shook his head but said no more. He did drive with a little smirk on his lips, though. Theo turned the radio on which effectively ended further conversation, and I was fine with that.

* * *

We drove on and on and I knew by the end of this trip I would never want to be in a car again. I was going stir crazy. All I could to do was look out the window because the minute I tried to read a magazine, car sickness would kick in.

I watched the Welcome to Wyoming sign fly by and then the Welcome to Montana.

As soon as pale morning light began to paint the sky, Theo pulled into a hotel.

“We’re leaving a few hours before dark this time,” he commented. “I don’t want another ambush.”

I grabbed my bag and followed him to an empty room. I didn’t know how he knew it was vacant, but it was. He held his hand to the doorknob, and three seconds later it swung open without a key. It was amazing the things he could do, but I’d never tell him that. He was already arrogant enough as it was.

Theo flopped across the bed, the only bed, and stared at the TV until it came on.

“There’s only one bed,” I cried, my cheeks flaming.

He looked around like he hadn’t noticed. He patted the space next to him and grinned cockily. “Hello, snuggle buddy.”

I closed my eyes and clenched my jaw so that I didn’t start screaming at him.

Calm enough, I said, “For a protector, you’re pretty annoying.”

“How do you know we’re not all like this?” he countered, motioning to himself. “Might be a part of the nature.”

“No, I think it’s only you.”

“You think you have me figured out, don’t you? You think you know me?” Theo asked, sitting up and leaning forward. There was a glint in his eyes, maybe anger or maybe a challenge.

I looked him in the eye. They were such a unique gray color; now that I looked closer I could see hints of purple and blue.

“I don’t think anyone knows the real you. Not even yourself,” I murmured.

“You’re smarter than I gave you credit for. Maybe it’s your child-like looks that make you seem so young.” He sat back, crossing his legs at the ankles.

“I do not look like a kid,” I defended. “I’m practically eighteen.” Theodore didn’t know it but that was a sore spot with me. I did look like a little kid. I just had an overall young look to me. The only curves I possessed were the ones on my hips.

“I think your attitude makes you seem younger too,” he commented, his words digging into me like he’d intended.

I shook my head, my teeth grinding down, and sulked into the bathroom fighting tears.

This whole situation was entirely overwhelming and dealing with Theo wasn’t exactly easy. I wanted everything to go back to normal. I wanted to be home, with my dad, joking with him or reading a book. I took it all for granted. I never imagined a life when I wouldn’t have that. Now I didn’t know this place where we were going or the people or anything.

And on top of it, a bunch of evil enchanters were chasing us—chasing me.

All I wanted for my eighteenth birthday was a cake and maybe a gift card.

Not this.

I didn’t want to be an enchanter. I didn’t want to be chosen. I didn’t want any of this.

But I had no choice, and that was the suckiest part of it all.

I leaned against the closed bathroom door and took a breath. I wanted a shower, but I didn’t have my bag. I sighed and reluctantly opened the door.

Theo was standing on the other side, one hand poised to knock, and the other holding my bag. He smirked.

“Here, doll face.” I snatched the bag from his hands and slammed the door in his face.

He cackled on the other side, completely unaffected by my rudeness.

I took a long time in the shower, wanting to avoid Theo. I had never met someone who made me so crazy. He was infuriating. But yet, I couldn’t stop the stubborn attraction I felt toward him.

I shook my head back and forth.

There were more important things to worry about.

Getting out of the shower I pulled on the same pair of sweats and t-shirt I had worn before and slipped out of the bathroom. Theo was nowhere to be found.

Not finding him, I sat down on the bed.

“Hey, doll face.” He winked from the floor.

I squealed in fright and reeled back.

He chuckled. “You scare easily.”

I put my hand to my racing heart. “Why are you on the floor?”

“Since the thought of sleeping with me is so appalling I decided I’d sleep on the floor.” He spread his arms so that I could see the blanket and pillow. I knew the floor of the hotel was the furthest thing from comfortable and I instantly softened.

