Legends: Bloodline Book 2

by Michelle Bredeson

  Carly eyed her reflection and reminded herself of the part she needed to play. She was a normal teenager on her way to a New Year’s Eve party, and she didn’t know anything about a magical skull. Now all she had to do was make everyone else believe it, too.

  “I hope we’re ready to go,” Esther called out as she led the way downstairs. “Because I could really use a drink.”

  “We’re just waiting on you,” Abel replied, his gaze flitting to Carly. “But I can see it was worth it.”

  God, he made her nervous. Not because of the way he was looking at her all dressed up like this, but because they hadn’t really talked about the fact that she’d kept the skull a secret from him. They’d spent the entire afternoon together, but not once had Abel mentioned it. It made Carly wonder how long he’d be so gracious.

  “Are we ready to go then?” Jeremy asked, stepping over to Esther to kiss her on the mouth. “It’s way too late on New Year’s Eve to still be sober.”

  Carly let out a laugh and, just for a moment, managed to put the skull out of her mind. “Are you really that anxious to get the party started?”

  “Nothing else exciting to do around here,” Jeremy answered, and led the way outside. “I’m assuming we’re walking over so we won’t have to drive home?”

  “That’s the plan,” Abel confirmed, locking up the house behind them.

  Was Carly doing the right thing with the skull, or had she simply made her family and friends more vulnerable? No matter the answer, the skull couldn’t stay where it was for long. She needed to figure out her next move before the time came to employ it. She needed to stay one step ahead of Damon or she may as well just hand him the skull and not bother contemplating the consequences.

  Carly continued to wrestle with her thoughts as she followed her friends the few blocks to Gabe’s house. Now that Jeremy had joined them, their conversation turned to what they’d do with the rest of their break before school started. Carly already knew what she’d be doing with the rest of hers—reading the books Abel had found in his attic and any other book she could find that might help her understand her connection to the amethyst skull.

  Carly prepared herself as best she could as Jeremy skipped up to Gabe’s porch and rang the bell. Paul answered moments later, wearing both a black suit and a smile.

  “Come on in, kids,” Paul greeted them, taking a step back as he pulled open the door. “You’re the first to arrive. As I told Gabriel, I’m not going to ask any questions about what happens tonight as long as the house is in one piece when I get back—which I expect to be late.”

  “It looks like you’re going somewhere fancy?” Esther guessed, leading the way into the foyer.

  “Dinner with a friend,” Paul answered, a mysterious gleam in his eyes as he walked past them onto the porch. The look seemed familiar to Carly somehow, and it took her a second to realize it reminded her of Abel. “Gabriel’s in the kitchen. You kids have a Happy New Year.” And then Paul was gone, and Carly shuffled down the hallway with her friends.

  “Hey, guys, I was wondering when people would start showing up,” Gabe said from his seat at the kitchen island. He turned down St. Vincent on the Sonos and drew a red plastic cup to his lips. “Can I get you something to drink? Vodka Coke?”

  “Yes, please,” Jeremy was quick to answer, leaning up against the island next to him. “Your girlfriend’s not here yet?”

  “She’ll be here soon enough,” Gabe replied, and that’s when it registered with Carly that girlfriend meant Katia. “Once everyone gets here, I thought we could all head out to the caves. Katia hasn’t been there yet, but she sounded excited at the prospect of hide and seek.”

  “So we’re heading out to the caves, and you’re drinking?” Abel questioned.

  “It’s one drink, Crawford,” Gabe shot back. “Since when are you the sobriety police?”

  Abel tensed, not satisfying Gabe with a reply.

  Gabe stared back at him for a moment before his pale blue gaze moved to Carly. Her breath stilled as she stared back at him, probing at his mind. She’d expected him to be closed off, but was surprised that Gabe’s thoughts were so wide open.

  Carly took advantage of his vulnerability and dug back through his memories of that morning. Except, he had no memory of anything after last night or before that afternoon. During the time he would’ve been at Carly’s house, looking for the skull, his memories had been wiped clean.

