As much as Vev longed to peer out the window, she kept herself low and covered. Still, the sun’s rays heated her skin, making her wonder if she’d shrivel up before she had a chance to rescue Mada and Matthew.
How many times had she been through this?
A groan from the front seat cut off Vev’s thoughts. Then a low thud shook the car. Zara must have smacked the seat cushion. “The next time we’re all together,” Zara grumbled. “No one is allowed to leave by themselves ever again.”
“Agreed,” Vev said. She was exhausted, mentally and physically. And hungry. She should have eaten before leaving Matthew’s.
The vehicle hit a rough spot and Zara yelped. “Sorry, Vev! Just when I think I understand driving, a curve throws me off balance.”
“It’s okay,” Vev said. “Just get us there in one piece, okay?”
“I will.”
The wheels hummed, gravel smacked the undercarriage, cars whizzed past. Vev was positive that they would have made it to the castle faster if they’d chosen to wait until dusk.
Static filled the cab, different sounds starting and stopping. Then finally, music. Mostly drums, a rhythmic pulse. The tempo reminded her of a wolf’s resting heart rate, just a tad faster than Zach’s had been when he was calm. When the song picked up, the beat mimicked a wolf’s hunting heartbeat.
How had Zara even known how to drive, let alone turn on the radio? “Are you sure you’ve never driven before?” Vev asked.
“I confess…I’ve been studying. I thought we might need it someday. That video game Cade and I used to play definitely helped understand the steering.”
Vev curled up tighter as her arm suddenly felt hotter. “The sun’s not bothering you?” Before they’d left, Vev had wrapped a dark trench coat around Zara, along with a thick scarf, and then had given her the only pair of sunglasses they’d found.
Zara giggled. “I’m fine. If anyone stops me, they’ll think I’m dressed in a burqa.”
It wasn’t funny, but Vev assumed she’d laughed partly from nervousness and excitement. None of them had seen or done anything their entire lives, and now, in the last few months, they’d experienced one adventure after another. Vev would be content to never have another adventure. In fact, she pictured a white picket fence surrounding a tiny cottage. Massive evergreens would provide shade so she and her family could play outside. A family… She sighed. She wanted a real family, children of her own. Children that no one wanted to hunt down and kill.
“Vev…” Zara broke through the selfish thoughts.
The vehicle came to a complete stop. New sounds surrounded her. More music. More cars. But instead of whooshing past them, they sat idling. Voices. Several sets chatted to each other. Humans, Vev realized.
“We’re…in town,” Zara continued, her voice low and shaky. “There are…so many people. Humans, I think. What if they see us?”
“What are they going to see?” Vev chuckled nervously. “A woman in black garb? How would they know the difference? Even if they did, we don’t look that different from humans. A little paler is all.”
“How can you laugh?”
“You were laughing.”
“Yeah…because I’m nervous.”
“I’m nervous, too, Zara. It’ll be okay.” It took everything Vev had not to pop up and have a look, but that would be reckless. “What do you see?”
Zara gulped. “I see the castle. Should I park and wait until nightfall?”
Vev released a long breath. “No… We might as well go for it. What do we have to lose?”
“Every…thing.” Zara’s voice cracked on the one word.
Everything wasn’t true. They had nothing to lose but their lives. After all, what else did they have? “They don’t want to hurt us, Zara,” Vev said softly, hoping to calm the youngling. “Not anymore, anyway. Besides, I made a friend…an ancient. He’ll protect us, I’m sure. Matthew is my only concern. Mada said they want to kill him.”
“No! They can’t!” The vehicle jolted forward.
Vev bolted upright, keeping the thick blanket wrapped around her. “Be careful, Zara!”
The car zoomed forward, racing toward the castle, which loomed above every other building and house in the small town. Humans stared as the vehicle careened past them, but they couldn’t possibly see inside. The windows were nearly black.
The speed. This was a pedestrian area. Vev touched Zara’s shoulder. “You’re going too fast. Slow down.”
