CHAPTER EIGHT
“I thought I told you to stay inside the barn.”
Raz’s cool voice could be heard all the way in, and Gabby listened from her spot by the barn door and tried not to tense right away. She heard Jake’s response, his tone full of sass as he explicitly told the vampire that he hadn’t said those exact words at all.
She stifled a smile, not even sure why she was amused at this point. There were too many emotions running all over inside her, with the worry, resentment, and regret taking the forefront.
She had been stupid, and she could acknowledge that now. But she’d been so close to those answers—could already taste the victory of it and the relief, right before the witch who could have given them to her was killed right in front of her eyes. Then Jake was there to get her out of the situation, and she couldn’t decide whether to punch him on the spot or be all grateful that she wasn’t left alone with the second-in-line vampire.
Or to kiss him right then and there.
She looked down at her wrists and watched the scars slowly start to fade, with the burns completely gone. He shouldn’t have done that, but he did. He also shouldn’t have taken her so close and threatened to kiss her, but he did.
And things were now just so complicated because, on top of the forefront feelings, there was also this idiotic amusement—and a certain heat that was simmering inside her as she remembered again what happened to them inside that limousine.
The barn door opened, and the presence that entered wasn’t Jake. Gabby shot up instantly and faced Raz, who looked at her with an unreadable expression. The charming, almost harmless man was gone, and in his place was a warrior who could probably kill her on the spot. She’d never figured out why Raz had been second-in-line, up until she saw him rescue her.
And now, she still needed to prove that he was involved in all this.
Keeping that in mind, Gabby kept her expression light. “Thank you for the rescue.”
He nodded his head. Then he tilted it, observing her. Trying to figure her out. She fought the natural instinct to straighten herself, instead keeping her pose casual and relaxed.
“Did you get anything from that witch on why you were kidnapped?” Raz asked.
She met his brown gaze, watching the concern there. She shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. But I don’t intend to stop.”
Silence.
“Good,” Raz said softly. “I’m glad you’re safe now.”
Lie or truth? She honestly couldn’t tell, so she settled for changing the topic. “Is there any chance you have a private room somewhere around here? I don’t think I can sleep here.”
To her dismay, the vampire shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. There are sinister creatures lurking here, and your…kind isn’t exactly welcome. It’s best you stay here until morning.”
Here? With Jake and everyone else outside this barn, she could possibly be in danger?
Damn it.
This was also not in the plan.
“Are you that repulsed to sleep near me, princess?”
The door opened again, and Jake’s explosive presence filled the space. Gabby’s stomach jumped, but she ignored it and eyed him with as much derision as she could muster.
“Maybe,” she said softly. She turned to the vampire again, who was eyeing the exchange in a rather unaffected manner. “Thank you for your help again. I will make sure the council hears of it.”
Raz nodded, though she was pretty sure he didn’t care about anything—or anyone—beyond his master’s approval. He repeated his reminder to them of not leaving the barn, then slid out as quietly as he came in.
For the first few minutes, silence filled the room, and Gabby realized she and Jake were both instinctively waiting for the vampire to disappear completely. Once he was gone, Jake leaned on the wall, crossed his arms and directed her with a dead-on stare.
“What?” she asked defensively.
“I’m trying to figure you out.”
“And what did you figure out so far?”
He held up a finger. “One, you pretend to like Raz even when it’s clear you don’t trust him. I’m not sure whether you’re playing some hard-to-get game here or whether you’re just plain crazy.”
She glared at him.
“Two,” he held up another finger, “You clearly have a secret that I have yet to be privy to…and trust me, princess, I’m going to find out sooner or later.”
He was never going to find out, not if it was up to her.
“Three, you seem to want to get as far away from me as possible. I don’t buy your bullshit of not being able to sleep here. I think that’s an act.”
“It’s not an act,” she shot at him.
“Damn it, Gabby,” he shot back. “We can be in the same barn. I’m not going to force myself on you. I’m not going to hurt you. Forget I threatened you, okay?”
“I’m not scared of that.”
He took a step closer, his eyes boring into hers. She didn’t see any anger this time, only frustration and a genuine concern that took her by surprise.
“Then what are you scared of?”
That I would hurt you.
She shook her head instead. “Nothing. I just don’t trust him.”
“Neither do I. But I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He held out a hand. “I won’t even ask you about your motives…at least, not until we get to a safer place.”
Yeah, right. What Jake couldn’t comprehend was that being with her was the least safe place he could be in, and she needed to do something about it. An idea popped into her head, and she spoke before she could further analyze it.
“I don’t want you to keep me safe,” she said forcefully.
“Then what do you want?”
“Can you follow Raz? I just want to make sure he’s accounted for. We can take turns, so you can fall asleep…”
She braced herself because she really couldn’t exactly take turns with him. Relief poured out of her when he accepted the bait and nodded his head.
“No, I’ll do it. I’ve been planning to, anyway,” he murmured. He took something out from behind him and handed it over to her, and Gabby stared at the glinting knife that fit in his palm. “Keep yourself safe.”
God. He was too much to handle. Emotions roiled inside her again, but she ignored it and stepped back. “Thank you. You, too.”
Gabby watched him leave, torn. She knew outside was dangerous, and she wasn’t exactly keeping him safe, either. But it was better this way.
When she was sure she was entirely alone, she went back to retrieve her old clothes and rummaged in the pockets until she found what she was looking for. She gripped it in her hand and felt the cold steel cut through. She looked around the barn until she found a good spot for her to stay in—inside one of the empty horse boxes at the very back, where there was some steel piping leading down the ground that was probably built in case there was a hurricane.
It wasn’t just good. It was perfect.
Gabby looked and sensed around once more to determine no one was coming in or nearby. Then she stepped into the horse box and locked herself in, silently thankful that her scent was being masked. She opened her palm and eyed the thing she carried—a silver chain that an old witch friend created for her just before the witch died extracting her blood and betraying her.
Carefully, she tied one end to the steel. Then she tied the other end to her wrists and ankles, keeping some space in between the skin. She sensed inside her and felt it—that lurking presence that indicated what was going to happen soon, so dark and heavy that it threatened to consume her. It always threatened to consume her, and she never had the courage to fight it.
Which was why she needed to find the cure. Soon.
Gabby watched the chains, then the darkness of the barn. She felt the darkness inside her rising, and she didn’t fight it.
She waited.