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  “We could never blend in with humans.” Although we’d always stand out for our strength and power, I knew what she meant. “And we’re not going to see any humans out here.”

  “How far are we from the nearest city?”

  “Twenty miles.”

  “Ok, fine. Leave it off.”

  I put on the shirt. “Wouldn’t want you getting too excited.”

  “Ugh, you’re incorrigible.”

  “Says the girl who can’t get enough of me.” I grinned.

  “Nope. You have it all wrong. I’ve gotten too much of you.”

  “Yeah, keep telling yourself that.”

  We continued on through the woods, and I decided to stop pushing her. We needed to remain on speaking terms at least for the time being. The problem with the silence is it gave me time to think. And study how well those short shorts fit her.

  “Stare much?” She caught me. Not that I was surprised. I wasn’t making an effort to hide my appraisal.

  “You only wear clothes like that because you want to be stared at.”

  She spun around. “Take that back.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Just because a girl dresses a certain way doesn’t mean she wants male attention.” She shoved me. It didn’t move me an inch.

  “I agree it doesn’t give men the right to harass her because really even if a woman is naked a man shouldn’t bother her, but come on, if you wear stuff like that and have a body like yours, do you really expect men not to notice?”

  “These shorts aren’t that short.” She put her hands over her thighs where the tight denim material ended.

  “They are shorter than anything I’d wear.”

  She laughed so hard it came out as a snort. “I just pictured you in Daisy Dukes.”

  “That even sounds painful.”

  “Then promise to never do it.”

  “I assure you I’d be more likely to walk around naked than to wear a pair of shorts like that.” I gestured to hers.

  “Good. I think everyone will appreciate that.”

  I laughed. “Glad to know I have bad legs.”

  She ran her eyes up and down my body. “It has nothing to do with your legs.”

  “Oh yeah? I have good ones?”

  She rolled her eyes. Either it was a popular mannerism of hers, or I brought it out in her often. “We made it five minutes without annoying each other.”

  “That might be a record.”

  “Let’s aim for ten.”

  “That might be pushing it.” She smiled. It was the first genuine smile I’d seen on her face since we’d left New Orleans.

  “There’s nothing wrong with challenging yourself.”

  “Nope. None at all.”

  I wondered if she was thinking the same thing I was. About the challenge of keeping my hands to myself. It’s not like I was ready to jump her or anything, but the thought of brushing my lips against her neck sent a thrill through me. This bear was going to be the end of me if I wasn’t careful.

  “My mom is going to assume you’re sleeping with me.”

  “Is she?” I picked up my pace. The more time I spent alone with her, the more likely I was to do or say something I’d regret later.

  “Yes. I generally don’t hang out with guys I’m not sleeping with.”

  “I’m well aware of your history.”

  “Like you should talk.” She shook her head.

  I held a branch out of the way so it wouldn’t snap back and hit her. “I’m not denying I’ve had my share of women. I’m merely stating a fact.”

  She stepped under the branch. “I’m not a slut.”

  I caught up with her. “Never said you were.”

  “I can count my number of partners on one hand.” She held up her right hand.

  “I can’t say the same.”

  “I know.”

  “Because I’m a slut? Or what did Allie call me that time? A man whore?”

  She laughed. “The queen called you a man whore?”

  “She wasn’t the queen then.”

  “Still, I can’t imagine her saying that. She seems too prim and proper.”

  “Allie?” I suppressed a laugh. “She’s not prim and proper.”

  “You really like her.”

  “Nuh uh.” I shook my head. “There’s no excuse for you to set me off right now. Don’t go there.”

  “I don’t mean it that way. I’m just trying to figure out what really pushed you to leave New Orleans.”

  “I left because I want to find my mom.”

  “And because you’re upset about your dad and brother.”

  “I’m from a family of monsters. Isn’t that something worth getting upset over?”

  “My family lied to me.”

  “As did mine.” I’d always known something was off with my brother, but I’d never doubted my father’s loyalty to The Society or the Laurents. He’d been pretending my entire life. He was one hell of an actor.

  “Ok, but they didn’t lie about who your dad was.”

  I glanced at my watch. “We didn’t even make it two minutes this time.”

  “This isn’t arguing.”

  “Then what do you call it?”

  “Discussing life.” She was nervous. That was why she kept pushing me. A side of me, one that usually only came out for certain people, nagged at me. If she needed distraction, I’d give that to her.

  I shook my head. “Then what do you call it when two people aren’t having a heated conversation?”

  “Boring. I call that boring.”

  “You are an adrenaline junky.”

  “You’ve pointed that out before.” She pulled out her hair tie and let her hair fly free down her back. I wasn’t sure why she messed with her hair so much. It looked good no matter how she wore it. Unfortunately for my will power, I noticed that about her too.

  “I like it too, but not as much as you.”

  “Sure you do. That’s why you slept with so many women. It gave you a high.”

  “The important word is gave.”

  “Nookie isn’t doing it for you anymore?”

  “Nope.”