Zara released her foot, and the car slowed almost immediately. The buildings and houses ended and the ten-foot-high wall that surrounded the castle came into view.
“There!” Vev pointed to an opening. The vine-covered brick ended at a black iron gate.
Zara carefully turned the steering wheel, pulling onto the brick drive that led to the castle. “Should I ram it?”
“No.” Vev resisted laughing. “I don’t think the car’s exterior is very strong. I’ll see if it’s locked. As often as the ancients come and go, I doubt it is. If it is, I’ll break it.”
“Are you sure? Maybe I should check it?”
“The area is shaded. I’ll be fine. Better than speeding down the highway with glass surrounding me.”
Zara gnawed her bottom lip. “Okay. Be careful.”
Vev smiled and hopped out. Checking a gate was the least of her worries. She wanted to get inside the castle, out of view.
Vev moved the bolt, freeing the gate. She hopped in the back seat again, as there weren’t too many trees shading the driveway. The sprint across open land earlier had been foolish. She thought she could outrun the sun’s burning rays. As fast as she was, even she couldn’t travel at the speed of light. It wouldn’t have been that difficult to find something to protect her skin. She could have torn off bark. No sense worrying now. What’s done is done, she’d heard Marguerite say on more than one occasion.
Zara moved her right foot to the right pedal, and the car moved again. The youngling gripped the steering wheel, navigating the long brick drive.
Vev pointed to the right side. “There, it’s shaded, and that side door leads to the kitchen.”
Zara obeyed, parking the car on the east side.
Once again, Vev wrapped the thick blanket around her body. Keeping her head down, she fled the vehicle and charged the side entry.
Zara followed.
With a twist of her wrist, Vev broke the doorknob and pushed the old wooden door. The chipped and cracked sill scraped the floor, making her cringe, but the interior was so noisy she was sure the screech went unnoticed. Voices echoed throughout the castle. The kitchen, thankfully, was empty. Not that it mattered; there was no turning back. She’d rather take her chance with ancients than the sun.
Even though Zara was as tall as Vev was, she gripped her waist. “I’m scared.” Her voice was just a mere murmur, but still, the echoes could carry her words.
Vev turned and raised a finger to her lips.
Zara nodded, her eyelids fluttering. She really was scared. The young one didn’t know how powerful she was. Too bad Cade and the others hadn’t felt the same way. If Vev hadn’t needed to rescue Matthew and Mada, she wouldn’t have come to the castle again—ever.
Several pairs of footsteps approached. “Wait!” The one word was authoritative, yet it held a question. The footfalls halted. A loud sniff followed.
Vev squeezed Zara’s hand, backing her up. She didn’t want to chance opening any doors, so their only shelter was an alcove. She was caught. No way would she go undiscovered, but Zara might be able to. Vev held up her hand, mouthing, Stay!
Zara whipped her head back and forth.
Vev narrowed her eyes. Don’t move!
The youngling swallowed, but nodded her agreement.
Vev crept forward. On the other side of the door, nearly soundless steps closed the distance. She sniffed too. A familiar scent dominated the faint scents of mildew and wood smoke. Still, she had to advance cautiously. Other than Matthew’s phone call, she had no clue what had happened since she’d left. What she did know was that the overall mood hadn’t sounded friendly.
The saloon-style kitchen door inched open. Tall, redheaded, and handsome filled the doorway. The moment Arthur saw her, his jaw twitched and his eyes widened. “What on earth happened to you, woman?”
Vev relaxed her stance, but swatted her hand behind her, instructing Zara to hang back. “I thought I needed a tan. You know, to look more like you and your family.”
Arthur smiled. “It didn’t work. You look like you belong to a Native American family now. I’d say the color looks good, but I can’t imagine the damage you’ve done to your skin. Thankfully you didn’t burst into flames like some vampire in an old movie.”
“For a moment, I felt like I was on fire.” Vev peered around Arthur to take in her brother and the tall, angry-looking man she’d seen earlier, Derrick. “Oh!” she said. “I just remembered… The people who took me. They mentioned you.”
