Burned

by Kensie King

  “I don’t want him suspicious or worked up over nothing. Just follow me.”

  “Hey.” Dylan caught my arm before I could get in the car. “Please be careful.”

  “I will.”

  His lips curved slightly. “Not Link’s version of careful. Normal people’s version of careful.”

  I snorted. “Are you saying I’m not normal?”

  His hands slid along my arms. “I’m saying you’re headstrong.”

  “You mean reckless. Or stubborn.”

  “You can call it whatever you want. You just don’t seem to have a strong handle on that self-preservation thing.”

  When I frowned, he pulled me close and kissed me hard on the lips. His hand roamed my back, trying to comfort me—or maybe trying to comfort himself.

  “I’ll be careful,” I told him.

  He released me. “Good. We’ll follow you and wait outside. If something feels off or he does anything, I’ll know. I’ll feel it and I’ll be inside in a few seconds.”

  Good. I knew I was supposed to meet Gage alone, but it felt better knowing they’d be close by.

  I got in the car and drove to Main Street, trying to stay confident with our plan. It was the best we could do right now. Especially with my mom still not answering her phone. And even if she did, she might not know anything more to do right now either.

  I pulled to the side of the road outside of the diner. I didn’t actually have any plans to meet Gage anywhere, but I figured he’d find me eventually. And being in a public place with lot of traffic seemed smarter.

  When I got out, I spotted Grace and Dylan pulling up several cars back.

  Inside, I made sure to ask the waitress for a booth near the door.

  It would make for a faster escape if necessary. I also ordered two coffees and prayed he wouldn’t show up before the waitress delivered them and I had the chance to put vervain inside.

  I kept glancing to the window, my pulse quickening. I knew for a fact that Gage could show up out of nowhere. When I finally got the coffees, I discreetly put the vervain in his and then slid it back to his side, nearly dumping the whole thing over when my hand shook.

  The door opened, and I jumped. It was Gage.

  He stopped when he saw me at the booth directly by the door. I was right. He found me. Maybe he had some sort of link to me as well, something like what Dylan had. Or maybe it was just that this town was that small.

  “Link,” he said by way of greeting, and slid into the booth across from me. He looked at the coffee.

  “Something to drink while we talk.”

  His gaze searched mine. Fuck, I hoped he wasn’t suspicious. Maybe he was just wondering why I was being so accommodating. “I’d prefer to do it somewhere quieter.”

  I cleared my throat and told him the truth. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s safer here. At least for now.”

  He lifted the mug but stopped with it halfway to his mouth. Oh, shit. Could he smell it or something?

  I sipped my own drink, hoping to encourage him. His gaze wouldn’t leave my face.

  After a moment, he lowered the mug. I cursed inside but tried to keep a straight face. “I thought yesterday you said you’d take your chances. I sort of figured you wouldn’t show up at all.”

  “I can’t hide from you forever, can I? The town is too small. And it’s not like I can leave.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked. “That’s true.”

  Drink the coffee! I keep willing him to do it. One sip. That was all I needed—at least, according to Grace.

  “Maybe you should just cut to the chase and tell me what’s really going on,” he said.

  “Wh—what do you mean?” Dammit. Stay cool, Link.

  “I mean, I don’t think you’d just show up here without a plan.”

  I gave him a level look. “My plan is to figure this out with you. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  His lips curved slightly. “Nice try but I don’t buy it. Tell me.”

  “Gage.”

  “Link.” He lowered his voice after casting a quick glance around. “Let’s stand up calmly and go.”

  “No.”

  He straightened in his seat again, considering this. Then he tapped his fingers against the side of the mug. “I didn’t want to have to do this but…” My stomach tensed. “You need to come with me or else your mom is going to get hurt.”

  “What?” I almost choked on a sip of coffee. “My mom? What are you talking about? Gage—”

  “Link, you need to calm down. You’re making a scene.”

