Fear the Darkness

As if sensing her fear, Caine crouched, no doubt excited by the scent of her panic. But even as she braced for the impact, the vision vanished as abruptly as it had arrived.

Reeling in reaction, Cassie fell to her knees, her head bowed with the sheer horror of what she’d been shown.

Oh, gods, she had to stop this.

But how?

She didn’t know where the two of them had been, or how they’d been taken, or even what evil had been lurking just out of sight.

“Think, Cassie, think,” she muttered, wiping away the useless tears.

Though she didn’t know where they’d been, she sensed that it would happen soon. And if they were both in the strange fog, then they’d obviously been together when they were taken.

So . . . she had to make sure they weren’t together.

Ever.

She ignored the brutal pain that sliced through her at the mere thought of spending the rest of her life without Caine. It would be a barren, lonely existence, but she could survive if she knew that Caine was alive and well.

And more importantly, she ignored the whispered warning that she’d never been able to alter the future. No matter how often she tried.

This time it would be different.

It had to be different.

With an effort she forced herself to straighten, her knees still weak and her head aching. She would worry about the future later. For now, she had to get away from Caine.

Something that was easier said than done.

She was under no illusion that she could simply give him a kiss good-bye and stroll away. Caine had declared himself her protector and nothing short of death was going to pry him from her side.

Which meant she would have to slip away.

Her gaze turned toward the window. Although she couldn’t shift, she was still as strong and as fast as other Weres. If she jumped out the window and took off at top speed there was a fifty/fifty shot she could reach the Jeep before Caine realized she was trying to escape.

Of course, she’d only have one shot.

Caine would chain her to the wall if she failed.

Sucking in a deep breath, she was actually in the process of crossing the floor when she was struck by a sudden thought.

Crap. She couldn’t just leave. The hexes surrounding the cabin would fry her if she left the house alone.

Which meant she’d have to find a way to have Caine escort her past the barriers and then escape.

She squeezed her eyes shut in frustration. Yeah. No problem.

“Cassie?”

The sound of Caine’s voice calling from the kitchen jerked Cassie out of her dark broodings. First things first. She had to convince Caine to leave the house. She would worry about escaping later.

“I’m coming,” she called, heading reluctantly down the stairs and stepping into the kitchen.

She was greeted by the scent of waffles fresh from the toaster and warm syrup. Her stomach rumbled in approval, even as her heart sank to her toes at the sight of Caine mixing frozen orange juice into a pitcher.

It all looked so wondrously homey. Like a scene from her deepest fantasies.

Caine turned at her entrance, instantly sensing her distress despite her forced smile. Setting aside the pitcher, he moved across the tiled floor, grasping her hands in a tight grip. “What’s wrong?”

She hesitated. She might be the world’s worse liar, but this was for Caine. It was her turn to step up to the plate and do whatever was necessary to protect him. Just as he’d always protected her.

“I had a vision,” she admitted, sticking to the truth for as long as possible.

“Damn,” he muttered, the contentment leeching from his magnificent eyes. “Now what?”

“We have to leave.”

“Okay.” Her heart nearly shattered at his ready nod. He was prepared to follow her no matter what new disaster she was leading him into. Without question, without hesitation. How had she ever earned such steadfast loyalty? “Do you know where we’re headed?”

She forced her eyes to meet his searching gaze, fiercely reminding herself that Caine’s life hung in the balance.

“West.”

“That’s it?” His brows lifted, but he looked more confused than suspicious. Thank the gods. “Just west?”

“For now.”

“Do we at least have time for breakfast?”

Say no, a voice whispered in the back of her head.

The sooner she was away from Caine, the sooner she could hope she’d managed to avoid his fate. But, the need to spend just a few extra moments in his company overcame her common sense.

Surely a half an hour wouldn’t make any difference?

“Yes.”

“Breakfast in bed?” he murmured, his fingers brushing over her cheek. Then, noting her strained expression, he gently tapped the end of her nose. “Come on, your waffles are getting cold.”

Squashing her prick of guilt at her selfish need to savor just one meal with the man who’d rescued her from hell and filled her heart with joy, Cassie joined him at the breakfast table.

They ate in near silence, but Cassie was content to absorb the pleasure of his leg pressed against hers, and the delicious musk of his wolf that spiced the air. These memories were going to have to last her a lifetime and she intended to enjoy every moment.

All too swiftly they were finished with the waffles and Caine had cleared away their dishes.

With an effort, Cassie crushed the urge to find some excuse to linger and instead allowed herself to be carried out the front door and down the walk to the waiting Jeep. She had already dared fate enough. She had to get away from Caine before destiny took matters out of her hands.

Settling her in the seat, Caine moved to take his place behind the wheel. Then, with an ease that made her shake her head in rueful resignation, he had the vehicle shifted into gear and they were hurtling down the dirt path with a steady speed.

Her lips parted to tease that he would have to give her driving lessons so the next time she had to save his butt she wouldn’t embarrass herself, only to snap shut as she remembered there would be no next time.

She clenched her hands, something deep in her heart slowly withering and dying.

Was it hope?

Stoically, she watched the overgrown meadows being replaced by well-manicured fields, the road widening to a paved street that eventually became a four-lane highway.

Beside her she felt Caine’s concerned glances, while inside she was increasingly tormented by the urgent need to travel north to Caine’s lair outside of Chicago. She’d known for weeks she would eventually have to return to the farmhouse. Now it was an imperative demand she wasn’t going to be able to fight for much longer.

Still, she’d hoped to lead Caine as far west as possible. Once she managed to escape him, she wanted him convinced that she would be fleeing toward Kansas City. It would hopefully give her the necessary time to disappear before he could pick up her scent.

“You’re quiet.” Caine at last broke the thick silence.

She turned to meet his worried gaze, pasting a fake smile to her face. “I’m distracted.”

“And that’s all?”

She pressed her lips together, trembling with the effort to deny the powerful compulsion to leap from the Jeep and head north.

“Can we pull off here?” she rasped, pointing toward the narrow road just ahead.

He automatically exited, his brow furrowed as he studied the empty parking lot that framed a small park with public bathrooms and a handful of picnic tables.

He pulled to a halt beneath a shade tree, his eyes skimming the park in confusion. “A rest stop?”

“There’s something in the woods.” She pointed toward the distant line of trees. “Something you need to see.”

He jerked his gaze toward her, his jaw clenching as if sensing he wasn’t going to like what she had to say. “Me?”

She drank in the bronzed beauty of his face, memorizing every angle, every line and curve until it was branded on her heart.

“Yes.”

“What about you?”

“I need to stay here.”

He shook his head, returning his gaze to the empty countryside. “I don’t like this.”

“I’ll be fine,” she assured him.

“If something attacks I’ll be too far away to protect you.”

“Nothing will attack. It’s daylight.”

He didn’t look reassured. In fact, he looked downright pissy. “There are more dangers than just leeches.”

She trembled, struck by another urgent need to be traveling north. “Please, Caine.”

Clearly sensing her distress, Caine muttered a curse and reached beneath his seat to pull out a small handgun. “Here.” He pressed the weapon into her hand and wrapped her fingers around the grip. “Shoot anything that moves.”

Knowing that this was most likely her last moments with the man who would haunt her for the rest of eternity, she leaned forward to brush her lips softly over his mouth.

“Take care of yourself,” she whispered.

He nipped her bottom lip before pulling back with a rueful smile. “I’d rather take care of you.”

Oh . . . Lord.