Kal would know her presence for the rest of his life, and the thought she was so close and yet so far pissed him off even more. She would be back in his arms soon.
Standing without cover wasn’t ideal. Scanning around the space, the colder spots told him where walls and voids were beyond the airy fog. Nowhere much to hide. Alright then.
He started to walk. To Kal’s surprise the fog began to clear, revealing a hall that appeared to be much larger than the small house above. Stark white doors, the only decoration on either side with small letters and numbers. Nothing helpful.
The dragon drank in the terror that continued to fill the air, thick and heavy. At least someone was smart.
The hall seemed empty though, so somewhere, perhaps behind these doors, were more humans or something like a human. Come out, come out and play, he thought.
Kal stalked through the remaining smoke cover, following the strongest sense of her.
“I wouldn’t go any further, alien,” an overhead speaker blared.
Turning his head back and forth, Kal tried to locate the source. Small little domes covered what must have been cameras, and near them were speakers he’d missed in all the excitement. One on either end of the long space.
He pulled back his dragon to allow himself the ability to speak. “Oh? And why is that?”
“We don’t need any trouble. We’re merely interested in your species.”
Really? Doubtful.
When he didn’t speak, the voice spoke up again.
“Let me introduce myself. I’m Dr. Rollings. This is a research facility. We have no intention of hurting you, as long as you stop this little attack.”
This time Kal snorted. “Attack? You attacked me. You took my mate. Hand her over and we leave.”
The crackle of the speaker sounded on and off and on again. “Mate? We were under the impression she was human.”
Officially annoyed, Kal rolled his eyes. He didn’t have time for this, and he continued his search, stopping at each door.
The first door didn’t have her scent. The second was more of the same. And the third.
“You won’t find her, this facility is state of the art. The Illuminati are nothing if not thorough in their endeavors.”
He stopped. Kal scraped his claws against the door. It dented, just as anything would under his attack.
“Illumi-what? I don’t care what you are. You do not threaten me, my mate, or my kind.”
A door opened behind him.
“Stop, alien.”
He didn’t bother turning around. The fire did as he asked and took the enemy behind him so he could continue on his search for his mate.
12
Maddie woke with a start. When had she fallen asleep? Tired. She was still so tired. She tried to push herself up but her limbs acted more like lead weights than appendages. Stupid body. Flopping her head back down again, she squeezed her eyes shut against the exhaustion.
Okay. What had all happened. This was stupid. A spell. She needed something that would give her a caffeine jolt in magic form.
Whispering a few words, she waited. Well, if she didn’t exactly have magic to cast more magic, maybe her fate would be to just lay there. All right. Back to the basics. She remembered coming somewhere.
She remembered telling Kal to stay. Yeah. That was probably a fruitless effort. Oh, right. Every time she spent energy to contact him she’d pretty much pass out.
What else had happened? Maddie had a long list of people being turned into cockroaches. She also had a cocktail of feelings toward her ex, none of which didn’t also have him ending up like a cockroach. So, now. Kal? Where was he? He’d gone to his brothers. Right. And then her mother visited.
Right, her mom. Reality came back. Her mom had done something. Sucked her dry of all energy. And then, what was next? Right, Donnie had kidnapped her. Great. She was all caught up and now she could be pissed.
Blinking, Maddie tried to make out shapes. The lights a blinding white didn’t help her throbbing head. Where had that little douche-canoe taken her? At least she was alone right now. Her skin crawled thinking of being in his arms. How had she ever thought of marrying him? When had that ever been a good idea?
There are moments when something solidifies your choices. This was that moment where all guilt could leave. Her anger ate up all the space she’d saved for remorse. He’d never have made her happy, and she sure as hell would never have let him control her.
Fear of being lonely was nasty. Her life had felt like she was always running into a dark room with no idea where to go or what was in front of her. She was always looking for something, or someone. Reality was that she would never find what she needed, not by running. Her show had been a failure, but probably because she’d been looking for answers that weren’t there.
Everyone wanted answers to the afterlife, but maybe any answer would never be enough. Because the dead couldn’t answer why them and not you.
It was finding your purpose. Finding your why. The reason you were alive, left behind. She’d lived for so long in a fog, and then Kal came in and suddenly everything became bright. She could see everything.
Good. Finally. So, instead of feeling sad for herself, she needed to get her shit together and get out of wherever Donnie had brought her.
She would focus on moving one finger at a time.
Well, hell. Panting with exhaustion, the shitty reality crept in. This could take a while.
The door creaked, freezing her blood. Or well, she stopped moving her fingers.
The door clicked shut a second later. Listening, Maddie could hear footsteps.
“Maddie? Are you awake?”
Her stomach pitched. Donnie’s voice was the last one she’d ever wanted to hear again.
Okay. So. Did she answer or not? Would he just go away?
“Maddie? I can see your heart rate on the monitor. I know you’re awake.”
Well, crap.
“Fine. I’m awake. Why are you spying on my heart,
