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  Julian and Isla would be hidden away, avoiding the daylight. She couldn’t hunt them when they weren’t around to hunt. And if she simply sat at home she would go absolutely insane. She needed to be doing something, and no matter how pointless school was now, it was far better than sitting on her ass doing nothing all day.

  A ripple in the classroom caused her to bow her head further. He may have been late, but she knew immediately that Devon had arrived. She could sense him as he made his way toward the only empty desk in the room, the one diagonally across from her. Cassie’s hands fisted even tighter, her nails dug painfully into her palm.

  She could feel the energy rippling off of him, the power that he admitted in waves. The waves pulsed against her, causing her skin to heat and her heart to pick up. She hated the way that he made her feel, hated the fact that she always reacted to him, no matter how hard she tried not to. It was just purely a physical thing, she told herself fiercely. She did not love him anymore; he was the reason that her grandmother was dead. She hated him!

  The pencil in her hand snapped, cracking loudly in the silent classroom. She felt the heads turning toward her but she ignored them. Gathering her things, she rose swiftly, not caring that the bell hadn’t rung yet. No one stopped her as she hurried from the classroom, but she did hear a chair skid back, and she knew that Melissa was coming behind her.

  Disgust and anger boiled through her, she shoved the door of the girl’s bathroom open. It crashed against the wall with a resounding thud. Slamming her books on top of the counter by the sink, she spun toward Melissa as she entered slowly. “I don’t need a damn watch dog!” she exploded, fury boiling through her.

  Melissa quirked a dark eyebrow but simply folded her arms over her chest as she leaned against the wall. Her onyx eyes were inquisitive and sad as she studied Cassie; her black hair fell around her shoulders in gentle waves to the middle of her back. “Maybe not, but you’re going to have one.”

  Cassie glared fiercely at her, fighting the urge to rip the sink from the wall, something she felt she could actually do in the mood that she was in. She settled for gripping the sink tight, taking gulping breaths of air as she tried to calm her racing heart and shaking body. How on earth was she ever going to survive this? She wasn’t, that was how.

  Turning the cold water on, Cassie slipped her glasses off and splashed her face, hoping to revive herself at least a little. She turned the water off as she lifted her head slowly; she hated the sight of the girl staring back at her. Hands fisting, Cassie had to fight the urge to smash her fist into it, destroying the image that she hated so much.

  Blinking rapidly, she lifted her glasses from the sink, and slipped them on. The dark lenses eased the burning in her eyes, but they did not ease her pain. Every part of her body ached and hurt lately. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, well except for the obvious. Shuddering, she grabbed hold of her books, trying to ignore the bone deep, aching chill that had become a constant part of her.

  “No one would blame you if you went home,” Melissa said softly. Cassie shook her head and pulled her hood tighter around her face. It did not make her invisible as she longed to be, but she hoped that it helped to hide her at least a little. “Cassie…”

  She sidestepped Melissa, pulling the door open she escaped into the now crowded hall. Blending into the masses, she made her way slowly down the hall with Melissa close on her heels. Sighing in resignation, she slipped into her next class, relieved when Melissa did not attempt to try and start taking Calculus with her.

  It was a long, slow, tortuous day. She felt like she was walking through quicksand as she wandered through the halls, moving stiffly, ignoring the students that surrounded her. Cassie slid limply into her seat at lunch. Folding her arms over her chest, she kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone else.

  “Do you want me to get you some lunch?” She shook her head in response to Chris’s question. “You have to eat.”

  She shot him a dark look. He stared fiercely back at her, his eyebrows drawn tightly together, his eyes narrowed. “I’m fine,” she grumbled.

  He shook his head and shoved his tray aside in frustration. Loud laughter drifted through the cafeteria, drawing Cassie’s attention. Marcy and her group of followers were gathered around one of the back tables, laughing and talking eagerly. Cassie watched them, confused and fascinated by their behavior. Then, they broke apart slightly, causing an opening in the table that they had swarmed.

