Page 22

Kerry

Two hours passed and I’d calmed down enough to appear under control, which was perfect because Travis’ head popped over the slight rise of land.

“No trouble?” I jogged to meet him.

“You were right! We’re on the outskirts of a small town. About two miles straight south, there’s a road that leads right into it. I walked until I could see a motel and a gas station and a diner. The gas station has a garage attached to it and vehicles parked behind it. Maybe they could rent us one. Anyway, I’d guess it’s about four miles from where I found the road. We’re set!”

“If we can get the others moving.” I frowned. “I think I could get myself stable enough to carry Gigi, but, even if you could carry John or Rome, that still leaves one man out.”

“No one’s carrying me anywhere.”

I turned to see Rome slowly walking toward us, one arm held tight against his ribs.

“You sure you’re ready to get up?” I called.

“Ready or not, I am.” He tried to stretch out his arm and winced. “Jeez, that hurts! Let’s get to this motel. We all need baths and sleep, not to mention meds and food.”

“Right. Travis, you’re assigned to John. See if you can get him on his feet.”

“Sure thing.” He trotted off.

“You had a good idea, telling me to shift.” Rome gave me a quick nod. “Saved my life. Thanks. I’d offer to shake your hand, but—”

“Yeah, I know.” I lifted one shoulder. “Just don’t ever stick your tongue in my ear again and we’ll call it even.”

I didn’t understand his bark of laughter. What was funny?

“That inferno was incredible.” He was still smiling a little. “Did it incinerate the demons?”

“Uh, they all burned up, if that’s what you’re asking.” I saw Travis loop John’s arm around his shoulder and help him stand. “Let’s figure out how to divide up this gear.”

Gigi got up, too, and reached for the demon blanket. She had a funny look on her face as she folded it and stuffed it into her backpack, and I knew she’d had the same experience with it I had. When I’d picked it up, my power had gone silent, but flooded back when I dropped it.

“Well, it’s been entertaining, people.” John’s voice was as flat as usual. “But I want a hot shower, a medium-rare steak, and a warm bed. In that order, too. Can we get moving?”

We all strapped on our backpacks, and Gigi and Travis took charge of their partner’s packs, too. I hefted Gemma’s and grabbed two others. John and Rome looked pretty rough by then, so Gigi agreed to pop back later with me or Travis to get everything else.

“Okay, Dragon.” I nodded at him. “Lead the way.”

#

The trek to the motel took nearly three hours. I coulda run there and back again in less than a third of that time, but my friends struggled with each step.

Travis, having already made the journey once and weighted down with extra packs, walked slower and slower. I had to remind myself that his bookworm self wasn’t used to so much physical work. I smirked a little at that, proud of how far I’d come with my own health.

Gigi limped along in silence and her tear-stained face was still pale. I wished I could ease her mind because it hurt to see her so upset, but I had no comfort to give her.

Rome and John worried me the most. Head wounds were tricky, and both of them were gray-faced and staggering by the time we reached the motel.

I left them all on the benches out front and went into the office, where I rented three rooms with connecting doors. I paid with a swipe of the black credit card Clem had given me, scrawled something that looked like a signature, and sorted out who went where.

I figured we should pair the healthy with those who weren’t. Travis was still wary of Rome, so I put him with John and told the kid to keep an eye on him. I wasn’t sure about bunking with Rome, either, since he couldn’t stand the smell of me, but that’s the way it played out. As I walked Gigi to the room between us, she teased me quietly about the perks of being the only girl, but I couldn’t smile.

I didn’t think I’d be smiling for a long, long time.

When I got back to my room, Rome was already stretched out on a bed, one arm cradling his ribs and out cold. Figuring sleep would do him the most good right now, I decided to ask about his ribs later. Then I went back to check on John, but Travis said he was in the shower, so I went to Gigi’s room and asked her to fetch food from the diner next door.

She gave me a strange look, and I sighed.

“Rome and John are injured, Travis is watching John, and I can’t go.” I rolled my shoulders. “I’m barely— I would— Look, I just can’t. I’m sorry, Gigi. I know I’m asking you to walk some more while I’m hanging out here, but—”

“It’s okay.” She smiled softly. “I understand. I’m not complaining. But I am worried about you, Kerry.”

“Yeah.” I dropped my eyes. “Me, too.”

I glanced out the window, taking in the thick stands of Christmas trees across the parking lot.

How could I explain it to her? ‘ Hey, Gigi, I’m holding on by my fingertips here. When I lose it, I’ll probably kill you all. It’s nothing personal.’ Yeah, that’ll go over well.

