Soar (The Empire Chronicles #1) (15 page)

“Because you don’t shift completely into birds?”

“Yeah.”

“Why don’t you?”

“Don’t you know about Darwin’s principles?”

“Evolution? Survival of the fittest?”

“Yeah. We evolved into the strongest form, and we reap the benefits.”

“Sounds nice.” How was I talking to this guy so calmly? Was he using some sort of power to keep me relaxed? I didn’t understand it, and I was too exhausted to try.

“How are you feeling?” He kneeled down in front of me. “Want me to look at your cuts? I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

I studied his face. He seemed genuinely concerned, but it could have been an act. I wasn’t sure what I could believe. “You really thought it was the only way?”

“Yeah. Trust me. Toby’s going to be pissed when he sees you. Hurting you isn’t going to help me move up the chain.”

I formulated more of my plan. “Maybe we can help each other.”

“Help each other?” He looked at me warily.

“I need information. You give it, and I’ll put in a good word.” I wasn’t sure if he was right about Toby caring, but I had to try.

“I’ve already given you information.”

“I need more.”

“Like?”

“If I wanted to find the bears, how would I?”

He coughed. “Why would you want to find them?”

“Why doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it does. I just dragged you up here to get you away from them. You know more than you’re telling.”

I crossed my arms. “They have something I want.”

“Now the truth comes out. What the hell are you hiding?”

“None of your business.”

“It is my business. We can’t help you if we don’t know what we’re up against.”

“You don’t have to help me. You have enough to worry about with those attacks. I just need intel.”

“Intel? Are you a spy or something?” He grinned, and I decided he wasn’t quite as bad as I thought. “You know what your easiest solution is.”

“What?” What obvious avenue was I missing?

“Eric. He’s a bear.”

“Yeah…but I don’t know if I can trust him. Toby said he’s dangerous.”

“He is, but not if you’re with us.”

Did that mean he planned to continue helping me? “Well, he’s not the bear I need.”

“No, you just want the psycho ones that chase you through the Village.”

“Exactly.” I cracked a smile.

“What do they have of yours?” His expression softened.

“I can’t tell you.” Cody may not have tried to kill me or anything, but I certainly wasn’t going to trust him with that kind of information.

“Can you tell Toby?”

“Maybe.” I wanted to. I wanted to be able to tell him anything, but everything was still up in the air.

“Well, he’ll be here soon. Let’s go inside.”’

“I feel better out here.” I looked up at the dark sky.

“It could be hours.”

“So?”

“So, we can’t sit out here the whole time.”

“Why not?” I felt much safer outside. The vast expanse of open grass calmed me. It also allowed for a much easier escape than being inside. Also, theoretically, someone could come to my rescue outside, if I needed rescuing.

“Mind if I go inside for a minute, then?” He paused with one foot on the step next to me.

“You’ll leave me out here?”

“I’ll be right back, and I already told you you’re not being held against your will. Toby wants you to stay, but it’s your choice.”

“Where are you going?”

“To take a leak. I’d invite you, but Toby would probably get pissed.”

“Pissed? That’s almost a pun.”

“And you’re definitely different than I expected. I’ll be right back.” He took off his shirt, and two large, brown wings splayed out.

The wings looked almost exactly like Toby’s, and I found myself unable to tear my eyes away. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t have a key. I’ll have to fly in the attic window.”

“I’m never going to get used to this.”

“Sure you will.” He flew up to the attic, pushed open a window and disappeared inside.

I stared out at the yard, illuminated only by one small porch light, wondering what my next move should be. Was I being stupid to just sit around waiting for Toby, a guy I barely knew who had a pair of wings on his back? Did it make me certifiably insane that I still liked him, and kind of, sort of wanted to know what his wings would feel like under my hands?

A creaking sound had me up on my feet.

“Didn’t mean to scare you.” Cody, still shirtless, stood at the door. “Are you ready to come in?”

“I already told you I like it out here.” The problem was once he brought up the bathroom, I had to go.

“You sure there’s nothing you need to do inside?” He pulled his t-shirt back on over his head.

“Can you read minds?”

