“We have permission to approach you and request a second meeting.”

“Second?”

“This would count as the first,” he clarified helpfully.

“Ah.” So talking me into leaving with him would probably be the second meeting that he had permission to request. However, I bet he didn’t have permission to have the second meeting without Elder supervision. Typical Forlorn rule breaking. His eyes never left my face, and the longer I remained silent the more his humor slipped. I didn’t think he would accept no to his request. It might even result in my immediate forceful removal from this bar. Could nothing in my life ever go easy?

“I can’t go with you tonight. I’m with a friend. But I plan to be at the Compound for an Introduction tomorrow night.”

“Really? It’s odd that no call’s gone out for it.” He tilted his head and studied me, probably trying to sense a lie. Didn’t matter. He wouldn’t sense one as I’d just made up my mind.

“That’s because I haven’t told my guardian yet. We had a fight, and I’m still pretty pissed at him.” Pretty pissed at him, and pretty pissed at you. Why couldn’t everyone just leave me alone? “I’m tired of being told what to do and want the Introductions on my terms. I didn’t think about the call. Sorry.”

He looked at me closely for several moments. “I can understand not wanting to be told what to do. That’s why we left our packs.”

Forlorn. My stomach dropped, and my hand tightened on my glass. Bad grew worse the moment he smelled my fear. His nostrils flared minutely, and his grin widened.

“Don’t worry, little one. We’re not going to cause you any trouble tonight. We will see you tomorrow night.”

Yep, that sounded like a threat. If I didn’t go to the Compound, they would be coming to get me either way.

He nodded to me, turned, and disappeared into the crowd. I used my sight and monitored his progress as he and his group left the club. Once they cleared the building, I grabbed Rachel’s hand to distract her from her shouted conversation and motioned for the exit. A true friend, she immediately set her barely touched drink on the bar and moved to follow me.

One of the women noticed and snagged my arm.

“Please stay!” she shouted.

I smiled regretfully at her and her friend. Both pleaded with their eyes as did the men behind them. But the men begged for a different reason—they were only feeling the effects of the pull I had. I felt a moment of pity for the women. At some point in our lives, we all looked for that one being to connect with. These two just wanted a chance to find their special someone.

Though I understood, Rachel and I needed to leave in case the Forlorn changed their minds about waiting until tomorrow. I reached out to the women ready to apologize.

As soon as my fingers made contact with their arms, a large shock took the three of us by surprise. I knew immediately what I’d done. It hadn’t stung as bad as it had when I’d zapped Nicole, but the drain of it was worse. Now Rachel and I had even more reason to leave quickly.

The women looked stunned. I just laughed it away and patted their arms.

“Sorry,” I shouted over the music and waved goodbye.

This time when I moved to go, no one paid me any attention. One of the men behind the girls had already called the bartender over to order more drinks for the group. I hoped the women would stick together and be smart about the attention soon to be showered on them.

The first wave of dizziness washed over me as Rachel and I pushed our way through the crowd toward the door. The bouncer didn’t even give me a second glance as we left. No man did. It confirmed what I had already guessed.

Our heels tapped out a rapid cadence on the sidewalk, but the clipped sound seemed like it came from under water. I wondered how long it would take my ears to recover from the loud music.

“We need to get home,” I said as soon as we were far enough away from the club that I could hear.

“Why? Is someone following us?” She turned to look behind us.

I hadn’t thought of that. I hoped the Forlorn would keep their word because I couldn’t look for them with my sight. I didn’t want to drain myself further.

“No, I’m just really not feeling well.”

We reached Rachel’s car, and I slid into my seat. By the time Rachel eased into the driveway, I shivered uncontrollably. She had cranked the heat in the car, but it hadn’t helped. After all, the shivering wasn’t because of a chill or a fever. I didn’t argue when she parked and told me to stay sitting. She came to my side of the car to help me out.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner that you weren’t feeling well?” Rachel said with one arm wrapped securely around my waist as she helped me into the house. The cold beads of the dress tickled the backs of my legs.

“I d-didn’t know. It c-came on f-fast.”

Rachel unlocked the door. We’d stayed at the club an hour at least, but the house remained quiet and dark.

“Clay?” I called from the kitchen. No answer. How long did Dale keep him on a Friday night? Rachel helped me to my room and frowned at the empty bed.

“I wonder where he is,” she murmured.

Too late, I realized my mistake. When I’d called for Clay, I’d wanted the man, forgetting all about Clay-the-dog. Thankfully, I hadn’t said anything more.

She unzipped the back of my dress because I shook too badly to reach it, then left my room to search the rest of the house for Clay. I let the dress fall to the floor and struggled to put on my warm pajamas. Rachel came back a few moments after I’d managed to pull up the pants. She looked even more worried.

“I can’t find him anywhere.”

“M-maybe he got out. I’m going to bed. I’m sure he’ll s-show up tomorrow,” I said, crawling under the covers.

Rachel got me a glass of water, set it on the dresser, then felt my forehead.

“Doesn’t feel like a fever. Maybe it’s low grade.”

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ve had this before and just need sleep.” I burrowed deeper under the covers and tried to curl up to stop shaking. I wished for Clay again. I needed him. He warmed me, comforted me, and I needed to tell him about my promise to go to another Introduction. That wouldn’t go over well.

Rachel continued to watch me—nurse Rachel, not friend Rachel. I needed to distract her before she insisted I go see someone.

“I forgot to tell you. I have plans to leave tomorrow to see Sam. If Clay’s back, I want to take him with me.”

“You sure you’ll be up for it?”

“Yeah, it’s not something I have a choice about.”

“All right. Wake me up if you need anything.” She left the room but kept the door ajar. It made my heart ache as I recalled how, first my mother, and then my grandmother, had done the same for me whenever I’d been ill.

Chapter 16

I felt Clay hop up on my bed and forced my eyes open. Tremors still shook me, and the mid-morning light sent shafts of pain into my aching head. The last time this had happened, it had taken close to twenty-four hours of sleep before I woke up without a headache. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to sleep this one off. If I didn’t show up at the Compound on time, those Forlorn would come looking for me, and Clay would get hurt again.

My mind worked sluggishly as I stared at the time. The clock displayed nine. It would take a little over eight hours to get to the Compound. We’d arrive around dinner.

“C-clay, we need to get to the Compound. Can you drive?” I struggled to sit up. He cocked his fuzzy head at me. “A lot happened last night while you were gone. I’ll tell you about it on the way.”

I tried to stand, but a wave of dizziness knocked me back onto the bed. Blood rushed to my head and pulsed in my ears. I almost didn’t hear Clay move while I sat there panting. I waited a moment, took a deep breath, then tried to stand again.

This time, Clay wrapped an arm around me to help. He’d shifted. I glanced at the door. It stood ajar. Was Rachel still home? He needed to be more careful. My wandering eyes caught our reflection in the mirror.