  “Can we talk?”

  Carly blinked as she processed Gabe’s question.

  “Can it wait?” Abel answered for her. “We’re here to celebrate, aren’t we?”

  “Now, Abel,” Esther spoke as she finished mixing herself a drink. “We can give them a few minutes, can’t we?”

  “I just want to talk,” Gabe explained. “Just for a minute, Carly. If that’s okay with you.”

  “Sure,” Carly agreed, glancing at Abel. The whole reason she’d shown up tonight was to talk to Gabe. She begged Abel to remember that as he turned on his heel and headed out of the room. She cleared her throat as Esther and Jeremy followed after him, and locked eyes with Gabe again once they were alone. “What’s on your mind, Gabriel?”

  eighteen

  Carly had been expecting an inquisition about the amethyst skull, or at minimum, some scathing comment, but something inside Gabe shifted then, softened with empathy. It was a turn she hadn’t predicted.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been a jerk,” Gabe apologized. “I’m sorry I haven’t been the friend to you I want to be. I… I know it’s not an excuse, but seeing you and Abel together… You could have anyone you want, and you… You picked the one guy I feel like I can’t really compete with. So, there it is. I hate that you’re with Abel, but what I hate more than anything is that we’re not friends anymore. Carly, I understand how much my secret hurt you, and I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry I ever kept anything from you at all. I get that you’ve moved on, so that’s what I’m trying to do, too. I can’t just make my feelings for you go away, but I can put them out of my mind enough for us to be friends. Please, I… I don’t feel like myself without you in my life.”

  Gabe’s sensible confession was best case scenario, and also terrifying. Where had this rational version of him been this morning when he’d shown up at her house? How long would Carly have this Gabriel until he turned on her again?

  “If I can accept that you’re in love with some other guy, can’t you accept that I’m sorry?” Gabe pleaded.

  “I’m not,” Carly started, and realized what she was saying. She wasn’t in love with Abel. It wasn’t something she even had to question because she intentionally hadn’t let her feelings for him go that far. She and Abel had an undeniable connection, definitely, but it wasn’t love. At least, not the kind of love that Carly had grown to feel for Gabriel.

  Gabe’s lips turned up in a satisfied smile. “You don’t have to forgive me all at once, but considering we’re going to be a part of each other’s lives probably forever, wouldn’t it be nice if we could at least be friends? Friends who make more than small talk?”

  “Yes,” Carly said, not because it was the right thing to say to figure out what was really going on in his head, but because she liked the idea of a forever with Gabe.

  I like the idea of a forever with you, too, Gabe’s thought flooded into hers.

  Carly eyed him, and Gabe flushed as he looked away. He hadn’t intended for her to hear that, yet she had. If he didn’t have control of his thoughts now, had he had control of them that morning—a time he seemed to have no recollection of? Was it possible that Gabe’s mind was really that fragile?

  The doorbell rang, and the playful look faded from Gabe’s face. “That’s Katia.” He didn’t say any more than that, just dropped his glass on the countertop and headed out of the room.

  Carly followed and watched carefully as Gabe opened the door and greeted Katia with a kiss on the cheek. Something about his actions seemed jagged, rehearsed. Almost as if they weren’t his act
ions at all.

  Mind Control Over Matter, the book title popped in Carly’s head as she looked to Katia. The blonde stared back at her with piercing violet eyes, and a shiver raced down Carly’s spine. If mind control were even possible, was that what Katia was doing with Gabe?

  Carly had a sudden urge to sprint back to Abel’s and spend her evening poring over that book, but a first-hand lesson would have to do. Gabe was different around Katia, that was definite. But that didn’t necessarily mean she was controlling his thoughts.

  “Carly,” Katia spoke with surprise. “I didn’t think you’d be here.”

  “Well, I’m here,” Carly replied.

  Katia grimaced as her violet gaze fell to Carly’s necklace. “Did your boyfriend give you that? I figured someone with his style would have better taste than a cheap stone like hematite.”

  Carly felt for the pendant at her neck. “It was a gift. I don’t care what it cost.”

