by K. G. Reuss
“Cannnn’t,” I slurred. “Can’t heal when it’sssss from her. Takes time. And we can’t heal being drunk any-anyway,” I hiccuped, my vision swimming. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
No sooner were the words out of my mouth than I was throwing up. Eric let out a yelp as he dodged out of the way. Thank God the guys had managed to get me outside and to a dark corner of the lot. I couldn’t maintain my shadow. I was now a full blown teenage guy heaving my guts out in a bush wearing all black, a cloak, and a whole lot of weapons.
“Remember that time we all got trashed when we took out that forsaken last year?” Damien asked, referring to the vamp who’d gone bloodlust.
“Yeah, that was good stuff,” Eric spoke loudly over the sound of my heaving.
“Shadow got so wasted that night. He ended up making out with both Amara and that Nattie he met at the mall. Too bad he didn’t do it together with them.” Damien chuckled.
“I’m dying.” I fell backward. “This is so much worse than that night.”
“Isn’t love grand?” Damien grinned, looming over me as I stared up to him. I couldn’t focus. There were three of him.
“We should get him home.” Eric’s head came into view, and I blinked and groaned. They shared a laugh before getting me to my feet.
“Hold on, brother. This probably won’t feel good,” Eric said, his arm around me and Damien on my other side. There was a pulling in my guts, the feeling that always accompanied being melded by someone else.
I wasn’t able to stand anymore as Eric and Damien hauled me into the commons.
“What the hell happened to him now?” Brandon asked.
“Is he drunk?” Sloane’s voice called out.
“Dude, you guys went and partied without us?” Adam complained.
“Shut up and help us. He’s a flopper,” Damien grunted. Suddenly, I was lifted into the air by Brandon, Damien, Eric, and Adam and dropped unceremoniously on the couch.
“Better get a bucket, Sloane. Pretty sure he’s going to barf again,” Damien muttered. A moment later there was a bucket beside my head. Sloane thrust a bottle of water into my hands.
“Drink. You’ll hate yourself in the morning if you don’t.”
“I hate mysssself right now,” I slurred, taking a drink of the water. Immediately, I leaned over and heaved into the bucket again.
“What the hell did you guys do to him?” Brandon whistled.
“He, uh, drank too much,” Eric added delicately. I knew they wouldn’t tell them what I’d really done. Sure, it seemed funny for me to be wasted out of my mind, but if they knew I’d done it to save Everly, there would be a different attitude among them. There hadn’t even been a moment’s hesitation when it came to saving her. I knew my father wanted whatever happened, to happen. I just couldn’t do it. She was mine to keep safe.
“Are we having a party?” Jared asked as he came into the room with Amara and Amanda.
“Yeah, you missed it,” Damien said. “Gen was dancing without his shirt a minute ago.”
I gave him the finger as I continued to puke in the bucket.
“Are you kidding me? Why the hell did you guys let him drink so much?” Amara demanded, coming to sit beside me. Moaning, I fell back, my head spinning. The water was pressed to my lips again, and I sloshed it around in my mouth before spitting it into the bucket. I took another drink, this one greedily. It felt good to fill my stomach.
I said a silent prayer that Everly didn’t ever drink that much again.
Chapter 43
“How you feeling, man?” Eric greeted me the next morning. With a groan, I rubbed my eyes. I was still on the couch. The bucket was gone. I took the bottle of water that Eric offered and sucked it down quickly, my head feeling like it was close to bursting.
“Shit,” I mumbled, wiping my eyes. “That’s rough.”
“If it helps, she’s not feeling much better,” Eric added. “I went and checked on her. Headmaster Brighton left Ceres there to guard her door.”
“Yeah, like that won’t terrify her. She’ll think Ceres is one of them.”
“Brighton is attending to her. He told me to tell you that this is it. The push we needed to get her here. Her mom signed the papers this morning.”
“What?” I sat up straighter and focused my eyes on him.
