Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Somehow, we manage to find our way out of the tangle of streets, following the winding roads and alleyways nearly all the way to the river which glistens ominously under the moonlight. It’s quiet out, and that’s almost disconcerting, given how much has happened over the last few days. We were never supposed to get caught up in some sort of war between species. Though you might not be able to tell on the surface, the world feels like it’s coming down around us. People -- innocent people-- died in the attack on the peace talks, and it feels like we’re running headfirst into a conspiracy we can’t escape.

Josie, one of the two witch shifters who tracked me down when my abilities first manifested, seems to think President Hawthorne was behind the attack. A way to strong arm the school board into allowing him to continue his experiments. Whether he was behind it or not, though, he got what he wanted out of it. I cringe inwardly as we cut across an abandoned intersection at the thought of what the school must be doing to the other students right this second. We have to put a stop to this, I remind myself. This isn’t just about you anymore.

Eventually, Landon and I arrive outside the rundown motel. We’re on a desolate street bordering the river, lined with boarded up buildings and closed down shops. It’s not the most savoury area, but it’s out of the way, and so far, the Academy hasn’t found us. We walk in through the reception area, passing a man dozing at the front desk, and work our way to the back of the building, where we’ve taken two connecting rooms using what money we had on us. Hazel, Ruby, and Xander are in one, while me and the guys are in the other, the bed stripped of pillows and blankets, which we’ve scattered around the floor. It looks more like a den than a motel room at this point, but considering we have nowhere to go and next to no resources, our options are pretty limited.

Landon holds the groceries while I fumble the door open, and I’m surprised to see that the light is on. In spite of the early hour, it looks like everyone is up and gathered in the cramped suite, including Hazel and the twins; she’s perched on the edge of the kitchenette table, leaning absently against Xander without even looking like she realises what she’s doing. The two of them are talking as if they’re in their own little world, Ruby watching with an amused look on her face from the corner by the door. It makes me smile a little, in spite of our situation. I’m happy if she’s been able to find a connection with someone. And as for me and the guys…

Silas, the tall dragon shifter, is sitting on the edge of the bed, his broad shoulders hunched forward as he watches the near muted TV . On the screen is continuing coverage of the attack at the convention center, as well as several banners speculating the cause of the bombing. If they only knew.

His brown eyes catch mine as soon as he hears the door shut behind us, and a look of genuine relief spreads across his face. “You’re back,” he says, untensing a little. “I was starting to get worried. You guys were gone a long time.”

“So was I,” Hunter, the vampire shifter, echoes from his seat at the kitchen table. He looks distressed and weary, his fiery hair tousled and his blue eyes bloodshot. He hasn’t been sleeping well the past couple nights, that much I know. The truth is I haven’t been sleeping well, either. Ever since we arrived at the hotel I’ve found myself waking up during the night, unspeakable nightmares flying through my head -- what if something happened to them, to any of them? What if Hawthorne realises just how close my relationship with them has actually become? What if…? Each time I lie there in silence, trying to tell myself to breathe. That it was just a dream, as I listen to the comforting sounds of the guys around me.

But Hunter has been restless, too, for reasons I don’t know. He’s been thrashing in his sleep, murmuring things to himself, getting up to go for long walks outside the motel. I’m aware that he hasn’t had the easiest go of it -- not only is his father on the school board, but it took him until just a few days ago to even learn how to shapeshift. I make a mental note to ask him how he’s doing as his sapphire eyes meet mine for an instant, something complicated flashing across his face too quickly for me to identify it.

I glance over at the wolf shifter, Shade, who is sitting on the kitchen counter and examining his fingernails. His overgrown blond hair is wild from sleep, and he is more stunning each time I look at him. I feel my stomach turn over when he abruptly looks up, raising an eyebrow at me almost imperceptibly, the corner of his mouth twitching in a knowing smirk. Damn him. In spite of his attitude and constant teasing, he’s been here for me more than I could have ever expected over the past few days -- in more ways than one. A chill runs up my spine as I remember the feeling of his skin on mine on that rooftop, the night air whipping at our hair as we pressed desperately against each other, our lips locked. “I wasn’t,” he quips. “Boots and Thyme can handle themselves.”

“‘Boots and Thyme’,” Landon repeats, grinning. “Sounds like the name of a detective and her sidekick.”

“Who said you were the sidekick?” I tease back, giving him a gentle nudge with my elbow. “I’m not nearly competent enough to be the detective.”

