Indigo Vamporium (21 page)

Ma superstitions ha'e been confirmed and instead of terrifying the livin' daylights outtae me, it exhilarates me.

Lifting her so her feet dangle, I kiss her until I'm breathless and my hearing is dulled by oxygen deprivation. It feels right with her arms locked around my neck, tilting her head back and laughing softly into my mouth.

“You're going to get me into lots of trouble, I just know it,” she smiles, her voice lilting with emotion.

“Ah'm innocent. Don't be accusing me of instigatin'. I just met an unusual lass while out fishin' and she decided tae turn ma tranquil world upside down.”

Pressing a last kiss on my mouth, she stokes ma Celtic blood tae near boilin'. “You have to go or we'll never be awake in time to go cheer Roddie to victory.”

Firmly kissing her, with all ma might I squeeze her curves in a crush tae me, loathe tae release her. I finally set her feet back on the ground, refusin' tae say goodbye. I cannae say how final this feels, or how much I dinnae want tae go. I dinnae want tae leave her, I want tae take her with me, tae flee her mad family and escape tae somewhere safe.

Giving her hand a squeeze, I take the four steps tae the car, turning back to drink her in before leaving.

Hidden behind the open door I imprint her image in ma soul; hip long thick hair the color of spider silk, elegant legs in slinky black jeans, and eyes sparkling like two clear pools on a starlit night.

This isnae farewell. It cannae be. I won't let it be.

Blowing me a kiss with a swollen pout, her smile widens, and then she's gone and I'm standin' here alone smiling at a tree like a numpty.

The air blusters and the hairs on the back of ma neck raise. Hingeing tae the spot ma instincts holler from, I spy the two poker red eyes advancing toward me from the thickets, stampeding through the trees.

I dinnae ha'e tae even think about it, I dive intae the car, punch the engine into frantic life, and slam the gear shift intae reverse, scooting backwards downhill without the lights on, prayin I don't hit anythin'.

The whack of angry palms on the trunk force me tae jam my foot on the brake, the lights flaring hellish red intae the dark.

Looking forward, the dude from her garden is already at the grill, leaning both hefty arms ontae the hood and glowering at me through the thin glass separation' us.

His focus flicks tae the front of the car where the other shadow blocks ma escape, and ma leg starts jitterin' compulsively where it depresses the brake pedal. The sidhe growl shakes the metal and plastic interior, rippling through the car like thunder.

Standing straight, he flicks something at the windscreen, and I duck instinctively, shunting intae neutral tae prevent stallin', but it dies anyway. Waiting fer somethin' tae happen, it takes me three seconds tae look back up again, straight at the card stuck tae the glass.

Looking back at the other figure, the hulking shadow stumbles around and yanks ma door open, big hands clamping ontae ma jacket and hauling me out. The car starts rolling without ma foot on the brake and I struggle against ma assailant, smashing my forehead intae his nose, my leg coming up of its own volition tae knee him hard.

His grasp slackens with the impact and I break free, bolting efter the car, divin' in and yanking up the handbrake. I've barely had time tae catch ma breath when a hand finds purchase in ma jean's waistband and I'm flung backwards with force, impacting brutally with a tree trunk...

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