Read Online Return (Awakened Fate Book 3) by Skye Malone - Free Book Online
Authors: Skye Malone
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Baylie whispered, her quiet voice breaking. “What the hell , Noah? They’re here? They followed us back here ? For Chloe ? What in the–”
She cut off when I looked away. A breath left her.
“What is going on?” she demanded.
“They’re crazy.”
A scoff escaped her, the sound harsh. “No kidding.”
I grimaced as she waited. I couldn’t figure it out either. They were insane. Certifiably, utterly, and completely insane. And coming to Kansas looking for a dehaian ? That was a whole new level of madness. No one in their right mind would–
My breathing stopped. No one would. Not unless they knew something I didn’t. Not unless they’d seen her, or heard something about her…
She’d lived like a landwalker before she became dehaian. She’d survived when everyone else had sworn her heritage would kill her.
Maybe she could come back.
And maybe… maybe I could explain…
I turned to Baylie. “Look, my family is nuts, okay? They… they’re fixated on Chloe. But if what they’re saying is true,” I released a shaky breath, “she might be on her way back here.”
Baylie stared at me.
I glanced toward Chloe’s house, focusing briefly on suppressing the burning, furious energy inside me that let other greliarans tell where I was. “You stay here,” I continued. “Watch for her. I’m going to keep an eye on my cousins, just in case… you know.”
Without another word, I headed for the hall.
“But why are they fixated on her, Noah?” Baylie cried, struggling to keep her voice down as she followed me. “You said she wasn’t like you, but what’s this about then? Why do they want to hurt her so much?”
I paused by the den doorway. I didn’t have time for this. I needed to get out there. Make sure they didn’t find her first. “They just do.”
Baylie made an angry noise.
“Please,” I insisted. “It’s important. Just keep an eye out for her. I’ll explain, or, you know, maybe she will once she’s safe. But Baylie, these guys…” I exhaled. “They’re dangerous. You know that. And the cops… they’ll just tell my relatives to stay away or something else useless. There’s nothing to arrest them for yet. Not where Chloe’s concerned. So please just watch the neighborhood, watch her house, and if there’s anywhere else you can think of that she’d go, watch that too. We have to help her.”
Baylie stared at me for a heartbeat. “O-okay. I will, but… Sandra and Dad aren’t going to let you just stay out there. And what about the cops? What do I tell them?”
I could feel the seconds ticking away. “Tell them… tell them I needed some air.” I scowled. That’d only work for a bit. “Or that I’m exploring the area. I’ll try to stop back in when I can, just to keep them from getting too weird on you, but otherwise, I’m exploring, eh?”
Despite her worry, she looked skeptical. “Exploring.” She drew a breath. “Fine. But the minute Chloe’s safe, you’re telling me what’s going on, understand? I’m done with this secrecy crap.”
I nodded.
“And Noah?” she called when I started down the hall.
I glanced back.
“Be careful?”
I hesitated. “Yeah.”
I headed for the front door. Reidsburg wasn’t huge by any stretch of the imagination, and their SUV wouldn’t be too hard to find.
And with any luck, Chloe wouldn’t be either. For me, at least.
I drew a breath, trying to calm the hope that choked me at the thought of actually seeing her again.
Chapter Five
Zeke
Several hours later found us walking back toward the gas station. We’d finally located a fast food place across town and the handful of change in Chloe’s pocket had been enough for us to split a small meal. We hadn’t spoken much – just watched the town through the windows – and the same was proving true for our trip back to the station. Biting her lip and jumping every time a car drove by, Chloe appeared utterly distracted.
And nervous as hell.
I slipped a
She cut off when I looked away. A breath left her.
“What is going on?” she demanded.
“They’re crazy.”
A scoff escaped her, the sound harsh. “No kidding.”
I grimaced as she waited. I couldn’t figure it out either. They were insane. Certifiably, utterly, and completely insane. And coming to Kansas looking for a dehaian ? That was a whole new level of madness. No one in their right mind would–
My breathing stopped. No one would. Not unless they knew something I didn’t. Not unless they’d seen her, or heard something about her…
She’d lived like a landwalker before she became dehaian. She’d survived when everyone else had sworn her heritage would kill her.
Maybe she could come back.
And maybe… maybe I could explain…
I turned to Baylie. “Look, my family is nuts, okay? They… they’re fixated on Chloe. But if what they’re saying is true,” I released a shaky breath, “she might be on her way back here.”
Baylie stared at me.
I glanced toward Chloe’s house, focusing briefly on suppressing the burning, furious energy inside me that let other greliarans tell where I was. “You stay here,” I continued. “Watch for her. I’m going to keep an eye on my cousins, just in case… you know.”
Without another word, I headed for the hall.
“But why are they fixated on her, Noah?” Baylie cried, struggling to keep her voice down as she followed me. “You said she wasn’t like you, but what’s this about then? Why do they want to hurt her so much?”
I paused by the den doorway. I didn’t have time for this. I needed to get out there. Make sure they didn’t find her first. “They just do.”
Baylie made an angry noise.
“Please,” I insisted. “It’s important. Just keep an eye out for her. I’ll explain, or, you know, maybe she will once she’s safe. But Baylie, these guys…” I exhaled. “They’re dangerous. You know that. And the cops… they’ll just tell my relatives to stay away or something else useless. There’s nothing to arrest them for yet. Not where Chloe’s concerned. So please just watch the neighborhood, watch her house, and if there’s anywhere else you can think of that she’d go, watch that too. We have to help her.”
Baylie stared at me for a heartbeat. “O-okay. I will, but… Sandra and Dad aren’t going to let you just stay out there. And what about the cops? What do I tell them?”
I could feel the seconds ticking away. “Tell them… tell them I needed some air.” I scowled. That’d only work for a bit. “Or that I’m exploring the area. I’ll try to stop back in when I can, just to keep them from getting too weird on you, but otherwise, I’m exploring, eh?”
Despite her worry, she looked skeptical. “Exploring.” She drew a breath. “Fine. But the minute Chloe’s safe, you’re telling me what’s going on, understand? I’m done with this secrecy crap.”
I nodded.
“And Noah?” she called when I started down the hall.
I glanced back.
“Be careful?”
I hesitated. “Yeah.”
I headed for the front door. Reidsburg wasn’t huge by any stretch of the imagination, and their SUV wouldn’t be too hard to find.
And with any luck, Chloe wouldn’t be either. For me, at least.
I drew a breath, trying to calm the hope that choked me at the thought of actually seeing her again.
Chapter Five
Zeke
Several hours later found us walking back toward the gas station. We’d finally located a fast food place across town and the handful of change in Chloe’s pocket had been enough for us to split a small meal. We hadn’t spoken much – just watched the town through the windows – and the same was proving true for our trip back to the station. Biting her lip and jumping every time a car drove by, Chloe appeared utterly distracted.
And nervous as hell.
I slipped a
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