Page 39

Stalker Alert

T hat evening, I creep through the dark canopy of trees. A little moonlight filters through the branches, lighting the path, but barely enough to see, so I go slowly. After ten minutes, I reach the second fork, take it, and my pace slows even more. I don’t want them to hear me coming.

I’m not sure I’m doing the right thing. Zayne was pretty clear that he doesn’t want me here. But I’m his sister, and it’s a well-known fact—almost a rule—that sisters never do what their brothers tell them to do.

And Zayne told me himself not to trust Khaosti, so I’m doing my sisterly duty and making sure Zayne is safe.

Okay, so I’m being totally nosy as well. But could anyone blame me? Nope.

They left straight after dinner. The three of them: Zayne, Khaosti, and Thanouq. I felt a little left out, to be honest. Not one of them even looked at me. It was like I was invisible. I’m used to being ignored by Khaosti, but the rest of them? It hurt.

“Why don’t you go?” Hecate had asked, a small smile on her face as though she knew exactly what I was thinking.

I shrug. “Go where?”

“After them,” she said. “I can see you want to.”

“Zayne doesn’t want me there. He’s scared he’ll hurt me.”

“He won’t hurt you,” she replied.

“Anyway, I don’t know where they’ve gone.”

She smiled. “I do. Take the path that leads to the woods. Then the second fork on the left. You’ll find them.”

So here I am, creeping around in the dark like a pathetic stalker.

Finally, I hear the low murmur of voices. I creep closer, moving from tree to tree. There’s an opening up ahead, and I inch in until I’m hiding behind a broad tree trunk that looks directly into the clearing.

The towering trees that encircle the space are unlike any I’ve seen before. Their bark shimmers with a silvery luminescence, casting a soft, ghostly glow that bathes the clearing in an otherworldly radiance. These trees seem to reach up toward the sky, their branches forming intricate, twisting patterns that create an entrancing play of shadows on the forest floor. In the center of the clearing, a crystalline pool reflects the starry night sky above, its surface smooth as glass. The place reminds me of an amphitheater. At the far end, three men stand.

I’m mesmerized. They are all just so… over the top. In some ways, they show remarkable similarities—all tall, broad at the shoulders and lean at the hips. Striking. But the similarities go deeper than the merely physical. They all possess an innate power, a self-confidence. Even Zayne, though he’s younger than the other two. His power is muted, but it’s there, all the same. Maybe that’s why I’ve always been drawn to him—to his internal strength, representing safety in a world where I’d always felt anything but safe.

My gaze turns to Khaosti as it always seems to when we’re in the same vicinity, pulled by some invisible wire. For a second, he goes still, and his nostrils flare. Almost like he’s a wolf who’s scented his prey. My heart skips a beat and then races. He couldn’t have smelled me, could he? But he doesn’t look in my direction, and I force myself to relax. I’m not really doing anything wrong.

They’re arguing. At first, I’m not sure about what, or who is arguing with whom. Then I realize that Zayne isn’t involved. He’s just standing off to the side, a disgruntled look on his face, arms crossed against his chest. It’s Khaosti and Thanouq who are going at each other. It’s something to be seen—a testosterone overload.

“Just leave the boy alone,” Thanouq says. “It will happen when he’s ready.”

“I’m not a fucking boy,” Zayne snaps, standing to attention.

“Then act like a man,” Khaosti says. “Stop being so fucking afraid and just let it happen.”

Zayne turns away and shoves his hands in his pockets. By the stiffness of his shoulders, I can tell he’s not happy. He turns back. “I don’t know how.”

Thanouq moves to stand in front of him. “Clear your mind,” he says. “Clear it of everything. Just look deep inside yourself. Find what’s in there. Let it go free. You’re holding it inside.”

“And the longer you do that,” Khaosti adds, “the harder it will be and the more likely we’ll have a disaster on our hands.”

That doesn’t sound good. Poor Zayne looks so conflicted. He takes a deep breath. Then another. He closes his eyes. He’s never been one for introspection, so this has to be hard for him. After a minute, his hands ball into fists at his sides, and he blinks open his eyes. I hold my breath, hoping to see some change—which is a first. But it’s just his normal gray eyes, so I guess that didn’t work. I can see the frustration on his face.

“Nothing’s happening,” he growls.

They’re all silent for a few minutes. Khaosti paces the clearing, moving with such controlled power, all lithe grace. Finally, he turns to face the other two. “Maybe we should try something else.”

“Like what?” Thanouq replies.

“Scare it out of him,” Khaosti suggests.

Zayne’s figure stiffens again, and he grits his teeth and glares at Khaosti. “I thought I had to let go of my fucking fear,” he snarls. “Isn’t that what you’ve been telling me all along?”

“Well, that’s obviously not working. Time for something new. If we can’t beat your fear, then maybe we feed it.”

“And how are you going to do that?”

Khaosti grins. “Maybe I’ll turn into a wolf and go eat the little girl who’s hiding behind the tree over there.” He waves a hand in my direction. “Will that do it? I know you like her.”

Every one of my muscles locks in place.

Fuck. Busted.

I consider creeping away. But Zayne is already searching the area, eyes narrowed, a scowl on his face. “Amber,” he calls out.

Can I ignore him? Probably. Should I? Probably not. I step out and saunter nonchalantly into the clearing. “Hi, guys. Are you having a party and forgot to invite me?”

Zayne snorts.

I pause and glance down. Beneath my feet, the ground is covered in a lush carpet of iridescent moss that shimmers like stardust in the moonlight. It’s as if the very earth beneath me is alive and breathing. It’s beautiful and magical.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to appreciate it. When I’m about ten feet away, the air around Khaosti shimmers. By now, I know what’s about to happen. Without a word, he shifts, and a huge black wolf stands before me.

Then he leaps right at me.