“So you hope,” he said, his grip tightening.

True. “Even if you’re right, we still have the advantage. We’ll be prepared for an ambush. Either way, I guess we’ll find out tonight. And Riley, do not even think about leaving me behind.”

“I’ll do what needs to be done, Mary Ann.”

Finally she rose on her tiptoes and kissed him. He didn’t respond, and she tried not to let it matter. “So will I. And guess what? I changed my mind. I’m hitting second period.” With that, she turned and opened the door. He released her without protest and she strode into the hall, never once glancing back.

GO AHEAD AND FLUSH this day down the toilet, Aden thought as he and Shannon walked home from school.

Cars whizzed past them on one side, and trees stretched on the other. They were taking the main roads today rather than the forest. Riley had insisted, and agreeing had been the only way to get rid of him.

All day, Aden had been too tired to listen to his teachers. He had no idea what material had been covered, and even if he had been paying attention, the souls had been too chatty to allow him to concentrate, having just come out of their drug-induced stupor. They’d wanted to know what had happened with the vampires, but he hadn’t had a chance to reply.

On and on they’d asked—were still asking—until he’d wanted—still wanted—to bang his head against the wall. It was probably a good thing, then, that Riley and Mary Ann hadn’t spoken to him at lunch. Actually, Mary Ann hadn’t spoken to anyone at lunch. She’d sat at the table, food untouched in front of her, frowning at everyone who passed. Aden would have asked her what was wrong, but trying to carry on a conversation hadn’t seemed wise.

Especially since she’d looked ready to throw something at Riley’s head when the wolf announced he would be walking Aden home rather than his girlfriend. But Aden had refused his escort with a firm shake of his head. Having a friend beside him, sure, good times. But a babysitter? No, thanks.

To his surprise, Riley had accepted his refusal after only a few halfhearted protests. He’d been free to go with Mary Ann, after all. Hopefully, they’d work out their problems before midnight, when their little group was supposed to meet up and head into town to hunt—and kidnap—a witch.

Aden was still reeling about that. Kidnap? Really?

Again, there hadn’t been an opportunity to discuss it. Not just because of the souls, but because of their audience. And now he had to rush to the ranch so that Dan could take him to Dr. Hennessy’s office for their emergency session.

“This sucks,” he said.

“W-what does?” Shannon asked, flicking him a glance.

The question battered against the rest of the noise inside his head, and Aden took a moment to decipher it. “My upcoming doctor’s appointment. I don’t want to go.”

If that stupid doc forces any more drugs down your throat, I’m going to shoot myself, Caleb grumbled.

Good luck with that, Julian replied dryly. I don’t think I ever told you this, but it’s always been a dream of mine to watch a soul without a body wield a gun.

Well, bodiless or not, we might wish we could shoot ourselves after today’s session, Elijah said grimly.

“Do you know something?” Aden demanded. Elijah’s predictions never failed. What the soul thought would happen, happened. Usually, he only knew when people were going to die. Yet more and more lately, he knew other things. Scary things. Like blood flowing in rivers.

“Know w-what?” Shannon asked.

This time, he didn’t have to pause to decipher the words. The different conversations were finally streamlining, becoming clearer. “Sorry,” he said to Shannon, cheeks heating. “I meant, this has just been such a crappy day, with Mary Ann’s silence, Riley’s bad mood and the doctor’s visit, like I mentioned.”

“Yeah. What was wrong w-with you yesterday, man? I’ve never seen y-you like that.”

Aden wanted to confess. He wanted to trust Shannon fully. He really did. But he couldn’t predict the boy’s reaction to vampires and werewolves and ghosts, which meant he couldn’t say a word. If Shannon told Dan, Dan would think Aden was crazy—more than he already did—and send him back to juvie or to another institution. For “help.”

“Stress,” he said, and left it at that. In a way, that was the truth.

“Know what you m-mean. Sometimes life just seems to be t-too much.”

“Having trouble?” Aden knew kids liked to tease Shannon about his stutter, and that embarrassed the boy unbearably.

“What if I t-told you that I—I…” Shannon rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. His stutter was more pronounced now, which meant his emotions were jacked. “M-my parents, they knew I was d-different and—” He pressed his lips together, now mute.

“Come on.” Aden grabbed his arm and tugged him into the woods completely, seemingly leaving civilization behind. Yeah, he’d told Riley he’d stick to the main roads. No, he didn’t feel guilty. When a friend needed you, you delivered. “It’s okay, man. You can tell me anything. Believe me.” He’d been different his entire life. Hearing voices, talking to people who supposedly weren’t there. Now, summoning creatures from fairy tales and nightmares.

“Yeah, but I’m not d-different like you.” Horror blanketed Shannon’s expression. “I-I’m sorry. I—I didn’t m-mean that in a b-bad way. I j-just…” He pushed out a shaky sigh. “I’ve n-never really told anyone else a-and—No, that’s n-not exactly true, b-but—”

A boy Aden didn’t recognize stepped from behind a tree.

Aden and Shannon drew up short.

Another boy he didn’t recognize swung from around the next trunk over. Both were relaxed, seemingly unarmed. The first had pale hair, pale skin and pale blue eyes. Multiple shades of brown and gold colored the other’s hair, the same shades swirling in his eyes. Both were tall, stretching over Aden’s own six feet. They were leanly muscled, and both wore T-shirts and soft-looking slacks.

Not another fight, Caleb groaned.

Aden reached for his daggers.

“Riley sent us, Majesty,” the pale one said, his voice deep and husky. He held up a palm in greeting. “We’re his older brothers. Be glad you aren’t meeting the younger brothers. I’m Nathan.”

“Maxwell,” the other said with a nod.

Thank God, Julian said after a relieved sigh. Werewolves.

The horror returned to Shannon’s expression, though Aden suspected it was because he’d almost confessed his secret, whatever it was, with strangers nearby.

“Nice to meet you,” Aden replied.

Shannon tossed Aden a strange look. “M-Majesty?”

“Nickname,” he muttered. To the new boys, he said, “I prefer Aden.”

They nodded as they straightened from their relaxed poses.

“Why are you here?” More babysitting?

Maxwell waved his arm, motioning them forward. “To see you home safely, of course. Just in case you deviated from your promised route.”

He still wouldn’t feel guilty, he told herself as he surged forward, dragging Shannon with him. Nothing he could say in rebuttal, not now. Riley, though, would get an earful later.

Wish Riley would have sent a girl to guard us, Caleb said.

There are more important things in life than girls, Elijah admonished.

Name one.

A moment passed in silence.

Caleb laughed. See!

The list is so long I got lost in thought, the psychic grumbled.

Yeah. Right, Julian said, his own laughter blending with Caleb’s.

“Guys. Please.”

Shannon tossed him another strange look, and Aden motioned to their escorts, trying to pretend he’d been talking to them.

Sorry, Caleb said, repentant. My bad. I just, I miss Victoria, I guess.