of her mouth before she could filter them. Oh, what an idiot she could be. He’d said he wanted to see her again, but she shouldn’t push. The more desperate she appeared, the faster he’d leave her.
He kissed the top of her head. “Good. I’d hate to have to take a plane. I’m not crazy about flying.”
Bubbles of relief rose in her chest as she smiled the kind of grin that went ear to ear. Now she understood why her master had left Pal Robi. She’d do the same for Sam.
The lake came into view and Sam parked the car in an empty lot.
* * * *
A blanket of unease settled on Sam’s shoulders as he shut the engine off. Daedalus, or at least someone from the pack, should have been here to meet them. “I don’t like this. Try calling him again.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “He texted me.”
“Indulge my paranoia. I know my alpha. Someone should be here already.”
“How could anyone fake a text?” She dialed. “There’s no answer.”
Frowning, he scanned the dark parking lot. If he wanted to trap someone, this would be a good location. The water surrounded the park on three sides, leaving only one way in and out. Easy to guard, or block, if need be. “My alpha knows more about computers and tech than I do, but I’m sure there’s a way to make a text look like it came from Daedalus’s phone.” He chewed on the inside of his mouth. “Fuck this. I’m getting you out of here until we hear from someone again.”
He geared the car into reverse and twisted to look behind them. His heart seized in his chest. “What the fuck?” He slammed on his brakes and geared it back into park. Someone blocked his way, but he could only make out a dark silhouette. Exiting the car, he faced the person, half expecting Daedalus.
Being partially right sucked. The person was a vampire, but not the one he wanted. Shit. “Mind getting out of the way, buddy?” Sam knew the ass wouldn’t budge, but he stalled as he scanned the area and assessed their fucked up situation. He’d get Clementine out of here alive if it was the last thing he ever did. Calling to his beast to awaken it, he gestured to Clementine to join him.
The lot was well lit, but the surrounding forest left plenty of places to hide for both assailants and them. He heard Clementine exit the car.
“Sam?” Her voice rose with her fear, as did her scent. She hurried to his side.
Others moved in the dark, those of the vampire persuasion, from their scents.
“Give us the female and you can leave.” The male pulled a wooden stake from his pocket. “This isn’t pack business. It’s best for you to stay out of this.”
A low growl rolled in his throat as he tracked the stake in the vampire’s hand. His beast joined his thoughts. How dare they threaten his mate? The question splashed over him like a cold wave. He glanced at Clementine with her delicate features and brown, short curls. It felt…right.
“Clementine,” the vampire blocking their way addressed her, “don’t make us hurt him. Come along.” He gestured for her to follow him.
She stared at the male, then back to him. Her fear scent surrounded them. “What guarantee can you give me, Luke?” She stayed by Sam. Her faith in his protection appeared absolute, and it touched him more than any words of affection could have.
“I’m dead no matter what he tells you,” he whispered low enough for only her ears. “Get ready to grab onto me.”
“On my honor, if you come peacefully, we will let him go.” Luke pressed a hand over his unbeating heart.
For the second time in twenty-four hours, Sam released his beast in a painful shift that exploded through his flesh in one swift shot. His borrowed clothes shredded around his larger size, fluttering to the ground.
Clementine jumped onto his back, wrapping her limbs around him as he raced into the dark and who knew what else.
The Pal Robi vampires were upon him before he cleared the light. The weight of Clementine on his back disappeared
He kissed the top of her head. “Good. I’d hate to have to take a plane. I’m not crazy about flying.”
Bubbles of relief rose in her chest as she smiled the kind of grin that went ear to ear. Now she understood why her master had left Pal Robi. She’d do the same for Sam.
The lake came into view and Sam parked the car in an empty lot.
* * * *
A blanket of unease settled on Sam’s shoulders as he shut the engine off. Daedalus, or at least someone from the pack, should have been here to meet them. “I don’t like this. Try calling him again.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “He texted me.”
“Indulge my paranoia. I know my alpha. Someone should be here already.”
“How could anyone fake a text?” She dialed. “There’s no answer.”
Frowning, he scanned the dark parking lot. If he wanted to trap someone, this would be a good location. The water surrounded the park on three sides, leaving only one way in and out. Easy to guard, or block, if need be. “My alpha knows more about computers and tech than I do, but I’m sure there’s a way to make a text look like it came from Daedalus’s phone.” He chewed on the inside of his mouth. “Fuck this. I’m getting you out of here until we hear from someone again.”
He geared the car into reverse and twisted to look behind them. His heart seized in his chest. “What the fuck?” He slammed on his brakes and geared it back into park. Someone blocked his way, but he could only make out a dark silhouette. Exiting the car, he faced the person, half expecting Daedalus.
Being partially right sucked. The person was a vampire, but not the one he wanted. Shit. “Mind getting out of the way, buddy?” Sam knew the ass wouldn’t budge, but he stalled as he scanned the area and assessed their fucked up situation. He’d get Clementine out of here alive if it was the last thing he ever did. Calling to his beast to awaken it, he gestured to Clementine to join him.
The lot was well lit, but the surrounding forest left plenty of places to hide for both assailants and them. He heard Clementine exit the car.
“Sam?” Her voice rose with her fear, as did her scent. She hurried to his side.
Others moved in the dark, those of the vampire persuasion, from their scents.
“Give us the female and you can leave.” The male pulled a wooden stake from his pocket. “This isn’t pack business. It’s best for you to stay out of this.”
A low growl rolled in his throat as he tracked the stake in the vampire’s hand. His beast joined his thoughts. How dare they threaten his mate? The question splashed over him like a cold wave. He glanced at Clementine with her delicate features and brown, short curls. It felt…right.
“Clementine,” the vampire blocking their way addressed her, “don’t make us hurt him. Come along.” He gestured for her to follow him.
She stared at the male, then back to him. Her fear scent surrounded them. “What guarantee can you give me, Luke?” She stayed by Sam. Her faith in his protection appeared absolute, and it touched him more than any words of affection could have.
“I’m dead no matter what he tells you,” he whispered low enough for only her ears. “Get ready to grab onto me.”
“On my honor, if you come peacefully, we will let him go.” Luke pressed a hand over his unbeating heart.
For the second time in twenty-four hours, Sam released his beast in a painful shift that exploded through his flesh in one swift shot. His borrowed clothes shredded around his larger size, fluttering to the ground.
Clementine jumped onto his back, wrapping her limbs around him as he raced into the dark and who knew what else.
The Pal Robi vampires were upon him before he cleared the light. The weight of Clementine on his back disappeared
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