Page 11

Chapter 5

The sun was rising as the truck pulled up beside the house. Regan sat stiff and tense in the passenger seat next to Caleb, regretting every second she had spent in his arms.

He hadn’t spoken a single word since they’d gotten into the vehicle. She’d asked a couple of perfectly innocent questions and received nothing more than a grunt or two in return. She wasn’t sure what he was, but she was starting to suspect that there was a good dollop of werepig in there somewhere.

“No need to get out,” she said when he made no move.

As she reached for the door handle, intent on jumping down, he touched her arm. She tried to shake off his hand, but his grip tightened. Sinking back into her seat, she turned to face him and glared. “Yes?”

“What I said about the pack—”

“What about it?”

“You need to think about it—joining them, I mean. You shouldn’t be alone when you change for the first time.”

“I won’t change.”

“Yes, you will.”

She rolled her eyes; there was obviously no point in arguing with him. “Then I’ll make sure I’m not alone.”

Alarm flashed across his features. “You can’t be with a human either. The first few times, you’ll lose control.”

“Ineverlose control.”

His stare dropped to her mouth, then to her breasts, as if reminding her of one time, very recently, when her control had gone out the window. Her breasts still ached from his kisses, and her nipples pressed urgently against the soft material of her T-shirt.

“Oh yeah?” he murmured, his gaze never leaving her breasts.

Regan scowled. “Look, this concern is really sweet, but totally wasted. One, I won’t turn, and two, if I do, I’ll take sensible precautions. Okay?”

He nodded and dropped the hand that rested on her arm.

Regan sat for a minute, unsure of why she wasn’t moving as fast as she could away from him. There was no point in pursuing this. She’d promised herself long ago—no more lovers. No more immortals thinking they could use her powers for their own purposes. And no more human men growing old without her, dying on her. She couldn’t take it. Not that Caleb had shown any sign of wanting to spend any more time with her.

With a sigh, she reached again for the door handle. “Good-bye, and thank you for saving me. I do appreciate it, you know.” There. She could be fair.

He didn’t answer. Surprise, surprise.

She stepped down from the truck. At the same time, the door of the house burst open, and her sisters rushed out. Catrin, tall, her long, honey-blond hair in a plait down her back, her grey eyes worried. Beside her, Lola appeared tiny, like a pixie with her short cap of glossy black hair and pointed face. They hurried over, halting in front of her, glancing between her and the strange truck. They didn’t have many visitors. Catrin stepped closer, wrapped her arms tight around Regan, and hugged her hard.

“Oh my God, Regan, we didn’t know where you were. We knew you were alive, but we couldn’t find you.”

She pulled back a little. “I’m sorry, I had a small accident. I was unconscious for a while, but I’m okay.”

“I know.” Catrin turned from Regan and looked at the truck. Through the window, Caleb sat, fingers drumming on the steering wheel, no doubt impatient to be off. Unfortunately, right now, Lola was in the way.

“Are you going to introduce us?” Lola asked, moving to stand beside her sisters.

“No,” Regan replied, quite aware that wouldn’t be the end of it. Catrin, she might have convinced to leave well alone. Lola…not in a million years.

Her sister peered into the cab. The engine was still running. Caleb was clearly desperate to be away. But Lola was not to be put off. She tapped her fingers on the glass. For a moment, it looked like he was going to ignore her. Then a resigned expression settled on his face. He heaved a huge sigh and rolled down the window.

“Hello,” Lola said. “I’m Lola—Regan’s sister. And this is Catrin…also Regan’s sister. Would you like to come in?”

“No.”

“Please.” Catrin entered the conversation. She was reserved compared to Lola, slow to give her trust, but she was obviously intrigued. “I’m sure Regan will want to thank you properly.”