Anathema (Causal Enchantment #1)(53)

“Once,” Amelie spoke up, “I saw a vampire’s head get cut off and thrown aside. A few minutes later, the body stumbled around, looking for it. When it picked it up and ‘plugged’ it back in, all the flesh mended itself. Good as new.”

“Oh, come on!” I looked skeptically at her.

“Honest. Scout’s honor!” She held up two fingers.

I glanced at the others, expecting to see a hidden smirk or the crook of a smile.

“Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you!” Amelie chirped.

“Always burn them,” Fiona said in a serious tone. “That way, you know they can’t come back and hunt you down—because, believe me, they’ll be pissed.”

“As if any human would get a chance in the first place,” Bishop muttered sarcastically.

Caden nodded in concession. “Back to Big Brown. A pack of cats or wolves can’t match the ferocity of one grizzly. Having an animal that powerful at your command, especially in a situation like this, where we need all the protection we can get—that’s why Bishop did it. One of those things will rip a heart right out of a chest cavity and eat it … good luck trying to get that back.”

I glanced over at Bishop, lying precariously on a bed of rocks, flicking Fiona’s ear. He still looked like that easygoing, sometimes obtuse cool kid from high school. Not exactly someone who ever paid an ounce of attention to me, let alone willingly battled a two ton animal three times for my protection.

My heart swelled.

As the shadows lengthened and the dappled sunshine faded, the first pangs of hunger rumbled in my stomach. I was sure it was a mistake—I hadn’t been here that long, had I? It rumbled again, this time loud enough to attract Caden’s attention. He looked down at my stomach, then up at my face, concern sweeping over his. “Time to go!” he announced. “The human is hungry.”

I shrugged it off, not wanting to disrupt their fun. “I’m okay.”

“No you’re not. Come on!” He hopped to his feet, whistling.

“What am I, a pet?” I quipped.

Caden threw an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to his chest, scratching behind my ear.

“Ha–ha,” I said sarcastically, hazarding a peek up to find those beautiful jade eyes gazing back, an inexplicable look in them. You are so unbelievably hot. My heart began thumping wildly in my chest. Thank God the pendant masks that.

“Ready to go?” Caden asked, chuckling.

I nodded dumbly. Anywhere. I’ll go anywhere with you.

“Looks like chicken feed,” Bishop commented dryly, his nose scrunching up in disgust as I inhaled three nature bars. They had found me some figs and berries to snack on but the exertion of walking up the mountain drove my hunger to levels of starvation.

I good– humoredly elbowed him in the stomach, wincing as my funny bone cracked against his rock hard muscles. He bellowed laughter, earning an eye roll from Fiona.

“What a mess!” Amelie announced as she surveyed the stuff scattered all over the cave, though her childlike face wore an eager expression. Suddenly she shrieked, diving down to grab something small and black. She held it up. A bathing suit.

I frowned. Why would Sofie—that’s right. I had mentioned the oasis. I didn’t think she was paying attention though.

Amelie frantically rooted around until she found one for each of us. Trunks in hand, Bishop and Caden bolted, Caden covering his eyes dramatically to hide his view of his sister, who had already begun shamelessly peeling off her clothes.

Fiona handed me a black bikini. I swallowed, holding up the two–piece, trying to figure out top from bottom. There was more string than covering. “Is there something in there a little more … modest?”

“Oh, don’t be silly, Evangeline,” Fiona murmured, already adjusting her own skimpy hot pink bikini over her supermodel–like curves.

“Okay,” I grumbled, changing quietly, dreading standing next to these two. When I was done I felt naked, even though all my vitals were covered. The cold air wasn’t helping.

“What are you looking for?” Amelie asked, seeing my eyes darting over the piles of clothing.

“There was a big, fuzzy red blanket somewhere here.”

“Come on!” Fiona looped her arm through mine and dragged me down the tunnel, picking up speed until we were jogging. Amelie ran ahead of us, giggling hysterically, holding a giant flashlight that had come in the mountain bag.

I forced them to slow to a walk, out of breath. “So … when do you think Rachel will be back?” I asked casually.

“When the Council gets bored of watching vampires bludgeon each other nearly to death, only to heal and do it over again,” Fiona answered. I cringed in horror as she elaborated: “A gladiator tournament.”

“She’s a Council member and, as such, must keep up appearances,” Amelie added in a haughty voice in snide imitation of Rachel.

“Where did she go?”

“To New Shore. It was the capital city when this was a country. Most of it has crumbled and grown over now. She wouldn’t have gone if she had known you would be here—you’re so early! She won’t be back for another week, at least,” Fiona answered.

I exhaled loudly, earning a laugh from them. “She’s not the nicest person I’ve ever met,” I said, wrinkling my nose.