by Elle Scott
Somehow, amongst all of that, Riley kept thinking how Kiko was afraid of Tessa’s Alpha. Because if she was Fallen and she was afraid of that clan… that meant they were True. Tessa was a True.
Riley shook his head. He was getting ahead of himself. He needed to do what he’d intended to — find out what they were planning.
His heart pounded as he tip-toed around the back of the camp toward Kiko and Kale’s tent. He felt as if the whole world could hear him as he moved, could hear the blood as it pumped through his body. Beat. After beat. After beat.
He found a tree right by their tent and hid behind it, as if it alone could protect him.
“We’ll be out of Cedar Falls by tomorrow night,” Kiko whispered. “With our army.”
“And what of Leila?” Kale asked.
Riley swallowed, willing his breath to remain silent. He squeezed his eyes shut and half-shifted, turning his ears toward the tent.
“Well, if your sister is smart, she’ll stay away.”
The taste of bile filled Riley’s mouth. Hearing them talk of Leila made his wolf’s instincts rise—it pushed forward, trying to take full shift. It took all Riley’s willpower to remain.
“What do you need me to do?” Kale asked.
“Take those big bear arms of yours and break that boy’s back.”
That boy?
Kale chuckled. “And then you’ll get what you’ve always wanted.”
“Mm,” Kiko mumbled. “We will be the only Imprints.”
Riley’s breath shortened; that boy was him. Kiko wanted him dead.
He pressed his palm against a tree for stability. Hunching over, his heart speeding into overdrive. As he inhaled and exhaled on repeat, one thought circled his mind. He’d set himself up for slaughter.
There was movement in the tent and the shadow of Kale stood. Riley gasped for air, knuckles whitening as he forced himself to stand upright. Kale reached for the opening, bending down for the zip.
To most people, it would have sounded like a boy’s girlfriend’s brother unzipping a tent in the middle of the forest. But to Riley, it was more like the eternal judge Himself, hitting the gavel with His hammer and calling for the grim reaper.
Kale stepped out of the tent, bronze eyes shimmering in the night, searching for one thing only.
Riley.
Sadie
Another dream. Another maze. Another hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Sadie stood in a long, stretched out path with metal walls that reached to the night sky. Spikes protruded from them like silver leaves, their shadows creating ominous shapes along the path.
On the other side of a wall, somewhere unseen, a growl rumbled like a warning. A clattering of footsteps echoed around, seeming to come from every direction. They sounded like paws and hooves and wings flapping, like a mixture of beings standing off against each other. Sadie didn’t know which way to run. Either way felt like doom.
A gazelle trilled—powerful and unnerving—and all Sadie could do was stand still, eyes widening. In front of her, a spike on the wall moved, falling to the ground without a sound. It left a hole in the wall, and a tiny bird, white and metallic blue, squeezed itself through. It flew upward, aiming for the sky. She wished it was her.
The gazelle trilled again as though demanding Sadie’s attention. Through the hole in the wall, a flash of rose gold whizzed past. Sadie stepped closer, trying to see better.
Thump.
The wall moved as if something on the other side was trying to break through. Another thump and the sound of scraping metal gave her a chill. Two antlers pierced through the wall. Sadie stepped back in haste, but it wasn’t enough; the antlers reached across the path and the tips dug into the wall beside her. She was trapped.
To the left, a tiger prowled toward her. Sadie looked up, the bird circling in storm clouds above them.
“Help!” she cried, her voice echoing five times over.
In the distance, faint yet clear, Sebastian called out her name. “Sadie?”
“Sebastian?” she yelled, tears streaming down her face. “I’m here!”
“Sadie?” he called again.
“I’m here!” she screamed, throat burning.
And then… there was nothing. No maze. No tiger. No antlers. No storm clouds. Just a blank space around her.
She felt soft fur push up beneath her fingers. In the darkness, the neon-blue aura of a wolf lit up the space around her. Next to the wolf, Sebastian smiled at her.
In the nothingness, it was only her and him. And, for the first time in a long time, she felt safe. To her, he wasn’t a Guardian, or a Shape-shifter, or a Werewolf. He was her friend—her protector.
