House of Leights (Secret Keepers, #3)(26)



“Maya!” Callie tried this time, but I couldn’t focus on anything except the thought of my death and the knowledge that it could still happen, because Laous would not stop coming for me. Not until he got what he wanted.





8





“You all need to take a step back. She needs some space.” The low voice, with its smooth accent and deep timbre, finally got through to me.

Chase appeared on the porch like magic and everything inside of me responded. Even in my half freaked-out state, the familiar jumping sensation was in my stomach … the pull in my body. I wanted to move closer to him.

Emma and Callie exchanged a look, then they grabbed hold of their guys, gave me a wave, and disappeared back into the house. As more clarity returned, the first thing I felt was the ache in my hands. Glancing down, I realized I had them clenched on the railing, white knuckles standing out starkly.

“Do you want me to leave also?” Chase asked, exuding that amazing calm of his. It seeped into me, slowing the racing beat of my panicked pulse. “It can be hard to truly have privacy here in a shared house, but I’ll keep them all away if you need.”

“No,” I stuttered out, not even giving myself time to think about it. “I don’t want you to go.”

That was the truth.

He didn’t say anything more. He crossed the few feet between us, his strides long and even, before he leaned against the wooden rail. We stayed like that in silence for many long moments. “Are my parents worried?” I asked, staring down at the grain of the wood below.

“They are,” he said gently. “I told them I’d check on you and that I’d get them if you weren’t okay. Brad…” His jaw tightened. “Was a little harder to convince.”

That didn’t surprise me. Brad was probably freaking out just as much as me, but he’d still be worried and protective. He was a good guy.

Chase shifted slightly, and I surprised us both when I reached out and grabbed his arm. It was the first time we’d touched, and it hit me as hard as I expected. As the jolt of energy went through me, I yanked my hand back, and Chase made this low rumbling sound in his chest. It stirred something deep inside of me also, and I almost closed my eyes to try to hide my obvious reaction to his touch.

“S-sorry,” I stuttered.

He held my eyes for a long moment, saying nothing. The energy flowed between us and I eventually had to wrench my gaze away, needing the relief from my strong emotions. As we both sank back against the railing again, I wondered if his heart was beating as fast as mine. More minutes ticked by, and he continued waiting with me. In silence. Eventually the warmth of the sun on my back, teamed with the icy breeze drifting in through the forest, returned some of my natural optimism.

“I didn’t die,” I said out loud. Needing to hear those words. “I. Did. Not. Die.” Turning to Chase, I breathed deeply. “You saved my life … thank you.”

I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. God, he towered over me, and I wondered how we could ever be compatible with this sort of height difference. Seriously, get it together, fate. “Thank you for saving Brad and me when we were attacked. I wouldn’t have made it to my parents without you.”

His expression darkened; the furrowing of his brow turned his model good looks into something a little more intense, like the hot bad guy who was planning on taking over the world. “Those recruits of Laous’ should not have gotten that close to you.” He didn’t waste time denying he was there, and I appreciated his honesty. “I lost track of you when you left the party. It took me longer than it should have to find your energy again.”

He paused for a moment, shifting around to face me. “How did you know I was there? I wasn’t that close to you.”

Hmm, should I be as truthful as he was? I owed him that much. “From the moment I saw you at Mitchell’s party, there was this energy in my body … like sparks of adrenalin and confusion. I recognized that same sensation when we were in the alley.”

That was the watered-down version. No need to tell him it was taking actual restraint to stop myself from touching him. His body went very still, and I was afraid of what he would say, so I hurriedly asked, “How exactly did you find me?”

His lips tilted up, and I decided then that his smile was one of the nicest things I’d ever seen. His lips were full and kissable, and there was the slightest of dimples in his right cheek. “Once I learned your name, it didn’t take me long to figure out where you lived. Then, when I got the feel for your energy, I talked to the trees. You don’t have many in your town, which is why I lost you a few times, but nature creeps into unexpected places. It’s hard to hide completely.”

“You talk to trees?” I deadpanned … because I had no idea what sort of emotion I was supposed to be feeling right now.

His grin spread a little further. “On Earth we communicate in images mostly – it’s easier, less open to interpretation.”

I stared at him, trying to understand what he was saying. “How?” I stuttered out. How could that work? Trees didn’t have brains, right? They couldn’t send images to people. They were alive, of course, but in a different way to sentient beings. Still … there was no denying that they got out of Chase’s way when he needed more room. Which meant they had to understand what he wanted, to some extent.

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