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I hate my life.
The mall is my own version of Hell. Store after store, filled with clothes I would never wear, and giggling teenage girls I could never even begin to identify with.
Misty dragged me from one store to the next, squealing every time she saw a friend, squealing more over the dresses. We’d been at it for over three hours, and my head pounded.
“Alex! You have to see this dress—oh, this is the one. I know it!”
Since she’d said that about the last ten dresses she shoved at me, I didn’t hold out much hope. I told her I wanted a dress that would cover the scar on my left forearm. She considered the request a challenge. I wished I’d kept my mouth shut.
She yanked the hanger off the rack, and I stopped in my tracks.
The dress was—medieval was the first word that popped into my mind. Dark blue velvet, long sleeves, a deep scooped neckline and flared skirt. It reminded me of my favorite dance dresses—the ones that just flowed around the dancer as she pirouetted across the stage. It was so not appropriate for a spring dance, but I didn’t care.
“I got it, didn’t I?” She sounded smug. All I could do was nod, and reach for it.
Please let it fit.
The words ran through my mind like a mantra as I headed for the dressing room for the hundredth time. Misty didn’t tell me I’d be taking my clothes off—repeatedly—all day long. If she had, I would have worn something easier to get out of than a button down blouse, a sweater, and my jeans.
I stripped down, again, and carefully removed the dress from the hanger. It laced up the back, so I wouldn’t be able to do that on my own, but I stepped into it, slid my arms into the knuckle length sleeves. I was afraid to look in the mirror, so I lifted the skirt when I walked out of the dressing room. I didn’t want to embarrass myself by tripping over it. As a dancer, I rarely trip over anything, but I was nervous. I figured better safe than—well, you know the rest.
Misty waited for me just outside the dressing room, hunting the accessory rack. Oh, hell no. We were going to have a talk about that. I cleared my throat, and she turned around.
When her hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide, I started to back away, ready to run to the safety of the dressing room.
“No—Alex, it’s stunning. Turn around, let me lace it up for you. Give you the full effect before you look.”
I pulled my hair over my shoulder and let her cinch the dress—much too tight for my comfort level. Yes, I had sported body hugging leotards for dance class, but that was class. I never walked around in them in public.
Misty eased my hair out of my hand, and I felt some tugging as she did—something with it. I also felt some kind of—accessory slide into whatever something she created. We were definitely going to talk about that.
“Okay,” she said. “Turn around.”
I swallowed, ready to be disappointed again, and faced the mirror.
“Oh,” I whispered.
The dress brought out the color of my eyes, and they looked huge, framed by hair I had only worn up in dance class. Misty had taken the unruly length and created a messy updo that was so not me I couldn’t believe I liked it. The velvet hugged every curve I actually had, leaving nothing to the imagination.
There was no way I could wear this dress in public.
“This is the one, Alex.” Misty appeared behind me. I must have been staring for a while, because she now wore a white dress that clung to every curve she had. Trust me, she has more curves than I do, and looked incredible. “Sam will have to pick his jaw up off the floor when he sees you in it—”
“I can’t wear this, Misty.”
“Oh, yes, you can. Now go take it off.” She loosened the ties in back, then pushed me toward the dressing room. “You are going to buy the dress, some fabulous shoes, and something we girls like to call jewelry.”
“Ha ha.”
“Shoo.” She smiled when I looked back at her. “You’re going to knock them all off their feet, Alex. Trust me.”
I really wanted to, because for the first time in, well, ever, I cared about making an impression at a school function. I didn’t want to embarrass my friends—and I especially didn’t want to embarrass Sam. He had been the most popular of the populars, when he was still in school. That wouldn’t change just because he left. All his friends were still there, finishing their senior year.
I wanted Sam to be proud of me. Of us.
With a sigh, I made my way back to the dressing room and slipped out of the dress. By the time I got redressed—again—and gathered everything up, I figured Misty would have half the bling in the store ready to try on me. Ugh.
I braced myself and stepped out.
Misty waited for me, the long counter behind her covered with accessories. Just kill me now. It would be less painful than what I was about to endure.
“Sam is worth it,” I whispered, as Misty bounded toward me. I kept running those words through my head, like a mantra, when she dragged me over to my own personal nightmare.
~ ~ ~
I survived the accessories war—but just barely.
Inside the bag holding my dress was a smaller bag, with items I knew I’d never wear. I bought them to get Misty off my back. Some of them would make a nice birthday present for Mom.
“Oh, no.” Misty stared at her watch. “Is that the time? We have to go.”
Thank God.
