“’Scuse me?” She scrunched her nose before snatching the plush towel out of her friend’s hand and scrubbing her face with it.
Rhiannon’s fingers were firm as they dug into her elbow and dragged her back to the tent. “Need I remind you, Flinty, that your boyfriend is prone to King Kong bouts of rage? Not only are you half-naked out here...” She shoved the tent flap open before pushing Flint inside it. “But you’re also covered in blood, which is one of the major food groups for most of the guys here today.”
Grimacing, Flint shrugged, rubbing the towel furiously over her wet hair to try to dry it. Man, she was going to have a head full of frizz when it finally was.
“I didn’t exactly ask to have Zander do that to me, okay? And as to the bra, couldn’t be helped. I wasn’t getting clean enough with my shirt on.”
For a moment Rhi’s eyes dropped to Flint’s arm. The one sporting the new tattoo she’d forgotten all about. Curiosity lit up her friend’s frosty blue eyes, but to Rhi’s credit, she didn’t ask.
This lie was already becoming a huge burden.
“Dude,” Rhi said before exchanging the towel for the new, clean shirt, “I don’t envy you. Adam’s really putting you through your paces. But do you feel like it’s working at all?”
Shrugging, Flint quickly yanked the navy-blue T-shirt over her head. She didn’t even need to ask who it belonged to. There was a print of an anime-looking baby tiger on the front. She’d seen Janet wear the shirt in school before.
Unfortunately, her bra was wet, and now so was the nice, dry shirt.
“Grr,” Flint growled. “Stupid Zander.” She glanced down at her legs. At least she’d worn black jogging pants. They were also tacky with blood, but it didn’t show. “My dad’s gonna freak when he smells me.”
Rhiannon’s lips twitched. “Thankfully you have a trailer here now. I’m just putting the finishing touches on the place before you finish. But the water’s working, so you can take a shower when you’re done for the day.”
“Thanks. That was really sweet. But you didn’t need to.”
Rhi shrugged. “Just being a friend.”
The smile gradually slipped from Flint’s face as she began to think about what the meaning of having her own trailer implied. So much had changed in just a few short days. She was becoming a mutant. Abel was still missing. And Janet was... suffering.
When she thought too much about those things, Flint wanted to cry. She plopped down on the seat behind her.
“You okay?” Rhi asked softly and then she chuckled when Flint glared at her. “Never mind, scratch that. Of course you’re not.”
“It’s not that.” Flint blew out a raspberry. “I’m just... worried.”
“About what Layla did to you?” Rhi sat in the chair next to her.
She looked so young and helpless dressed as she was, her hair pulled back in a tight bun and wearing that glittering costume makeup. Not at all like something that could tear the flesh right off your body without a second’s thought.
“That. And Abel. Janet. I really want to see her.”
Rhiannon took a deep breath. “Flint, I didn’t want to tell you this earlier because I didn’t want you to freak. But Janet’s slipped into a coma, trance, whatever you want to call it.”
“Oh no,” Flint breathed. Why had no one told her just how bad things had actually gotten?
As if she’d read her mind, Rhiannon shook her head. “We didn’t tell you, Flint, because you’re still recovering. And there’s nothing you can do. There’s nothing anyone can do, honestly.”
“Is she gonna die?”
Tucking a curl of loose blond hair behind her ear, Rhi shook her head. “I hope not. If Abel comes back safe and sound, then I’m pretty sure this is entirely reversible.”
It was all Flint could do not to blab the truth to her friend. To tell her that not only was she not as human as they thought, but that she also had no soul. That Katy had told her she’d lose any bit of what it meant to be herself to the instinct of the fairy blood coursing through her veins.
That maybe she was more of a monster than any of them were.
“Our bond is for life,” Rhiannon continued.
“Isn’t that the way it is for most monsters?”