  “Did you hurt her?” I whispered.

  “Not yet. But that will change if you don’t cooperate.”

  When he started to lift the mug, I jerked out my hand. “No, don’t drink that.”

  The coffee splashed over the edge and hit his hand. Gage’s breath hissed, pain sweeping his features before he calmly set the mug down even though he looked murderous.

  “I’ll go with you, Gage,” I said. “Or do whatever you want, just—”

  He stood abruptly and straightened his jacket. At the same time, the door to the diner opened and Dylan walked through, his gaze zeroing in on us.

  I quickly stepped between them. “Don’t do anything,” I said quietly.

  Gage barely even glanced at Dylan before he yanked the door open and walked out.

  Dylan caught my arm as I started after him. “What’s happening?”

  “He has my mom.” I pulled away from him and raced after Gage. He was already halfway down the street, but I caught up with him.

  “Gage, please,” I huffed. “Where’s my mom?”

  He stopped but didn’t meet my eyes. Instead, he glared at his hand in disgust. It was red, a harsh shade that looked like he’d gotten burned.

  He rounded on me, gaze so dark I took a step back. “I told you something was going to happen if you tried anything.”

  “But I didn’t—I mean, I stopped you before you could drink it. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  Dylan appeared by my side, stopping just inches from Gage. He was several inches taller, but I knew for a fact how quick and strong Gage was.

  “Where is Link’s mom?” Dylan asked.

  Gage’s eyes narrowed. “Somewhere safe.”

  Dylan gripped his collar in the blink of an eye, fast enough I didn’t see it until Gage was nearly off his feet. In return, he shoved Dylan back before taking a swing.

  “No!” I reached out but I couldn’t follow their movements.

  Grace ran over from the truck. “What the hell?”

  Dylan landed a punch on Gage’s jaw. The crack it made was so loud, I gasped. Gage spun around and knocked Dylan to the ground before kicking him in the stomach.

  “Stop!” I yelled. I dropped to my knees next to Dylan.

  Gage barely stopped before kicking me. “Move,” he growled.

  “No. Gage, please don’t do this.”

  He swiped his arm across his lip, clearing a drop of blood. His chest heaved from the fight, from the anger and adrenaline, but he still looked beautiful.

  And deadly.

  “One hour.” He straightened his jacket. “Be at my house in one hour or your mom is going to get hurt.”

  He strode away without a backward glance. I set my hand on Dylan’s arm. “Are you okay?”

  Dylan grimaced but got to his feet, hauling me up with him. “I’m fine.”

  I opened my mouth to ask him again, but he shook his head and repeated, “I’m fine.”

  I glanced in the direction Gage vanished in. “I need to go.”

  There was no question in my mind now. If my mom was going to get hurt, I didn’t have a choice. I started toward my car.

  To my surprise, Dylan scooped an arm around my waist and hauled me back. “Link—”

  “Stop it!” I shouted. I whirled to face him. “Did you hear what he said? He has my mom. He said he was going to hurt her unless—”

  “I heard him,” Dylan
snarled. “But if you go there, he could hurt you.”

  My teeth ground together as I tried to force calm. I glanced at Grace. “Please help me here. I don’t know what to do and—”

  “Okay, hold on,” she soothed. “Take a deep breath.”

  I tried one but it felt like it was ripping me apart.

  Dylan pulled me into his arms. “It’s okay, Link. Come on, just take a breath. We’re going to figure this out.”

  It was like my body went numb. I shook my head. “There’s nothing to figure out.”

  Dylan gripped my chin. “Look at me.”

  “You can’t talk me out of this. I’m going to Gage’s.”

  “Okay, but you have to have a plan. Or some way to get in touch with us.”

  I swallowed but let him continue.

  “We have an hour, so let’s figure this out,” he said.

  “What about Savannah?” Grace asked.

