Demonic Vampires (Supernatural Shifter Academy #3) - G. Bailey Page 0,8
we spend wandering the roads of the city. Still, I’m on edge. Every person we pass is a potential threat, and I find myself holding my breath every time we round a corner, half expecting an Academy representative to spring out at me. The area on the waterfront is sketchy and rundown, not unlike the neighbourhood where I ended up after running away from my last foster home, although at least this time I have more people on my side.
We’re clustered together on the narrow sidewalk, Hazel, Ruby, and Xander in the front of the group while the guys and I walk drag. Silas and Shade are talking, their hands in their pockets -- it’s nice to see them getting along in spite of their bickering. Hunter trails behind them, looking pensive, while Landon and I bring up the rear, squinting against the bright sunlight. Slowly we make our way west, looking about as conspicuous as can be, considering where we are, but mercifully, we don’t run into any Academy agents.
After reaching the wharf, we cross a bridge leading to the downtown area, but my anxiety only increases; we’re heading back into the eye of the storm, and if we do run into any of Hawthorne’s people, it’s bound to be around here. Across the water, I can still make out the ruins of the convention centre. The fire has been put out, but search and rescue efforts are ongoing, and there’s a crush of people watching the commotion.
“You’d think the interest would have faded by now,” Landon remarks, as if reading my mind.
“I don’t like how many eyes are on this,” I reply in a low voice. “I know most of them are probably just innocent bystanders, but still…”
“There’s no real way of knowing,” the siren shifter finishes for me. “We just have to keep our heads down until we’re out of the country.”
“And then what?” I ask, unable to help myself. “We can’t just go underground for the rest of our lives.”
“No, we can’t,” Landon agrees as we turn right and head north toward the harbour. “I wish I knew what to do, Boots, but I’m not much of the planning type. You probably ought to talk to Silas about that.”
“Talk to me about what?” the dragon shifter asks over his shoulder.
“Damn,” Landon remarks. “Your hearing is something else, Aconite.”
Silas smiles, but there’s not much humour in it. “Got it from my mother, but that’s not the point. Since when am I in charge?”
“You just seem to be the most decisive out of all of us,” Landon replies. “And you have the most experience with… Well…” He stops mid-sentence, seemingly realising his mistake as Silas’ expression hardens.
“I’m not a test case, okay?” the dragon shifter says. His tone is gentle, but there’s hurt behind it that makes my heart ache. “I know the Academy thinks so, but I’d appreciate it if you thought of me as more than just a lab rat.”
“I’m sorry,” Landon says glumly. “I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. You just seem to know the most about the unrest, considering your parents.” Wisely, he doesn’t go into the specifics - namely, the convenient disappearance of Silas’ parents before they could take action against the humans. No sense in opening up that wound again.
Silas shakes his head. “I’m good at making decisions, but I’m not a leader.” He turns and nods in my direction as we cross the street. “Boots should be the one in charge.”
“What?” I exclaim, eyes wide. “Why the hell should I be in charge? I can barely get dressed in the morning, let alone keep you g-” I stop, blushing a little, and backtrack. “Let alone keep people from getting hurt.”
“Look, we don’t want to dump this all on you Millie,” Silas replies quietly, “but you’re at the heart of this. Hell, you’re the only thing connecting the rest of us. If it weren’t for you, we never would have even met.”
“But that’s…” I begin and then trail off. It’s the truth, and there’s no arguing it.
“Besides,” Shade puts in, surprising me with the pensiveness in his voice, “you’re the most powerful of all of us, Boots. You’re the hybrid.”
I snort, shaking my head self-deprecatingly. “Yeah, well, I’ll get back to you on that once I’m able to hold a form for more than a minute at a time.”
Shade’s grey eyes flash up at me, making me feel taken aback. “Don’t say that shit, Boots. Seriously. You’re worth