  Cassie’s heart lurched, her hands fisted, pain and anger tore through her in equal measures. Devon was in the center of the group, sitting casually in his chair, his long legs stretched before him. He was leaning back against the table, his arm resting upon it as he flashed a beautiful, heart stopping grin at Kara. His black hair fell around his magnificent face, highlighting the bright emerald color of his eyes. Eyes she could see in vivid detail, even from her position of fifty feet away. No matter how much she didn’t want to see him, she still couldn’t help but admire how gorgeous he was.

  Kara fluttered her lashes at him, practically falling over herself as she leaned forward. Devon leaned slightly toward her, it hadn’t taken him long to move on.

  Cassie’s chest clenched tightly, rage suffused her as it rushed up in violent waves that threatened to consume her. Unable to breathe, a fierce shudder began to wrack its way through her body. Her vision blurred with the red haze suddenly suffusing everything around her. “Cassie,” Chris whispered.

  She turned slowly toward him. His eyes were wide, his face ashen as he stared at her in open mouthed horror. Shaking, confused, infuriated Cassie struggled to keep control of the volatile emotions crashing through her. Chris scanned her face; a small tremor worked its way through him. Slowly, he reached toward her, his hand quivering.

  Cassie threw her arm up, knocking his hand aside. Shoving the chair backward it skittered out from under her, slamming into the back of another one. She didn’t stop to apologize; she didn’t look back at Chris. She didn’t even grab her books. Moving swiftly through the cafeteria, she navigated the sea of bodies with ease. Mainly because they scattered to get out of her way.

  Melissa was coming toward her as she moved past. Melissa didn’t miss a beat, but simply turned on her heel and followed Cassie as she made her way swiftly out of the school.

  CHAPTER 3

  Devon stood stiffly, watching helplessly as Cassie escaped the cafeteria, Melissa following behind. He turned toward Chris, who looked positively ill as he gazed at Devon in open mouthed horror. Devon shrugged past Marcy, completely tuning her and her group out as he moved swiftly toward Chris.

  “Well that didn’t go as I had hoped,” Chris mumbled. Devon shook his head, his gaze darting back to the table he had been sitting at. His heart twisted, guilt filled him at the hurt he had just caused Cassie. And yet, he couldn’t stop the small amount of hope that flickered through him. She had been jealous, she had been angered. Perhaps she did still care.

  “At least there was some reaction,” Devon said softly, trying hard to bury the hope rolling through him. He could not take having his heart stampeded over again. Once this whole mess with Isla and Julian was over, he didn’t know what he was going to do. He would have to fully face the fact that he had lost the only person he had ever loved, and he was not sure that he could handle that. At least, right now, he had Julian and Isla to focus his anger and hurt on, and once he got a hold of them he was going to make them pay for every miserable thing they had ever done.

  Especially hurting Cassie.

  Chris still looked shaken, but the color was returning to his face. “She was infuriated! It’s what she always is now, but it was even stronger and harsher. It was deadly Devon, almost inhuman,” Chris mumbled, his voice distant and thoughtful. “Not what I had hoped for at all, and far different than I thought her reaction would be.”

  Devon turned away from Chris, hating the desolate look in his eyes, hating the words he had just uttered. If Chris lost hope, then
Devon knew it would be over. There would be no reaching Cassie, no helping her. She would be lost to them forever. The word inhuman clung to him, sending a shudder of horror down his spine. Maybe Chris was beginning to pick up on the thing that Devon feared most.

  He took note of Chris’s half eaten lunch and the notably missing plate of food where Cassie had been sitting. “When was the last time she ate?” he asked softly.

  Chris shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Devon’s frown intensified, his worry gnawed at him. She was going to completely collapse if she didn’t start taking better care of herself. Longing filled him, he wanted to take care of her, wanted to comfort her, wanted to be the one making sure that she was safe and healthy. “Are you going after her?”

  Chris sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah.”

  “Give me a call if you need me, for anything.”

  “I will.”