“Yep. She’s being transported right now to Rolling Thunder Psychiatric Facility. Both Brighton and Damien are with her right now. She’s out cold, but when she wakes up, she’ll be within the facility walls. She’s almost here. In just a week she’ll be safe, man.”
I didn’t know what to say. Instead, I brushed at my eyes, removing the moisture and feeling like a total wuss. But she was coming. We’d done it. Everly was going to be at Dementon soon. I was beside myself with happiness.
“Tell me how you really feel.” Eric chuckled, slapping me on the back. I let out a soft laugh and sniffled.
“I’m just so relieved.” I breathed out.
“Well, she was pretty bad off. Brighton said he had to booty dart her to get her to calm down. He put her under because she was going nuts.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, my heart racing for entirely new reasons.
“I guess she told her mom she was trying to kill herself,” Eric winced. “Brighton is going to do one final round of questioning with her. He wants you to be there. Think you can handle it?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, getting to my feet. I swayed for a moment before getting right. I blinked a few times then gave Eric a reassuring smile. “I’m going to grab a shower.”
“Take your time. Brighton said it would be at least an hour before they got there since they were traveling the Nattie way in an ambulance. Plus, at least another hour before she’d probably wake up.”
That was a decent amount of time to get rehydrated and grab something to eat. I rushed to my bathroom and quickly showered and dressed, tugging my silver hair into a knot and donning my all black attire. When I went downstairs I found Eric and Sloane eating in the kitchen.
“Hey,” Sloane greeted me.
“Hey.” I smiled at her.
“Wow. You look happy!” she commented, pushing a turkey sandwich at me.
“I am.” I grinned again.
“Guess you need to get shitfaced more often.” She handed me a glass of water as Eric cast me a sidelong look.
“Yeah, I don’t think I want to do that again anytime soon,” I muttered, digging into my sandwich. I felt at ease knowing Everly would soon be here with me. Even if she wasn’t with me, she’d be near enough, and she’d be safe within the walls of Dementon. Nothing would dare come here to touch her.
“You coming with me?” I asked Eric.
“No.” He looked amused. “Actually, I think I’m going to chill here. I feel like a tremendous weight has been lifted off my shoulders. So, I sort of want to enjoy it for a day or two.”
“I hear you.” I squeezed his shoulder. I went out the door and melded, skipping through the shadows like I didn’t have a care in the world. Even though Everly had finally broken, we could fix her now. We could keep her safe.
And maybe I’d finally get to have a real conversation with her once she got here.
Chapter 44
Frowning, I entered the basement of Rolling Thunder. In the short amount of time it had taken for me to meld there, something had changed. Everly was awake. And she was frightened. Because of our connection, I knew where she was being kept. I rushed down the hallway, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead.
When I appeared in the room, it was to find two large vamp orderlies wrestling with her. She was a wild animal, tearing at them, her nails scratching at whatever she could reach. She bit one ferociously. The vamp immediately lashed out and punched her in the face. My form shimmered before I became myself again, dressed all in black, my hood pulled low over my head. I growled as Everly’s head snapped to the side, her eyes dazed, her body limp.
When I rushed forward they dropped Everly to
the ground. They knew who I was and what I was capable of. I flung the vamp orderlies aside as if they were nothing at all.
“Help,” she called out as I scooped her small body up off the floor. Headmaster Brighton began reprimanding the men. That was only the beginning of what was going to happen to them once Everly was resting comfortably.
“Please. Let me die,” her voice was hoarse, her eyes fluttering.
“Where’s the fun in that?” I murmured as her eyes finally closed, her body relaxing against my chest. I breathed out deeply in relief as I held her. She was here. In my arms. Where she belonged.
Cradling her close, I stalked out of the room. Brighton caught up to me at the end of the hallway.
“They will be dealt with,” he said evenly as I held Everly.
“I’ll see to it,” I said darkly. Brighton let out a sigh but didn’t argue.
