went through me at his words, and I knew he had sent them to Kellan. He wanted his message heard and glancing over my shoulder, I felt the anger start to grow with my soulmate. Kellan got the message, loud and clear, and didn’t enjoy the threat, but he remained by the car, waiting.
Damien told me, “When your father comes to town, he’s going to seek me out. He’ll want to know where you are and what demons you are living with. Your mother has been hidden to him since she gave birth to you. He holds a grudge against her for that, but he’s coming for you. The Braden twins gave him the excuse to come here. And he won’t be happy about Kellan. I know he doesn’t know of the demon or how you are bonded to him. Your father will be enraged and will try to break the bond.”
Okay, now I was worried. “What are you saying?” Could that even happen? Could the bond be destroyed? And if so, then what would happen after that?
He seemed to choose his words carefully. “Just that it would be smart if you strengthened your bond.”
My mouth went dry at that. “What do you mean by that?”
He grinned crookedly. “You can take it any way you want. Kellan will know, but if the two of you are strong enough, your father will know not to even try to break the bond. If you two work together as a team, you could be powerful, more powerful than you could imagine.”
Well…that was nice and cryptic. I was left annoyed and slightly speechless when Damien gave me a small hug before he left through the trees. I stood there for another minute before I turned and slowly walked back to the car, back to Kellan. He straightened and asked, watching where I had left, “What did he say?”
“Oh, oh. You don’t want to know.” I laughed with a hysterical note in my voice.
Kellan narrowed his eyes. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Oh, nothing. Just that my father is going to try to destroy our bond, and we’re supposed to make it stronger. Oh, and that my father is actually coming here for me, not for Gus or Vespar. They’re just his excuse to come here. Oh—I should’ve first told you that my father is the messenger coming here.” I threw my hands up. “Surprise! I’m going to meet my dad soon. How…lovely.”
Kellan arched an eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest. “Did he do something to you just now? This isn’t normal, Shay.”
“It’s not a normal day for me. I find out about you, about me, about my father coming, and that guy is ‘family’ to me. Did you know that?” I jerked a thumb over my shoulder.
He was silent for a moment and then said grudgingly, “I see your point.”
That made me laugh harder. The hysterical note grew in volume until I was bent over, clutching my stomach, and slowly falling to my knees on the ground, sobbing from the laughter. Kellan watched me for another moment and bent to wrap his arms around me. Lifting me in the air, he held me against his chest while I started to sob into his shoulder. One of his hands smoothed back some of my hair while his thumb brushed at my tears while he was still holding me.
After a few moments, when my sobs had started to subside, I hiccupped against his shirt. “I’m sorry. I’m a bit not normal right now. And Vespar tried to kill me.” I didn’t even know how to comprehend that one.
Kellan whispered against my forehead, pressing a soft kiss there, “Vespar will be dealt with. Trust me.”
It shouldn’t have comforted me, but it did. When he kissed my forehead again and then bent to softly kiss my cheek, I closed my eyes and curled into him, feeling safe, even though I didn’t know if I should.
LEAH
Across the school parking lot, standing inside the doors, Leah watched them from a window. Hatred boiled inside of her, and she frowned with her fingers curled so tightly into the window frame that it drew blood from underneath her nails.
Dylan came to stand beside her. Glancing from the blood under her hands and her stony face to the couple where her gaze was frozen, he sighed. “They’re not who you think they are.”
She clipped out, “I know.”
When Shay had asked about her parents, something unlocked in her mind. Memories flew back at her,