“Yeah, but it’s kind of different too. If a berserker’s mate dies, they’ll probably just go mad, but if Abel dies, so does she. His lifeline has literally been joined to hers. The more time Abel and Janet spent together, the more attuned to his soul she became. To the point that if he got a paper cut she’d feel it. The suckiest part of all this is that Abel never has to love her back. It’s probably the most unfair, most lopsided form of bonding there is.”
She swallowed hard, and Flint wanted to cry for her friend.
Yanking her in for a hug, Flint rubbed her back. “I didn’t know.”
Rhiannon sniffled, rubbing at her nose. “How could you? It’s not like shadow demons come with a pamphlet. It’s embarrassing and something we don’t like to tell just anyone.”
“Rhi.” She pushed her friend back just a bit so that she could see her face. “I’m so sorry. You’re right, I didn’t know. Which means not only for Abel’s sake, but Janet’s sake, we need to get him back.”
“Yeah, but I should have been able to stop this. I’m Abel’s kanlungan, he was my responsibility, and he slipped through my fingers.” A pinprick of fire danced through her blue eyes, a sure sign of her anger.
Grabbing her by the shoulder, Flint squeezed. “But you can’t blame yourself for that. Layla knew us all by heart. She knew how we’d react. I bet she even knows how we think. She studied us like the lab rats she kept in her trailer. She was the enemy we never prepared for, and none of us stood a chance against her.”
They didn’t talk much after that, but Flint asked Rhiannon if she’d be willing to go with her to Cain’s bunker later in the evening once things had wound down.
“Yeah. That’s fine.” Rhi stood and dusted off her tutu. “Shows are about to get started here in a bit anyway. I need to get going. Good luck with your training.”
They hugged briefly but fiercely.
With a small grin and wave, Rhi made her escape after that.
And Flint came face-to-face with her next “teacher.” A scruffy, bearded guy who stood at least six feet, wore a golden hoop earring in his left ear, had a shaved head, and a belly that moved when he did. He never spoke a word, simply set up a target in the center of the ring, withdrew a bow he’d had slung over his right shoulder. Nocked an arrow from his quiver and proceeded to hit the bull’s-eye three times in a row in rapid succession.
Then, giving her a bored look, he handed over the bow and quiver, stepped back, crossed his arms, and waited.
She never even got close. Once she hit the roof. Another time one of the arrows sailed out the flap, which was quickly followed by a screech and then several colorful swear words. Her teacher finally took mercy on her when the arrow she’d been about to release suddenly collapsed out of the string and nearly rammed through her foot.
Needless to say, he left with no promises of ever coming back.
The rest of her afternoon went much the same way.
~*~
She was taking a much-needed break when suddenly Cain called out to her.
“Flint, you still there?”
Smiling at the sound of his deep voice, she nodded before answering. “Yes.”
But this time she kept her butt firmly on her seat, ignoring the impulse to get up and run to him.
“I’ve got Eli and Seth here.”
Wiping her mouth with a napkin, she set her half-eaten bowl of hummus and carrot sticks aside. If she was going to eat like a pig all day long, it was probably best if she didn’t always just consume sugar while doing it.
“Okay.”
“Flint?”
She frowned, unable to tell which one of the two had just called her name. “Seth?”
There was a small chuckle and then, “No, this is Eli
.”
“Jeez, you two even sound the same.” She bit her bottom lip nervously. “So um, how’s it hangin’?”
How’s it hanging was actually code for Do you want to rip my head off right now?
“I’m fine. If that’s what you’re wondering.” She heard him sniff again loudly. “Yeah, totally fine.”
“And Seth?”
“I’m good too,” Seth, who totally sounded like Eli, said.
Try as she might, she could never tell those two apart. And if she was confused, she could only wonder how much more confusing it was for their dates.
The flap was tossed open and first one blond walked through and then the other. Thankfully they weren’t dressed identically.
Seth had on a pair of skinny jeans and a black hoodie. Eli had on a pair of boot-cut Levi’s and a plain white tee. Their icy blue eyes glinted, and they both wore huge smiles.
“Careful. You guys actually seem happy to see me,” she said with a cheeky grin.
