by Julia Crane
“Of course I mind. I’ll miss you like crazy, but if that’s what you want to do, then you should go and have fun.”
Lauren’s face lit up and excitement filled her body. Keegan and Anna were wrong. He had no intention of using her for anything. She couldn’t wait to tell them.
“When are you leaving?”
“They want to leave today.”
“Today?” There was long pause on the other end of the phone. “Well, you can’t go without saying goodbye. Can you sneak away for a bit? No offense to your friends, but I’d like to have you to myself before you leave.”
Lauren felt her face flush. “I’m sure that can be arranged.”
“Come to my place as soon as you can. I have to leave you with a good impression so you don’t run off with some other guy.” Tristen chuckled.
“That’s ridiculous.” Lauren laughed. “I’ll be there soon.” She clicked off the phone and grabbed a sweatshirt from her closet, and then slipped into the bathroom and applied a bit of mascara and blush. Her hair was a mess, but it would have to do. She didn’t have time to do anything with it.
Now she had to convince the girls it was okay. Or…she could just tell a little white lie.
Keegan and Anna were sitting on the couch waiting for her when she came out. They both looked up expectantly.
“You were wrong,” she said smugly, giving them a bright smile as she zipped up her hoodie. “He told me to go and have a good time with my friends.”
“Really?” they said in unison.
Lauren raised an eyebrow, daring them to say something negative about Tristen. “Yep. You must have misunderstood. I know you’re only looking out for me, so I’m not mad at you. But you really shouldn’t jump to conclusions so quickly.”
Keegan reached up and scratched the back of her head. “So we can leave now?”
“Yes, but I have to run to the drugstore and get my allergy medicine before we go. Why don’t you guys pack? I’ll be right back.”
Anna jumped from the couch, striding across the room. “We can go with you or grab it on our way out.”
“No, seriously, it’s fine,” Lauren said, holding up a hand to stop her. “I need to get there before they close, and we know Keegan takes forever to get ready.”
“Lauren, I hope you’re not going to see him,” Keegan said quietly. “Why don’t you take Anna with you? I’ll get ready while you’re gone.”
“News flash,” Lauren said angrily. “I’m not a child. I’m going to the store without a chaperone, and when I get back, we will take off on a road trip.” Lauren turned on her heel and grabbed her keys from the table by the door. “I’ll be right back.”
Lauren ran to her car, glancing back to make sure she wasn’t being followed. She wouldn’t put it past Keegan to use her powers of invisibility to sneak out behind her. She listened for the door closing, but met just the hum of the street lights.
Convinced she was alone, Lauren slid into her little car, and it came to life with the turn of a key.
As she pulled away from the curb, she glanced at her building one last time, searching for any sign they were watching. She felt a quick surge of guilt, but shook it off. She felt too elated—Tristen didn’t plan to use her to hurt people. For a brief moment, she had really believed Anna and Keegan. She was disappointed that she had let her friends cause her to doubt the man she loved. She was an emotional mess.
She worked on calming herself down on the drive. Tristen had always been able to read her so well, and she didn’t want him to think something was wrong. If he pressed the issue, she would probably spill the beans.
Lauren groaned when she realized she was still in her sweaty workout clothes. She was so flustered that she hadn’t even been thinking straight. It was too late to turn around—no way could she get past her friends if she went back to shower and change.
Oh well. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen her sweaty before. At least she thought to put on a sweatshirt.
Lauren made the drive in record time, so excited to see him that she might have pushed the speed limit. She couldn’t wait to hold him, to feel him against her, real and perfect. Pulling into her usual spot, she cut the engine and hopped from the car into the hot sunshine.
At the door, she hit the bell and listened to it gong inside. She nervously fidgeted with the hem of her sweatshirt as she waited.
Tristen opened the door and gave her a once-over.
“Snuck out?” He grinned his crooked grin.
“I was in a rush,” she told him sweetly, aching to cross the space between them. “I wanted to see you before we left. And yes, if you must know, I snuck out. I couldn’t tell them I was running off for a booty call.” Lauren’s face turned scarlet.
Tristen grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. “How long do you have before they send out the cavalry?”
Lauren shrugged and smiled up at him. “As long as it takes, I guess.”
“I like the sound of that.” Tristen led her down the hall to his bedroom, his hand warm and solid. Lauren was so glad everything was okay. Her best friends were crazy, but that was nothing new.
“Why don’t you jump in the shower?” Tristen said, giving her a peck on the forehead. “I’ll be out here waiting.”
Lauren raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to join me?”
“I have to make a quick phone call. Hurry up—don’t make me wait too long.”
Lauren pulled off her top on the way to the bathroom. She thought for sure he would follow, but he didn’t. Her body felt gross because of the hard run, so a shower sounded good. She’d just jump in and clean up real quick, and try not to worry about how long it would take for Keegan and Anna to start to worry.
After her shower, Lauren tucked a fluffy white towel around her body and headed for Tristen’s bedroom, her heart pounding. She couldn’t wait to kiss the man she loved—she realized she hadn’t had a chance when she first arrived.
But when she walked through the doorway, she stopped in her tracks.