She grabbed me, and we started power walking through the mall. My ankle complained. Loudly.
“Misty—”
“What?” she glanced down at my ankle. “Oh, sorry. I’ll get the car and meet you at the entrance.”
“Thanks.”
She flashed me a smile and took off.
I moved as fast as I could, my ankle unhappy with me. I was okay trolling through the mall at an easy pace, but a power walk on the hard floors was enough to give my ankle fits. I ignored it and moved faster.
Like she promised, Misty waited just outside the entrance, the engine of her Mercedes Benz purring. I hopped in, threw my bag in the back seat, and hustled to strap myself in when she gunned it.
Misty has a lead foot in the worst way. Add in a responsive car that could meet her need for speed, and it was like an amusement park ride—without the amusement.
“What’s the rush?” I tried to keep my voice even, like I wasn’t waiting to die any second.
Misty glanced over at me, while changing lanes. I shoved my heart back into my chest, and just managed to not scream when she missed the car in front of us by about an inch.
“It’s Kenny’s first visit today. I promised to take him down myself.”
Right—her little brother, Kenny.
After months of arguing, Jake finally agreed to allow him to visit the haven. I pointed out that he and Hern were close to the same age, and Hern needed another kid around. His mother was driving us all to distraction with her spewing emotions.
“You can drop me off at home,” I said. “I’ll meet you down there.”
“That would be amazing—if you have time.” She sounded grateful.
“No problem. It’s going to be more than a little overwhelming for him.”
We made it to my house in one piece. I wanted to kiss the ground as soon as I climbed out of the car, but I restrained myself. Misty backed out and screamed down the street.
When I turned around, Mom was standing on the porch. “That girl has quite a lead foot.”
Mom had no idea.
“Misty’s a safe driver.” She’s never been in an accident. “I trust her.” Mostly—and only because she knew she’d never drive again if she so much as scratched one of her dad’s cars.
“How was the shopping trip?” I tried not to grimace. Mom’s laugh told me I failed. “After the torture, did you find something?”
I held up my bag. “And I actually like it.”
Mom was off the porch and grabbing my bag before I could take a step.
She pulled the dress out. In the afternoon sunlight, the dark blue velvet looked rich, and I was losing the last of my doubt about it.
“This is lovely, sweetheart.” She hugged me, hard. “Please tell me you’ll let me help you get ready for the dance.”
“I—sure.”
All I had to do was put on the dress and do something with my hair. How hard could it be?
~ ~ ~
I met Misty and Kenny at the town sign, and held out my hand to Kenny. For an eleven-year-old he was tall—almost taller than my five foot two.
“Hey, Kenny. Did Misty tell you about—”
“The demons? Yeah.” He waved the handful of comic books. “I think I can deal...”
His voice faded as he stared past me. I turned around, and saw Hern, standing in the middle of the street. Hope radiated off him, as much as he tried to control it.
“Kenny?” Misty draped her arm over his shoulders. “Still okay?”
“Um, yeah. Wow—he’s got spikes. That is so cool.”
Misty grinned at me. “He’s going to be fine.”
“Hern.” I waved at him, and he loped over, turning shy as he approached us. “This is Misty’s brother, Kenny. Kenny, meet Hern.”
They studied each other, different species, but still boys. Kenny stuck his hand out, a comic book clutched in his fingers.
“This one’s my favorite. You can—” He looked at Misty, panic skating across his face. “He can—”
“Read? Yes.” Amusement edged Hern’s gravel voice, wrapped around us. Kenny jerked in surprise, then a slow smile crossed his face.
“Is that you?”
“The emotion?” Hern shrugged. “It’s like your sweat. I can’t completely keep it contained.”
“Cool.” Kenny handed him the comic book, fingers hovering over the spikes on Hern’s shoulder. “Wanna go explore?”
“Sure!”
After a nod from me, they ran off, two boys excited to be together.
“Whew.” Misty leaned against me, watching them race down the street. “I wasn’t sure Kenny understood what was down here. I mean, really understood. I thought he might freak when he saw the locals. But my brother is one amazing kid.”
“Yeah, he is.”
Hern’s laughter filtered back to me, followed by a wave of happiness that touched everyone in sight. Jake stepped out of the office, Candace and Louise behind him. Hern’s happiness cloud obviously hadn’t touched them.
“Stay here,” I said, and headed for the trio of gloom. “What is it?”
Jake opened his mouth, but Candace beat him to it.
“One of the residents is missing. And all the rune necklaces are here.”
I forced down the panic at the thought of one of them wandering aboveground, completely visible. “Who?”
