She smiled back at him, turning her attention swiftly back to her cup of coffee before thoughts of last night intruded, the intimacy of it taking her over. Looking for reassurance she gently touched the marks on her neck, smiling softly as she recalled him there. Feeding from her; gaining strength from her body.

“Still snowing?” he asked softly, stopping before her. His hard legs brushed against hers as he leaned forward, pushing aside the curtain to look outside. Cassie’s mouth went dry; her body instinctively responded to his, pressing closer as need ensnared her. He was so warm, so strong and sure.

She tilted her head back to look at him, not at all surprised to find his eyes on her, and not the outside world. His smile was gone, his gaze dark and intense. Leaning closer to her, he rested his hands upon the counter on either side of her. Though she knew that there were other people in the room, she could not bring herself to care as every cell in her being became focused upon him, and his touch.

“Like crazy. Maybe we won’t have school tomorrow,” Dani said brightly.

“Hmm,” Chris agreed absently.

Cassie barely heard their conversation over the excitement pounding through her. She wanted nothing more than to lean into Devon and lose herself to his touch. Something inside of her was shifting, changing, growing. She was beginning to realize that it was only a matter of time before she lost complete control and allowed free rein to everything she was thinking and feeling.

Though she had thought she would be frightened by that realization, she was not. In fact, she was thrilled and awed by it. Things were going to change drastically between them, and she was eager to embrace every one of those changes. They would be wonderful, she was certain of it.

Cassie jumped in surprise when Devon’s phone went off. Her eyes narrowed as he pulled it swiftly out. Worry flashed through his eyes as he read the message, hit a few buttons and flipped it closed. His eyes came slowly back to hers, they were cold and distant. “Who… who was that?” she asked, trying to keep the nervousness from her voice. Whoever it was had caused his mood to change in the space of a heartbeat.

He shook his head as he slipped his phone into his pocket. “I need to go out for a bit.”

“Out? Where?” Unreasonable panic filled her; she couldn’t understand the abrupt change that had come over him. Moments ago he was warm and caring, now he was distant, withdrawn, a stranger. And she didn’t know who he could possibly be talking to that would cause such a change. She was fairly certain that almost everyone he talked to was in this room, unless it was a girl. Cassie quickly shut the thought down; she had experienced his feelings last night. She knew that he only thought of her, that he only loved her. But who could he possibly have been talking to?

“I just need to pick up a few things from my place.”

“Can you grab me some things too?” Chris asked absently.

Cassie felt her mouth drop as she turned toward Chris. Chris froze for a moment, his hands tightened around the cards he held. His head came slowly up, his eyes wide with horror as he realized exactly what it was he had let slip out. “Too?” she inquired softly.

Chris’s eyes darted nervously to Devon. “Chris has been staying at my place once in awhile,” Devon said softly, resting his hands on Cassie’s shoulders.

Her eyes widened, betrayal jolted through her. For a moment anger flared inside her, but she somehow managed to push it back down before it consumed her again. She knew how awful Chris’s home life was, knew how miserable it was for him to be at home. Her grandmother had taken care of him more than his own mother had. Chris had spent most of his nights sleeping on Cassie’s floor, but he wouldn’t have wanted to be here after her grandmother had died. It would have been hard on him, and Cassie understood that, but she could not shake the shock that kept her gaping at them. She had never even been to Devon’s apartment, and Chris was apparently staying there.

Just how close had they gotten over the past two weeks?

“I see,” she said softly.

“Cassie…”

“No, it’s fine. I’m fine, really.” She cut Chris off, forcing a reassuring smile. “Really.”

Devon massaged her shoulders gently. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” Chris said, his gaze momentarily darting to the window. “I just… I just needed a break.”

“A break?”

His smile was wan as he ducked his head. “Your emotions, and Devon’s, weren’t exactly easy to deal with, and I couldn’t keep them shut out.”

“Oh,” Cassie said dully. And if Devon was here watching over her, then Chris would be bombarded with both of their emotions, even when Chris was at his own house. She glanced back at Devon, noting the stiff set of his jaw, and the arms now folded firmly over his chest. He didn’t look comfortable with the issue of his emotions being spoken about so freely. “Sorry.”

Chris grinned at her. “It’s quite alright, the giant plasma TV more than made up for not being able to stay at my own crappy house.”

Cassie blinked in surprise then glanced questioningly at Devon. “Not mine,” he said with a casual shrug. She quirked an eyebrow but refrained from saying anymore. “I have to go, but I’ll be back in a little bit.”

He bent to drop a quick, soft kiss on her cheek. Cassie’s hand lingered on his face, gently stroking over its much loved contours. She had a bad feeling about him leaving, her worry still lingered, but she did not want to seem like a needy, clingy girlfriend. Even if she desperately did need him. “Be safe.”

A soft grin teased the corners of his mouth. “Stay inside.”

“Oh you can count on that,” Melissa said softly, shivering slightly. “Damn weather.”

Devon kissed her again, squeezing her hand gently before leaving the room. Cassie turned back to the window, watching as he hurried to his car. He was huddled deep into his jacket, his hands shoved into his pockets against the cold. She instantly missed him; an ache bloomed in her chest. Shaking her head, she turned away from the window. She was being ridiculous; he would only be gone for a little while.

But they had spent too much time apart, and she had only recently gotten him back in her life. She wasn’t ready to be separated from him now, even if it was for a short period of time. Cassie rubbed the bridge of her nose as she stepped away from the counter, trying to ease the tension inside her. Chris tapped the stool beside him, gesturing for her to sit down.

“I’ll deal you in.”

“Sounds good,” she mumbled.