Tristen sat in a chair in the corner of the room with Garret, Connor, and Galen standing near him. Four pairs of eyes lifted to look at her.
“Um, what are they doing here?” Lauren eyed Tristen angrily, wishing she had put a robe on.
Tristen kicked his leg up and crossed it over his knee. “I’m sorry, love, but we can’t let you leave.”
Panic rose in her chest. Her gaze darted to each of the men in turn. “What do you mean?”
“Please don’t make this harder than it has to be,” Tristen said arrogantly. “We just need you to do a few things for us, and then you can be on your way.”
Oh my gods. Keegan and Anna were right.
“What things?” Lauren’s heart hammered in her chest. Why hadn’t she listened to her friends?
Tristen grinned. “What you do best, of course. Nothing major. A piece of cake for you.”
Lauren clutched the towel around her breasts, shooting a glance at Galen. His face was passive, his body relaxed as he leaned on the wall slightly behind Connor and Garret. All three were eerily silent.
“You need me to fix something?” Lauren asked quietly, turning her eyes back to Tristen.
The guys all laughed.
Tristen nodded. “Sure, that’s one way to put it. We need you to fix a problem we have.”
Lauren didn’t reply.
“Get dressed,” he ordered. “Unless you like having men stare at your half-naked body. Which I suppose you do. You always were an attention whore.”
“What?!” Lauren inhaled sharply. He’d never spoken to her that way, and especially not in front of his friends.
He waved his hand dismissively. “You heard me. Put some clothes on.”
Anger well up inside of her. How dare he talk to her like that! She glared at him. “Tristen, I don’t know who you’re trying to impress talking down to me like that, but you better knock it off.”
Tristen chuckled. He tilted his head towards the guys. Garret and C
onnor crossed the room, grabbed her by the arms, then pushed her forward.
The jolt caused her towel to drop. Mortified, she instinctively tried to wrench her hands free to cover herself, but the grip on each wrist was just too strong.
“I told you she had a nice ass.” Tristen laughed loudly, and the guys joined in.
Galen disappeared into the bathroom, returning just as quickly with her clothes in his arms. He pushed them towards her chest. “Change, and don’t try anything stupid. We’re right here.”
They were all crazy, Lauren realized. And whatever went down next wasn’t going to be good.
Lauren looked into Galen’s eyes, silently begging for this all to be some sick dream, but his expressionless face left no hope. She clutched her clothes, devastated.
So much for thinking he was her friend.
Chapter 19
They wouldn’t let her close the bathroom door to get dressed, so Lauren turned her back to them and quickly pulled on her sweaty running shorts as her mind raced.
She was in trouble. Big time.
She yanked her t-shirt over her head, counting her options. Could she even try to run? Four against one didn’t make very good odds. Her only saving grace was that Keegan and Anna had to know something was up, especially when Lauren didn’t return right away. If she could just stall the guys long enough for her friends to realize she needed help, maybe everything would be okay.
How could she have been such a fool? She’d been too stubborn to take Calvron’s advice, and she’d completely ignored the fears of her best friends. And now look at what had happened.
They were all right.
Hot tears pricked her eyes as she stuffed her feet into her tennis shoes. She had really loved Tristen. She hadn’t wanted to believe the worst in him. He sure pulled the wool over her eyes.
“Hurry up,” Garret snarled from just outside the bathroom door.
Lauren shot a look over her shoulder, but didn’t see him. She stepped towards the bathroom counter, using her body to block his view as she connected with her cell phone. If she could just get out a quick text or call…
Lauren hesitated. She couldn’t remember who she had last called, using her gift she mentally hit the redial button.
Maybe she would get lucky.
Almost simultaneously, Tristen’s phone rang in the bedroom, and she groaned. Of course it had been him. Her luck just kept getting better and better.
Lauren watched as Tristen appeared in her line of vision, crossing the floor to his bedside table. He looked down at his phone, then fixed his pale green eyes on her. His face turned an ugly shade of red—never a good sign.
He stalked toward her, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. Lauren froze in the doorway of the bathroom; she had nowhere to go. Involuntarily, she took a step back, and his goons moved in to surround her.
“Calling for help?” Tristen asked through gritted teeth.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lauren spat back.
“If you weren’t such a self-righteous bitch, we wouldn’t have to deal with this,” Tristen barked, grabbing her roughly by the bicep and shaking her until her teeth rattled. “I could go on screwing you and using your rare gift, but no… Miss Goody Two-shoes refuses to break even the smallest of laws.”
“Tristen, why are you doing this?” Lauren pleaded, the tears falling freely now. “I don’t understand. I thought you loved me?” She knew in her heart that all the tears and begging in the world would not affect him. He never cared about her. It was all a big lie.
“Love you? Give me a break.” He let go of her so hard she stumbled backwards. He laughed, a harsh, discordant sound. “Look at you. I could never love someone as weak as you.”
Lauren inhaled sharply as if she had been punched in the stomach. “I mean nothing to you? Nothing at all?”
Tristen took a step closer and ran his finger down the side of her face. His face utterly impassive, he went on in a lowered voice. “On the contrary, you mean everything to me. You and I will do great things together.”
