Few Are Angels (27 page)

“Oh.” I wasn’t as upset as I had been before because I knew he had my best interests at heart.

“I understand now, but at the time, it just seemed like I couldn't trust you. That was hard because my heart told me that I could, but you proved I couldn’t,” I said honestly.

“I am truly sorry. I know this is difficult for you. I know what to expect from all of this, and I now understand how discomforting this can feel, the uncertainty of it all, so I guess we should talk.”

We were at the tree that led back to the Carltons’, and I shivered from the cold. I wanted to learn more about this bloodlust and what I could do to help stop it from resurfacing again.

“Do you want to come in?” I asked hesitantly.

Kale hadn’t been in my room since before the lodge, and he hadn’t made any moves to get there. When it was his turn to guard me, he stayed outside near the shed or in the woods. Every night I had to force myself to sleep. Knowing how close he was and not being able to see or touch him sometimes felt unbearable. Kale looked from me to the house and shifted his weight. It seemed like he was stalling while mulling over whether he should accept the invitation. I would have felt embarrassed if it weren’t for the look of surprise on his face.

“It’s late, and you have to work tomorrow,” he replied.

I hadn’t had to work in the past two days, and my first day back was guaranteed to be hell. I’d been ignoring Mia’s calls. It was close to two a.m. and I needed to be in to Knope’s at eleven.

“Yeah, you’re right. I guess it can wait.” I turned to walk to the house, but was stopped short by Kale’s hand.

He reached for me and pulled me back to him. His breath was warm on my ear, sending chills down my spine. In that moment, I realized how much I’d truly missed him and the warmth his gifted, cool hands gave.

“Tomorrow night, I promise.” He released my hand.

I wondered if Kale no longer trusted himself around me. I’d been keeping my hair up in a tight bun and continued the use of my parka’s hood. It seemed to do the trick, but Kale still seemed a bit on edge when we were alone, and that worried me. How could he protect me from Laurent’s men if he was constantly trying to protect me from himself?

***

As I geared up for work, my cell phone rang. It was Mia, and of course I took the tongue lashing I had been avoiding for days. I deserved it, I guess.

“So, I guess now you don’t know how to answer your phone?”

She was mad, but I could also hear a bit of relief in her voice, and I assumed it was because I’d finally answered.

“Well?”

“I've been busy, Mia.” I had been busy learning from Jace and trying to figure out things with Kale, not to mention the issues between Alex and me. He hadn’t been sure if he wanted to transfer after our last conversation, and Eric used his inability to choose as proof he hadn’t thought his decision through, so Alex went back to New York to finish the semester. It was hard to let him go, but I believed it was for the best. I didn't want him to stay because of me because I wasn’t sure what would happen with these missing girls, and I didn't know how I felt about him yet. I was confused and afraid. The man from my past and the one from my present often battled in my head, but it was always a draw. I cared about them both, but I was still confused about what to do.

“So it’s not because Alex and I have been talking?”

I felt a pang of jealousy, but quickly pushed it away. It wasn’t fair of me to feel that way because I’d told her Alex and I weren’t a couple. But knowing he had feelings for me and was talking to her while barely saying a word to me hurt. Suddenly, the blueberry muffin I was eating didn't taste as good, and it seemed ignoring Mia the past two days had been a stupid idea. Had I talked to her, I would have known she and Alex had been keeping in touch.

“Hello?” Mia yelled, jarring me from my thoughts.

“I’m here. Like I said, I was busy. I wasn’t ignoring you.”

“Well, I’m just saying you haven’t picked up your phone for me, and Alex is tight-lipped about what’s going on between you two and why he isn’t sure if he is transferring. And where the hell are you? Aren’t you supposed to be here in ten minutes?”

I looked at my watch. It was ten fifty a.m. and Kale hadn’t showed up yet. I ran to the front door and looked out to see a sleek black car purring in the driveway.

“I’ll call you back.” I hung up before she had a chance to reply. I was nervous because I had never seen the car before. Tinted windows betrayed nothing of the car’s contents or owner. There was no license plate on the front of the car, so I couldn't see if it was someone from Virginia or out of state. Before I pulled my cell back out to dial Kale, my phone rang with his special tone. I answered as quickly as possible, hoping he was somewhere close.