Then she was wrapped in two sets of arms and given hard squeezes. But they went easy on her, releasing her just before she passed out from a lack of oxygen.
Grunting, she shook her head and took a deep, dramatic breath. “Get off me, gorillas.” There was no bite to her words.
They chuckled at that.
“Man, you have no idea how happy we are that you lived. I don’t think we could have stopped Cain from going nuclear if you hadn’t.”
“Seth?” She pointed at his chest. His grin was blindingly white.
It wasn’t that she’d never noticed just how hot the twins were. She liked guys after all and they were easy on the eyes. But Cain had happened first.
“No, Eli.”
She swatted his chest. His pec popped under her hand and he winked. “Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.”
Neither of them had ever really been like this with her before. So friendly. But she’d never hated them either. Considering they went wherever Cain did, it would be nice to actually get along with everyone.
“You guys are acting weird.” She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly aware of the sweat and blood clinging to her. She hoped she didn’t stink too badly.
“Things are changing.” Seth stepped to the side. “You’re one of us now, even if you are part hive and stink like Eli’s gym socks.”
She rolled her eyes and snorted. “You guys suck. So now what? Cain gonna make you my permanent bodyguards?”
Eli shrugged. “Would it be so bad?”
“Um. Yeah. Plus, it’s just weird.” She plopped her butt onto the edge of the straw bale. “Apparently I’ve got mad skills trapped inside this body somewhere.” She flexed her slender bicep.
“And how’s the search going?” Eli dropped down beside her, crossing his booted feet and giving her a knowing grin.
“Awesome. I managed to have a whole face bleed today, nearly cut my toes off, got knocked to my behind by one nasty naga...” She said it with a smirk, watching to see whose eyes gave it away first.
Eli picked at his thumbnail. “Cool.” After a minute he said, “Anyway, Adam’s given you your own trailer. Parked it by all of ours.”
“Wow. So this is what jail feels like.”
Seth chuckled. “Could be worse. You might have had him”—he jerked his thumb at his brother—“for company.”
“Whatever.” Eli rolled his eyes, then gripped Flint’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Just want you to know that you’re not going to be alone again, little string walker. We got your back.”
She barely knew them, but she could totally understand why they were Cain’s friends. They had a way about them that made her want to laugh and relax, a calming presence that was actually kind of nice. Even if they were basically telling her that she’d just acquired two permanent stalkers in her life.
“Thanks. But you don’t really have to be around me twenty-four seven, okay? Between you and all the other monsters in this place, I think I’ll be fine.”
Seth moved toward the entrance. “Yeah, well, we’re not taking that chance again. Until Cain can handle your um... smell...” His eyes sparkled with suppressed laughter. “We’ll be his eyes and ears.”
Wadding up her paper towel, she lobbed it at his head.
It never hit him; he’d turned and with a swift flick of his wrist batted it to the ground and then gave her a knowing smile.
He might look like an Abercrombie & Fitch model, but he was still a berserker underneath it all. With a wave of his hand, he walked out.
Eli was headed out as well when Flint said, “So, Carlito, huh?”
He turned swiftly on his sneakered heel and gave her a secret little smile. “He tell you?”
She laughed. “Nope. I figured it out. He’s hot, you know. A total stud.”
Snorting, Eli nodded. “Yeah, I thought so too. But Seth doesn’t know, so let’s just ah... keep it between us and the walls.”
“You mean your own brother doesn’t know you’re gay?” She frowned. As close as they were, she wouldn’t have thought it would be possible to keep that away from him.
He shrugged. “Nah. He knows. And he’s cool with it. But he would not be cool with Carlito. Besides, it was just a fling, nothing serious.”
“Why? He’s so adorably cute and yet vicious all at the same time.”
Eli’s chest puffed up a little after she’d said that, but then a sad crease shaded his eyes and he sighed. “It just didn’t work out, okay?”
She sensed there was a lot more to it than it just not working out, but she’d pried as far as she probably should.
“Fine.” Feeling the need to show him some sympathy, she gave him a quick hug.
