Page 123 of Burn Falls

He shrugged. “We’ll teach you how to hide them. But everything happened for a reason. Maybe Selene never knew your father would be attacked and left to die. But she made us true loves for a reason.”

“You two make me want to puke,” Athan murmured.

“Starting to think youarejealous of us.” I laughed.

“Nothing to be jealous of. I’ve never wanted to settle down and find my soulmate.”

“You have forever to change your mind.” Draven chuckled. Without looking, I knew in the moment of silence that Athan had rolled his eyes. It was totally something he’d do.

Draven pulled up in front of the house. The light by the front door was on, but all the lights in the house were off.

“Maybe she’s not home,” I said.

“Call her.” Draven motioned with his head toward my purse after he cut the engine.

I dug inside my bag and then dialed my mother. It rang three times before she answered. “Calla?” she asked with sleep in her voice.

I cleared my throat. “Hey, Mom, I think I lost my keys. Can you come open the front door?”

“I’ll be right down.”

“Thank you.” We hung up.

“Let’s go and let me talk,” Draven said, opening his door.

The moment I opened my door, I sensed him. Renzo was here.

And he wasn’t alone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Looks like my night just got better. Three for the price of one.”

I clenched my fists as I heard his voice coming from behind me. The moment I’d opened my door, I knew he was close. A moment of defeat washed over me as I turned to face Renzo, and then straightened and prepared myself for what was either going to be my death or his. There was movement all around us, and I knew he wasn’t alone. I looked to Athan and realized he too had become rigid, readying himself for a fight.

“Calla, you need to get in the house now,” I barked just as Shauna opened the door. Renzo was closing in. I didn’t know what he had planned, but if Calla was safe inside a house he couldn’t get into, I knew I could focus more. I’d fight him before I let him burn the place down.

“She can try, but she won’t make it.”

“Mom, close the door and don’t let anyone in,” Calla yelled toward the front door.

“What’s going on?” Shauna asked. “Who are all these men?”

“Now!” I hissed. “Close the fucking door, Shauna.”

She didn’t hesitate or question further. Instead, the door slammed, and all of my attention went back on Renzo who was slowly walking toward us.

“We can get in the car and drive off,” Athan suggested.

“I’m not leaving my mother alone with a yard full of vampires,” Calla retorted.

“Then we fight to the death,” Athan countered.

“Are you with us?” I asked. Athan was either going to help me or finish a plan for Renzo. I hoped, after all this time, that he wasn’t my enemy.

Athan turned his head toward me. “Of course I am.”

Finally, every vampire came into view. We were outnumbered ten to three. I didn’t recognize any of them, and I’d never killed or fought a vampire before. When I was in Chicago, we trained, but we never actually killed another one of our species.