going out and I am going to find them. Now, I’m going home. ”
She didn’t want to listen anymore , didn’t want to hear them argue with her anymore . Taking the side door she exited the garage swiftly , eager to be free and alone for a moment. Though, she didn’t doubt that someone would catch up with her soon. She momentarily contemplated leaving the sidewalk and main road , but though she was eager to get at Julian and Isla, she could not bring herself to do that to Chris, Melissa, and Luther. They would be terrified for her, worried sick , and they would follow her . Quite possibly to their deaths, and she could not handle having any more deaths staining her hands. No, if Isla and Julian came for her, it would have to be here, in the open before anyone could catch up to her.
It was a good night t o walk home , the chilly air helped to cool her heated skin and temper . Tilting her head back she stared up at the clear night sky . She wa nted to be soothed and awed by the bright twinkling stars , and beautiful moon . But she was n ot , and she probably never would be again . There was no joy in the beauty of the world anymore. Anger filled her as she turned away from the sky ; she resented the fact that something she had once loved now meant nothing to her. Like so many other things.
Moving swiftly down the sidewalk, she kept herself attuned to the world around her, taking in her surroundings, searching the night for an y sign of Julian and Isla. She huddled deeper int o her sweatshirt , folding her hands inside t he sleeves. A car rolled up beside her, its headlights flashing over the few inches of snow on the ground. Cassie paid it little mind as it moved slowly past , heading down the street. She turned the corner, kick ing miserably at the sidewalk, spoiling for a fight.
Another car rolled up, its brakes squeal ed to a halt beside her. Cassie spun; her eyes wide ned in surprise as Devon thrust his door open and jump ed out of the car. “What the hell do you think you’ re doing?” he snarled , storming around the car toward her.
Cassie took a startled step back, her forehead furrow ed in confusion at the anger blazing from him. Her heart melted momentarily as it briefly thump ed with excitement. Tingles erupted over her body; her skin crawl ed with its desperate need to be touched by him. It had been so long, her body had been denied his touch for far too long. Now it was frantic to feel the relief and pleasure that only he could bring to her. Her mouth went dry as she took an instinctive step toward him.
He strode toward her forcefully, and with the fluid grace only his kind could possess . Power radiated from him, his emerald eyes were afire , and his hair was tussled and disordered. H e r anger at him, and the world, suddenly sapp ed out of her . L ove for him surg ed forth as tears burn ed the backs of her eyes. She blinked the tears rapidly back as he stopp ed before her, his mouth parted slightly as his eyes rapidly scanned her face . L ove , hope, and need bloom ed in the bright depths of his emerald eyes . He reached slowly toward her, his elegant hand a life raft in the tumultuous seas that constituted her life now.
Of its own volition, her hand rose to meet his . T ime seem ed to slow as they stretched across the short expanse that separated their bodies. It would be bet ter, everything would be better once she touched him again. She knew that without a doubt, knew that he was everything she needed, and more.
And then their fingers met . R elief poured through her, tears clogged her throat. Everything was right now, everything was normal and good. He would keep her safe; he would protect her from the hurt s and wrongs of the world. Wonder filled her as she searched his gaz e; the vast amount of love in his eyes sh ook her to the core. His fingers tightened around hers as he tugged her closer to him.
Desire , love, and hunger poured from him.