  I stopped, feeling the adrenaline start to fade from my body. But Grace was right. Savannah had helped me before. I glanced across the street as an idea hit me. “The library. I need to get a few things.”

  Dylan gave me a skeptical look but followed me instead of trying to stop me. Grace opened the door for us.

  I was grateful neither of them argued as I collected what I thought I’d need, more items I was hopeful Gage wouldn’t think to check for. It took three reassurances but finally Dylan let me back out the door.

  “Wait for me here, okay?” I asked. “I’ll try to be in touch with you soon.”

  Dylan kissed me hard, holding me tight like he wasn’t ever going to let go. But he finally backed up. “Be safe.”

  Even Grace hugged me. “If you can do anything to get us in there, we can help with your mom.”

  I nodded and walked straight to my car before I could change my mind. I clenched my hands tight on the wheel and tried not to think about anything else but making sure my mom was safe and finishing this.

  I stopped just outside the front door on the circle drive. Clutching my satchel close to my body, I took a deep breath and reminded myself that Gage wouldn’t hurt me. He couldn’t hurt me—at least not until I did the spell. Even if I had to do it, at least my mom would be alive.

  I walked up to the door and knocked, with just a minute to spare.

  At first, I didn’t hear anything. But finally, footsteps sounded on the other side. When the door opened, my jaw dropped.

  I’d expected Gage, but this was…not him. It was a woman, close to my age. With beautiful dark hair and deep blue eyes.

  “Hello,” she said. “You must be Link.”

  CHAPTER 24

  “Come in,” she said while I stood there gawking.

  She was beautiful, but she looked tired. With circles under her eyes and a slowness to her step that said it was taking a lot of work just to do something simple.

  I started to say something but then I spotted Gage coming down the hallway.

  “Audrey,” he said, voice gentle. He put his arm around her shoulders, looking like he was trying to support her weight. “This is Link. Link, this is my sister Audrey.”

  “Your sister,” I said quietly.

  He nodded, then turned his attention back to Audrey. “I thought you were resting. Come on. I’ll walk you back.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I said as she turned, the words popping out before I could stop them.

  To my surprise, she glanced back with a smile. Her eyes were curious but polite. “You too.”

  Gage pointed. “Stay there. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  I didn’t dare disobey this time. Not only was I shocked but me being here meant keeping my mom safe. I waited, marveling over the soft way he spoke to his sister, the gentleness in his tone. She looked like him, with raven hair and the same enchanting blue eyes. And she didn’t look anything like a vampire—but neither had Gage the first time I met him.

  When Gage returned, I was still standing in the same spot waiting for him. He walked straight up to me, boots quiet on the hardwood floor.

  “What the hell was that this morning?” he asked.

  I shook my head, tired of fighting. “I thought we could try to stop you. I couldn’t go along with something I don’t believe in.”

  “You haven’t been here long enough to decide whether or not breaking this spell is a good idea,” he snapped. “You haven’t been involved in all this like my family has been.”

  “I know, but it’s not my fault. You were being selfish—”

  “Selfish?” He glared. “You think that’s what this is?”

  I grabbed the medallion, prepared to hold it in his direction.

  “You have no idea what all this is about.” Gage stepped even closer, though his eyes dipped to my lips. “I tried to tell you. I trusted you enough to open up to you and you didn’t want to listen. So now we’re doing things my way.” He looked down. “What’s in your bag?”

  I glanced at it, already shaking my head. “Nothing. It—”

  He yanked it off my shoulder, tugging it from my hands when I tried to stop him. He opened it and pulled out my cell phone. He shoved that in his pocket.

  “Gage—”

  “My way,” he snapped. He narrowed his eyes on the Book of Shadows. “We’ll see about that.” When he spotted something else, he jerked his chin. “Take it out.”

  I reached inside, removing the bag of vervain. “Now what?”

  “Trash.”

  “Gage—”

  He gripped my arm and pulled me to the kitchen. I stumbled after him until he stopped at a cabinet under the sink.

