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“I know what I saw!”
He shook his head. “It’s just a scratch and nosebleed, Gabby.”
Her jaw trembled, but she held her stance. “I already hit the alarm. The cops are on their way.”
Fuck. He had no choice but to go. At least she gave him that option. He’d have to come back later tonight to destroy the camera footage.
He held up his hands in a calming gesture. “You’re safe. I’m leaving. I won’t hurt you.”
Once he reached the door, she said, “Don’t ever come back here.”
As soon as his boots hit the pavement, the bolt on the inside of the door locked. Colby, sensing danger, strained against his leash to reach him.
“Hey, boy.” Dane crouched, assuring him that he was okay. Colby sniffed the blood on his face and whimpered. Dane scratched his head and glanced at the plate on the ground. “At least you ate like a king tonight, eh? Alpha of the pack.”
He pressed his head to the dog’s and sighed. Life was pretty sad when the comfort from a pet felt like the only thing keeping him sane. Untying his leash from the pole, he led him toward a nearby park he’d spotted a few blocks away.
“Looks like we’re sleeping under the stars tonight.”
That evening, after returning to the bar and ripping the wires free from the cameras, he realized the days of video-recorded footage were over. Now, digital files went straight to people’s phones, and he wasn’t sure how to stop her from reviewing the footage.
He hated the idea that he might have exposedthose he still wanted to protect, but there was nothing he could do about it now. At least the few swallows of blood he’d stolen would help heal his injuries quickly and give him some additional endurance for the days ahead.
CHAPTER 9
Adriel had rested for most of the drive in hopes of tamping down her hunger. When they reached upstate New York, her ears adjusted to the high altitudes. As they ascended the narrow, winding streets, she took in the raw beauty of the waterfalls, fascinated by the natural canyons, caves, and gaping ravines.
Creeks carved through mountains, forming deep hidden valleys and gorges. Rapids lapped at the rocks in the basins below, where ancient rocks frothed with mist.
“That waterfall was once a brook,” she remarked quietly, staring out the car window.
How could just a slow trickle transform mountains into such a masterpiece? To think it was accomplished by moving one granule at a time. These once gentle waters were now brimming with power, but even in its gentlest state,water possessed the strength to saw mammoth rocks in half.
“Can you believe what running water can accomplish?”
“That’s great, Ade, but I really have to pee, so let’s not focus on the water right now. Besides, you’re supposed to be using your Spidey sense to find us a house.”
Adriel glanced at the rooftops in the distance, but her attention returned to the cliffs. The subtle scent of methane gas further proved that these rocks had formed millions of years ago. She smiled. Very few wonders could make an immortal feel young.
“There’s something powerful protecting this place. Don’t you feel it?” The mist pushed into the air the way a thousand whispered secrets formed a scream.
“The only thing I feel is the need to pee. Do you sense any empty houses?”
Adriel sensed the ephemeral passing of creatures that no longer walked the earth, creatures that existed long before the invention of cars.
“I believe the mountains hold secrets. They’re incredibly ancient. Doesn’t it impress you? That water once belonged to glaciers in the sea.”
“I’m much more interested in indoor plumbing at the moment. My bladder is literally about to explode, and you’re still talking about water. Enough about the rocks.”
“There’s power here, Juniper. I can feel it. As a witch, that should interest you.”
She growled and pulled down a narrow street on a steep hill. “Sorry, I need to stop.”
Once parked, they both got out of the car. It felt good to stretch their legs. Perhaps Adriel could feed while Juniper conducted her business in the nearby woods.
She gave her privacy and hiked in the opposite direction. A glade of mud formed a path where rain eroded the earth. Sediment and moss gathered in every crevice. Adriel closed her eyes and took a few minutes to breathe in the majestic sense of peace.
“Ready?” Juniper opened the car door, and an incessant bell chimed, the modern technology disrupting the tranquility.