Arthur pointed to himself. “Me?”
“No. Him.” Vev indicated Derrick.
“Me?” Derrick leaned in, as if he hadn’t heard her correctly.
“Yeah…” Vev searched her memory. “He said that you had one fault, a thirst for revenge.”
Derrick slowly straightened, blinked, then tilted his head as though he was thinking. “A thirst for revenge… Whoever called Reece and told him Matthew was here did it to get us away from our wives.” Derrick released a sharp breath. “They were right. They played me perfectly…because I allowed them. They knew I’d gather everyone up to catch my uncle.” He dropped his head, shaking it. “Revenge… Humph! When will I learn to listen to my father?”
“Well, Derrick,” Arthur said, patting him on the back, “We can’t change what happened, but we can be smarter about moving forward now that we know who’s involved.”
Derrick forced a smile. “And now we have reinforcements.” He turned to Vev. “Did you bring the entire family, or just you?”
“No!” Mada said before she could answer. “They’re just children. They may be strong, but they don’t have the mental skill to fight.”
Arthur licked his lips as he looked first to Mada and then to Derrick. “I’m not okay with that either, Derrick.” Vev felt Arthur’s hand curl around hers.
“We’re not asking anyone to fight,” Derrick appealed. “It’s just a show of hands. If our numbers are greater than their numbers, they’re less likely to challenge us.”
“Mada’s right,” Arthur said. “The children are too volatile, too much of a risk.” He shot his gaze to Vev. “Speaking of whom, are they here?”
Vev shook her head. “They’re with Cade, one of the eldest.” Which was true.
“Okay, then,” Derrick continued, “Vev is definitely an asset. Apparently she’s faster than the lot of us. You couldn’t even keep up with her, Arthur. Maybe she can sneak by the guards, find a way to enter the building.”
As red as she knew she was, Vev felt her face get even hotter. “I can’t go.”
Arthur narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t think I could stop you, but why—oh…yes, I understand. No, you definitely can’t get any more sun today.” He peeked at his watch. “Only a few hours till sundown. Derrick, why don’t you and Mada…” Arthur turned to Mada. “Wait. That means you can’t go either.”
“And I’m not leaving Mada alone with Matthew,” Derrick said.
“I just need protection,” Mada said flatly; obviously he and Derrick weren’t getting along.
Zara stepped out of the alcove. “I’ll go too.”
Mada gasped. “Absolutely not. I can’t believe you brought her here, Vev.”
Zara folded her arms. “I brought myself here. Since I’m here, I might as well be useful. I can be a lookout or something.”
Derrick nodded. “That’s not a bad idea. That way, we’ll have every able body. We’ll stop by my office and get earpieces. Everyone will be in touch at all times. We won’t lose anyone. I promise.”
Mada nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. “Okay. Vev, don’t step outside until the sun is completely down.” He sighed, shaking his head. “You know better. What were you thinking—”
“We’ll talk later,” Vev cut off her brother. She wasn’t a kid, and she didn’t appreciate him treating her as if she were. She had very good reason for challenging the sun…to get to the children. And she’d been right. But she couldn’t get into that now. “Right now, let’s get everyone home safely.”
Derrick made eye contact with Mada and Zara. “I’ll get my vehicle and bring it around. Arthur, keep an eye on…”
Mada stepped forward before Derrick could finish. “Derrick, I gave you my word. I’ll help…as long as you agree that Matthew gets a fair trial.”
Derrick nodded and exited the same door where Vev and Zara had entered.
The five of them waited in silence. None of them, Vev assumed, wanted to get into the other discussions that plagued them. Obviously Mada and Derrick were having issues, and the last thing Vev wanted was to bring up the fact that Cade had disappeared. Or how she’d found Teena and the brothers. She was certain that Cade would keep the children and younglings safe. Even though he was behaving irresponsibly, he wasn’t ignorant. More than likely he was doing what she and Mada had mentioned yesterday: moving the children north. And Teena… All Vev could do was hope that Teena didn’t happen upon more humans she felt needed to be brought to justice.