“Hey, I’m glad you called,” I said, before his warm voice cut me off.

“Are you going to stare at me from the window or are you going to get in the car so you’re not late for work?”

My surprise quickly dissipated and turned to awe and confusion. Where did he get that car, and how could he afford it? I had already decided my assumption he was homeless was incorrect, but for some reason I still had a hard time imagining him in a house with normal things instead of in the mausoleum. I managed to say “okay” as I headed out the door and to the car. The inside smelled new and sharp along with a whisper of Kale’s spicy scent. I wanted to ask him about that, but I couldn't gather up the courage, so I asked the first stupid thing that came to mind.

“You can drive?” I had to resist the urge to slap my forehead.

“I hope so,” he said, with just a hint of amusement.

We pulled out of the driveway and headed toward Knope’s. I wanted to stay in the car and speak with Kale, but I was almost late. All I could do was thank him for the ride and remind him I got out of work at four. I ran into the store past a glaring Mia and into the back and placed my things away. In the rush to get there, I had forgotten to figure out a way to explain Kale to Mia so if she spoke to Alex, he wouldn’t be upset. I headed to the cash register to see Mia glaring out the front doors at Kale’s car. It was in the same spot where I’d left him. Confused, I walked up behind her and waited for Kale to pull off.

When he didn't, Mia turned to me with an annoyed look. “So, is this the guy you were talking about giving you rides to and from work?” she asked, in a calmer tone than I expected. “Nice car—2011 Lexus GS 450h. He should have gone with the LS 600h, so I guess I will have to ask him why he didn't.” She walked out the double doors toward the car.

I raced after her, ignoring the biting cold, not caring the store was left unattended. I didn't know how to ring a customer up, and I hadn't see anyone in the store when I went in—not even Mr. Knope. Mia glided to the car like an ice skating princess as I tripped over ice and snow. When she reached the car, she tapped on the driver’s side window. I went to the passenger’s side to get in. Kale ignored Mia’s tapping and unlocked the door, allowing me to get inside. Before turning his head to acknowledge Mia, he looked at me and frowned.

“Where’s your coat?” Before I could answer, he started the car and blasted the heat. Finally, he rolled down his window to a pissed off Mia, her face contorted with annoyance.

“I am not standing…” she trailed off as she ran her eyes over every inch of Kale.

I was sure she saw the same thing I did when she looked at him: those dark eyes that said he was mysterious and maybe even dangerous; his sable hair, glittering in the sunlight, begging to be touched; his sexy lips that seemed to be made solely for me, the bottom just a bit plumper than the top; and the smooth planes of his pale face that gave him the movie star good looks while mirroring no one she’d ever seen before.

Suddenly, the jealousy I’d felt earlier over Alex and Mia’s conversations seemed less important. I could feel my face heating with the anger that poured from my mouth.

“Mia, how long do you plan on staring at him? Didn't you have a question to ask about the car?”

I sounded more irate than I’d planned, which caused a smile to play across Kale’s lips and woke Mia from whatever daydream she had slipped into.

Mia physically shook her head as if to dislodge the cobwebs that had formed. “Oh, yeah.” She had forgotten the reason she had come outside. Mia recovered quickly, but disregarded the car topic and moved on to another subject.

“So, you’re the one that will be taking Alex’s place until he moves back home?” she asked with interest.

Kale looked at me questioningly, and I knew what he was thinking.

“We decided since it’s dangerous for us girls to be alone, we would shadow each other; Alex and me together and Brett and Mia together,” I said quickly. I noticed him cringe slightly at the word together, but I knew he understood what I meant, so I didn't go any further with my explanation. Mia was shivering and pale.

“You should get inside the store. You look like a Popsicle. You’re going to get sick,” I told Mia, and to my surprise it worked—not because she was told, but because her lips were turning blue. Once Mia was back inside, Kale turned to me. He stared at me for a while before he spoke.

“We have agreed Jace and I will protect you; that mortal boy can’t keep you safe from this threat, Ella.”