“No, but you’re crossing your legs, and we were in the car for awhile.”

“Promise not to try anything?” Not like that promise would mean anything, but I had to ask for it.

“If I wanted to hurt you, wouldn’t I have done it already?”

“Maybe, maybe not. You could be waiting for reinforcements.”

“Didn’t you see how easy it was for me to get you in the car? I don’t need reinforcements.”

My bladder screamed at me. “Okay.”

He held open the door, and I walked into a dark hallway. Lined with faded old pictures, it looked like it belonged in another time period.

“It’s the third door on the left.” Cody pointed in the direction of a hallway off the main one.

I nodded. “Thanks.”

I walked down the hall tentatively, half convinced something was going to jump out and attack me. I had just discovered that paranormal creatures existed after all. And I’d kissed one. I’d kissed a paranormal creature. That meant he wasn’t human. The scary part was he wasn’t the first non-human I’d kissed. Chances were good that Murphy’s brother wasn’t human either. And I’d done a whole lot more than kiss him.

I found the bathroom, happy to discover it appeared to be something out of the twenty-first century. I took my time, not sure I wanted to face any more of the craziness. My nerves were fried, and I felt near my breaking point. I also didn’t want to face the growing feeling that I had something to do with the attacks. It didn’t make any sense, but why take Vera, and then go after me?

I wanted Toby. The thought came suddenly, and I splashed water on my face to make it go away. Using Toby for information was one thing, but did I really still want someone who wasn’t human? Yes. The answer gnawed at me. I kind of wanted him more, and that was a really scary thought.

“Casey? Are you okay?” Cody called. It sounded like he was right outside the door.

“Yeah. I’ll be right out.” I splashed another round of water on my face and patted it dry. I tied my hair up in an attempt to make myself look more like a strong survivor than a disheveled victim.

“Take your time. I was just checking.” He sounded embarrassed. I doubt he wanted to ask. Maybe he was afraid I was crying, or even worse, that I needed a tampon or something. Cody seemed like the kind of guy who’d get freaked out over that.

“Thanks.”

“I’m going to see if there’s anything edible in the kitchen.”

I waited for his footsteps to disappear down the hall before opening the door. It’s always weird to open a door when someone’s right there.

I heard talking and followed it to the kitchen. Cody was on the phone. “So we should plan to spend the night, then?”

My stomach churned. That didn’t sound good. I waited just outside the entryway.

“He’s going to be okay though, right? I don’t think we can handle another power switch.”

“Is he okay?” I stepped into the kitchen, giving away my eavesdropping. I hoped by some chance he wasn’t talking about Toby.

Cody held the phone away from his ear. “He’ll be fine.” He returned to the call. “I’ve got to go.” He hung up.

“What happened to Toby?”

Cody swallowed hard. “He’s going to be okay.”

“Tell me.” I gripped the counter.

“He got a little cut, that’s all.”

A cut? I was positive it was a lot bigger than that. “Is he coming here?”

“Yeah. He’s taking care of some things, but then he’ll head up.”

“Soon?”

Cody smiled. “Toby would be glad to see your concern. The flight won’t take long, but he can’t leave yet. Let’s find something to eat, and then you can get some sleep while you wait.”

“Get some sleep? Are you kidding me?”

He opened the cabinets and pulled out a jar of peanut butter and some crackers. I picked them up and checked the dates. They both were well within expiration—impressive for a house that didn’t seem to be frequently used.

“Sleeping is usually advisable.” He spread a thick layer of peanut butter on a couple crackers.

“Yet not necessarily possible.” I knew a lot about sleepless nights. I had them more often than not.

“You’re safe here.”

“Clearly, I trust you. I’m inside the house, standing here calmly while you wield a knife.”

He chuckled. “Wield a knife? I’d worry more about my pinky than a butter knife.”

“Yeah, that was a joke, and your response didn’t exactly put me at ease.”

He bit into a cracker. I wondered if Pteron teeth were stronger too. “You’re only stuck with me for a few more hours.”

“Good to know.”

He laughed again. “I wonder if that’s what Toby sees in you. I mean, besides what you look like.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re funny. You’ve got this wittiness to you that you probably don’t even realize you have.”

