“Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?” Her throat tightened. To save her, he’d let Chan die.
His shoulders lowered half an inch. Refocusing on his gaze, she spotted empathy in his eyes.
She hated empathy. It ranked right up there with pity.
She turned to leave. He grabbed her. Gently.
His thumb moved in small circles over her elbow. “I’m sorry. But I’m not responsible for his death any more than you are. We didn’t make this happen. And I did what I thought was right. It wasn’t easy for me, either. I liked Chan. But he was just too weak.”
Her skin tingled where the tips of his fingers moved. Remembering her no-touch rule, she shook off his hand. “Which is exactly why you should have helped him. If two people are in a river, you save the one who can’t swim.”
“And let you drown?” he asked.
“I might have made it through the rebirth. Burnett did.” The second the words left her mouth, she worried Chase didn’t know Burnett was a Reborn, but his lack of surprise put her at ease.
A frown tightened the corners of Chase’s eyes. “Burnett’s an exception. Less than three percent of Reborns live. The odds weren’t in your favor.”
“I would have taken those odds if I’d been given a choice. But I wasn’t. You didn’t even tell me Chan was dead and you knew. You kept this whole Reborn thing and your being here to help me to yourself. And why? Because you knew I’d be opposed to it.”
He kicked at a rock on the ground. The pebble soared through the air and hit a tree with a dead thump. “So I’m the bad guy for wanting to save your life?”
She leaned in. “You’re the bad guy for not being up-front. And you’re still doing it.”
His mouth tightened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Okay. I didn’t tell you everything. Be mad at me for that. But you can’t just ignore me or the fact that we’re bonded. You feel it. I feel it. You can’t deny it.”
“Watch me. I’m good at denying shit!” She seethed and darted around him to start back.
“God, you’re stubborn!” he called out, then again appeared in front of her.
She came to an abrupt stop, slamming her hands on his chest to stop from falling face forward. He caught her by the waist. Gently. His touch sent her heart racing this time.
“Either tell me the truth or leave,” she said, stepping out of his embrace. It was her last ultimatum. “Who are you working with besides the Vampire Council, and don’t tell me no one, because my bullshit detector goes off every time you tell me that.”
Chapter Two
Chase stood there, staring at her. She wished she could read his mind.
Della’s patience finally snapped. “Leave! If Burnett finds you, he’ll…” Then it occurred to her that Burnett should have already found him. The alarm would have gone off. Why wasn’t the camp leader already here giving Chase hell and interrogating him? Something was up.
Chase’s expression of confidence confirmed it. “He knows I’m here. I had a meeting with him.” Honesty deepened Chase’s voice.
She tried not to let her disappointment show, but her expression tightened. Was Burnett in cahoots with Chase again? Hadn’t he been just as pissed as she was when he’d packed up his shit and disappeared?
“When we were done, I asked to come to the falls. I told him I kept hearing it.” Chase shrugged. “Burnett’s only rule was to not go near your cabin, and I didn’t.” He shrugged, almost guiltily. “Not yet, anyway. But I probably would have before I left. I needed to see you. He can get furious at me if he wants.”
He took one step closer.
She took one step back. “Why were you meeting with Burnett?”
“The council sent me back.”
“Sent you about what?” she asked.
He didn’t answer.
Tired of playing games, she darted around him in a dead run, her only goal to get away from him—away from the temptation to lean against him, to find out what this bonding really meant. Or if it meant nothing, she thought, wanting that to be true.
This time he didn’t follow. Good, she thought, ducking under tree limbs, moving fast. That’s what she wanted. So why didn’t she feel victorious? Why was she now hearing the falls louder? Was it the falls luring her? Or Chase?
They sent him about you. The words rang out.
She came to a sudden stop.
Where had the damn voice come from? She stood there, cutting her eyes east to west, then back again.
Did you hear me?
This time she knew the words hadn’t come from her left or her right. They had come from within her. She recalled hearing similar internal voices. Chan? But he’d crossed over, hadn’t he? She’d been sure of it. Or was he waiting until the FRU, Fallen Research Unit team—the FBI in charge of supernaturals—released his body and buried him.
You listening?
Yes, I am, Della answered, realizing the voice was female.
“Lorraine?” Della whispered the name of the murdered girl, the last spirit she’d heard in her head.
Yet hadn’t Holiday assured her that Lorraine had moved on, crossed over?
So who the hell was this?
Did Della have another ghost hanging around?
“Crap!” she muttered.
Did you hear me? the voice repeated, as if taunting her.
“I wish I didn’t.” Della’s heart thumped against her chest. She fought the panic swelling inside her. Inhaling, she tried to find a sense of calm. She’d done the ghost thing. First, communicating with Chan, then with Lorraine. It shouldn’t freak her out.
Who was she kidding? Communicating with spirits was a rare talent, one that freaked out most supernaturals. And she was no different. Adrenaline chased goose bumps up and down her spine and then all the way down to her toes, which she curled in her boots.
The Vampire Council sent him about you, the voice repeated. Aren’t you curious?
For the first time, she really heard what the voice said. “What does the Vampire Council want with me?” She posed her question aloud. And just like that, her fear was replaced with …
Hell yeah, I’m curious. It had to be about her uncle, damn it!
She swung around and started back—fast. Moving at a dead run … but hoping the dead didn’t come with her.
The sound of her boots hitting the wet earth filled her ears and played like background music to the rush of the falls. As she neared, she saw Chase’s figure disappear behind the wall of water.