“I think I should leave.” I kept it simple.

“Kerry, look at me.” I didn’t want to, but I did. “I’m sorry I doubted you. I know you’ll need time to forgive me, but please know I hate that I hurt you. And I’m as angry with myself as you are.”

“I’m not angry with you.” I was shocked. “I know what I am. I don’t trust me. Why would any of you? ’Sides, something like me d—”

“Stop it! Don’t call yourself a thing!” Her dark blue eyes flashed with fire. “I am not your friend because I pity you, or because Gemma had to talk me into it, or any other self-depreciating reason you’ve concocted to explain it! You’re honest and tough and brave and kind. I trust you with my life, but even more, I trust you to help me save Jax’s life. And Gemma’s and the others.”

I’d never known her to lie, but I didn’t believe half of what she said. Kind? Me ? But if this was how she thought, who was I to tell her different? Let her keep her daydreams.

“Be positive, Kerry, and stay calm. We’ll find them and rescue them.”

“I can’t be … civilized … right now.” I hung my head as I admitted it.

“Let me amend my statement.” Her voice turned to ice. “We’ll find them and rescue them, then kill every last one of those buzzards who took them. I don’t think we need to be civilized for that, do you?”

She reached out and let her fingertips hang over my clenched fist. In my agitation, I could crush her slender bones in a heartbeat. And she knew that. Was this her way of showing she trusted me?

“Gigi?” I flipped my wrist and drew her fingers into my hand with great care.

“Yeah?”

“Did I … Did I hurt her? In the woods. When she tried to touch me.” I sucked in air and dropped her hand. “I swear I was gentle! Even though I was mad, I swear I was! But she held her arm against her chest like it hurt.”

“You didn’t hurt her.”

“You’re not lying to make me feel better, are you?” I narrowed my eyes at her.

“No. She was upset. It shocked her because you haven’t done anything like that in a long time, but you did not physically hurt her.”

That was a relief, and I let out a heavy breath.

“All right, fearless leader. What should I bring back from the diner?”

“Anything.” I shrugged. “And a lot of it.”

#

Deciding to get clean while I waited for food, I stripped down and stepped into the shower, groaning as the hot spray pounded on my tight muscles. I musta pulled or torn one in my back during the fight with the succubus because it burned white hot. I closed my eyes and let the water wash away the mud and the blood and the sweat, but it couldn’t calm me.

I knew nothing would do that until she was safe again.

I scrubbed down fast, then got out, dried off, and wrapped the towel around my waist. Leaving the steamed-up bathroom, I grabbed a comb and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, my eyes finding the thick scar above my hip bone.

She had seen that one a few months back while healing one of Argaud’s attacks. And she’d smoothed her thumb over it just a few nights ago when we kissed in her tent—

Something cracked.

I looked down to see I’d snapped the comb in half and the plastic was melting in my shaking, power-coated hands.

Calm down! And breathe. Yeah, that seems important. Breathing, I mean. So yeah. In for a count of four …

#

Rome

A sharp, sudden noise woke me and my eyes were drawn to the blue glow that was Kerry’s back, then further to his reflection in the mirror. Outlined with power, he stared down at his hands, each of which held half of a comb, and his shoulders were rigid.

He was fighting against losing it.

I had no idea how I could help him. Or what I would do if - when - that happened.

The best thing would be to point him toward an enemy and let him self-detonate while I shepherded everyone else to safety.

But he was breathing in that deliberate pattern he used to calm down, so I figured we were all safe enough for the moment. My eyes dipped to the scars criss-crossing his skin. The tats on his arms hid any scars there, but the rest of his skin was ruined by deep grooves, sandpaper-textured patches, and splash-shaped burn marks.

How is he still alive? Both pity and admiration filled me. It’s amazing how far he’s come in so short a time.

When Clem had called to offer me this assignment, he’d given me a little background on each of Kerry’s team members as well as a rundown on the kid himself, which took up most of the conversation. The old man mentioned Kerry had been a walking skeleton when they’d first found him.

Now, lean muscle rolled under Kerry’s skin as he finger-combed his hair. I bet he’d nearly doubled his weight, and not one ounce of it was fat.

He’s tough in more than just body , but he’s lost without Gemma. Even worse, I think he’s convinced himself to give her up. Oh, not because she showed a lack of faith in him, but because he feels he’s not good enough for her. Jeez, I am no couples counselor! I wish Chance were here. He’s good at this touchy-feely stuff.