  Chris slipped into the crowd, nearly barreling people over in his rush to get out. Devon watched him go, feeling helpless and vulnerable. Marcy approached from across the cafeteria. Before she could reach him, Devon slipped away, losing himself amongst the crush of bodies. He’d had enough of school today.

  ***

  Cassie slammed her fists into the punching bag, pummeling it with repeated violence. Chris grunted with the force of the blows, but he held tight to the bag. She tried to release all of her anger and frustration on the bag, tried to purge the fury that ate at her, but try as she might she couldn’t shake it.

  In fact, the more she hit the bag, the madder she got. A shout of frustration escaped her as she spun, delivering a swift roundhouse to the center of the bag. The force of the blow shoved the bag back a good four feet. Chris grunted, losing his hold on it as he was knocked into the garage wall. Cassie gulped in large quantities of air, shaking and heaving, rattled by the fury seeping through her.

  Chris rubbed his ribs as he stepped away from the wall. “Sorry,” Cassie muttered, turning away from him. She tugged at her bandana, pulling it free to let her hair spill down. Pacing like a caged tiger to the door, she stared into the kitchen. Luther was on the phone, his glasses in hand as he paced restlessly back and forth, listening to the other person.

  Cassie narrowed her eyes, straining to hear what the other person on the line was saying. She was unable to make out the other person’s voice or words through the cell phone, but Luther seemed disturbed by what they were saying. Her eyes narrowed as Luther mentioned Hunters from the past. The conversation confused her, what did Hunters that were dead and gone matter? Luther glanced up, noting her in the doorway. He stopped pacing, his eyes widened slightly. “I have to go,” he said abruptly and hung up.

  Cassie frowned as he came toward her, easily moving around the chairs in the dining room. “All done training?” he inquired.

  Cassie glanced behind her; Chris was still rubbing his ribs, Melissa and Dani were eying her wearily. It was obvious they wanted nothing more to do with training with her. “Apparently,” she muttered. “Who was on the phone?”

  Luther glanced behind her, his eyes darted over the three of them before landing on Chris. “You ok?”

  Cassie’s eyes narrowed at the avoidance of her question. She studied her Guardian, taking note of the agitation that still clung to him. She was about to push him further when Chris responded. “Yes, I’m fine.”

  “When can we go back in the field?” Cassie demanded impatiently, deciding to drop the phone conversation in favor of the one she really wanted the answer to.

  Luther’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I don’t think you’re ready for that Cass.”

  “I’m in the best condition of my life,” she retorted sharply.

  “I don’t think you’re mentally ready for it,” he amended.

  Cassie gave him a sharp look before spinning on her heel and storming toward the center of the garage. “I am perfectly capable of fighting!” she snapped.

  “I don’t think you are.”

  Cassie glared at him; grabbing her black hoodie she slipped it on and tugged the zipper up. Pulling the hood up, she folded her arms over her chest as she began to tap her foot impatiently. “I’ll be fine out there. I want to go out tomorrow night.”

  “Cassie…”

  “I’m going out tomorrow night!” she snarled fiercely. “You can follow me or not, it’s up to you, but I’m not sitting on my ass anymore! I’m going out and I am going to find them. Now, I’m going home.”

  She didn’t want to listen anymore, didn’t want to hear them argue with her anymore. Taking the side door she exited the garage swiftly, eager to be free and alone for a moment. Though, she didn’t doubt that someone would catch up with her soon. She momentarily contemplated leaving the sidewalk and main road, but though she was eager to get at Julian and Isla, she could not bring herself to do that to Chris, Melissa, and Luther. They would be terrified for her, worried sick, and they would follow her. Quite possibly to their deaths, and she could not handle having any more deaths staining her hands. No, if Isla and Julian came for her, it would have to be here, in the open before anyone could catch up to her.

