Betrayer, page 23
part #3 of The Shining Ones Series
Birdie released me. “Now’s not the time to find out. Grab a couple of trash bags filled with our clothes while I find the big box with the camping gear. Somehow I think we’re gonna need it.” I scrambled around the living room shoving boxes out of the way as I searched for our clothes. Finding two bags with enough to get us by, I dropped them by the door, then drew a curtain aside and checked out the window. It was quiet as the late-afternoon sun gave way to dusk. Nothing moved in the twilight. I looked back longingly at my boxes filled with canvases and paints and then let them go. If we survived, I could buy new ones. Some things were replaceable. Birdie and I were not.
“Let’s go,” Birdie said, rushing out from down the hallway, an army-green duffle bag flung over his shoulder, the box of camping gear in his hands. “Turn the lamp off.”
I switched off the light and took a deep breath. Without the lamp on, the fading sunlight cast creepy shadows over the walls and carpet, causing me to shiver. It was happening. We were finally leaving, fleeing in the twilight. I didn’t get a chance to kiss Daisy good-bye or give Haylee one last hug. I couldn’t even think about Joe for fear of the tears. They would have to make do without me, even as I already missed them.
I hurried over to the minivan with my two garbage bags as Birdie slid the van door open and shoved his box and duffel inside the back. He grabbed the two black trash bags from my sweaty hands and dumped them on the van floor. “Get in,” he murmured. I did as he said, crouching low as the van door slid shut behind me with a rattle. It was almost too dark in the back.
Birdie threw the driver’s door wide and jumped in. “Stay back there until we clear the island,” he commanded.
He shoved his key into the ignition switch and turned. The engine whirred but didn’t turn over. Birdie started swearing and thumped his fist on the dashboard. I could feel the panic starting to take hold. “Come on, come on,” he urged as he turned the key in the switch again. The engine was trying, the whine loud in my ears as I watched Birdie pump the gas, giving the van juice. Suddenly, the engine roared to life and he whooped. He gave it another gulp of gas, and the engine positively roared.
“That’s my girl,” Birdie said proudly, patting the dash and throwing the van in reverse. The wheels spit up gravel as the van roared backward out of the driveway and onto the main road, taking the turn out of the driveway too sharply and causing the back end of the van to skid. I gripped the side of his seat, but Birdie hardly noticed. He pulled the gear shift in drive, and took off down the street.
“It’s going to be okay, Poe. We’ve done it.” He turned his head to beam down at me. The adrenaline was rushing through the both of us, there was no denying that. I answered his smile with one of my own, trying to stay positive.
“Can I sit up now?” I asked, popping my head up to look at the windshield.
“I think we’re in the—” His voice cut off abruptly. He swore under his breath, his fingers clenching the steering wheel tight, his knuckles going bone white. He blue eyes stared straight ahead, his expression stony, his shoulders tense. “Stay down,” he hissed under his breath like someone could hear us.
His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I did exactly as he said, letting my gaze fall on the road ahead of us, just above the dashboard, outside of the windshield. I saw what had caused Birdie to panic, and it sent an icy spike of fear and desire straight into my heart.
I looked up just in time to see the Lotus zoom by us, an exotic silver blur in the gloom, racing back toward Birdie’s apartment at breakneck speed. It was gone in the blink of an eye.
I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until it fell out of my mouth in one ragged exhale. Closing my eyes, I took another shaking breath. “Jesus. That was close,” I whispered to no one, my heart still jackhammering in my chest.
“I know,” replied Birdie, as shaken as I was. “Too close. Maybe he didn’t see us, but I’m not going to take any chances.” We were coming off the islands, heading toward downtown, but not for long. Birdie merged onto the expressway. “He’s going to expect us to go north, but I’m taking us west. At least for a little bit until we can get some distance between us. Luckily, the van has a full tank.” He gestured to the dingy plastic case where all the dials were. We had enough gas to get us pretty far before we’d have to stop and refill.
Sighing, I squeezed my hips between the bucket seats and dropped into the passenger seat, my seat buckle snapping into place with a click. It should’ve made me feel better, but it didn’t. It was our first close call, but how many more would there be? How many more times would we be leaving a warm bed in the middle of the night just to stay one step ahead? The thought made me sick.
Birdie reached over and squeezed my leg, gazing at me. His brow was furrowed, his beautiful mouth pulled down into a frown. Concern was written all over his face. “Hey, it’s gonna be fine. We can do it, Poe. Stay with me, baby. We’ve got this.”
It was the first time he’d called me “baby,” and as much as I wanted to be afraid, I couldn’t help but smile back at him. There was plenty of time to worry, but right now, I needed to be present in the here and now. We were moving farther away from Tybee Island mile by mile, leaving all the trouble behind us.
We weren’t out of the woods yet, but we were definitely on our way.
Epilogue
Adam steered the Lotus down the driveway, the crunch of the tires on shells and stones too loud, the low growl of the car coming to a stop when he shifted it into park. He didn’t kill the ignition, however, and the car sat idling quietly, a murmur of background noise as he fought to get his emotions under control. He gripped the steering wheel too tightly, but he was afraid if he let go, he’d punch his fist through the windscreen, and he didn’t have time for that.