I reached over him and dipped a cracker in the peanut butter. I preferred crunchy, but creamy was better than nothing. I didn’t bother with a knife.

“Toby barely knows me.”

“Yet you’ve been staying at his place…”

“In the guest room.”

“Sure, the ‘guest room.’” He made air quotes. His skepticism reminded me of Jared. I wondered where he fit into all of it. Was he still in New York with Toby?

“I’m not sleeping with him.”

“Maybe not yet, but it’s inevitable. I saw the way you reacted when you thought he was hurt.”

“Caring about someone doesn’t mean you want to sleep with them.”

“It does in your case. You were about to be mauled by a bear but you were more concerned with staring at him without a shirt on.”

“Was not.”

“Were too.” He opened another sleeve of crackers.

“We sound like children.”

“Yes, we do.” He stuffed two crackers in his mouth.

I nabbed one more. “I still can’t believe any of this.”

“It’s about to get even more real.” He leaned up against the counter.

“Why’s that?”

“Toby’s here.”

“Where?” I walked to the doorway and looked down the long, empty hallway. Satisfied there was no one there, I walked back over to Cody.

Cody smiled. “I heard him land. He’ll be in soon.”

Chapter Nineteen
Toby

I pushed open the front door. “Casey?” I sensed movement in the kitchen and walked right in.

She gazed at me for half a second, as if deliberating, before running into my arms. I held her close, even more relieved to see her than I expected.

I patted her back. I needed to find a way to offer comfort without coming on too strong.

She buried her face in my bare chest. It felt right. “Are you hurt?”

“No. I’m good.”

“Are you sure?” She lifted her head to look at me. There was such concern in her eyes. Concern for me. She ran her hand over the cut on my chest that was already starting to heal. There were a lot of benefits of being a Pteron.

“I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine.” I put my hands on her arms and looked into her eyes. “What about you? Are you all right?” I gently touched the area around a faint cut on her forehead.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Her words sounded fake, and I needed to get to the bottom of it.

“I’m going to go watch the house.” Cody touched Casey’s arm as he squeezed by us to get to the door.

I swallowed down my annoyance at seeing anyone else touch her. “Thanks, man. I owe you.” I wasn’t sure if he had anything to do with the cut, but if it was unavoidable in order to get her away from the bear, I could let it slide.

“Just doing my job. Besides, I had some decent company.” He winked at her. He was lucky I’d already done enough fighting that night.

She smiled. “And you’re not so bad when you aren’t kidnapping me.”

“Kidnapped? Is that what you think?” My body tensed.

“Chill out. She’s kidding. We’re okay now.”

“Good.” In all the craziness of the night, I hadn’t worried about whether she thought we were on the same side.

“I need to talk to you.” Her words were soft, but I’m sure Cody could still hear them from the other side of the door.

I nodded. “Let’s talk.”

I led her into one of the formal sitting rooms. It was one of those rooms that served no purpose. What’s the point of a room filled with uncomfortable furniture? I loved the location of the house, but if I ever moved in, I’d have to gut the place and turn it into something more modern. I pictured asking Casey to move in there. If I gave her the choice, she’d probably want to knock down the walls and revamp the outdated kitchen.

She took a seat on a brown sofa, and I sat down next to her, leaving less than the socially acceptable amount of space. I wanted to be close. She seemed unconcerned with discovering I had wings, but maybe that was just shock. I wasn’t looking forward to the questions I knew were coming. “What do you want to talk about?”

“I know why the bears want me.” She looked down, but that wasn’t going to work.

I put a hand under her chin and lifted it up. “Why?”

“Well, I guess I don’t know why, but I’m not surprised now that I know who they are. Oh, this is coming out wrong.” She let out a breath. “Let’s try it again.”

I picked up her hand and held it in mine. It was so small and fragile, it looked like the kind of hand that needed to be held and kept safe, but I knew better. Casey was strong, she was a fighter. You could tell just by being in the same room as her. “I’m listening.”

“They have my sister.”

“The bears?”

“Yes. Murphy, that burly, creepy guy that you punched.”