inevitably be a battle. She wasn’t ready for it, but it didn’t matter – this was about saving their loved ones. Her life was changing more with each day, and she had to accept that.
Ally began to tremble as she thought about the vampires. She didn’t have many defences against them, but she would use all she had. James was going into battle alongside her, but she knew that he would have enough trouble keeping himself safe. He would make her the priority, but she couldn’t risk losing him out of a misplaced sense of duty. She needed to protect herself.
James slipped silently beside her and wrapped his arms around her. “Everything will be fine.”
“We don’t know that,” she snapped.
He looked at her with surprise. “I’ll keep you safe, Ally.”
“Keep yourself safe.” With that she turned and walked back inside.
James stayed outside a moment, watching her leave. He had no idea what had happened or why she had snapped at him like that? He wanted to go to her and comfort her, but he knew that she needed some space.
Ally put down her coffee and went to her own room. She needed to get her head together. The thought of battles and the possibility of losing someone she loved today weighed heavily upon her. The fear that she was wrong about Damian being alive was eating a hole in her heart. If she was wrong about the dream, perhaps Kat wasn’t alright either. Even if she was right, who knows what could have happened between now and then?
Ally took the curling stairs two by two in an effort to reach her room quickly before anyone came upon her, she didn’t want to talk. She needed to get ready for whatever it was that would come. More than anything, she wanted a shower to clear her head before getting dressed and making her way downstairs.
Half an hour later, Ally emerged from the shower feeling less bemused and helpless. She walked over to the walk in robe and grabbed her favorite jeans, black v neck top and her fleece lined black knee-length jacket. She got dressed and pulled on her black kid boots and took a deep calming breath before she stood up and walked over to the door and downstairs to find Adele.
Adele was sitting in the kitchen talking with Chase and Mackenzie when Ally walked in. They all stopped talking and she had the distinct feeling they had been discussing her. Adele walked over and drew her into a warm embrace.
“What’s that for?” she asked.
“Can’t I just give my granddaughter a hug?” Adele asked feigning innocence.
Giving her a side smile, Ally said, “I will be fine,” with a confidence that she didn’t feel.
“Of course you will.” She could tell her Gran was trying to be positive, but she couldn’t blame her for feeling nervous. Chase and Mackenzie watched on in silence.
She looked over Adele’s shoulder and smiled at them. “Morning guys.”
They both greeted her in return.
“You ready for this, Ally?” Chase asked solemnly.
She shrugged her shoulders. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He thought her attitude was admirable but Chase had a sneaking suspicion that she was feigning the small amount of confidence she portrayed.
Mackenzie was scared that the man sitting next to her may not return. But then she found herself heartbroken at the prospect that he would return with his soul mate in tow. She didn’t wish any harm to come to Kathryn and hoped for her safe return, but she just didn’t want to sit around watching Chase and his soul mate in the throes of new love and passion.
Mackenzie liked to think that she possessed a quiet inner strength, but she knew that some things even the strongest person couldn’t handle. Chase laying his hand on hers shook her out of her thought. She felt a spark of energy run through her body that started in the place where he touched her. She almost jumped from the sensation and looked up to meet his deep brown eyes.
They held eye contact for a moment longer than was appropriate. Mackenzie was the first one to look away. He whispered so the others wouldn’t hear, “Be careful while we’re gone. I don’t want to come back and find out something has happened to you.”
She looked at him startled and saw something swimming in the depths of his eyes. She didn’t know what it was or what to make of it, but she knew that it was something intense. All she