He wasn’t a fool. He’d seen Birdie driving past in his decrepit minivan, the grim determination on Birdie’s face as he moved in the opposite direction while Adam pushed the Lotus toward the apartment, where he’d thought he’d catch them.
But his heart and future were in that van. He’d felt her. Felt her slipping through his fingers as he drove past them at a reckless speed, unable to pull the maneuver he needed to stop the van in its tracks. He’d had to watch as Birdie’s stony expression morphed into a single look of triumph right as Adam sped past like a fool.
Birdie was going to take her away from him. Just as he’d feared. Adam slammed his fist onto the steering wheel, his breath uneven and painful as he stared into the darkness at the concrete building where Poesy had fled with the one human male who could threaten everything he wanted.
And she had tricked him.
Had chosen Birdie over him in such a way that it made it hard for him to catch a breath. She had used their love, his own devotion to her body and pleasure, to escape out his bathroom window—she’d preferred to jump out a high window, risking injury, than to be with him. It was like a jab to his heart.
The irony wasn’t lost on him—he’d had to do the same thing to evade Gabriel. He’d shimmied out the same damn window and fled in his car before Gabriel and her guard could stop him. He would be hunted now, too. A decision made in the blink of an eye changed the course of everything. He’d likely forfeited his life.
Adam sighed, staring out into the gloom of the approaching night. He couldn’t stay sitting in Birdie’s driveway forever. He’d have to make some decisions, and quickly. If he went after Poesy directly, he’d only be leading Gabriel to her, and that would never do. Poesy wouldn’t have a chance against Gabriel’s guard. No, he’d have to draw them away. Put some distance between the van and the angelic host that was hell-bent on retrieving them all.
It rubbed him the wrong way, of course. Everything in him wanted to chase her down, claim her, make her see she belonged to him. He shoved both hands through his hair, then dropped them back on the wheel.
As if she would bend his to will. As if he had the ability to tame her when he couldn’t take her physically. The jealousy of what she’d done with Birdie was eating away at him, but he pushed it away. He had to formulate his plan and then he would seek her out, when it was safe to do so.
But it had to be soon. Lucien was still out there somewhere and he was the much bigger threat. A human he could handle. Lucien…he would end him before he let him have her.
Adam backed the car slowly out of the driveway, the headlights on the Lotus coming on automatically. He glanced once more at the sky through the window, pushing the loneliness and heartbreak down as deep as it would go. He would head west and lead the Elohim away.
Then he would find her. And when he did, nothing would keep her from him again.
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Acknowledgements
In some ways, the acknowledgment section is almost harder.
Every time I write one for the end of my books, I live in constant fear that I didn’t say enough, or offer enough gratitude, or mention the people I need to thank the most. So here’s my best shot:
Bev. My developmental editor. The first person who gets to see my initial draft…and rip it to pieces. I almost feel bad for Bev because she always sees me at my worst; yet, she always gives me her best. Thank you for being there since Day One and for introducing me to Amanda. Without the two of you, my writing…well, let’s just leave it there, shall we?
Amanda, Amanda, Amanda. My editorial soulmate. Where would I be without your enthusiasm, wit, and Chicago style guide? (I was probably supposed to italicize that wasn’t I? LIVE WITH THAT, AMANDA.) Seriously though. You get me. You complete me. It’s always a pleasure to work with you even when I whine. Please don’t give up on me. You’re my only hope.
A new member of Team Small—Ms. Kenya Cooper. It must’ve been fate when we met at Stella’s show because you’re a life changer. You’re also the nicest person I know like ever. And bubbly. And nice. See? I had to mention it twice just to push the point home. I’m so happy to have you as well. What you’ve done for my career is nothing short of a miracle, and you’re worth every penny and then some. And we’re friends, too. I feel so lucky. Yay to us!
Jon. The husbot. The reason why I can do what I do. I’m not good at the mushy as you know, but every day I’m thankful that I chose you. Every. Single. One. You’re my everything, you’re my joey.
My author posse who have kept me sane, and have shared way too many laughs with me at our own expense: Melanie, Savannah, Kenya, Madison, Julie, Mindy, Kelly, and Kay.
John Harman. Logo maker and art maestro. With much patience. Thanks for always being available even when technically you’re not supposed to be.
Hazel. I miss you so much. Letting you go was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I wish I had just one more day. Just one so I could make it perfect for both of us. You inspired me to create Daisy and so in that way, you’ll always be in my head. But more than that, you were a companion that I didn’t even know I needed until it was almost too late. There’s still a Hazel-sized hole in my heart. Be my good dog wherever you are.
About the Author
#1 in Urban Fantasy, #1 in Paranormal Suspense, #1 in New Adult & College Fantasy
SHAWNEE SMALL is the bestselling author of Watcher and the Shining Ones series. She is currently working on several projects including a paranormal romance novella for Sultry & Sinful: The Femmes of Paranormal to be released in Spring 2017 and Destroyer, the last installment in the Shining Ones series.
You can find her most days on Facebook or Twitter or having a nervous breakdown on her blog at shawneesmall.com
Table of Contents
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Shawnee Small, Betrayer