***

Devon pulled his car into Luther’s driveway and turned off the headlights. He sat for a moment, not ready to know what Luther had learned, if anything. Luther’s text had simply said that he needed to speak with him as soon as possible. That didn’t mean that Luther had learned something, he may simply want to speak with Devon when no one else was around. Luther didn’t know that Cassie was with him again. That she was doing better now.

And all of that might be about to change.

Sighing heavily, Devon shoved his car door open. It couldn’t be avoided; he had to know what had happened while Luther was gone. Trudging through the snow, he huddled into his coat, dreading every step he took. He was almost to the door when Luther opened it.

Luther’s normally neat hair was in disarray. The fine lines around his mouth and eyes were drawn tight and pinched. His glasses were already in hand. One look at him told Devon that he was not going to like what the man had to say.

It was not the cold of the night that was causing the chill in him now. “You learned something,” he said flatly.

Luther slid his glasses back on, nodding briskly. “I did. You had better come in.”

Devon braced himself, fighting back the dread that rolled through him. Stepping inside, he waited as Luther closed the door behind him, shutting out the storm beyond. Devon followed as Luther moved into the living room. Neither of them sat as Luther began to pace. “Is it what I feared?” Devon asked quietly.

Luther pulled his glasses off again, squeezing his nose with his fingers. “I think it may be worse,” he replied tightly.

Devon felt as if someone had socked him in the stomach. Terror filled him as his jaw clenched tight and his hands fisted at his sides. He was prepared to fight for Cassie, prepared to die for her, but he could not defend her from herself. And that was who he feared she would need the most protection from.

***

“What was that?”

Cassie lowered her cards, frowning as she strained to see or hear whatever it was that had caught Dani’s attention. The small girl was standing by the backdoor, the light on as she watched the swirling snow. “What was what?” Chris asked around his mouthful of chips.

“I thought I saw something.”

A shiver raced down Cassie’s back, foreboding crept into her stomach, knotting firmly. She glanced at Chris and Melissa, who were as frozen as she was. Dani took a small step back from the door, glancing fearfully at them. “I know I saw something,” she whispered.

The lights flickered out. Cassie jumped, nearly knocking her water over as she bumped the table. She righted it quickly as the lights flared back on and then flickered out again. Cassie rose swiftly, striding purposely to the back door. “Cassie,” Chris said warningly.

“I’m not going out there,” she replied sharply.

Dani stepped beside her, she pointed toward the thick copse of oak trees at the edge of the backyard, just beyond her old tire swing. Narrowing her eyes, Cassie focused all of her attention on that area. Then she saw it, a flash of moment to the right that snapped her head in that direction. Dani jumped in surprise, bumping into Cassie as she took a frightened step back. Chris and Melissa were already on their feet; their eyes were wide with worry and fear as they edged closer.

“Go,” Cassie urged Dani, pushing her away from the threshold, nudging her back toward the house.

She had a very bad feeling she already knew who was out there, and she didn’t want Dani anywhere near them. Glancing back, she froze, horror curdled through her stomach as ice crept through her veins. Her hand tightened on Dani’s shoulder, unintentionally holding her in place as her legs became blocks of cement. Isla had appeared in the backyard, her auburn hair was coated with flakes of falling snow. The low cut black dress she wore floated about her in the wind; the wet material clung to her curvaceous figure.

But it was not the haunting beauty of the woman, or her sudden appearance that made Cassie freeze instantly. No, it was the person by her side. The boys brunette hair stood out in sharp contrast to the snow as it tumbled around him in wet straggles. Snow was beginning to coat his hair, turning it a grayish brown color. Nausea curdled in Cassie’s stomach, a lump of terror lodged in her throat. Dani took a step closer to her, pressing against Cassie’s side.

Cassie didn’t know what to say, what to do. Chris and Melissa moved closer, huddling tight against them. Isla flashed a smile at them, flicking the snow off of her as she shook back her long dark hair. With a crooked finger she beckoned tauntingly for them to come outside. “What do we do?” Dani asked softly.

Isla bent swiftly; lifting the boy from the ground she forced him to his feet as she held the back of his shirt. Blood trickled down his neck, staining the thin shirt he wore. Melissa gasped sharply, while Dani moaned. The boy was young, no more than twelve or thirteen. “We go out there,” Cassie said softly.

“Cassie…”

“We have to Melissa. We have to.”

Melissa sighed softly, nodding slowly. “I know that, but I think we need to prepare a little first.”

Cassie bit nervously on her bottom lip as she studied the swirling snow. Aside from Isla the scene was blessedly, deceivingly tranquil. The beauty of the snow was so out of place and wrong with the monster standing amidst it. It should be a fiery scene from hell out there, or at least thunder and lightning instead of the silent wonderland surrounding her.

But no matter how surreal it all was, Cassie knew that they had to go out there and face it. That she had to go out there and face it. “Get the supplies, meet me out there,” she said softly.

“Cassie.” Chris grabbed hold of her arm, halting her progress. “Melissa and I are coming with you. Dani, in the living room there’s a trunk…”

“I know where it is,” Dani interrupted her voice bordering on hysteria.

“Grab some supplies out of it and meet us outside, I have a feeling we’re going to need your ability the most.”

“Julian would have warned Isla about that,” Cassie said softly, fighting the urge to ring her hands nervously.

“Is Julian out there?” Melissa asked sharply, her eyes intent on Chris.

Chris’s gaze became distant, his body stiff. He was silent for a moment and then he shook his head. “I don’t feel him out there, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t. He was able to keep himself cloaked from me before. Unless he wants us to know he’s there, we won’t.”