Hold Tight

powers behind the steel wall and let myself enjoy the feel of his lips against mine. As it always did, the kiss ended sooner than my racing heart would have liked.

“This isn’t goodbye,” I reminded him.

He rubbed the back of his head. “I know. But I’d feel better if you let me put an intention ward on your bedroom. You could run up there if something goes wrong.”

“This is going to work. Besides, the way your nostrils flare every time his name comes up, I don’t want to risk the two of you getting in a fight. We’re on a timetable, remember?”

“Be careful, okay? Reed has been around for a long time. He’s cunning.”

“I will be.”

I got out of the Jeep, offering Isaac a reassuring smile before I shut the door. He sped off the moment I turned the key to unlock the front door.

The house was deathly quiet. The odor of charred meat from last night’s dinner lingered in the air. I stuck my head into the family room and became immediately disappointed that Reed wasn’t lounging on the couch waiting for me. That would have made my life too easy, though. I picked up Chase’s left mitten and placed it on the small table in the foyer on my way to the kitchen.

“Reed?” I said, half-hoping he’d appear and half-praying he wouldn’t.

His creepy chill and winter-fresh aroma didn’t come. Apparently I was alone, which made me regret not letting Isaac stop in after all. It would have been nice to have a place to run to if I needed one. The intention ward would have served a second purpose too: I’d know if Brea was truly my friend or if she was secretly draining my aura.

I dropped my backpack on a chair. Here’s hoping he’s not far. With one last deep breath, I called, “Reed.”

A minute passed.

“Dellis Reedsnap, come on down.”

Nothing.

“Reed, I need to talk to you!” I felt silly standing in my empty kitchen calling for someone who could be miles, if not realms, away. “If I didn’t want to see you, you’d be silently stalking me!” Lower, I huffed, “Jerk.”

Yanking the cabinet next to the fridge open, I grabbed a glass. I’d just filled it with water from the tap when the fingers of winter brushed the back of my neck. I didn’t have to turn to know Reed had joined me.

“Miss me?” he asked telepathically.

“Not exactly.”

Steadying my jumpy nerves, I turned. Reed stood near the table. He wore his glamour, which included tan pants and a forest-green T-shirt. His blond hair fell around his eyes in a golden curtain. Now that I was looking at him, the pull I’d felt last night was back.

I forced myself to ignore it and asked, “If I agree to go to the Winter Solstice Celebration—one day only, and you’d have to promise to bring me home before my curfew—would you bring Natalie back?”

Maybe it wasn’t too late for her. Maybe the information Isaac had was wrong.

Reed’s expression became a mask, leaving no sign of emotion. “That would be the same as sentencing her to death. Regardless of what you think of me, I’m not a murderer.”

“You suck the life out of innocent people. How is that not murder?”

“I never take their final breath.”

I set my glass on the counter, not surprised at his answer. “Fine, then let me talk to her.”

“That I can do.” He held out a hand. “Come, I’ll take you to her.”

“No.” I backed away, preferring to keep as much distance between us as possible. “Bring her here, to my house.”

He pulled out a chair and sat. “Afraid you’d like my home?” He indicated with his chin to the chair next to him.

“I’m good here.”

“Suit yourself.” He studied me a moment. “You look as if you could use another shot of wine or perhaps a bacca drop.”

A piece of chocolate appeared in his palm—the one wrapped in blue with the fruity filling.

Even without taking it, I could taste the sweet center. My stomach tightened in anticipation of eating it, but I wouldn’t. Afraid my mouth would scream out, Hell yeah! I bit my lip and shook my head, then forced myself not to watch him place the candy on the table between us.

“Still fighting the inevitable?” He kicked his boots up on the seat next to him. “You willingly ate it before.”

“No, I didn’t,” I snarled, working desperately to get a grip on the hunger that continued to rise inside me.

“Ah, but you did.”

“You tricked me into eating it.”

He shrugged. “I wasn’t even around when you took that first bite. It’s not my fault you don’t question what you eat.”

I glared at the little piece of relief sitting at the edge of the table taunting me. It burst into flames. The tanzanite blue of my fire reduced it to dust instantly.

“I hoped we could be civil,” I said.

“I’m not the one setting things aflame. It would have eased the burning you feel. That’s your body craving my magic.”

I had figured that much out on my own. The tantalizing aroma of melted chocolate mixed with Reed’s scent made it nearly impossible to focus. With a wave of my hand, the window opened. I gathered the energy in the air and used it to create a gentle breeze, but what I ended up with was more of a mild gale that ruffled the curtains and sent the mail on the counter sailing to the floor. The fresh air reminded me to hurry.

“Will you bring Natalie by for a visit or not?”

Reed appeared in front of me before I even knew he’d gotten up. I began to think he didn’t actually move that fast but was able to disappear and reappear wherever he wanted to at will.

“If I do, you’ll accompany me to the celebration?” His words brushed my skin ever so gingerly, and I suddenly wanted him to stay.

You are not Reed’s, I scolded myself. You don’t want him around. I glanced at the beige tile next to us. “Do you have to stand so close?”

“Why?” A knowing smile danced at the edge of his lips.

“There is a thing called personal space,” I said coolly, which wasn’t easy with his piercing gaze watching me.

He placed a hand on the counter on either side of me and leaned even closer. I tried to mold myself into the cabinets. “Admit you’re mine, and I’ll grant you an audience with Natalie.”

“I’m nobody’s.” I bit my lip. Don’t give in.

He dropped his glamour, fixing me with a winter-white stare. My powers stung my tongue, reminding me I had promised to call the others if my plan went wrong in any way. Reed this close to me, messing with my head again, was about as wrong as things could get.

With my arms behind my back, I held on to my hemp bracelet. Isaac, now would be a good time to pop over.

“At least admit you feel the changes to your body,” Reed said, stepping back to leave a few inches between us. God, he was gorgeous in his true form. “Confess you wished you hadn’t destroyed the bacca drop, and I’ll retrieve Natalie.”

He waited patiently for me to mull over his offer. He regarded me with the patience that only came with age. I wondered just how old he was, and I was dying to know if his skin was as soft as it looked. More than anything, I really needed him gone for a few minutes because the feeling of vertigo returned.

If Reed left before the others showed up, my plan could still work.

“Fine. I’ll admit I feel different lately.” I placed my hand flat on his chest and pushed him further away from me. “And it’s worse when you’re this frickin’ close, but you already know that.”

He smirked devilishly. Instead of responding to my statement, he said, “I shall only be a few minutes.”