Cherry Creek - Dani Matthews Page 0,74

make my way outside to the garage. I had originally planned on going to work, but there's just no way I’d be able to act normal today. Not after everything I've learned.

No one stops me at the garage, so I walk over to my car and climb in. I shake my head as I start the car. I don't have a headache, but I'd rather have the constant dull ache the rest of my life than be a freaking demon.

I pull out of the garage and wonder if the gate will work. Will I be able to leave, or will they think I'm running? As I drive down the driveway, I wait for people to jump out at me, but no one does. The gate opens smoothly when I press the button. Evidently, I'm free to come and go as I please again. Good.

I drive around aimlessly until I come upon a large pond by some farm fields. I pull the car over and walk through the long grass to a tall tree near the pond. After getting comfortable, I pull out my phone and call Selena to let her know I'm 'sick.' After I put the phone back in my purse, I rest my back against the thick trunk of the tree.

A soft breeze brushes across my face and plays with my hair. For the first time since I found out what I am, I feel some semblance of peace. The morning sunlight is warm, and the sereneness of the pond brings a calm to me that feels good.

So, I'm a succubus.

I better get used to it since there's no changing genetics. I am now part of a demon family. Yay me. Not.

I don't know how I'm going to handle this newfound news. It might be easier to accept if I hadn't already sentenced my ex-boyfriend to a future of insanity. Tears sting the backs of my eyes, and I draw my knees up to my chest and rest my forehead on my knees. If only I could take back what I did to Brad. I ruined his life. Guilt eats at me, and I know I'll spend the rest of my life paying for what I've done. I should pay for it. It doesn't matter whether I knew what I was or not, I still did it. Brad would be a healthy eighteen-year-old boy right now, probably enjoying the summer by sleeping in late and playing football in the afternoons with his friends. Instead, he's in a coma. Because of me. And if he wakes up, he'll be demanding to see me. He'll want me so bad that he'll kill me to keep me away from anyone else.

I will never forgive Khristos for not figuring things out before it all got out of hand so fast with Brad. The logical part of me knows Khristos couldn't have foreseen any of it, but that doesn't stop me from holding him partially accountable.

The sound of a car driving down the road has me craning my head slightly to see who it is. I recognize the SUV that slows and pulls off the road to park behind my car. It's Trace. I turn back to the pond and stare at it. I'm not sure if I'm peeved that these people can't leave me alone for all of ten minutes or if I'm happy to have someone to talk to.

Footsteps crunch on gravel until the grass cushions his steps. A shadow falls over me. “I thought you might want someone to talk to. If I'm wrong, send me on my way,” I hear Trace say.

I look up at him, and the sun blinds me slightly. I shield my eyes with my hand as I peer up at him. “What are you, my own personal babysitter?”

“Something like that. Should I sit down or leave?” His body language is relaxed as his arms rest along his sides while his legs are slightly braced apart. His hair is down today, and the breeze causes it to stir along his jaw. He looks good today and from my vantage point, he looks even taller and more muscular.

“You can sit.”

He settles on the grass next to me but doesn't say anything as he stretches out his legs. He's content staying silent unless I'm ready to talk.

I regard him silently for a moment before I tilt my head slightly and ask, “You knew, didn't you?”

His eyes flicker to mine. “Knew what?”

“That I was drugged that night.”

His eyes stay