Soar

I nodded. “Thanks.”

I walked down the hall tentatively, half convinced something was going to jump out and attack me. I had just discovered that paranormal creatures existed after all. And I’d kissed one. I’d kissed a paranormal creature. That meant he wasn’t human. The scary part was he wasn’t the first non-human I’d kissed. Chances were good that Murphy’s brother wasn’t human either. And I’d done a whole lot more than kiss him.

I found the bathroom, happy to discover it appeared to be something out of the twenty-first century. I took my time, not sure I wanted to face any more of the craziness. My nerves were fried, and I felt near my breaking point. I also didn’t want to face the growing feeling that I had something to do with the attacks. It didn’t make any sense, but why take Vera, and then go after me?

I wanted Toby. The thought came suddenly, and I splashed water on my face to make it go away. Using Toby for information was one thing, but did I really still want someone who wasn’t human? Yes. The answer gnawed at me. I kind of wanted him more, and that was a really scary thought.

“Casey? Are you okay?” Cody called. It sounded like he was right outside the door.

“Yeah. I’ll be right out.” I splashed another round of water on my face and patted it dry. I tied my hair up in an attempt to make myself look more like a strong survivor than a disheveled victim.

“Take your time. I was just checking.” He sounded embarrassed. I doubt he wanted to ask. Maybe he was afraid I was crying, or even worse, that I needed a tampon or something. Cody seemed like the kind of guy who’d get freaked out over that.

“Thanks.”

“I’m going to see if there’s anything edible in the kitchen.”

I waited for his footsteps to disappear down the hall before opening the door. It’s always weird to open a door when someone’s right there.

I heard talking and followed it to the kitchen. Cody was on the phone. “So we should plan to spend the night, then?”

My stomach churned. That didn’t sound good. I waited just outside the entryway.

“He’s going to be okay though, right? I don’t think we can handle another power switch.”

“Is he okay?” I stepped into the kitchen, giving away my eavesdropping. I hoped by some chance he wasn’t talking about Toby.

Cody held the phone away from his ear. “He’ll be fine.” He returned to the call. “I’ve got to go.” He hung up.

“What happened to Toby?”

Cody swallowed hard. “He’s going to be okay.”

“Tell me.” I gripped the counter.

“He got a little cut, that’s all.”

A cut? I was positive it was a lot bigger than that. “Is he coming here?”

“Yeah. He’s taking care of some things, but then he’ll head up.”

“Soon?”

Cody smiled. “Toby would be glad to see your concern. The flight won’t take long, but he can’t leave yet. Let’s find something to eat, and then you can get some sleep while you wait.”

“Get some sleep? Are you kidding me?”

He opened the cabinets and pulled out a jar of peanut butter and some crackers. I picked them up and checked the dates. They both were well within expiration—impressive for a house that didn’t seem to be frequently used.

“Sleeping is usually advisable.” He spread a thick layer of peanut butter on a couple crackers.

“Yet not necessarily possible.” I knew a lot about sleepless nights. I had them more often than not.

“You’re safe here.”

“Clearly, I trust you. I’m inside the house, standing here calmly while you wield a knife.”

He chuckled. “Wield a knife? I’d worry more about my pinky than a butter knife.”

“Yeah, that was a joke, and your response didn’t exactly put me at ease.”

He bit into a cracker. I wondered if Pteron teeth were stronger too. “You’re only stuck with me for a few more hours.”

“Good to know.”

He laughed again. “I wonder if that’s what Toby sees in you. I mean, besides what you look like.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re funny. You’ve got this wittiness to you that you probably don’t even realize you have.”

I reached over him and dipped a cracker in the peanut butter. I preferred crunchy, but creamy was better than nothing. I didn’t bother with a knife.

“Toby barely knows me.”

“Yet you’ve been staying at his place…”

“In the guest room.”

“Sure, the ‘guest room.’” He made air quotes. His skepticism reminded me of Jared. I wondered where he fit into all of it. Was he still in New York with Toby?

“I’m not sleeping with him.”

“Maybe not yet, but it’s inevitable. I saw the way you reacted when you thought he was hurt.”

“Caring about someone doesn’t mean you want to sleep with them.”

“It does in your case. You were about to be mauled by a bear but you were more concerned with staring at him without a shirt on.”

“Was not.”

“Were too.” He opened another sleeve of crackers.

“We sound like children.”

“Yes, we do.” He stuffed two crackers in his mouth.

I nabbed one more. “I still can’t believe any of this.”

“It’s about to get even more real.” He leaned up against the counter.

“Why’s that?”

“Toby’s here.”

“Where?” I walked to the doorway and looked down the long, empty hallway. Satisfied there was no one there, I walked back over to Cody.

Cody smiled. “I heard him land. He’ll be in soon.”

Chapter Nineteen

Toby

I pushed open the front door. “Casey?” I sensed movement in the kitchen and walked right in.

She gazed at me for half a second, as if deliberating, before running into my arms. I held her close, even more relieved to see her than I expected.

I patted her back. I needed to find a way to offer comfort without coming on too strong.

She buried her face in my bare chest. It felt right. “Are you hurt?”

“No. I’m good.”

“Are you sure?” She lifted her head to look at me. There was such concern in her eyes. Concern for me. She ran her hand over the cut on my chest that was already starting to heal. There were a lot of benefits of being a Pteron.