Shadow Lake Vampire Society - Wendi Wilson Page 0,65

can make a onesie look sexy.”

I slid my arms around his neck, closing the distance between us. I couldn’t see his face, but his touch was electric, sending my heart pattering and making the butterflies in my stomach take flight. His fingertips trailed down my back before resting solidly on my hips.

“Every minute I’m away from you makes the wanting worse.” His voice was a low growl, as his hands slid down my backside.

Breathing hard, I let my fingers do some exploring of their own. Firm muscles rose and fell under my touch as his breathing degenerated into labored pants. Unfortunately, there was no time. I pulled away reluctantly. “My mom is waiting, but is there any way I can see you tonight?”

He pressed his nose to the sensitive spot where my shoulder met my neck, making my body arch and my legs tremble. “I’ll try to get away. If you hear two knocks on the window above your bed, come outside.”

I allowed my hands to linger on his solid frame for a moment longer before pushing up on my tip-toes and pressing my lips to his. Even if I kissed him a thousand times, I’d never get over how it felt to be this close to Levi Kass.

“See you later,” he growled, slipping away.

Smiling, I turned and walked to the main parking lot. Mom’s car was in the same spot it had been when she’d brought me here on the first day of orientation. But where was she?

I glanced around. Night had fallen, and the orange overhead lights washed out everything underneath while leaving the periphery in shadow.

“Mom?”

I walked around the car to peer into the driver’s side window. That’s when I noticed her purse. It was spilled on the ground, the contents strewn across the gravel. My heart began to pound. She wouldn’t have left it like this. Not unless…

My head shot up. “Mom!”

No response.

I ran around the car, then through the parking lot, seeing no one.

"Mom!"

Gravel crunched as someone ran up. Dean Purty appeared. His office was nearby, and he must’ve heard me. Frantic, I whirled to him. "Have you seen my mom?"

His brow furrowed. "She was just here. I walked her to the car." His eyes trailed to the vehicle and beyond it like he was sensing something.

I held my breath, hoping he'd spot her near the bathrooms or something, but his expression only darkened. "Piper, go in the office."

"Dean, I—"

"Piper, go!"

He sounded afraid, which multiplied my own fear. Near tears, I hurried up the stairs and slipped into the office but stopped at the door. I peered out the open doorway, biting my nails and counting the seconds until my mother was found safe and sound.

One, two, three…

Please let her be okay. Please, God.

Four, five, six…

Mom. Oh, God. Mom!

I got to three hundred before I stopped counting. Where was she?!

Footsteps pounded on the stairs. I looked up, expectant, but it was only Levi. He slipped in and shut the door behind him.

"What's happening? Where is she?"

I knew the truth the moment I saw his face. I stepped back, hugging myself. “Levi, no.”

He gripped my forearms, ready to catch me if I fell. “Piper, I’m so sorry. We can’t find your mother. She’s gone.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Let me go!”

I yelled the words as I struggled to yank from Levi’s hold, but he was too strong. Within seconds, the fight drained out of me, and his strong grip on my biceps was the only thing keeping me from slumping to the floor.

The next thing I knew, my body was plastered against Levi’s, his arms tight around me as I cried into his chest. Why was this happening? Where was she?

My body stiffened as the neurons in my brain began firing on all cylinders. Pieces of the puzzle snapped together, filling me with anger and fear in equal amounts, and the blood in my veins ran thick like hot lava. The anger quickly overran the fear, and I pulled back so I could look into Levi’s face.

“Sarah.”

“What?” he asked, confusion flashing across his features.

“The reason my mother is here,” I said, scowling when my words weren’t coming out quite the way I wanted them to. “She got a text from me, but not really from me.”

“Piper, slow down. I don’t understand what you’re saying,” he said, his voice soft as he brushed a hand over my hair to calm me.

I took a deep breath and held it for a moment. Letting it out between parted lips, I closed my eyes