This time Jake spoke. “Leo.”
I closed my eyes. Leo was a night demon—one of the most phobic species ever. There’s no way he’d go wandering out of what he considered his safe zone.
I didn’t realize I stumbled until Louise’s arm slid around my waist.
“Let’s go inside, oui?”
She guided me up to the boardwalk, and into the office. By the time I sat in the chair behind my desk, Candace’s words sank in.
“What didn’t she tell me? Louise—what did Candace leave out?”
She sat on the edge of the desk, sympathy in her eyes. “Jake found demon blood, near the entrance to the sewers.”
I swallowed. It was Leo’s favorite place to wander. Everyone in the haven knew that. “You think—” I cleared my throat, fighting the tears that stung my eyes. Leo was a personal favorite, so shy, but so kind, to everyone. “You think he’s dead.”
No one needed to answer.
Slender arms wrapped around me from behind, and I knew it was Misty, because of the soft vanilla scent. She’d adopted my lotion, and it was now one of her signature scents.
“We’ll find him, Alex.”
I sniffed, and lifted my head. “I’ll be okay.”
Her sky-blue eyes studied me, for a long time. Somehow, she had picked up that intense gaze that Zach always gave me when he was worried.
“Then let’s go watch two boys become friends,” she said. “And figure out what to do next.”
She pulled me to my feet, and hugged me. I returned it, so grateful she was here, and that she understood.
“Okay.”
We stepped out to the boardwalk, assaulted by the sound of wild, joyful laughter. It soothed the ache squeezing my heart. I adored Hern, and to see him so carefree was the best medicine.
I leaned against Misty, enjoyed what would probably be the last peaceful afternoon for the foreseeable future.
Until we found Leo, the future of the haven hung in the balance.
~ ~ ~
Kenny’s visit was a huge success. It nearly took a crowbar to separate him and Hern. Only multiple promises for another visit—soon—persuaded them to let go of each other.
Kenny chattered all the way back home. His voice soothed me, his vivid descriptions of their adventures fun and, best of all, distracting.
Misty dropped him off, and we headed back to my house without me even asking for her company. Relief threatened to bring on the tears again.
My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket. Sam’s smiling face was on the screen. I smiled back at it as I answered.
“Hey, Sam.”
“Alex—don’t come back to the haven. I need you to stay away. And tell Misty the same thing—”
“What happened?” I heard the edge in his voice. The edge that told me he was minutes away from losing control. “Sam, talk to me.”
He paused for so long I looked at the phone to make we sure he hadn’t ended the call.
“Jake found Leo. He’s dead.”
I closed my eyes. “How?” I whispered. Misty pulled over, and gripped my free hand. I looked at her, glad she was here with me.
“Mauled and bitten. It looks like a Fenris did it.”
“Oh, God. Sam—”
“I didn’t—Alex—” So much pain cut through his voice, I wanted to reach into the phone and wrap my arms around him. “I don’t remember what I was doing this morning.”
“Stay there, Sam. I’m on my way.”
“No! I don’t want—”
“Tough. You’re getting my unconditional support, whether you want it or not.” I ended the call before he could answer. It buzzed again, and I sent the call to voicemail. Misty was already pulling onto the street when I turned to her. “Leo’s dead.”
“Oh, Alex. I’m so sorry. Back to the haven?”
I nodded, and she punched it.
I held on with both hands and asked a stupid question. “Can you go faster?”
Misty flashed me a smile that should have scared me and tightened her grip on the steering wheel. The car shot forward, going so fast the cars in the other lane were a blur when we passed them.
I distracted myself from the possibility of a fiery death by telling her about the call with Sam.
“He can’t really think he did this,” she said. “You need to bring him back from the dark side, Alex.”
“That’s the plan.”
I took my life in my hands and let go long enough to dig out my phone. With shaky fingers I tapped in the number, hoping he’d be free to answer.
“Hey, Alex.” Simon’s deep, warm voice eased the fear that was starting to take over. “What can I do for you?”
“I need your help, Simon.” Misty’s head snapped around, her eyes wide. I gestured frantically to the road, and she refocused on driving before I had heart failure. “A resident has been killed, and Sam—he thinks—oh, God, he doesn’t remember what he did this morning.”
“I’m a day’s drive out, Alex. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Be careful.”
He ended the call, and I hugged the phone, forcing my mind not to go to all the dark places poked into life by Sam’s words.
He couldn’t have killed. He loved the residents like family. There was another explanation—there had to be.
I didn’t think I could handle the other option.