A surge of hope welled up in my gut. I wanted to high-five my new angel best friend, but was that even possible?
Sirens blared in the distance. Jake sat on the ground, his vacant. Did he see anything that happened, or was that the look of a host after a demon vacated the premises?
Angel sheathed his sword and waved at me, his golden eyes closing. Close enough to a high-five, I guess. With a great rush of wind, he shot up to the stars in a pillar of pure white, sparkling like glitter in the sky until I lost his light-trail among the constellations. The pain in my shoulder turned blinding again,until I just wanted to skyrocket into the heavens right along with him.
Blue and red lights flashed like strobe rays in the blackness. Footsteps clomped on the sidewalk behind us. I raced toward the sound. My cheek smashed into something firm, the muscle of a guy’s chest.
I lifted my face to a familiar set of blue eyes. “Bryan!” I wrapped one arm around his neck. The other hung limp and sore at my side.
The footsteps pounded closer, splitting in two. Campus security guards surrounded Jake.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner. To protect you.” His hand grazed my hair, bumping against my scar.
I inhaled a full breath. “I protected myself.”
He flinched, but pressed me in closer. “For once, I’m glad you’re the Seer. I’m just sorry you had to figure out how to use your powers all on your own.”
I shot him a questioning look as campus security closed in. What did that mean?
Chapter 30
Jake stared at me, his dark eyes wide, shock etched into his face. “I’m sorry, Luce. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
The bigger guy yelled at him. “Down on the ground.”
Jake’s head swiveled from the guy to the female security guard, both in full uniform. Each had some kind of weapon trained on him, a taser, maybe. He shook his head in slow motion.
“Down on the ground. Now.” The guard repeated, louder this time.
He lifted up his hands and slid to his knees. The officer planted a foot on his back, smashing his face into the dead grass.
“Put your hands behind you.” Red and blue lights reflected off the silver cuffs as the guard snapped them around Jake’s wrists and yanked him up by his biceps, shoving him forward. As he dragged Jake to the car, the female officer turned to Bryan.
“We’re driving him to the police station in town. Take her to the security office so we can get her statement, then we can charge him. Know where it is?”
Bryan nodded.
She turned to me, wisps of black hair sticking out of her cap. “You think you can walk there, miss, or should I call for another car?”
“I can make it.” I glanced around the empty quad. When I shifted to my right, pain sliced across my shoulder and seared through my brain. “Unless it’s really far away.”
“Young man, get her to the road. I’ll call for backup. It should only take a few minutes. I better get back and help Dan.” She jogged away, barking orders into her walkie-talkie.
Bryan turned to me, arms sliding around my waist, lines creasing his face. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer sooner. I feel so terrible.”
The images of him and Colleen zoomed into focus, but I let them fade away. It didn’t matter now. None of it mattered. I had bigger things on my mind now.
I met his eyes, pressing my finger into his soft lips. “I’m just glad you came when you did. Jake said he wanted to take me somewhere. I don’t even want to think ...”
My own pulse pounded in my ears, but even the throbbing in my shoulder couldn’t drown out the scary what-ifs. God knows what could’ve happened if Jake had succeeded or what Nexis would’ve done to me. That’s why my angel came. My lips curled at that thought—my angel.
“Shh, my sweet angel.” He cupped his hand around my waist, steadying me. “Let’s not think about it, okay? Everything’s all right now. Everything’s fine.”
“Okay.” I rested against his chest, slowing my breath to match his.
Familiar-sounding heels clicked behind me. “Lucy, I’m sorry I didn’t see your text sooner, but when I did I came running. What happened?” Shanda gasped, her jaw dropping to the pavement as she checked out my right cheek.
I lifted my chin to show her my good side. “I’m fine now. Can you guys help me to the road? I think he dislocated my right shoulder.”
Another set of red and blue lights streaked across the dark sky.
“He did what?” Shanda screeched. “Here, let me help you.”
She put my left arm around her neck while Bryan braced his forearm against my back. But every movement, each little jostle, inflamed the fire in my shoulder. I couldn’t help but wince with every step.
He paused. “Let’s take it slow.”
“This isn’t working.” Shanda’s words jumbled together. She ran out of breath and bent over. “You should just carry her.”
I turned to Bryan, lifting my good arm to his neck. With one fluid motion, he scooped me up without a word. I muffled a moan into his jacket, but his strong arms told me one sure thing. It was over now. I was finally safe.
He marched with slow and gentle strides to the security car as Shanda’s stilettos clacked on the pavement behind us.
Students decked out in full Montrose colors milled around the car, as if they’d just come from the game. Lights flashed as more sirens wailed closer, illuminating their faces with blue and red. Maybe they assumed I started the fight or something. Let them think what they wanted. It was better than the truth.
An ambulance pulled up to the curb with a campus security car not far behind. A paramedic hopped out of the back and pulled out a stretcher.
“I don’t