“I’ll show you to her room,” he said as we got into the elevator. We didn’t talk as we rode to the fourth floor. When we got there, I followed him out of the elevator to a room down the hall. He opened the door and gestured for me to enter. I did so and laid Everly onto her small bed.
“Everything will get better now, Everly,” I murmured in her ear. She didn’t respond to me.
“She’ll be out for a few hours,” Headmaster Brighton said from the doorway of the small room. I nodded tightly as I pushed her damp hair away from her face.
“Give us a moment, please,” I said. The door closed signaling him leaving. I reached down and took Everly’s hand in mine and gave it a squeeze. If she happened to wake in that moment, she’d see me—the real me, the guy with the silver hair and aquamarine eyes. She’d see my tall, muscular stature. She’d finally meet me. The thought had my heart thrashing in my chest. I wasn’t ready for that. It wasn’t time for that. She needed to get comfortable with Dementon. With herself. I couldn’t add to it just yet. But eventually we’d get to meet.
“I’ve been waiting forever for you,” I whispered, planting a tender kiss on her temple as she slumbered. “I can wait a little longer. I promise everything will work out, Everly. Even if we can’t be together because of what we are. I swear I’ll continue to protect you. You’re mine. Forever.”
Chapter 45
I went back home feeling hopeful after I spent a good half an hour roughing up Brighton’s vamp orderlies. I knew they wouldn’t forget me anytime soon.
“You’re back early,” Damien commented.
“Yeah, I’m surprised I didn’t see you at the facility,” I said, hanging my cloak on the rack by the door.
“I was so hungry I thought I was going to die.” He stuffed a large bite of pizza into his mouth. Eric chuckled from the chair he sat in. “Figured you had it. I thought she’d still be out anyway. She was right?”
“She was awake for a bit. But yeah, she was out when I left.” When I told them about what happened with the orderlies. Eric shook his head angrily.
“I hate those guys. Brighton insists he needs them. Just because they’re vamps and a little stronger than the rest of the Specials doesn’t mean he should employ them. Some of them are a little touched in the head if you want my opinion.”
“I agree,” Damien said, swallowing. “I almost punched one in the face earlier. He shoved Everly into her bed so hard I was afraid she was going to go through the mattress.”
I shook my head, glad I’d thrown them around like rag dolls.
“I was thinking we should celebrate.” Damien pulled out a bottle of tarish, and I chuckled.
“I don’t think I can.” I laughed even louder as he waggled his brows at me.
“Come on, man. She’s coming. In just a week, that beautiful girl is going to be walking our campus. No more late-night runs. No more worrying. No more anything. She’ll be here. Safe. If that ain’t a reason to celebrate, then I don’t know what is.”
“You’re right.” I grinned widely. “Pour me a drink, brother.”
“Atta boy!” Damien proclaimed, opening the bottle while Eric grabbed glasses.
“Are you guys breaking Dementon rules by drinking on campus?” Sloane called out.
“Yep” Damien smirked up at her.
“Just checking. I’ll put the wards up on the doors.” She hurried to the door and started muttering quickly. Her hands lit with a dull purple glow. She took a step back and smirked at the door. “That ought to do the trick!”
“Not that it matters considering we’re the ones in charge of policing this sort of thing on campus.” Eric laughed loudly. I joined in when Sloane looked indignant.
“Get over here and celebrate with us,” Damien called out to her. She bounced over and took the glass he offered her.
“What are we celebrating?”
“Everly,” I said softly, smiling. Sloane’s grin grew wider, and she clinked her glass against mine.
“About damn time!” she said loudly.
“About damn time,” I agreed gently, taking a drink from my glass, the smile not leaving my lips.
Chapter 46
I awoke sometime before dawn with that familiar, god-awful pain in my chest. I struggled out of bed, feeling weak. I dressed as fast as I could.
“Eric! Eric!” I pounded on his door loudly. Damien poked his head out from across the hall.
“What’s going on?” he demanded as I hammered on Eric’s door.
“I need help. I need to get to Everly,” I wheezed out, clutching my chest. My neck started to hurt, and I rubbed at it, wincing.