  It was a good night to walk home, the chilly air helped to cool her heated skin and temper. Tilting her head back she stared up at the clear night sky. She wanted to be soothed and awed by the bright twinkling stars, and beautiful moon. But she was not, and she probably never would be again. There was no joy in the beauty of the world anymore. Anger filled her as she turned away from the sky; she resented the fact that something she had once loved now meant nothing to her. Like so many other things.

  Moving swiftly down the sidewalk, she kept herself attuned to the world around her, taking in her surroundings, searching the night for any sign of Julian and Isla. She huddled deeper into her sweatshirt, folding her hands inside the sleeves. A car rolled up beside her, its headlights flashing over the few inches of snow on the ground. Cassie paid it little mind as it moved slowly past, heading down the street. She turned the corner, kicking miserably at the sidewalk, spoiling for a fight.

  Another car rolled up, its brakes squealed to a halt beside her. Cassie spun; her eyes widened in surprise as Devon thrust his door open and jumped out of the car. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he snarled, storming around the car toward her.

  Cassie took a startled step back, her forehead furrowed in confusion at the anger blazing from him. Her heart melted momentarily as it briefly thumped with excitement. Tingles erupted over her body; her skin crawled with its desperate need to be touched by him. It had been so long, her body had been denied his touch for far too long. Now it was frantic to feel the relief and pleasure that only he could bring to her. Her mouth went dry as she took an instinctive step toward him.

  He strode toward her forcefully, and with the fluid grace only his kind could possess. Power radiated from him, his emerald eyes were afire, and his hair was tussled and disordered. Her anger at him, and the world, suddenly sapped out of her. Love for him surged forth as tears burned the backs of her eyes. She blinked the tears rapidly back as he stopped before her, his mouth parted slightly as his eyes rapidly scanned her face. Love, hope, and need bloomed in the bright depths of his emerald eyes. He reached slowly toward her, his elegant hand a life raft in the tumultuous seas that constituted her life now.

  Of its own volition, her hand rose to meet his. Time seemed to slow as they stretched across the short expanse that separated their bodies. It would be better, everything would be better once she touched him again. She knew that without a doubt, knew that he was everything she needed, and more.

  And then their fingers met. Relief poured through her, tears clogged her throat. Everything was right now, everything was normal and good. He would keep her safe; he would protect her from the hurts and wrongs of the world. Wonder filled her as she searched his gaze; the vast amount of love in his eyes shook her to the core. His fingers tightened around hers as he tugged her closer to him.

  Desire, love, and hunger
poured from him. The hope in his eyes, the fierce force of his longing filled her completely. She knew how he felt, because she felt it too. She needed him in order to be whole, needed him to complete her. A desperate choking sound escaped her. It sounded so forlorn and frantic, even to her ears.

  “Cassie,” he whispered.

  She shuddered; her shoulders shook forcefully, tremors wracked painfully through her. Helplessness filled his eyes; he pulled her forward another step, reaching for her with his other hand. She almost went to him, almost buried herself against him. Almost lost herself to him completely. And then the hard facts of reality descended over her with the force of a tsunami, leaving her breathless and lost.

  His gaze became desperate, worried. “Cassie, no.”

  She released his hand and took a swift step back. Her gaze focused on the house across the street. She couldn’t look at him, not anymore. If she did then she would forget everything. If she did, then she would lose complete control of herself and become a blubbering mess on the sidewalk. If she did, she would not be able to extract her revenge on Isla and Julian, because she could not know hatred and anger in Devon’s arms. She could only know love and belonging.

  Sighing heavily he shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat. “Where are you going?” he asked softly.

  “Home.”

  “You can’t walk home alone.”

  She shot him a dark look, trying hard to regain the anger that had been keeping her going for the past week. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” she informed him coldly.

  “You shouldn’t be out alone. Let me take you home.”

  She shook her head, trying hard to keep her tears bottled up inside. “No.”

  “Cassie, I am not going to let you walk home alone. Either let me take you home, or I’m going to follow you the whole way.”

  She glanced at the car sitting by the curb, purring softly. “I thought you would be with Marcy, or maybe Kara.”