I closed my eyes and rolled over, and immediately regretted it as fire tore along my side.

And if he were here, he could fix my everloving ribs, too!

#

Kerry

After we finished a very late lunch and cleared away the trash, I asked Gigi to wind tape around Rome’s ribs, then check John’s head wound. It was still oozing, so she wrapped it up again and dosed him with two tablets from the bottle she’d bought from the motel’s tiny convenience store. By then, he was out on his feet and I asked her to take him back to his room.

After they’d left, I noticed Travis fidgeting and took it as a bad sign.

“Um, Kerry?”

“Yeah?”

“You know that guy who came out of the portal first?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, I know who it is.”

My temper flaring, I bunched my fist into his shirt and leaned down until my nose was almost touching his.

“Where can I find him?”

“Whoa!” Rome came over and edged between us. “Calm down! You’re going to hurt him. Let him speak.”

I didn’t like how close Rome was getting, so I dropped Travis’ shirt and stepped back. I realized that was probably Rome’s intent, which helped me refocus, and I started to breathe again.

“His name’s Hubler,” Travis said. “Reginald Hubler.”

“ The Reginald Hubler?” Rome whistled.

“You’ve heard of him?” I swung my head toward him.

“He’s in the news all the time.” He shrugged. “Wants to be the next president.”

He whipped out his phone and poked at it for a few seconds, then curved his hand for me to see.

“Yep. That’s him.”

And I’d just gotten the blue tint outta my skin, too. Now I had to start the calming process all over.

“He’s also very wealthy and very powerful.” Travis raised an eyebrow. “Made a fortune in real estate. He’s the CEO of several international corporations, has connections around the world, and is one of the most influential people in the country right now.”

“I’ll text Clem and see if he has any info on links between Hubler and the Sanctuary or nephilim in general.” Rome went to work on his phone again.

“Tell him about Castle, too.” I rolled my shoulders, still working on making myself safe. “Hubler called him that, anyway. Clem’s been looking for him.”

“Castle.” Travis looked puzzled. “I haven’t come across that name.”

“Me, either. Who is he?” Rome asked.

That’s right. He’d been unconscious for that part, and Gigi had already spirited Travis away.

“During the ambush, after Rome shifted into a snake, Castle caught me in a binding while Hubler went through the portal. I broke free as he was running for the portal, but it disappeared before I could get there.”

“How long has Clem been hunting Castle?” Rome looked up from his phone.

“Since September or October, I guess. He’s been trying to find the one who killed my mom and thought he recognized the man from my sketch. He never confirmed it with me, but when I saw Castle today, I knew it was him.”

Then I told them everything I’d heard Hubler and Castle say to each other while I’d been trapped in that binding.

“How do you think they found us? Hubler and this Castle person?” Travis held up his arm and tapped his bracelet. “We all had our bracelets on; how did they even know what we are, let alone where to find us?”

“I don’t have a bracelet anymore,” I felt I had to point out, “but I don’t need it with the taint. And I dunno, unless the Council’s traitor took the bait and came for the miracle worker.”

“They did take our decoy,” Travis agreed.

“No. I don’t think that’s what this is.” Rome crossed his arms over his chest. “My gut says this is something else. From what Kerry overheard, it sounds like they were hunting nephs in general, not us specifically.”

“So many teams have gone missing.” Travis dropped his arm. “The Council isn’t announcing it, but professional teams, too. More than just junior teams. Do you think this is related?”

“Maybe, maybe not. Hard to say right now.” Rome looked over at me. “What do you think?” “I don’t care. I just need to find Gem—” My throat tightened and cut my words off.

Thankfully, Gigi came back into the room. While Rome and Travis filled her in on what we figured out so far, I got myself under control. Well, better control. Control enough to at least apologize to Travis.

“Sorry, Dragon. I’m on edge right now.”

“No worries. We’re all edgy. Look, I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m exhausted. I need to crash for a while.”

“All of us need to rest.” Gigi looked tired, too. Like the heart-and-soul kinda tired. “Recharge while we have a chance. Plus, it’ll be dark in an hour. This seems like the kind of town that rolls up the sidewalks at dusk.”

“I agree.” Rome looked at me. “Hopefully, by morning, we’ll have a better idea of what to do and where to go. What do you say?”

I shrugged and went back to our room with Rome, but, knowing I’d never be settled enough to sleep, I got out my sketchbook and sat down at the table by the window. Thumbing to a blank page, I looked around for an idea. My eyes fell on Rome’s sleeping face and I started to sketch.