“How can anything be wrong? She’s a hell of a lot safer than she’s been in a long time. Brighton said he had Marcus Ambrose put wards up to deter the dark creatures.”
“Don’t. Know,” I rasped, now clutching my neck. “Shit. Help me.”
Eric’s door opened, and he caught me before I fell.
“What’s going on?” he asked worriedly. Damien quickly told him what was happening all while tugging his pants and shirt on over his pajamas.
“Get me to her,” I huffed, feeling faint. Damien’s arm went around me.
“Eric, I’ll need your help.” Damien called out. Eric disappeared for a moment before returning fully dressed. He got on my other side, and we melded. When we reached Everly’s room, Brighton and the two orderlies from the day before were struggling to get it opened.
“Where is he?” Brighton shouted, throwing himself against the door.
“I’m here,” I called out weakly, coming to him. “What’s going on?”
I pushed my way forward.
“You don’t want to see,” the orderly said, his face pale. I pushed him aside and let out a gasp.
Everly was swinging from her bedsheets—her feet inches from the floor, her face pale, and her lips purple.
“Everly!” I shouted her name frantically. “Get out of my way!” I shoved everyone aside and melded. I fell through the door, and my palm came out to catch one of the dead in the forehead. I’d never been able to see them so clearly before. I took out as many as I had to while they struggled to keep me from her. I sent many of them straight to Xanan to be dealt with. Finally, I broke through them and gave Everly’s body slack. The door finally banged open, and Damien and Eric rushed in. Within moments, we had her body cut down, and I was holding her, pushing her hair away from her pale face.
“Baby, no,” I choked out, cradling her in my arms. “Ever! Come on! Don’t leave me!” I sobbed over her barely alive body. “I only just got you,” I said softly, pleading with her to come back. I rested my forehead against hers and willed everything I had into that moment. I felt her soul nearby. She was hovering on the cusp of death. I reached forward through the fog and gave her a tremendous tug. She fought me for a moment, but I was so much stronger than she was. I ripped her from the Veil, bringing her slamming back into her body. I felt her draw in a deep breath. And then another.
“Leave us,” I murmured. The room emptied in moments. I grew stronger. I felt it as I gazed down at her. This time didn’t leave me unconscious
. I would’ve panicked if I hadn’t been so grateful to have her back. I laid her down on the floor, melding to a shadow as her eyelids fluttered. I wasn’t ready to meet her. I was just Shadow to her.
Her eyes opened, and she gazed up at me.
“Why?” I wept, my chest aching at the thought of losing her. I flickered as I nearly lost control. Quickly, I righted it, feeling heartbroken as I stared down at her. Why would she do this? Had we broken her so much that she’d been driven to this insanity? The thought made me sick to my stomach.
Her mouth parted like she wanted to answer me, but nothing came out. Instead, her eyes wavered as she stared up at me. I loosened my hold on her. I leaned down and pressed my mouth to hers, unable to stop myself from finally tasting her sweet lips. She tasted like sunshine. Sugar. She tasted exactly how I imagined she’d taste. Her hand cupped my face tenderly. I sighed against her mouth.
“Everly.”
I had to go. This was tearing me apart. To know that she would resort to such drastic measures. To know I couldn’t be with her in the way I so desperately wanted to. She was alive. She’d be safe now. In my heart, I knew she would be. A lot needed to be done, and I had to make a hard decision. I faded away from her, letting go.
Being without her in my arms was crushing. But I’d see her again. And that was all that mattered.
Chapter 47
A week after the incident in Everly’s room, I stood in my office staring out the window, dressed in my all black Dementon uniform watching as students milled around, greeting one another after their long summer break.
“Hey, we’re leaving,” Eric called out, knocking on my door. I turned to him and gestured for him to come in.
“Keep her safe,” I said tightly. “The trip here from Rolling Thunder is just over an hour. I’ll be timing you. If you’re a minute later, I’ll come find you.”
