Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae #1)(75)

He about-faced and stalked away, with Yasmine hurrying to catch up.

“Well, that was weird,” Macy said as she watched the pair. “What’s gotten into him? Since when is he touchy-feely?”

“I think he’s being sentimental about almost dying to save me,” Charity said.

Macy shook her head. “I don’t think he’s got a sentimental bone in his body. Or a romantic one. Devon’s more of a hit-it-and-quit-it kinda guy.”

“Where has Dillon been, by the way?” Andy, Rod, and the girls had stopped in after breakfast to scoop up leftovers and rehash the events of the night before. Dillon had never shown, though, which Charity had thought a little odd, considering it was a pack affair.

Macy shifted uncomfortably.

“Don’t tell me he’s staying away because of Yasmine,” Charity said, eyeing the students entering the lecture hall. Whatever Vlad had done the night before to clear people away was not happening now. She took comfort in that fact. Still, she wasn’t in any hurry to go in. Out here, she could still run and call for help. In there, she’d be trapped.

Macy’s face reddened. “I told him he didn’t have to. I mean, yes, I have a jealousy problem when my boyfriend won’t stop ogling another woman—”

“Not to mention that it’s not cool to ogle women in general.”

“Right. Yes! Why didn’t I think of that?” She frowned down at her shoes. “Anyway, he keeps finding other things to do when Yasmine is going to be around. Despite being a shifter, he’s strangely non-confrontational.”

Charity laughed. “I think he’s against choosing sides between you and another pack member.”

“Well, yes, I guess there is that.” Macy pulled her long hair into a ponytail. “If only she were nice. I mean, look at you. You’re gorgeous, and it isn’t a problem. She just…” Macy shook her head, watching the dwindling flow of students into the lecture hall. It was almost time. “She rubs me the wrong way, but she’s pack. I need to get over it.”

After a moment of silence, Charity took a deep breath. “All right, I have to head in. I’ll text as soon as I can.”

After a welcomed hug from Macy, Charity headed for the door, dread washing through her middle as memories from last night swirled through her thoughts.

She hoped to hell nothing nasty waited inside those doors.





Chapter Thirty-Three





The only nasty things that had lain in wait were Donnie’s friends. Every time she glanced up to check the time, one of them was looking at her. Some out of suspicion, and some in plain anger. She didn’t blame them. The last time they’d seen Donnie, he’d been sitting with her. Now, he was nowhere to be found.

Good thing she was smarter and much more prepared than any of them. She had the test finished with forty minutes left on the clock. She took a quick moment to text Devon on the sly, then hurried to the desk at the side of the stage to drop her test in the basket. The professor barely looked up.

A message awaited her on her phone.

Devon: I’m here.

Nervous butterflies erupted in her stomach. She tucked her computer in her backpack and stood, catching a suspicious stare from Donnie’s best buddy. It would be a long few weeks until the end of the semester—if she made it that long. She’d probably miraculously escape the elder vamp only to be brought up on murder charges for Donnie’s disappearance.

Devon waited just beside the door, his face closed down into a hard mask. Yasmine and Macy stood in front of him, pushed out to the sides like wings. Fierce determination shone on each of their faces.

Full night had descended like a blanket, the soft glow from the light poles splashing the path.

“What’s going on?” Charity asked as they started forward, she the only one not in perfect synchronicity.

No one answered her. They didn’t need to.

Students ambled toward their cars, clutching books or computers, chatting with their friends or classmates. Every once in a while, a group would look up in surprise, their laughter and chatter dying as they caught sight of one of the still figures amidst the shadows. Eyes widened and mouths gaped as they noticed the unearthly beauty of the visitors.

The vamps had shown up.

“Is this it?” Charity asked quietly, identifying four independent watchers as they headed toward the closest parking lot. “Are we going to have to fight our way to the car?”

“Not with this many people around,” Devon answered in a low tone, masking a growl. “You were right about that.”

“What about when we get near the car and the parking lot is quiet?”

Devon’s fingers closed around hers. “We won’t be giving them that opportunity.”

His gaze shifted right. Andy jogged in from that side, his eyes pinned to the nearest vampire, who was watching him with a little grin.

Devon squeezed her hand. “We’re going to make it, okay? I won’t let them take you.” Fierce possession rang in his voice.

“You’re pack, Charity,” Andy growled, something she hadn’t expected from him. He fell in on her other side. “We’ve got you.”

Macy and even Yasmine nodded in agreement.

A surge of pure fire lit Charity up from within, exploding electricity out through her limbs. She’d never felt so included in a group of peers. She’d never been this welcomed, and certainly not felt this protected. Something hard and fast took root within her. The song of battle curled through the breeze.