“Come on,” I whispered to Kope. My vision became spotty. He caught me just as I was about to fall. I blinked until the room came back into focus. “My bag. Let’s go.”
The two of us exited through the back sliding door. I pointed to my car, which was blessedly right outside the door, and he led me to the passenger side. He then got behind the wheel, squealed tires out of the parking lot, and ripped the mask from his face.
“Thank you,” I whispered once we were miles away. I worked hard to focus and not pass out. I leaned against the door because when my shoulder touched the seat I wanted to cry in agony.
“I am sorry you had to see that.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered.
“You were being suffocated. And then when I saw him hitting you . . .”
“You did good. I’m so thankful you came. I should have never tried to do it alone.” I winced when we hit a bump in the road.
“Do you need a doctor?”
“No.” Even if something were broken, going to a doctor was too risky in numerous ways. I hated taking medicine, because something as simple as aspirin made my body long for more. In this case I’d have to make an exception. “I need ibuprofen.”
Kope stopped at a drugstore in the next town. We used napkins and wet wipes from my car to clean his hands. He fed me four painkillers every half hour as we drove north. He also got bandages for the cuts on his hands, though they healed fast.
“What happened with Marek?” Kope asked.
I closed my eyes and rehashed the story.
“Do you think he set you up?”
“No. I don’t know. Why would he have bothered to tell me he couldn’t meet me alone? He could have just sent them to ambush me unexpectedly in the first place.”
“But how did the sons of Thamuz know you were there? Perhaps they are using Marek to earn your trust and deceive you.”
That was a depressing thought.
“Maybe,” I admitted. “Or maybe they saw the texts somehow. Or maybe they scouted for me on their own. Either way—”
“Down!” Kope hollered.
I held in a wail of anguish as I scrunched my body down, out of sight.
“A dark one. It’s gone now.”
I stayed down, gritting my teeth. “Did it see you?”
“No. It was flying the other direction.”
I slowly sat up. “Where are we going?”
“I will leave from Roanoke airport.”
“Virginia?”
“Yes. But not until you are well enough. Where shall I take you?”
I had no clue. “Just . . . take me to the airport with you. I’ll find somewhere to go after that. I’m already feeling a little better.”
I felt the brief warmth of his hand touch my shoulder blade.
“It’s swollen,” he said with worry.
It still hurt, but between my quick healing and the painkillers, each span of minutes was increasingly better. “I’ll be okay.”
We passed Blacksburg, Virginia, on our way to the airport, and though the signs for Virginia Tech should have made me happy, they only served as reminders of how far removed I was from the world of humans.
“There’s my college,” I said quietly.
Kope made no reply other than a sad glance my way.
As we neared Roanoke, I wasn’t 100 percent, but I was feeling more like myself.
“I wonder how Z is doing,” I said.
And darned if a shy smile didn’t fill his face.
“Your father found her a place in Boston. I do not know how he did it, but a nearby monastery agreed to rent a room.”
I sat forward. “She’s in Boston now? That’s awesome!”
“Yes. She is . . . thriving away from her father and alcohol.”
“And near you.”
His badge thumped and he kept his eyes straight ahead on the road. He wet his lips, and I had the urge to ask if he’d used those lips on Zania yet. The thought made my face heat. Marna would have asked him, but he and I didn’t have that kind of relationship, especially after he’d used those lips on me.
Our trip to Australia seemed like a million years ago, not a mere eight months.
“Well, I’m glad she’s doing better, and I’m glad . . .” I rubbed my shoulder. “I’m glad she has you. And you have her.”
He finally looked at me again, those hazel eyes searching mine. I hoped he saw the truth, that I wanted him to be happy.
“You like her a lot, don’t you?” I asked.
“I like her very much, Anna.” His words held enough passion to make me shiver.
When he looked back at the road, I smiled out my window. He may or may not have kissed her yet, but he definitely wanted to.
My pulse jumped at the sound of an incoming text message. I pulled my phone from my bag. The message was from Marek.
Cannot rid myself of Cat. Cannot locate two other companions. Not safe to meet.
My heart thumped as I tried to figure out his guilt or innocence. I read the text to Kope, and we pondered in silence. My angel side wanted so badly to trust him, but my demon side was shaking its head and telling me not to be stupid.
“I’m not going to answer him. And I won’t contact him again.”
“Good,” Kope said.
It was after midnight when we got to the airport.
“Do you have a red-eye flight?” I asked.
“No. I leave at five, but it’s better if we are not seen together.”
“Yeah.” I agreed, but I still felt a gaping loss at the thought of him leaving.
He parked at the curb and turned to me, the streetlamp catching a glint of green in his light eyes.
“You saved me. They were going to take me to the Dukes.”
Or worse, depending on whether they could keep their murderous urges in check. I somehow doubted they’d have been punished for “accidentally” killing me.
“I had a terrible feeling after we spoke. I had to go to you.”
“Thank you.” Without thought, I reached across the seats to hug him. He pulled me close, careful of my shoulder. For one second I worried that this contact might spark his lustful side, but it didn’t. He held me gently and let me go.
“Are you certain you are all right?” he asked.
“I’m better already. Maybe one more dose.”
Kope shook four tablets into my hand and put the bottle in his pocket. I imagined begging him for the bottle, but he would never give in.
“Good-bye, Anna. Stay safe.”
“You, too, Kope. Give Z my love. Miss you.”
I hadn’t really meant to say the last part, but it was true. He was my friend and I missed him. I was rewarded with a flash of his grin and dimple before he left me. Alone again.