Anomaly (Causal Enchantment #4)(25)

“Yeah,” Julian scratched the back of his head, a sheepish smile on his face. “I don’t know how I managed but thank God I’m over that.”

“I think I know.” Four sets of eyes turned to me. Was Caden going to think this was absolutely insane? Probably. I opened my mouth to explain when Max cut me off.

Don’t say anything. Not within earshot of Julian and Veronique.

I frowned at my protector. Why not?

Because, what if you’re like Mage? You won’t be able to compel Julian anymore.

Huh. He had a point. Mage had told us that her powers to compel were negated once the vampire knew what she could do. If I was the same as Mage, then I didn’t want to blow this neat trick of mine by announcing it to everyone.

“What’s going on, Evie?” Caden’s gaze passed between Max and me. I couldn’t lie. Not anymore. I’d spent weeks lying to him about Julian—about my relationship with him, about Julian being a Sentinel spy—and I promised myself I would never do it again.

Still, Max was right. I leaned in, reveling in the strength of his body pressed against mine as I whispered, “Later, okay?” Pulling away, I followed that more loudly with, “I can talk to Max inside my head now.”

Caden dipped his head covertly and then smirked. “Finally.” He turned to the big beast. “You must be thrilled, Max.”

That remains to be seen, Max muttered, earning my eye roll.

The sound of approaching footsteps turned our attention to the end of the tunnel. Kiril’s men stormed in, arms laden with cartons from the truck.

“Is there more?”

A grunt answered him. The wolves had never been much for talking to any of us. From what Sofie had told me, they hated vampires. It was only thanks to a favor owed to her that they continued to help us.

“Great. We’ll grab it.” Caden swiftly led me out of the mine by the hand. “Which direction?”

“I’m coming,” Julian called out, echoed by Veronique seconds later.

“No,” I threw out quickly, turning to meet their gazes. “I need to talk to Caden alone.”

We stepped out into the fresh, cool night. “The truck’s that way.” I pointed north.

Caden took off, glancing over his shoulder once with a teasing smile. I took the bait, running after him, never able to catch up but thrilled to see his strong, lean frame move swiftly through the thicket, dodging trees and branches, practically gliding over the deep snow banks.

I managed to only take one small tree down.

By the time I made it to the truck, he was in the driver’s side, inspecting the smear of blood on the now-deflated air bags.

“See? Perfect again.” I wriggled my nose for effect.

A glimmer of movement, and then he was standing in front of me, head bowed to lay a soft peck on my nose. When I was human, Caden always surprised me, sending shivers through my body when he would suddenly appear, his movements too quick for my mortal eyes. It would be so much more difficult for him to catch me off guard, but it wasn’t any less thrilling.

“Yes, it is.” He pulled me against his body as his mouth found mine.

“Won’t it be nice when we don’t have to run anymore? We can just do this for hours,” I whispered between kisses.

“Days,” he corrected as his tongue slid against my bottom lip.

“Years.” I deepened the kiss, my fingers winding through his thick hair.

And that’s when his phone rang. Caden broke off with a groan and, sliding the phone out of his pocket, he answered. It was Lilly’s voice on the other end, but her words were clipped and low.

“Where are you?” Caden asked. A moment later, “Have you found her?” His frown told me that whoever “she” was, was still missing, a prospect that instantly wrenched my nerves. “I’m on my way. I’ll meet you at the rendezvous point. I’m going to leave my phone here, for Evie. Hers is gone. Keep trying, Lilly.”

“Who’s missing?” I asked as Caden tucked his phone into my coat pocket.

His arms around me, his mouth pressed against my forehead, he whispered, “Amelie.”

Alarm sparked. I pulled away to look at him. “What do you mean! Where is she?”

“I don’t know. She went after some fledglings one minute and the next … gone. Probably got caught up in the chase. I’m hoping that’s all it is.” He bowed his head, his eyes squeezing shut for a long moment. Caden and Amelie were closer than any siblings I’d ever met, each willing to sacrifice everything for the other.

“And …” Serious eyes opened to settle on me. “Galen’s dead.”

My mouth hung open. “Dead? But … how? The fledglings?”

Caden nodded.

“But I thought they were easy to kill. Sitting ducks! Baby chicks!” I threw out the analogies I’d heard in the past. If the fledglings could kill someone as battle-hardened as Galen, then …

A lump formed in my throat. “Let me come with you. I can help find her.”

Caden’s head was shaking before I even finished. “No. I can’t be worrying about you out there. You’re safe here, with Julian and the others.”

My hands flew to my mouth with a gasp. “Oh my God, Julian!” What would happen when he found out?