She sat down and crossed her legs, taking a calming breath. The wolf rested its chin on her lap, breath warming her bare feet.
“Let’s get you out of here,” Sebastian said. “You just have to wake up first.”
Sadie peeled her eyes open. Sebastian leaned over her, his hands looping under her neck and knees. Awake, the fog in her mind instantly appeared. She frowned and sat up, trying to take in her surroundings.
“Am I still dreaming?” She tried to recognize the room but all she could remember was falling asleep beside Summer. Her hands felt the bed in panic. “Where’s my sister?”
Sebastian raised his hands in surrender, then moved a finger in front of his lips. “Shhh. She’s with Immy in my car.”
“I’m not tired anymore,” Sadie blurted, staring at Sebastian. She felt like she’d been sleeping for years, but somehow still felt awful, as though death was lingering, waiting for one single drop of blood to claim her.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled through her nose. Memories sunk in. She was in Leila’s guest bedroom. On a loud exhale, she opened her eyes and looked at Sebastian, wondering what the heck he was doing there… but also, glad that he was. He always seemed to be looking out for her, like when Damien flicked her feather out of her hair, and he kept it for her.
If only Sebastian was my first kiss instead, Sadie thought.
Her eyes widened at the revelation. Oh god. “I like him. I like the most popular guy at school.”
Sebastian’s lips twitched into a smirk. “Who’s that?”
“Who’s who?” Sadie asked frowning. Had she said things she didn’t mean to? But what was she even thinking about anyway?
Oh yes. Kisses.
“My first kiss was lame. Those kinds of things should be exciting. Under the bleachers would have been better,” Sadie huffed, shivering.
Sebastian gave a silent chuckle. He took his letterman jacket off and propped it on her shoulders. “You’ve already told me that.”
“Blergh.” Sadie felt like that time Gabby forced her to drink tequila on a sleepover. “Just thinking about it makes me want to dry retch. You saw him in the restaurant, acting all macho.”
Sebastian sat himself onto the edge of the bed. “Yeah I saw. He’s wrong you know.”
Sadie let her eyebrows fall, it felt like she had a million wrinkles on her forehead. “Wrong about what?”
“You gave him a tarot reading and he mocked you.”
Sadie pointed to Sebastian, causing the jacket to slip from her shoulder.
“Then he goes—” Sadie scrunched her nose and put on a deep voice—”you’re so cute when you’re angry.”
Sebastian chuckled out loud then. “Yeah. That’s what he’s wrong about. You’re not cute when you’re angry. You’re gorgeous all the time.”
Her insides swirled, as though they’d suddenly turned into goo. She was boneless. Muscle-less…. Brain-less.
“What are we talking about? Are you a figment of my imagination? Summer told me they kicked you out.”
Sebastian lifted his jacket back onto her shoulders and pushed her hand through the sleeve. “I had to come back. To make sure you were okay. They’re making dumb decisions, thinning their defenses. Half of me thinks it would be best to get you away from all of them. Would you want to?”
She touched
his face, fingers slowly drifting around his jawline. “So handsome,” she whispered, taking a long blink.
“No Sadie, wake up.” Sebastian shook her. “I’m asking you a question. I need your permission.”
Sadie opened her eyes. “Turn me.”
“No way.” Sebastian let her go. “You’ll be a Fallen. Trust me, you don’t want this torment.”
“It’s better than being a sitting target.”
Sebastian sighed, threading her other arm through his jacket. “It’s not a discussion we’re having right now, Shorty. I’m asking you if you want to come with me. I’ll take you somewhere safer than this.”
“You’re not a Fallen, though.” Sadie pulled his jacket across her chest. She pinched the letter and brought it to her nose. “It smells good.”
Sebastian looked dejected. He ran his hand through his hair, letting the tresses fall where they may. A strand landed on his eyelashes.
“You look like Riley when you do that,” Sadie mused, half-forgetting everything they had talked about.
“Okay. One: that’s insulting. And two: I am a Fallen. It’s hard to explain but I think things. I get urges. It’s not nice.”
