Our trip to Australia seemed like a million years ago, not a mere eight months.

“Well, I’m glad she’s doing better, and I’m glad . . .” I rubbed my shoulder. “I’m glad she has you. And you have her.”

He finally looked at me again, those hazel eyes searching mine. I hoped he saw the truth, that I wanted him to be happy.

“You like her a lot, don’t you?” I asked.

“I like her very much, Anna.” His words held enough passion to make me shiver.

When he looked back at the road, I smiled out my window. He may or may not have kissed her yet, but he definitely wanted to.

My pulse jumped at the sound of an incoming text message. I pulled my phone from my bag. The message was from Marek.

Cannot rid myself of Cat. Cannot locate two other companions. Not safe to meet.

My heart thumped as I tried to figure out his guilt or innocence. I read the text to Kope, and we pondered in silence. My angel side wanted so badly to trust him, but my demon side was shaking its head and telling me not to be stupid.

“I’m not going to answer him. And I won’t contact him again.”

“Good,” Kope said.

It was after midnight when we got to the airport.

“Do you have a red-eye flight?” I asked.

“No. I leave at five, but it’s better if we are not seen together.”

“Yeah.” I agreed, but I still felt a gaping loss at the thought of him leaving.

He parked at the curb and turned to me, the streetlamp catching a glint of green in his light eyes.

“You saved me. They were going to take me to the Dukes.”

Or worse, depending on whether they could keep their murderous urges in check. I somehow doubted they’d have been punished for “accidentally” killing me.

“I had a terrible feeling after we spoke. I had to go to you.”

“Thank you.” Without thought, I reached across the seats to hug him. He pulled me close, careful of my shoulder. For one second I worried that this contact might spark his lustful side, but it didn’t. He held me gently and let me go.

“Are you certain you are all right?” he asked.

“I’m better already. Maybe one more dose.”

Kope shook four tablets into my hand and put the bottle in his pocket. I imagined begging him for the bottle, but he would never give in.

“Good-bye, Anna. Stay safe.”

“You, too, Kope. Give Z my love. Miss you.”

I hadn’t really meant to say the last part, but it was true. He was my friend and I missed him. I was rewarded with a flash of his grin and dimple before he left me. Alone again.

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins Publishers

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CHAPTER NINE

KAIDAN OR THE WORLD

What now?

Still hadn’t heard from Dad. Desperately wanted to talk to Kaidan. Was worried about Jay, Marna, Ginger, Blake, and Patti. And here I was driving aimlessly around Virginia.

A foolish part of me wanted to be near Patti and Jay, even if we couldn’t actually be together.

I stopped for gas in a tiny town, admiring the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains against the deep blue night sky. The scenery was abruptly ruined as two vile winged beings flew down and circled the car, watching me. Crap. Ignoring them, I started the car and got back on I-81.

They would never leave me alone.

There would be no hiding or escaping from the whisperers. I was being watched and followed. I could try to find a church like Jay, considering the spirits and Dukes wouldn’t go in. But they’d still know where I was, and they’d send their human lackeys in after me. All I could do was try to stay one step ahead.

Even on the open roads, surrounded by immense earthly beauty, I felt trapped.

Where are you, Dad? What am I supposed to do now? My brilliant plan to speak with Marek had been a whopping fail.

I wouldn’t cry, but my eyes burned and my breathing felt ragged.

The last thing Dad had advised, and all we Neph agreed to, was to pretend to work. Maybe that was what I should do. Instead of running and hiding, I could head to college. It was Dad’s plan for my life. My next “duty station,” where I’d put on a show of being a student while partying it up. Would it throw the Dukes off if I kept with the working charade instead of running and looking guilty? Anything was worth a try at this point.

I headed to Blacksburg, checking into a hotel since the dorms weren’t open.

Dorms. College. Ha. It was all in my grasp, and yet it wasn’t. I couldn’t even be excited by the cute town or fun atmosphere.

I tossed and turned all night, sweating despite the blasting air conditioner. My whole body hurt, and I fought the urge to go out and buy more painkillers, worried I’d take more than I should. I woke at six a.m. from a dream that was blurred and faint.

The sheets were still tangled around my hips when the knock at the door came, and my heart rate rocketed. I disengaged myself from the blankets, and grabbed the stun gun and knife from the nightstand. This hotel had no window or door through which to escape. My brain whirled.

Was it the sons of Thamuz? Kope had hurt one of them pretty badly—I couldn’t imagine they’d be on the go already. Hotel staff wouldn’t knock at the door this early. It had to be a Neph or Duke. Whisperers must have found me while I slept. Was it Marek and Caterina again? With great effort I forced my extended hearing outside the door and whispered, “Who is it?”

“Kaidan Rowe. Son of Pharzuph.”

My breath stuck and my internal organs somersaulted. It was his voice. But why did he sound so formal? And what the heck was he doing here? I sprinted to the entrance—no peephole!

I stood in front of the door, shaking. “What do you want?”

“I need to speak with you. Open up.”

Either it was really him, and something horrible was happening, or someone was doing a dang good impersonation.

“I’m not here to hurt you.” He spoke softly, but his tone sounded dangerous.

I didn’t want to be scared of Kaidan. My Kai. But instincts made me clutch the knife harder.

Swallowing down the moisture of emotion, I turned the doorknob. When I pulled the door open, my heart soared. It was definitely Kaidan, looking like he’d been up all night. His chin-length brown hair hung disheveled around a blast of bright blue eyes and a hardened face. Next to him, hovering with a malicious grin, was a whisperer.

I was confused, nervous, elated, sickened. He’d brought a whisperer straight to me . . . or perhaps the whisperer had led Kaidan. The human panty thief hadn’t worked. Neither had Marek or Caterina or the sons of Thamuz. So the Dukes sent Kaidan. That fact made me relieved in one major sense—they must not be suspicious of him. He was safe, for now.

So, what was Kaidan’s plan?

My pulse would not settle. Kaidan grabbed the edge of the door over my shoulder and stepped forward, moving us both into the room.

I realized I’d completely let down my guard when I felt his hand wrap around mine, successfully snapping my knife shut and slipping it into his own pocket. He gave the “flashlight” a funny look before pulling it from my grasp and dropping it to the floor. The door shut, and the whisperer pushed its way through it, watching as Kaidan backed me against the wall.

With the spirit watching, I had to pretend I didn’t love him, just as he was doing, even if it hurt. In normal life I couldn’t stomach lying. But where whisperers and Dukes were concerned, all bets were off.

I put my palms on Kaidan’s chest and straightened my arms, giving him my fiercest look. His red starburst pumped.

“Back off, son of Pharzuph,” I warned.