  “Are we ready to go?” Crystal spoke from behind Katia. Crys looked to Carly, and quickly looked away. “I can fit three in my car.”

  “Can we squeeze in with you, Crys?” Abel asked, his hand falling in on Carly’s shoulder.

  “No problem,” Crystal replied, spinning around to head back to her car.

  Carly and Crystal hadn’t exactly been talking, but Carly hadn’t exactly pointed that out to Abel. If tonight was all about pretending, Carly could keep up the act. She happily left Gabe and Katia behind and hurried along to Crystal’s car. She ducked in the back, leaving the passenger seat for Abel.

  “Thanks for the lift, Crys,” Abel said as she pulled out into the street. “It seems like we haven’t hung out in a while.”

  Crystal smirked. “We haven’t hung out in a while, but you’ve been a little busy.”

  “What about tomorrow? You could come over and watch a movie or something with me and Carly.”

  Crystal pursed her lips. “I’m going to Duluth with Gabe and Katia tomorrow. I guess her dad’s making her enroll in school here, so she wants to get a few things before it starts.”

  “Well, some other time then,” Abel said.

  “I didn’t realize they were staying that long,” Carly spoke up. “Katia and her family.”

  “Me either,” Crystal said. “But she’s here to stay, so I suppose that means Gabe’s new personality is, too.”

  Abel shot her the same inquiring look as Carly.

  Crystal shrugged. “I didn’t think he’d change this much because of a girl either, but here we are.”

  Carly bit at her lip as she looked out the window. Gabe was changing, and there’s nothing she could do about it. But what she could do was set her confused feelings for him aside and commit to being his friend. If there was any remote possibility that Katia was somehow infiltrating Gabe’s mind, the one thing he’d need when he realized it was a good support system.

  Carly focused on the Beach House lyrics pouring from the car stereo, content to let Abel and Crys carry the conversation. All too soon, they reached the mouth of the caves. Everyone was present and ready to get started—everyone except Carly. Her last experience down there hadn’t gone so well, and she was admittedly apprehensive about making her way through the maze again.

  “Teams?” Jeremy proposed as he clutched onto Esther’s hand.

  “We don’t have even numbers for teams,” Sharla was quick to point out.

  “Sharla’s right,” Crystal agreed. “Considering it’s New Year’s, would it hurt to shake things up a bit and not play in teams for once?”

  “But Katia’s never been in the caves before,” Gabe reasoned. “What if she gets lost down there?”

  “Or what if I’m up for the challenge?” Katia proposed, and kissed him on the mouth. “Let’s play the way your friends want to play. I’m sure I can keep up.”

  “In that case, not it!” Crys called out.

  “Not it!” everyone else in the group declared as Carly realized that left only her.

  “First time it alone,” Abel noted, patting Carly on the shoulder. “You think you can handle it?”

  She watched her friends disappear into the dark mouth of the cave, and shivered. “It’s just a game, right?”

  “Count of a hundred,” he confirmed with a wink, and raced off after them.

  Carly counted down in her head against the backdrop of muddled thoughts. It was silly to be spending her time on a game like this, but it was a nice break from the chaos her life had become. A little fun once in a while couldn’t hurt.

  Carly’s count hit zero, and she broke into a run. She could allow the twists and turns of the caves to intimidate her, but chose not to as she sprinted along the worn path. So much of her life seemed out of control, but somehow, running like this helped her sort out her thoughts.

  You’re only seventeen, she reminded herself as she let instinct guide her. You’re under no obligation to have it all figured out.

  Carly eased a bit at that notion. She put a lot of pressure on herself, but at the end of the day, all she could do was her best. At the end of the day, all she could do was follow her heart—even if it was at times misguided.

  Carly didn’t catch on that she’d found someone until she ran smack-dab into them, sparks shimmering through the air.

  “Whoa there,” Gabe whispered, setting his hands on her shoulders to steady her.

  Carly flinched at his touch, the memory of her confrontation with him that morning flooding her mind. How could the same man who had alarmed her then be so gentle with her now?