“But you never act on them!”
Sebastian’s eyes hooded. “Sometimes I do.”
Sadie’s mouth felt dry. She touched her lips and asked, “Like what?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Sebastian stood. “Are you coming with me or not? I can’t stay here forever, I’m not exactly your friends’ favorite person here.”
A wave of nausea washed over her. She grabbed her pillow and laid down. “You could stay with me forever. I don’t mind.”
Sadie waited a while for him to reply but he just stood over her, picking dirt out of his nails. So, she added, “I’ve only ever seen you do good things. You can turn me, and I can protect myself, and all will be well.”
Sebastian glared at her, through gritted teeth he replied slowly, as if hoping this time it would sink in. “I am a Fallen. I’m not turning you.”
“Leila doesn’t believe that there’s True and Fallen. There’s good and bad in all of us.”
“Yeah, but that’s coming from someone who’s inherited a True Guardian. Leila doesn’t know how good she has it.”
Sadie pushed herself upright, she let her pointed finger tap against his chest. “But you choose whether to kill or protect. I mean look at Gabby and yourself. You’re both good people.”
Sebastian looked down at Sadie’s finger. He stepped back, eyes to the floor. “I killed someone.”
Sadie remembered. Leila said he killed Miss Carson. That Cap forced him to or he’d hurt Imogen. “And do you feel guilty?”
“Everyday.”
“Then, you’re not evil, Seb… does anyone ever call you that?” She sat up onto her knees and reached for his hands. Pulling him closer, she said decidedly, “Turn me.”
Sebastian let out a puff of air and smiled. He pulled the collar away from her neck, eyes scanning her skin. “Your mark hasn’t appeared. Besides, Leila would kill me, and if she doesn’t, Riley would.”
“I’ll be killed!” Sadie collapsed off her knees and let herself sink into the quilt.
Sorrow clouded Sebastian’s eyes. He sat on the bed and clutched her shoulders, thumbs caressing his own jacket. “I need to protect you, not turn you.”
“What if turning me is protecting me. Being a Guardian will help me protect myself.”
“Sadie!” Sebastian scolded, re-gripping her. “I’m done talking about this. Okay? If you want me to protect you, then you’ll have to trust me. Can you do that?”
She gazed at Sebastian’s blue eyes as they implored her to answer honestly. She softened under his hold. “Yes.”
“Then, let’s go.” He swooped his arms under her back and knees and lifted her up.
Sadie let her head fall onto his chest as he carried her. She gazed up at him and muttered, “I trust you with my life… Seb.”
Leila
Leila woke to the sound of Gabby screaming her name. The walls of her bedroom seemed to expand and retract as her eyes blinked open. She rolled her quilt off and sat on the edge of her bed, forcing herself to wake fully.
Her bedroom door burst open and Gabby stumbled in. “Sadie’s gone! Summer, too. I stayed up the whole night keeping watch, and just as I let myself relax, I closed my eyes for one minute, I swear… And Odette isn’t back yet. She said she’d be back!”
Riley’s number went straight to voice mail. Leila threw her phone onto Gabby’s lap and clutched the steering wheel with both hands. As she planted her foot on the gas, she said, “Keep calling him.”
“He’s not going to answer,” Gabby said, locking Leila’s phone. “There was no reception at that camp, remember?”
Three hours. The others were three whole hours away with no way to contact them. As they passed the Cedar Falls welcome sign, Leila felt panic rising.
“Try again,” she demanded. “Don’t stop until he answers.”
Two hours and forty one minutes later, Leila pulled up to their previous camp. Mr. Robertson’s car was gone but the tents were still up. Both Leila and Gabby bolted out of the car, leaving the engine to stall, as they ran in opposite directions around the site.
“Riley?” Leila called. “Kale?”
“Odette?” Gabby cried.
They met at the fire, smoke rising from the coals. Mugs were scattered on the ground. And by the edge of the forest, something glistened in the grass.
“What’s that?” Leila asked, wandering over. She picked up Riley’s phone, staring at the cracked screen.
Gabby snatched it off her and immediately dropped it on the ground, running into the forest and screaming, “Odette?”