  “When’s the last time you got some?” Sometimes Vera sounded like a guy. Not her voice. That was silky and sexy as hell, but the way she talked. She’d grown up with Casey, but they were polar opposites in that way.

  “Why? Looking to break my dry spell?”

  She groaned. “We’ve been over this before, Jared.”

  “We have, yet you always seem to bring us back to it.”

  “No, you do.” She paused. “You’re trying to distract me.”

  “Bingo.”

  “It worked.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yes, but only temporarily.”

  “That’s long enough since we’re almost there.” I decided to end the charade.

  “You said we were ten miles away.”

  “Also a distraction tool. When you think something is going to take longer, you get there faster than you expect.”

  “Sounds like something a parent would do.”

  “Not mine. My dad wasn’t worried about making things more pleasant for us.”

  “I bet your mom is great.”

  “You think so?”

  “She did warn my mom… she saved Casey.”

  “She did.” At least someone in my family had done something redeemable. I had half her genes, so theoretically I might be able to do the same.

  “Back to what I was saying. My mom is going to assume we’re sleeping together, which means she’ll probably tell my father that too.”

  “You’re warning me he might want to kill me?”

  “If I knew him I’d be able to answer that.”

  “I can handle it.”

  “But you’re also on a bit of a suicide mission.”

  “No I’m not.” I shook my head.

  “You walked away from everything you knew and ever worked for. You’re being reckless.”

 
; “That doesn’t mean I don’t value my life.”

  “Do you have to take everything I say literally?”

  “Not everything.” I stopped. “We should come up on the lake soon, but I need to double check.”

  “Wait.” A slow smile spread across her face. “Does the great and talented Jared have to make sure we’re really going the right way?”

  “We’re going the right way. I need to double check how close we are though.” I pulled off my shirt. I wasn’t quite as confident as I admitted, but I knew we couldn’t be too far off. I released my wings, feeling the comfort that always came from them wash over me. I flew up to one of the taller trees and saw the unmistakable gleam of water in the distance.

  I flew down and landed next to Vera. “We’re good.”

  “You sure? Not just trying to save face?”

  “We’re close, and no sign of company. I’m sure the island will be crawling with sentries though.”

  She let out a deep breath. “Ok. I won’t let them kill you.”

  “Great. I needed to hear that.”

  “You really think you could take on an army of bears?”

  “Maybe not an army, but I don’t know why they’d want to kill me.”

  “Other than the fact that they think you’ve been sleeping with the daughter of the chief….”

  “The daughter who has been missing for years. It’s not like I kidnapped you and whisked you away.”

  “No, but you’re still with me.”

  “I can take care of myself.”

  “Good.”

  “Ready for this?” I asked as the lake came into view.

  “Sure, why not?”

  The reality of what I was about to do hit me while I stood on the shore of the lake. It was one of those lakes that was so large it looked more like an ocean. Casey assured me that my father wanted to meet me, but what if she was wrong? And facing my mom: that was an altogether different thing. I was more afraid of what I’d do or say to her. She had a hell of a lot of explaining to do, but then again so did I. I’d taken off with no warning—with a guy who turned out to be as bad as she’d said. And now I was showing up with a Pteron who had a family as messed up as my own. Maybe it would make things easier.

  Jared could distract everyone and keep the attention off me. Jared was good at attracting attention. He’d definitely gotten mine whether I wanted him to or not.

  I glanced at him. He was watching the water as though it held some desperately important answers. His serious expression was nothing like the usual one he wore, and I wished I had the ability to read his mind. I shouldn’t have cared about his thoughts, but I did. Caring was dangerous. We were going to have to go our separate ways soon.

  “Are you going to call her?” he spoke without pulling his eyes from the water.

  I shrugged. “Eventually.” I didn’t see any other alternative. Having Jared fly us over would probably get us both killed.

  “Is there a reason you’re waiting?” He still stared ahead. Normally I’d have found it rude if someone was speaking to me without looking, but he wasn’t doing it to be rude.

  “You mean other than annoying you?”

  That got his attention. He turned and fixed his piercing eyes on me. “Then call. It’s not annoying me. I have all the time in the world.”

  I put my hands into the back pockets of my jean shorts. “I don’t want to do this.”

  “Do you ever want to do anything?” His eyes twinkled with amusement.

  “Sometimes.” But less and less often now.

  “In case you didn’t know, I don’t want to go either, but we don’t have a choice.” He bent down and scooped up a handful of rocks.

  “Sure we do. We always have a choice.” That knowledge was what kept me moving. Without the ability to control your own fate, what did you have?

  He tossed a rock into the lake. It skipped three times. “Not really. Not if we want to like ourselves.”

  I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Because you are concerned with liking yourself?”

  “What if I was? Does that somehow make me less?”

  “No, but I’ve never heard of a Pteron having an existential crises.”

  He tossed another rock in. This one only skipped twice. “How many Pterons do you know?

  “Not many.” I’d never met one until Casey was kidnapped and I had to turn to Jared and Toby for help. Murphy had filled my head with hatred for the bird shifters, but aside from the arrogance I didn’t mind them. After all, I was the one who was willingly spending time with Jared.

