eyes. Strain was evident on her face, more so
tonight than it had been the last time he’d seen her.
Except for the fact that her arms were still wrapped around
Chloe, holding her securely in place, she looked fast asleep. Her hair fell in
thick, dense tangles over the seatback. The red streaks he knew twisted through
her curls weren’t visible in the shadows, yet knowing they were there made him
want to wind the soft strands around his fingers. His eyes roamed to the pale
skin of her neck and then to the spot on her chin he’d touched weeks ago. Her
skin had been warm and smooth and that simple touch had haunted him ever since.
Narrowing his eyes, he turned to gaze out into the night.
There was no point in entertaining those thoughts. Esraina
would soon be mated to a member of one of the Houses and his only concern
needed to be getting her and her daughter back home safely. That was his job.
That was all that mattered.
Chapter Four
The bleak winter landscape sped by outside the Hummer’s
windows. The frozen white of the ground melted into low-hanging gray clouds,
but Amy’s thoughts were far removed from the area of western Arkansas they were
passing through. They’d been driving for nearly twelve straight hours, stopping
only for gas, bathroom breaks and drive-through food.
Helped by the bag of toys Jordyn had bought along with the
car seat when they stopped at a Walmart hours ago, Chloe was taking the trip in
stride. It had been better than Christmas for Chloe. Jordyn had gotten her
several child handheld games and a DVD player complete with headphones and
about a dozen different cartoon DVDs that kept her busy and happily
entertained. The man had been in the store for less than an hour, yet had
managed to outfit them both with a set of winter clothes and outerwear besides
creating a moving playground for her daughter.
Chloe also had the luxury of being able to sleep easily,
since Jordyn’s supplies for the trip included a soft, fuzzy pink blanket and a
child-sized neck roll pillow in the shape of a monkey. The constant lulling
motion of the truck didn’t hurt either.
Amy grimaced and rubbed the bridge of her nose. After Jordyn
had explained to her what a Slayer was a couple of hours ago, she was sure
she’d never sleep again.
What the hell kind of freak sideshow had her life turned
into? It was bad enough to find out she was from another planet with some kind
of secret “mysticness” in her blood that was wanted by an enemy she didn’t
know, an enemy who had created monsters to track her to the ends of whatever
world she might be on. That particular fact Ellen had told her months ago,
though just not in as much detail. Today—last night—early this
morning—whatever, Jordyn increased the freak show by adding mutant cat-like
creatures trained to follow her scent until she could be cornered and killed.
“You okay?”
Amy lowered her hand to find Cirryc’s sky-blue eyes looking
at her with concern from where he sat in the passenger side of the front seat.
She caught Jordyn’s quick glance at her in the rearview mirror before he
returned his focus to the road.
“Just peachy.” Immediately, she realized that Cirryc’s
question had not deserved the bite in her words. “Sorry. Long day.”
“No problem. It’s a lot to take in, the whole new world
thing. Bethany and Brooke freaked out about it too.” Jordyn’s gaze cut to him,
and he amended, “At first. They’re fine now, though.”
“Good to know.”
“I’m sure you’ll get used to us like they did.”
He paused, but she didn’t know what to say in response to
that. “And Ilyria is beautiful,” he added.
The man was trying so hard to put her at ease, but she’d
obviously made him uncomfortable. Even embarrassed, the man was just too damn
gorgeous. If she’d met him before Andrew, she’d have found him impossible to
resist.
Both he and Amdyn carried the same coloring, with
white-blond hair and light blue eyes that glowed
tonight than it had been the last time he’d seen her.
Except for the fact that her arms were still wrapped around
Chloe, holding her securely in place, she looked fast asleep. Her hair fell in
thick, dense tangles over the seatback. The red streaks he knew twisted through
her curls weren’t visible in the shadows, yet knowing they were there made him
want to wind the soft strands around his fingers. His eyes roamed to the pale
skin of her neck and then to the spot on her chin he’d touched weeks ago. Her
skin had been warm and smooth and that simple touch had haunted him ever since.
Narrowing his eyes, he turned to gaze out into the night.
There was no point in entertaining those thoughts. Esraina
would soon be mated to a member of one of the Houses and his only concern
needed to be getting her and her daughter back home safely. That was his job.
That was all that mattered.
Chapter Four
The bleak winter landscape sped by outside the Hummer’s
windows. The frozen white of the ground melted into low-hanging gray clouds,
but Amy’s thoughts were far removed from the area of western Arkansas they were
passing through. They’d been driving for nearly twelve straight hours, stopping
only for gas, bathroom breaks and drive-through food.
Helped by the bag of toys Jordyn had bought along with the
car seat when they stopped at a Walmart hours ago, Chloe was taking the trip in
stride. It had been better than Christmas for Chloe. Jordyn had gotten her
several child handheld games and a DVD player complete with headphones and
about a dozen different cartoon DVDs that kept her busy and happily
entertained. The man had been in the store for less than an hour, yet had
managed to outfit them both with a set of winter clothes and outerwear besides
creating a moving playground for her daughter.
Chloe also had the luxury of being able to sleep easily,
since Jordyn’s supplies for the trip included a soft, fuzzy pink blanket and a
child-sized neck roll pillow in the shape of a monkey. The constant lulling
motion of the truck didn’t hurt either.
Amy grimaced and rubbed the bridge of her nose. After Jordyn
had explained to her what a Slayer was a couple of hours ago, she was sure
she’d never sleep again.
What the hell kind of freak sideshow had her life turned
into? It was bad enough to find out she was from another planet with some kind
of secret “mysticness” in her blood that was wanted by an enemy she didn’t
know, an enemy who had created monsters to track her to the ends of whatever
world she might be on. That particular fact Ellen had told her months ago,
though just not in as much detail. Today—last night—early this
morning—whatever, Jordyn increased the freak show by adding mutant cat-like
creatures trained to follow her scent until she could be cornered and killed.
“You okay?”
Amy lowered her hand to find Cirryc’s sky-blue eyes looking
at her with concern from where he sat in the passenger side of the front seat.
She caught Jordyn’s quick glance at her in the rearview mirror before he
returned his focus to the road.
“Just peachy.” Immediately, she realized that Cirryc’s
question had not deserved the bite in her words. “Sorry. Long day.”
“No problem. It’s a lot to take in, the whole new world
thing. Bethany and Brooke freaked out about it too.” Jordyn’s gaze cut to him,
and he amended, “At first. They’re fine now, though.”
“Good to know.”
“I’m sure you’ll get used to us like they did.”
He paused, but she didn’t know what to say in response to
that. “And Ilyria is beautiful,” he added.
The man was trying so hard to put her at ease, but she’d
obviously made him uncomfortable. Even embarrassed, the man was just too damn
gorgeous. If she’d met him before Andrew, she’d have found him impossible to
resist.
Both he and Amdyn carried the same coloring, with
white-blond hair and light blue eyes that glowed
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