Leila felt numb. She knew she’d made a mistake, but the emotions wouldn’t meet with her thoughts. Something had gone wrong somewhere along the way. Was it when they lost Sadie? Or when they separated? Was it when they kicked Sebastian out? Or was it before then, when they removed Damien’s Guardian? They’d gone from a clan of eight Guardians to two in a matter of days.
“What do we do?” Gabby asked, returning.
Leila stared at her blankly. She blinked once, all words lost within her.
“Leila?” Gabby scolded, grabbing her shoulders and shaking them. “What the hell do we do?”
Behind Gabby, movement caught Leila’s eye. Three people weaved through the forest; one she hadn’t seen before and two she definitely had. A man with long dreadlocks accompanied Tessa and her cat sidekick, and all three had half-shifted, eyes burning through Leila.
Gabby only had to look at Leila’s face to know something was up. She spun around and fully shifted, wasting no time to move toward the group. Leila stayed back and half-shifted, staring at them through the veil to see what she was dealing with. A cat, a wolf, and a stag. As the three approached and Gabby snarled a warning, Tessa held her hands up in surrender.
As Gabby slowed, Leila ran to stand beside her. “Wait! We need them alive. Tessa might have marked Sadie.”
“We don’t need them alive,” Gabby replied, leaning on her hind legs ready to pounce. “We just need her blood.”
Tessa left her two friends at the forest edge and stepped into the clearing. Hand still up, she said, “I don’t want to fight.”
“Where are they?” Leila hissed, claws retracted and ready for a fight.
Glancing around the campsite, Tessa frowned. “Where are who?”
Leila’s fangs pierced her lips as she said, “All of them.”
“Riley?” Tessa asked, fearful eyes meeting Leila’s.
Her tone confused Leila. It was almost as though she cared…
Gabby howled into the air, digging her paws into dirt. Then she ran full steam at Tessa. A pink aura shimmied around Tessa, and she shifted into a light-brown wolf. Its size was much smaller than Gabby’s. There was no doubt who’d win that fight.
Numbness washed over Leila again. She watched Gabby leap and swing her paw
, connecting with Tessa’s jaw. And as the small wolf tumbled to the side, rolling into a ball, she wasn’t sure if she should feel sorrow or satisfaction.
Seeing Tessa fall, her dread-locked friend shifted into his stag. As he ran, he bent his head down, antlers pointing ahead like a jousting stick.
Gabby jerked her head back at Leila. “A little help?”
“Enough!” A voice called through the wind.
Out from behind a nearby tree, Ren stepped out. Leila stared at him in disbelief. He looked as though he’d aged a few years. He’d lost his mohawk, too. And his clothes weren’t exactly Ren-like, no leather in sight.
He positioned himself between Gabby and the stag. Holding his palms up to each of them, he growled, “This is not the answer.”
Tessa rubbed the back of her head. “Sorry, Makoto. It was self defense.”
“Mako who?” Gabby said, half-shifting and rolling onto her backside. “Ren, what the hell is going on?”
Leila stood back, confused. This man looked like Ren, he even spoke like Ren. But the Guardian that stood beside him was a golden wolf not an obsidian panther. He glanced at her, eyes flashing as bright as the sun.
Face softening, the man Tessa called Makoto asked, “Leila?”
“Who are you?” she replied, pulse rising.
“I am the first True Guardian.” He reached his hand down to Gabby, offering to help her up. When she brushed his hand aside and stood on her own, he smiled and shook his head. “And you are just children flailing in the forest. None of you are True Guardians, watered down by the venom of those before you.”
“Some of us are True, brother.” The actual Ren stepped into the clearing, Mohawk intact. He nodded at Leila, giving a small smile.
She would have smiled back if she wasn’t stuck on what Ren just called Makoto. Brother. Leila looked between them—the similarity was uncanny and it obviously made sense, but at the same time, it didn’t add up. Kiko was the eldest, Ren was the youngest, and the middle sibling was the Fallen.
“Ha!” Tessa scoffed. “The Fallen are great at deception.”