  “Trash,” he said again.

  I cursed but tossed it inside. “There. Now I want to see my mom.”

  “What’s in your pockets?”

  My mouth dropped open. “Nothing.”

  He stepped forward. “Show me.”

  “There’s nothing—Gage!”

  He gripped my belt loop with one finger and pulled me against him. He dug in my front pocket as I tried to squirm away. He pulled out a library card.

  When he gave it an odd look, I snatched it back. “I just got it this morning,” I said, trying to sound affronted.

  “Anything else?”

  He reached for me again, but I held up one hand. “Don’t you dare.”

  “You already know what happened last time you tried to trick me,” he said. “I would appreciate full disclosure.”

  “There’s nothing there, okay?” I pulled out my back pockets. “See?”

  “Good.”

  When his shoulders relaxed, I breathed easier. Hopefully he was satisfied.

  “I’m going to need your necklace, too,” he said.

  “I’m not going to do anything with it.”

  “Then take it off.”

  “Gage. It’s been in my family for years—”

  “I won’t lose it.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and held it out. “Come on. I’ll save it for you until this is done.”

  It made me sick to do it, but I put the necklace in the handkerchief. It probably wouldn’t have done much to help me, but it was still security.

  “Now I want to see my mom,” I told him. “I won’t do anything else until I know she’s okay.”

  “Of course.”

  I blinked at how easily he agreed. “Really?”

  “You held up your end of the bargain. It’s fair that I hold up mine.”

  That easy? I wasn’t expecting him to be fair. But dammit, he kept surprising me.

  I followed him as he led us to a door behind the stairs. It was paneled like the walls, nearly blending in. He opened it and started downstairs.

  My boots thudded against the floor as we descended. “She’s in the basement?”

  “It’s safer for both of us.”

  I was sure I was going to find some sort of cell or see her chained up. But instead, I saw a perfectly inhabitable area. It was fully finished, furnished well, and more than livable. There was a room off to the si
de, bolted from our end.

  “What do you mean safer?” I asked, moving closer to the door.

  “I can feel her power,” he said. “She’s a strong witch. Not as strong as you, but…”

  I was surprised. He’d never said anything about being able to feel my power.

  He nodded as I stood there dumbfounded. “Yours is different. More erratic. But then, you’re a new witch. Either way, I can feel it.”

  “You don’t have me locked in a room.”

  “Do I need to?”

  I shook my head immediately. No, that would make this even harder. And, though I would never admit it to anyone, I wanted Gage to trust me. I needed him to for this plan to work, but there was a sick, twisted part of me that craved it, too.

  Gage gestured to the door. “Do you want to see her?”

  I leaned in, though it was hard to say yes. I wanted her to be safe, but otherwise, I didn’t know what else to do with her. I hadn’t seen her in years and before I knew she might be in danger, I didn’t even really want a relationship with her.

  “She’s sedated,” Gage said.

  “What?”

  “Safer,” he reminded me. “Ready?”

  I nodded.

  He unbolted the door and pulled a key from his pocket to undo the lock. He pushed it open a few feet. Once again, I saw that the room was comfortable. It had a queen-sized bed, a comfortable chair in the corner, and even a window—though it looked like there were bars on it.

  My mother was sleeping on her side, turned to face us. She looked peaceful.

  And she looked like me.

  The same brown hair and strong jaw. She probably had the same colored eyes—at least from what I remembered.

  “How long has it been?” Gage asked from next to me.

  My voice barely came out in a whisper. “A long time.”

  “Maybe, after this, things will be different.”

  He said it sincerely, like after this we could have the reunion I used to imagine. That we could be a part of each other’s lives.

  But only if I did the spell, and I just couldn’t do that. I needed to contact Dylan and Grace.

  “Have you had her here the whole time?” I asked.

  “No. I thought having you here would be enough, but when that didn’t work out…” He shrugged.