  Gabe’s hands fell away as he heaved out a sigh. “Carly, I… I don’t remember any of that.”

  Had she shared the memory with him in the same manner she’d shared images with Abel and Esther? Carly wasn’t sure how this newfound gift of hers worked, but was thankful for it now. Finally, she’d discovered a way to show Gabriel the man he’d become through her eyes.

  “I was with Katia all morning,” he explained. “But even if I had shown up at your place like that, Carly, I never would have done anything to hurt you. Never.”

  She held up her right hand. It would be pitch-black down here to human eyes, but Gabriel’s shapeshifter gaze surely made out the black and purple bruises that had formed over her skin. “I didn’t do this to myself.”

  Gabe shook his head, stumbling backwards. “Carly, I… I just wouldn’t do that to you.”

  “Well, you did.”

  “Then why don’t I remember?”

  “I don’t know,” Carly admitted. “I’ve been asking myself the same thing.”

  Gabe’s mind did something then that Carly had never before witnessed—it seemed to fold in on itself, like paper bending in half over and over. He crouched to his knees on the cave floor, his fingertips digging at his temples. While Carly had sensed this sort of vulnerability in his mind, she’d never seen a physical display. He was beside himself, and she wasn’t sure how to respond.

  “I couldn’t have done that to you because I wouldn’t do that to you,” Gabe stammered, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t do that to you, Carly, because no matter what happens between us, no matter who else comes along, a part of me will always lov—”

  A shrill cry echoed throughout the chamber, and Gabe popped to his feet in panic. Carly met his unnerved gaze but for a moment before they both took off running for the source of the scream.

  nineteen

  “My foot caught on one of the stalagmites,” Katia whimpered from her sprawled spot on the cave floor. She winced as she rubbed at her left ankle, her gaze flicking up to Gabe. “A little help?”

  “Oh,” Gabe said, swooping down to wrap an arm around her waist. He pulled her up next to him, and Katia clung to him as she balanced on her right leg.

  “You let out quite a scream,” Carly said as she studied them together. She looked past her jealousy of another woman in Gabe’s arms, hoping to see Katia for who she really was. Katia was a stunning beauty, yes, but she was also an educated full blood shapeshifter. She had eve
ry advantage when it came to taking advantage of any of them.

  “Are you okay, Katia?” Gabe asked. “We could take you into Sterling to the ER—”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Katia interjected, her arms looping in around Gabe’s waist. “We tried celebrating your way, but maybe it’s time to celebrate mine?”

  “And what’s your way?” Carly wondered.

  Katia smiled, her gaze locked on Gabriel all the while. “Well, it involves a lot more alcohol than this. Why don’t we head back to your place, I’ll rest my ankle, and you can make me a drink?”

  “Anything you want,” Gabe answered, and kissed her on the forehead.

  “What happened?” Abel asked, skidding to a stop beside Carly.

  “We heard a scream,” Sharla added, falling in behind him.

  “Is everything okay?” Jeremy questioned as he came at them from the other direction.

  “The party’s moving to my place,” Gabe announced. “Katia tripped and hurt her ankle, so we’re heading back. If you’ll let the others know.”

  “We’ll ride with you,” Sharla said, weaving her arm in through Carly’s.

  “We will?” Carly asked, peering down at the petite shifter.

  Sharla didn’t have to so much as meet Carly’s gaze and Carly understood. Sharla had been nothing but ecstatic about her father’s visit, but Damon hadn’t spared a moment of his time to spend alone with her since his arrival. Not only was Sharla being ignored by the father she hadn’t seen in years, she was also being ignored by her mother, who seemed to be spending all her time with Carly’s father. Oh, and on top of all that, the boy Sharla had been crushing on since she was a kid was dating the stepsister she’d just met. Sharla couldn’t stop Gabe and Katia from being together any more than Carly could, but she could keep an eye on them and make sure they didn’t have any more fun than necessary. And Sharla knew that Carly would get it without having to explain, which was why she’d chosen her as a companion.