“Oh?” The siren shifter raises his eyebrows, crossing his arms over his chest. “That’s funny, because I could have sworn you were the most competent person I knew. The stunning good looks don’t hurt, either.” As joking as his tone is, I can’t help but flush a little at the praise. A surge of powerful emotion suddenly wells up in me, and for a moment I’m brought back to a few nights ago, when we were trapped in our room at the Boston school. That, I think, was when I realised just how deep my feelings go for all of these guys, and it’s a revelation I’m still reeling from days later. Part of me feels like I’ve forgotten how to conduct myself like a normal person in the aftermath. Do they realise what kind of effect they have on me?

“If you’re done flirting with Boots right in front of me,” Hunter speaks up, his voice sounding both strained and sharp, “we could stand to figure out our next move.”

“Hey, take it easy, Ash,” Landon retorts, putting his hands up. “I’m just having a little fun. We could use some levity now, right?”

I watch the vampire shifter press his lips together, his eyes flashing red for a split second -- almost too quickly for me to catch it. Landon’s ribbing only serves to make him more tense, and a heavy silence follows that makes my stomach drop. It’s fine, I tell myself. It’s normal. We’ve been cooped up here for days--everyone is stressed. One look at Hunter’s steely expression, though, and I’m not sure I totally believe it.

Ruby clears her throat. “Any trouble on the way to the store?” she asks, moving to help Landon and I unpack the groceries.

I swallow. “We ran into someone on our way back.”

“More like, they ran into us,” Landon adds.

“Who was it?” Shade asks, a slight crack appearing in his unflappable exterior.

“I don’t know,” I reply. “She wasn’t wearing an Academy uniform. She was human, though, and she knew about shifters.”

“Shit,” mutters Hazel, running a hand through her honey-coloured hair. “They’re getting closer, aren’t they?”

“It could just be a coincidence,” Xander offers, although he seems doubtful. “Maybe just a holdover from the convention?”

“In this part of town?” Hazel asks him incredulously. “They must have seen us around, or…” Her eyes go wide. “Unless they have a witch tracking us.”

“Do you think they do?” Ruby asks.

“If I find out they planted a tracking charm on us while we were back at the school,” Shade begins, shaking his head.

“Look,” Silas says, “it doesn’t matter. Humans are after us, and they’re getting closer. We need to move.”

“Move?” asks Shade. “Move where? Last time I checked, we don’t exactly have infinite resources.”

“I don’t know,” the dragon shifter admits, “but we can’t stay here. We need to find somewhere we can lay low until we’re ready to take on Hawthorne.”

“Take on?” asks Hazel. “I don’t remember volunteering to take him on!”

I sigh. “We might not have a choice. We can’t just hide from the Academy forever.”

“Why not?” Shade asks. “That suits me just fine.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Hunter mutters dryly.

Shade rounds on him, looking like he’s going to say something, but then he shuts his mouth.

“Look, like it or not, this fight has gotten bigger than any of us,” I say, feeling I have to motivate them somehow. “And until we can find a way of stopping these experiments, we’ll never be able to go back to the Academy.” There’s a long pause, and I take a shaky breath. “We might never be able to go back there.”

“Which means we need to find somewhere else,” Xander finishes, sighing. “I get it.”

“Where, then?” asks Hunter. “I’m open to suggestions.”

“Out of Boston,” I reply, crossing my arms as the others look at me. “Preferably out of the United States altogether.” My cell phone feels suddenly heavy in my pocket, and I bite the inside of my lip to keep from saying something rash. Too dangerous, I tell myself. Too many unknowns.

“We’re not far from the airport,” Silas says, glancing at the TV once more. Tomorrow we can walk there, get a flight back to the U.K., and find somewhere to figure out our next move.”

The others glance at one another, no one else speaking until Hazel finally gives a firm nod. “That’s good enough for me.”

That issue seemingly settled, the group disperses, ready to turn in for the night now that everyone is safely back at the motel. I watch as Hazel, Xander, and Ruby file out of our suite and into their own, leaving me standing there with the guys’ eyes on me. I feel unexpectedly put on the spot, and blush a little, ducking my head and turning away from the others. “I, ah… I’m pretty tired,” I announce. “I think I’m going to lie down for a bit.”

“You’re not the only one,” Landon agrees, yawning. One by one, the five of us bunker down in our makeshift nests on the motel floor, turning on the lights and curling up in silence. The only sounds are the air conditioning and the guys’ breathing. The feeling of their bodies next to mine fills me with more comfort than I can possibly articulate, but even as my eyes drift closed, I can’t help but feel like things are only going to get more complicated.