“Theo, I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “One bed is fine. There’s plenty of room for both of us.” There really wasn’t much room but we could make do.

He grinned and grabbed the blanket and pillow before hopping in the bed. “I knew you couldn’t wait to get me in bed.” His smile was cocky.

I narrowed my eyes at him and turned the light off on my side of the bed. I wondered why they always bolted lamps to the tables in hotels. Did people really try and steal the ugly brass and flowered lamps?

“Goodnight, Theo,” I said, scooting under the covers.

“Night, doll face,” he purred in the darkness as he turned the other light off.

My eyes stayed open and I prayed for sleep.

* * *

“Wake up, we gotta go.” Theo shook me awake.

Apparently, I had been able to sleep.

I opened my eyes and the late afternoon sunlight blared into the room.

Theo was freshly showered and shaved. It was funny; I hadn’t even noticed how much dark scruff coated his cheeks until it was gone.

I rubbed my eyes and grabbed my duffel bag, disappearing into the bathroom to change. I really hoped that once we got to the manor I would have access to new clothes. I only had three pairs of jeans and three shirts in my bag, plus the one pair of sweatpants.

I brushed my hair and my teeth before slipping on my black flip-flops.

“Let’s roll,” I said to Theo.

“A roll in the sack?” He smiled slowly, his eyes flicking from me to the bed and back again.

I punched his arm. “You know what I meant,” I said and hated the red staining my cheeks. If he noticed, he didn’t comment.

We climbed in the car and sped off. Hopefully, we wouldn’t have any more visits from The Iniquitous. That had not been fun.

“How much longer until we reach Seattle?” I asked.

“Approximately ten hours.”

Ten more hours and we would reach the safe house. The place where I was supposedly supposed to be safe as the name implied and learn to control my magic. Suddenly, I wanted to tell Theo to turn around. But I knew it was my silly nerves getting to me. After all, I was about to enter a place full of magical beings. I sighed. I was one of those magical beings now.

Well, I guess I’d always been, but I hadn’t known it.

“Do we use wands?” I asked, breaking the silence.

Theo snorted and the orange Mountain Dew he had been drinking spewed across the dashboard. I grabbed a napkin off the floor and tried to wipe it up. I might not have been as in love with this car as he was, but I did want to keep it clean—it was too nice to destroy.

“In case that wasn’t answer enough,” he motioned to the mess he had made, “the answer is no. We don’t use wands. Have you seen me use one?”

“No,” I replied. “But you said you’re twenty-two. I thought maybe younger enchanters had to use them or that maybe since you’re a protector it’s different.”

“No.” He shook his head, his curls shaking in every direction. “You actually say most spells silently.”

“So, how long does it take to learn?”

“About three years. Some enchanters are different and it takes more or less time,” he explained. “My sister is your age, so you’ll be learning together.”

“Why are you my protector? What makes you a protector instead of a regular enchanter?”

Theo groaned and snapped at me. “Can we not talk about this right now?”

He framed it as a question, but I knew it was a statement.

I would have to wait to get my answers because I certainly wasn’t going to be getting them from Theodore.

* * *

We stopped to eat and get gas. Theodore didn’t want to eat in the car, so we pulled into a 24-hour restaurant. The place was empty except for a lone waitress and the cook. Theodore slid into a booth, and I slid in across from him.

The waitress came over and handed us menus while snapping her gum.

“I’ll give you a minute,” she said, before going to chat with the cook.

“What do you think you want?” asked Theo as he perused the menu.

I ignored him. I was still mad that he wouldn’t answer my questions.

She came back, and I ordered a waffle. Theo ordered two waffles, a plate of scrambled eggs, and bacon.

“How do you eat so much?” I asked, shaking my head when the waitress set our plates down fifteen minutes later.

“I’m a man, and a man needs to eat.”

Oh, so he could answer that question, but I couldn’t ask him why he was my protector? When I got to the safe house I would have to see if I could have a new protector. Someone nice who listened to me and answered my questions, not this bull I was stuck with.