Stay

“You know Casey?” Vera said with excitement.

“Yeah. She’s really cool. She also speaks highly of you.”

“Ok, girls. Enough chit chat.”

Both girls turned to glare at me.

“Where’s the other bear?” Had I really been so distracted I’d just let him disappear.

“I’m here.” A fairly tall and very broad guy with blond hair walked over. “I’m Eric.”

“Jared.”

“I know.”

“Did you guys just happen to be here?” We had a lot to do, but I still didn’t know how they’d found us. Maybe this meant Casey and Toby had made it to safety. But Casey. Her head. I had to tell them.

“Toby told us where you were. I promised Casey I’d find Vera.” Eric smiled at her, and I wanted to smack him. Was I really getting possessive over a bear? A bear who pissed me off more than anyone I’d ever met?

“Have you seen them?” I tried to keep the panic out of my voice, but it wasn’t easy. I had no idea what condition Casey would be in.

“I’ve seen Toby, Casey was with her mom though. They are at some bear island place.” Hailey was finally looking at me again now that I was appropriately covered.

“She’s with our mom?” Vera asked. “When? I haven’t heard from Mom in weeks.”

“I helped connect them.” Eric smiled sheepishly. “I’m kind of the middle man.”

“That’s great, but more to the point, has anyone seen Casey?” We had no time to lose.

“I saw her. She’s not feeling great.” Eric seemed worried. That only worried me more.

“Tiffany messed with her head.”

“Tiffany?” Hailey looked at me funny. “Our Tiffany?”

“Oh yeah. You don’t know yet.” There was so much to explain, yet so little time.

“Uh, what don’t I know?”

“Tiffany isn’t Tiffany. She’s a crazy witch who’s been behind everything.”

Hailey shook her head. “This isn’t the time to play games with me.”

“Tiffany is the bitch who tried to kill us?” Vera asked.

“Yes.” I nodded.

“Then he’s telling the truth. The boss is a crazy witch.”

“And we have no time to screw around. She messed with Casey’s head and is going to use her to take over The Society.”

“Are you sure the witch didn’t do something to you?” Eric asked.

I stepped toward him. “Listen to me, bear. Casey is in danger. You said so yourself that something is wrong with her.”

“Yeah, but take over The Society?”

“She’s planning to have the king and queen killed.” Vera sighed. “We have no time.”

That did the trick. “What? Allie and Levi?” Hailey stumbled back.

“Yes. I have to warn them.” Unless I was too late. That thought was there lurking under my forced optimism.

“I knew it.” Hailey paled. “That’s why I came. I needed to know where to find them.”

I tried to keep my outward appearance calm. It would just upset Hailey more if she knew how worried I was. “You said Casey was with her mom? Does her mom know what’s going on? Does Casey realize her head’s been messed with?”

Hailey still looked white as a ghost. “She knows something is wrong.”

“We need to make certain she knows. Tiffany can take control at any time.”

“Take control? Like a puppet?” Hailey ran her teeth over her bottom lip.

“Exactly, it sounds like she can be in complete control of her mind if she wants to be.”

Hailey gaped at me. “Oh my god. She wants to kill Allie and Levi so Casey becomes queen.”

“Precisely.”

“Let’s go get them. We need to save them.” Hailey transformed.

“I will get them, you get to Casey. Who knows what Tiffany could be having her do?”

“I need to get Allie. You can’t go alone.”

“I’ll go with him.” Vera responded immediately. “You said Casey is with our mom. If I show up it’s going to throw everything off.”

“I’ll go with Hailey then,” the bear offered. “I might be of some help dealing with the other Ursus.”

“Fine, but we’re flying.” Hailey crossed her arms. “And I’m only agreeing to this because I care about Casey.” She put a hand on my arm. “Jared, get them back and do it fast.”

“I will.” I meant it. I’d do anything for Allie and Levi.

Hailey took off in a blur, carrying the giant bear with her. No one could say Hailey wasn’t strong.

Vera turned to me. “Do you plan to fly with me?” There was a faint layer of excitement in her voice. Did this bear actually want to fly with me?

“Yes. I’m not leaving you here, but you better not slow me down.”

“I saved your ass in there.”

“I know you did.” It was all I could say.

“We can’t fly all the way there. I can’t hold you that long and even flying on my own would be too slow. We need to fly to the city so I can get us a jet.”

“A jet? Nice. But how does this part work? How should I stand?”

There was something amusing about the way she described flying. If things weren’t so dire I would have focused on all the little innuendos in her words. “That depends. Do you want to watch where we’re going?”

She nodded.

“Then turn around.”

“Turn around?” She eyed me suspiciously.

“Come on, you just saved me. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Fine.” She huffed out a deep breath.

I wrapped my arms around her, trying not to enjoy the way her body felt against mine.

“You better not get a hard on when we’re up there.”

“Why? Would that bother you?”

“No, but it would bother you.”

I laughed. “I think we’ll be okay.” I took off, trying not to focus on all the insane problems I needed to deal with. I was flying. Like the sun, my ability to fly was something I’d never take for granted again.

Vera screamed as I soared up higher, but I realized quickly it was a happy scream. She spread her arms out wide, and I was almost positive she had her eyes open. A bear who liked to fly. I supposed stranger things have happened.

It was a fairly short flight, but I tried to enjoy every second of it. It felt so good to have my wings out, and to have Vera’s body pressed against mine. Her excitement fed into mine, and despite everything I was on a bit of a high by the time we landed.