For the first time, she could see the madness in his eyes.
Play along, she told herself. Drag this out. She had to keep him talking long enough for Keegan and Anna to come after her. “What kind of things?”
“You don’t need to know the details. I just need you to do as I say.” He stepped away and glanced over her appraisingly. “I don’t want to hurt you, Lauren, but I will if I have to. We’re counting on you. You must join us for the cause.”
“Why should I?” she said disgustedly.
He inclined his head, and Lauren recognized a glimmer of fear in his eyes. “You don’t know my father. If I fail him…who knows what he will do.”
“I think I should know what you want to use me for,” Lauren’s voice shook, betraying how scared she was. Come on, Keegan. “What cause?”
“I can’t trust you with that information.”
“Maybe I’ll agree with you and help willingly,” she told him sweetly, though inwardly she knew that would never happen.
A wicked grin crossed Tristen’s face. “Ridding the world of humans so magick can take its rightful place once again.”
Lauren froze, her skin crawling at the mania in his voice. Genocide? It was worse than she could have ever imagined.
“Why?” she gasped out, one hand absently reaching for the doorframe as her vision dipped and twirled. She couldn’t pass out, not now. She needed answers.
“As you know, magick users once ruled the world,” Tristen started, turning his back to her as he paced. “But an abundance of weak offspring, born without gifts, formed the human race. Now magick loses dominance more and more by the day. If we don’t wipe out the humans, they will wipe us out. It’s purely survival.” Excitement lit his eyes as he paused in his pacing, long enough to catch her gaze. “Don’t you see, Lauren? This is for all of us. All the creatures of the light and dark. We could finally show our true forms and not have to hide. Why can’t you see how perfect it will be?”
Lauren swallowed hard and forced herself to speak. “Killing innocent people is not the answer.”
“It’s the only way,” Tristen said quietly, turning to gaze out the bedroom window. “We’ve lived in the shadow of the human race for too long now.”
Oh my gods, he is completely off his rocker. “Why now, Tristen?”
“We’ve been working on this ever since the humans took over. Generations of dark fairies.” He put a hand on the window frame and leaned forward, but didn’t turn around. “Our elementals have masterminded some powerful ‘natural disasters.’ But we’ve never come across someone as strong as you, Lauren. Your power is incredible.”
“My power is weak,” Lauren argued.
He ignored her. “The humans rely on technology for everything. With you on our side, we could bring them to their knees. Those fools can’t survive a day without the internet. They’re so reliant on technology that if we remove it, they will fall into chaos. They will end up killing each other, and doing our work for us.”
Lauren shook her head. “You’re nuts.”
“But imagine,” Tristen said over her. “Everything runs with the use of electricity now. Just the simple act of turning off all the traffic lights at rush hour will cause accidents; people would be killed. We could make planes fall from the sky. We could coordinate train wrecks. There is nothing we wouldn’t be able to do.”
Lauren felt her blood run cold. Anna’s vision. She said she had seen a plane falling and trains colliding. Lauren hadn’t wanted to believe her, but there was no denying the fact after this.
Lauren squared her shoulders, glaring across the room at Tristen’s back. To her left and right, Connor, Garret, and Galen looked on wordlessly. There was no way she would be a part of killing innocent people.
She would take her own life first.
She could not let any of this happen. She needed to find out what he had planned so she could try to thwart it. “
What is so important that you have to go to these extremes?” she asked.
“I told you. You messed up our timeline.” Tristen glared at her, expressing his disapproval. “This Friday is the Bacchanalia. Every year, we offer a sacrifice to Bacchus to show our commitment to the cause. Last year, the results of our weather disaster were embarrassing. This year, we need to make up for the disgrace. Something that will make the gods take notice.”
Lauren searched her mind, trying to recall what she knew about the god. “I thought Bacchus was nothing more than a partier and lover? Wouldn’t you anger him with human sacrifices?”
“You don’t know anything,” Tristen spat, slamming his hand to the wall. “The light fairies have altered history in order to keep you in line. You’re so naive. Don’t believe everything you hear or read, Lauren. The gods would rejoice if we took over the human realm.”
Lauren just stared at him, wondering who really altered history, because it wasn’t the light. How could she reason with a madman?
“Leave us,” Tristen barked.
The three guys turned and left without a word, like loyal soldiers, obedient lackeys. Pathetic.
“Lauren, please.” Tristen hurried over to where she still stood in the doorway. He wrapped his arms around her and let his chin rest on her head. “I know you love me. Can’t you just do this for me? I don’t want to hurt you. I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I love you. I need you.”
Lauren wanted to shake him off; she had nothing left for him. Not after this. But she held out, waiting. Maybe she could convince him to change his mind another way.
“My father gave me a timeline,” Tristen said gently as he rocked her. “And if I couldn’t convince you to change your mind, we agreed that we would have to resort to force. The time ends this week. Your idiotic trip with your friends has moved up the deadline, much quicker than I wanted. So, if you will stand by my side and fight the humans with me…” He pulled away, giving her a sad smile.
Lauren searched his face. He sounded so sincere. “Tristen, I don’t understand any of this. Did you know about my gift before we met? Has this been planned the whole time?”