Eli grunted, almost as though taken aback by her sudden show of affection, but then just as quickly hugged her back. “Thanks.”
“For the record though, his eyes totally terrify me. When they go all glowy and slitty.” She shuddered.
Snorting, he rubbed her hair.
“Hey.” She swatted at his hand. “I might be ten ways to messy right now, but do not touch the hair.” She held a finger up under his nose.
He kissed her forehead and she totally melted into it.
She’d not been kissed affectionately since she’d woken up. Not the right pair of lips she wanted, but she’d take anything at this point.
“Are you gonna tell Cain what you just did or should I?” She grinned, running her fingers through her hair to pat it back down in place.
“Fortunately for me, he knows I’m gay. So I think my parts will remain intact. Thanks, little walker.”
She beamed. “For what?”
“Just kind of nice.” He shrugged, slipping his hands into his jeans. “That at least somebody in here knows the truth and doesn’t think I’m a weirdo because of it.”
“Well, I don’t think anyone would care anymore, it’s the twenty-first century.”
Backpedaling, he grinned. “Sure would be nice to see the world the way you do. But I do want you to know something.”
“Yeah?” She bent to scoop up the paper towel she’d tossed at Seth’s head.
“Neither Seth or I are gonna be intrusive about this. We just want to make sure you’re safe.”
“What? You mean you don’t want to be all up in this chili?” She ran a hand down her haggard body, giving him a come-hither waggle of her brows.
“As tempting as that is”—the sarcasm was thick—“I’m thinking I hear your next teacher.”
“Wimp.” She chuckled as he waved and jogged out.
What he’d heard hadn’t been a trainer but her actual teacher, Adam. His brows lifted when he glanced at Flint’s top.
He looked much less polished than normal, wearing only a scuffed pair of jeans and a baseball T-shirt. The pretense of this carnival hanging around in Whispering Bluff was fading fast. If they didn’t find some sort of lead to Abel soon, they were going to be forced to move, and Flint never imagined it, but she was really going to miss the place.<
br />
“Didn’t go so well this morning, did it?” His deep, barrel-chested voice filled the tent as he walked toward her, hugging a pile of papers to his chest.
She’d not thought once about the final exam to obtain her diploma, and now she was suddenly filled with a case of nerves.
“Today sucked.” She groaned. “Just. Don’t ask.”
“Well, I think it’s about to suck even more. I hope you’re ready for this.”
The test took her the rest of the evening to complete. It was long, boring, and when she hit the science section, she almost yakked.
Thankfully, by the time she finished she was pretty sure she’d gotten most of the problems right. At least school was one big headache off her plate.
Now all that was left was to wait and see.
Chapter 8
Abel
He stared into the darkness, measuring his breaths as the cramps gripped his intestines.
There was no way to know how many days he’d been kept down here, but he hadn’t bathed the entire time. The stench coming off him was overwhelming.
Just then another powerful surge of heat swept down his body and he went rigid, screaming as every electrical neuron inside him exploded all at once.
But no matter what they did to his body, his brain was on constant alert. Aware of everything. Not only of the pain, but of his mother’s betrayal. Of the fact that he lived in a world he’d never known existed.
Like when a woman with cat eyes—literally cat eyes—had grabbed hold of his arm and instead of nails there’d been claws. She’d held him down as his mother had injected a needle into his brain.
He’d screamed as his muscles had swelled. As his blood churned like water in a heated pot.
Knowing then that he was what Cain was. Understanding that for years his family had kept secrets from him. The pain of that was almost as bad as the tortures he was subjected to day in and day out.
“It’s okay, Abel. No one ever said this would be easy.” His mother’s voice echoed from out of the speakers affixed at the corners of the room.
Kicking out his shackled leg, he struck the cement block wall with his heel. The groaning of a loud crack tearing up the side of it felt overwhelmingly loud. He was ten times stronger than he’d ever been, his body bigger too. No longer was he this lanky, skinny teenager. But his strength and his massive frame couldn’t save him.
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