  “Exactly. Stop passing judgment.”

  “Me?” I put a hand on my hip. “I’m passing judgment?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m not. It’s just that you’re full of surprises.”

  He handed me a flat gray rock. “Surprises can be good.”

  I tossed my rock, and it sunk to the bottom of the lake. Skipping rocks was never my thing. “Emphasis on can be.”

  His face fell into an unreadable line.

  “I like this vulnerable side. It’s kind of sexy.” I smiled.

  “Who said anything about vulnerable?” He tensed.

  I laughed. “So the crisis talk didn’t bother you, but this does?”

  “I’m not vulnerable. I’ll never be.”

  “Everyone has vulnerabilities.”

  “What are yours?” His eyes bore into mine. “Since everyone has them.”

  “I wasn’t including myself in that.” I wasn’t about to open up that line of conversation. I had enough issues to fill a book, but they weren’t any of Jared’s business.

  “Oh? Because you’re better than the rest of us?”

  “You already know that.” I pulled my phone out of my tight pocket. “I’m calling.”

  “Finally.”

  “I thought you weren’t in a rush.”

  “I’m not, but I was wondering when you were going to do it.”

  I let out a deep breath. “Just shut up for five minutes.” I found my mom in my contacts and pressed send.

  “Vera?” Her breathless voice took me by surprise. Where was all the anger?

  “Hi, Mom.” I attempted to sound as nonchalant as possible, even though I was feeling anything but that.

  “How are you?” She let out a deep breath.

  “I’m fine. And yourself?” A wave of nausea engulfed me. Hearing my mom’s voice was a reality check. I was really doing this.

  “I’m much better now that I’m hearing your voice. I’ve been so worried.” She sighed.

  “I’m sorry I never said goodbye.”

  “When can I see you?”

  I let out a deep breath. There was no sense dragging this out. “As soon as you want to pick me up.”

  “Pick you up from where? I’ll get there as soon as I can.” Her voice was filled with urgency, and I had no doubt she’d have traveled anywhere to find me. It only made the guilt worse.

  “I’m standing on the shore of your lake.”

  “My lake? You’re here at Norco?”

  “Not quite there. I’ve heard having a Pteron fly me in wouldn’t go over well.”

  “A Pteron? Are you dating one too?”

  “No, don’t worry. You didn’t lose both your daughters to the birds.”

  Jared threw me a dirty look, but I could tell it was forced. He thought I was funny.

  “But you have a Pteron with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “A male Pteron?”

  “Yes, I am sure of that.” I let my eyes rake over his muscular body.

  Mom made a clicking sound with her tongue. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It’s a joke.”

  “I’m on my way already. Don’t worry.”

  “I’m not worried.”

  Jared shook his head. I wasn’t sure what his problem was.

  “Don’t go anywhere,” she said in a resolute voice.

  “Why would I come all the way over here and then leave b
efore seeing you?”

  She sighed. “You forget I’m your mother. I know you.”

  “And I always run from things?” Even as I said the words I knew she was right. Running was always my solution to problems, even when it hurt everyone else around me.

  “I’ll be right there.” She hung up.

  Jared tossed another rock. “She didn’t need to worry. I wasn’t going to let you run.”

  “Like you could stop me?”

  He turned toward me. “Do you really doubt me?”

  “No.” I crossed my arms. “I’ll admit you have some strength.”

  “Some?” He raised an eyebrow.

  “What? Do you need to hear how strong you are to not get a complex? I thought guys with big dicks didn’t need that?”

  “Big dicks?” He grinned. “Glad you approve.”

  “Shut up. My mom’s coming.”

  “You are the one who brought up my dick first.”

  “To make a point.”

  “Does everything have to be a point?” He gave me a glassy stare.

  “No, but everything seems to have to be a fight with you.”

  “You’re as much to blame as me.”

  “Not true.” I ground my teeth.

  “Very true.”

  “Stop. No more. Let’s call a truce.”

  “A truce.” He shifted his weight.

  “I have a better idea.” I glanced out at the lake, noticing a boat in the distance.

  “And what’s that?”

  “Truces are boring. Let’s make a bet.” I ran my teeth over my bottom lip knowing it would get his attention.

  “What kind of bet?”

  “Clearly there’s something going on here.”

  “Yes, we want each other, and that’s why we fight so much.” He fixed his eyes on me.

  “You really think so?” I knew he was right. We’d wanted each other from the very beginning.

  “Don’t bother denying it.”

  “I won’t.” I glanced out at the boat moving closer. “Which brings us back to the bet.”

  “Yes. The aforementioned bet.”

  I decided to spit it out. “Whoever makes it longer without giving in to the temptation, wins.”

  “Temptation meaning wanting the other?” He cocked his head to the side.

  “What else would I mean?”

  “And what does the victor get?” He smiled wickedly. I knew he’d never step down from a challenge and neither would I. It would keep us both on good behavior. I needed an incentive to stay strong and resist him.