“I know, and I agree, but they don’t know the truth, so they think any girl could be next. Alex and Brett worry about us, and they want to watch out for us. I wish I could tell them the truth, but it would only put them in jeopardy, and they would never believe me.”

Kale leaned over and placed his hand on my cheek, a soothing touch that did exactly that.

“Trust me. I do know this is hard for you, but Jace and I will protect you for as long as we need to.”

When I walked back into the store, Mia was at the counter. She had grabbed her coat from the back. She rubbed her hands together, warming them.

“I guess he is just going to sit out there for your entire shift?” she asked.

I looked out the doors to see Kale’s car hadn’t moved. I was glad he was staying because I knew the danger in being anywhere alone. I’d yet to see any of Laurent’s men, but Jace and Kale had assured me he would soon find where I was and send them for me. Once that happened, Jace would want me to go to the Council with him for protection, and Kale wouldn’t be allowed near me once I was there. That was when the real war started, so I’d been racking my brain to discover a solution. So far I had nothing.

“I guess.” I moved from the doors to the counter to stand beside her. Today I was supposed to learn to use the register. I tried to ignore her pointed looks. I didn't want to talk to her about Alex or Kale. The situation had turned into another stress in my life that I didn't have time for. I thought about coming clean to Alex, Mia, and Brett about everything I’d learned from Jace and Kale, but that was a stupid idea. If it weren’t for my stay in the Ocean Trace psych ward, I might have been a more credible person to talk about vampires and immortals. Actually, I would think even a sane person crazy if they came to me with such a tale, but a person who had a record of psychotic breakdowns would probably end up in custody.

“Are you gonna make me ask?” Mia questioned.

“Ask,” I said, knowing I couldn't stop her. She could ask whatever she wanted, but I didn't have to tell her anything.

Mia looked at me, her blue eyes blank. I knew what she wanted to know, and I knew her feelings toward me would probably change based on the answer I gave her.

“Who is he really? I want to know if he is the reason Alex isn’t coming back.” She placed her hands on her hips and eyed me like a hawk.

It was actually funny how she tried to intimidate the answer from me as if the one-hundred-ten-pound blonde could do anything more than pout. I didn't owe her an answer, and I sure as hell wasn’t about to let her think the stupid pose she was in scared me in the least.

“Mia, this is a personal matter between me, Alex, and Kale, so I’d really rather not talk about it.” I joined her at the register.

Mia broke her pose moments later and smiled. “Kale, huh? He is definitely sexier than Alex, but not as muscular, and I like my men with muscles.”

“Whatever. You want to teach me how to use this thing or what?” I pointed at the register, ignoring the ache in my chest at her comment. It didn't matter, though. There were more important things to worry about. I wanted Alex to be happy, but I wasn’t sure I wanted him to be with Mia. After a few hours on the register, I had it down pat. It was easier than I had expected because Mr. Knope hadn’t upgraded his system since the 1980s. Mia did really well with minding her business, but I noticed she texted more than usual, and I hoped she wasn’t talking to Alex about Kale.

“What do you think about heading to the mall with me tomorrow?” Mia asked.

The store was dead quiet, and there were no cars in the parking lot other than Kale and Mia’s.

“What are you shopping for?” I sat behind the register and stocked the paper and plastic bags while Mia danced around the store.

Mia shrugged. “I don’t know. My dad gave me his credit card, so I plan on melting some plastic. You game? You can bring Kale, if you want.” Her mood had changed from annoyed at the world to something I wasn’t used to seeing from her—happy.

“Sure, I guess.”

“Good. I want to take you to get your hair done. I’m not sure what kind of statement you’re trying to make, and not to be mean, but your roots are out of control, honey.”

“Um, thanks, but no thanks. I usually just buy some dye at the store and do it at home.” There was no need to pay someone one hundred bucks to do something you could do at home for seven.

Mia cocked a brow at me and smiled. “Fine. My place at noon tomorrow. I’ll bring the dye. You just bring yourself.” Mia pulled out her phone and headed toward the restroom, where she stayed for the majority of my shift.

Chapter 27

“Your touch soothed me even when I felt all was lost. You never gave up. You believed in me. You fought for me, and you died for me. If that is not love, then what is?” —Hélène