Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(37)

Hope rose within her, almost painful to feel.

“I chose you, Amber. Luke can f*ck off. I’m not afraid of him. Never have been.”

She threw her arms around him and held tight.

His arms closed around her. “You don’t…fear me, do you?”

She buried her face against his chest. “No, I don’t.” Though she did fear what would happen when Luke learned of his betrayal. “Maybe we can run far enough…maybe he’ll never find us.” She looked up at him.

But…Cass shook his head.

He shook his head.

She pushed against his chest and backed away. ‘You…don’t want to leave with me?”

“I want to be with you, hell, yes, but I’m not the kind of man who will spend his life running. I won’t always look over my shoulder, waiting for Luke to appear or trying to dodge every paranormal creature on earth because I’m worried someone will report me to Luke. He will not always threaten you.”

He didn’t get it—

“I’ll make a new deal with him. I’ll get him to back off you. You’ll be safe.”

No. Didn’t he get it? “Luke won’t take a new deal. You go to Luke without me, and you’ll just piss him off. He’ll toss you in a cell and you won’t see daylight again.”

“You underestimate me.” He lifted a hand. “If I have to do it, I will kill the bastard.”

“No!” The sharp cry burst from her.

And she knew she’d just given too much away.

“You…care about him.” The jealousy was back, grating in his voice.

Dammit, dammit, dammit! “I don’t want him dead, okay? I’m not looking to kill anyone. That’s not who I am.” Amber marched for the door. “Look, let’s just get out of here while we can. This place is way too close to the crash site. We need some more distance, and the night won’t last forever.”

She yanked open the door. Amber heard his footsteps behind her. She stepped into the night.

His gloved hand curled around her shoulder. “Do you love him?”

Her eyes closed. “It’s not like you think, okay?” She glanced back at him. “Haven’t you heard? The big, bad Lord of the Dark has a mate. He’s obsessed with the lovely Mina, not with me.”

“Do you love him?” Cass repeated.

Her heart ached. “We need to go.”

His jaw clenched. “You do.”

“There are—I can’t—” Her breath heaved out. “There are things I can’t tell you. You’re better off not knowing, okay? Can’t you just trust me? There is nothing sexual between us. I’m not pining away for him. He’s not pining for me.”

His gaze searched hers. “What kind of man would you love?”

The question actually gave her pause. “Someone who would fight the dark for me.” Her smile felt sad. “And the light.” Because that was what it would truly take.

His hand fell away.

Right. She wanted the impossible.

They hurried into the night. The old pickup was still there, waiting for them, but Cass steered her around it.

“In case the guy called the cops, we don’t want that thing on the road.” He pointed to an older sedan. “That one won’t be equipped with any GPS tracker or alarms. Want to work your magic and get it going for us?”

Sure. She headed toward the car. Cass opened the driver side door for her—mostly because the guy used some super strength and yanked that locked door right open. She was pretty sure he’d smashed the lock to hell and back. She slid under the front seat, dipping beneath the dash and— “Someone is looking for you.” The voice was low, feminine, and coming from the dark.

Amber’s head snapped up, rapping into the dash.

“You have me confused with someone else,” Cass said flatly.

“I don’t think so. It’s hard to mistake the Reaper. I’ve never forgotten you.”

Amber slid out of the car and she found herself at Cass’s side. A woman stood about ten feet away, a woman clad in shadows and darkness. Her long, thick hair was midnight black, and it trailed over her shoulders. She lifted her hand and pointed at Cass…and then at Amber. “Everyone is searching. And I found you first. Luke will be very, very pleased with me.”

Oh, crap. “Lady, you’re confused. You’re—”

The woman’s lips parted as she laughed. Only that laugh sounded exactly like the call of a crow.

“Hell.” Cass lunged forward and Amber saw the flash of his scythe. He’d pulled his weapon and he was going to use it on that woman.

“No!” Amber grabbed for his arm.

But it was too late. He’d sliced out with the scythe, only…

The woman vanished. She seemed to turn into thick, dark fog and then—a dozen crows appeared where she’d been. Those crows were all calling out, still using that taunting cry that had been her laugh, and they flew up into the air, moving together and swirling high above Amber and Cass.

Amber blinked as she stared after them. “We have a problem.”

“A big f*cking one.” The scythe vanished. “Get that sweet ass in the car. Because this time, I’m the one who’s being hunted.”