Then there was Arthur. Something was definitely happening there. The way her brother was staring at her, he knew it too.
Arthur touched her cheek. “Why don’t we find something to put on your skin? You’re burning up.”
Vev nodded. “Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.”
Arthur approached Mada, and her brother took a step back. “You gonna be okay with Derrick, brother?”
Mada offered a quick nod. “Yes. We’ll be fine. And you?”
Arthur flashed Vev a wink. “Your sister’s tough and all, but I think I’ll manage.”
Vev handed her blanket to Mada. “Here. This helps.”
Mada reached to hug her, but then eyeing her burnt shoulders, he pulled himself upright. He wagged his finger instead. “You be smart, okay?”
She noticed he hadn’t told her to be careful, but smart. Was he referring to her skin, or the Viking who’d taken her hand? Vev decided she didn’t care. She was a grown woman. She didn’t need Mada to be her guardian. Not anymore. Together, they needed to secure the children and make sure they were away from humans, but she didn’t need Mada to protect her anymore.
Vev dipped her head to Zara. “Stay out of harm’s way, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Zara’s hands were clenched, as if to keep herself from reaching out to her. She’d always been the most loving.
The door opened, and Derrick stuck his head in. “Let’s go. The door’s open. The back seat offers the most protection from the sun. Dean, as much as I don’t want to be anywhere near you, you’re coming with me. We may need you to negotiate a deal.”
Vev stepped away from the sunlight streaming in, but remained where she could see Mada and Zara. Arthur’s large hands nearly encircled her waist. Did he think she was stupid enough to challenge the sun again? Even if she was, that was her decision—not his.
Bitter saliva filled her mouth. Her face burned hotter than it had mere minutes earlier. No way would she allow a man to make her decisions. First Tag, then Mada. Now Arthur thought it was his duty. She didn’t need anyone telling her what to do and when to do it.
Derrick took one last look as he held the doorknob. His eyes held a question, but he nodded over her head and pulled the door shut.
Vev swung around, twisting out of Arthur’s hands. “If I wanted to go, I’d go.”
Arthur cocked his head, allowing a tiny smile. “Like I said, I didn’t think I could stop you.”
“Then why did you try?”
He huffed lightly. “What are you talking about? I didn’t try to stop you from doing anything. I only agreed with your brother that the children weren’t ready. I saw them in the forest.” Arthur stared down at her.
“That’s not what I was referring to.”
“You mean because I touched your waist when Derrick opened the door?”
Vev just stared, her chin raised. “Yes.”
“I’ve lost you a few times, Vev. Can I help it if I’m a little protective? It’s in my nature.” He blew out a breath through his nose. “That bothered you?”
“I’m just tired of others controlling me.”
Arthur shook his head, a short chuckle escaping his throat. “I assure you, I have no desire to control you. Hell, do anything you want. As long as you let me tag along, I’ll be happy.”
Embarrassment seized her, but watching the way Arthur’s full lips turned up, she couldn’t help but return his smile. She’d thought that he seemed different from the few men she’d known. And the tickle in her stomach… What was that?
Arthur checked his watch again. “We still have a few hours until sundown. Why don’t we find that first-aid kit, and then…” His soft-spoken words trailed off.
Vev waited a couple seconds, hoping he’d fill the empty air. Instead of speaking, his green eyes held hers, their intensity increasing every second that passed.
She blinked, tried to clear her mind, tried to ignore the hunger. “And then?”
Arthur stepped forward. He touched her cheek so gingerly she barely felt it, and yet, sparks ignited. Every inch of her body felt his touch. She’d been burnt on the outside, but now it felt as if she were burning on the inside. Only…she welcomed this burn that seemed to emanate from her very core.
He touched his lips to hers ever so briefly, pulling back before she could actually return the kiss. “And then…” He touched his lips to hers a second time, then a third, making her want to pull him into her arms and never let go. He smiled as he pulled back for the third time. “Whatever you want, my love.”