Darkest Dawn (22 page)

“How are you easing the process?” Sloane asked.

“Don’t piss her off.”

“I’m saving you a lot of pain in the future. It’s a win-win.”

“And as much as I’ve grown to admire Bri’s persistence in the pool—” Kendra winked at her “—I think that Sloane has the potential to help me.”

Bri’s cheeks warmed.
“She’s trying to turn us against each other.”

“Duh,”
Sloane sent Bri. “You think I would kill her? You obviously have no clue about who I am.”

In the blink of an eye, Kael pushed Bri to the edge of the water, close enough that her feet slipped on the muddy shore. One hand wrapped tightly around her body and the other pointed something sharp against her throat. Bri gasped lightly, feeling the blade pressing against her skin. She imagined her life ending right there at Willows Lake and willed herself to hold on to some form of hope.

The Siren pressed her cheek against Sloane’s. “You cling on to things so easily. Your mother has been dead for years. You saw her body. Yet you still hold on to something else. That is why you’re going to help me. You won’t be able to stand the guilt of Bri dying, so you’re going to take your own life.”

Kendra moved and Sloane cried out. Bri couldn’t see what the creature was doing to Sloane but she felt it in her mind.

“I have her now!” Kendra yelled. Her voice faltered, her plan wasn’t going her way. “Either way she’s going to die. It can either be by your hand or mine. And I guarantee she will feel it through my hand. I’m going to enjoy killing you. I wonder how Two blood compares to the rest.”

Bri thought about the reports of dead animals in the lake, the poor Richardsons, and the man in the motel. Bile rose in her throat. It made her sick to think that she’d been so close to her the whole time.

“If I never came to Willows Lake, neither of our lives would be in danger.”

A shadow moved in the distance. She followed the shadow to the bridge and realized she’d been mistaken in thinking Abbey and Chloe had found them. A man crossed the bridge. His footfalls were silent and no one else noticed him. His form came into view and Bri gasped. Mr. Theron stood halfway across the bridge, his eyes burning into hers. Bri’s mouth opened. How was he out here? He’d been unconscious when she’d seen him last.

“Take the knife.” His voice was barely above a whisper but she understood him. “He will let you.”

And as if a breeze ripped through the air, his form moved with it, disintegrating until Bri wasn’t sure she’d seen him at all.

She moved against Kael and his grip tightened. A trickle of blood made a warm trail down her neck. Whatever message she’d received had not been correct. Even though she knew the Siren wouldn’t hurt her until she got what she wanted, Bri wasn’t sure maiming herself in the process was a good idea.

She had to make him loosen his grip on the knife first. “Kael,” Bri whispered. “Your dad was here. He’s not sick anymore.”

Kael’s breathing shifted. It became quicker, almost as he was fighting off whatever spell the Siren had him under.

Bri smiled to herself.
“I have a plan.”

“I’ll do it!” Bri said to Kendra.

Kendra glided to the shore.

Kael moved away from Bri, probably on Kendra’s command. Kendra was almost on top of Bri when she turned and knocked the knife from Kael’s hand. She ducked out of his grasp and lunged forward. She only had one chance to fool the Siren and she couldn’t make a mistake.

Kendra locked eyes with Bri then the knife in her hand.

This was her only shot.

Bri ran forward, lifting the knife above her head before striking it down. She was inches from plunging the knife into the creature before Kael’s arms wrapped around her waist, shoving her to the ground. She tried to shimmy out of his grasp but he was much stronger than her.

He cried out and Bri glanced over her shoulder. Sloane brought her hand up from his still head.

“Did you kill him?”

Sloane’s eyes widened at the rock in her hand before she grabbed the knife and brandished it in front of her and Bri.

One of Kendra’s tentacles wrapped around Sloane’s leg. Bri thought about when Kendra had dragged her into the pool earlier. The thought made her leg ache even though she knew the wound was healed. Bri grabbed Sloane’s arms and fought against the Siren’s strength.

“You shouldn’t fight this,” Kendra said. “It’s inevitable. The longer you wait the more agonizing it will be until you finally end it. I’ve seen it before.”

Bri struggled to hold on to Sloane’s slippery arms. “Your mate is dead! This is all for nothing.”

The Siren hesitated.

“Now!”

Bri reached back and grabbed the knife. A hand wrapped around Bri’s and before she could react, both her and Sloane’s hands moved together, plunging the knife into the tentacle. Kendra let go of Sloane and Sloane scrambled away, helping Bri to her feet.

The air moved around Bri and a
thwack
sound caught her attention. The Siren tipped forward and fell onto the shore, her body half in and half out of the water. The creature let out another bellowing scream, the same one she’d heard in the natatorium. This time Bri wouldn’t let her survive.

Tears blurred her vision as she approached Kendra; she wasn’t sure why. This person who she’d trusted had wanted to kill her. And even though it hurt that Abbey had lied to her as well, she knew her mom—or whoever she was—had fought to keep her safe. Sloane touched Bri’s hand. She tightened her grip around the hilt and knelt down beside Kendra.

Bri closed her eyes and plunged the knife into her gut, and Kendra’s dying scream filled the night. The Siren’s body curled in on itself as she died. Bri let go of the knife and stepped away from the creature, knowing that she’d never get the sound of its last dying breaths out of her head.

Abbey and Chloe ran down the hill in front of them, Abbey’s bow at the ready.

Chloe knelt beside Kael. “What happened?”

Sloane took Bri’s hand. The warmth they’d felt before was gone, replaced with a sense of peace. If Bri had her way she’d never let go.
“Is this the feeling Kendra was talking about?”
She couldn’t imagine ever being without Sloane. Why did the Siren think she would want to kill her?

“I don’t know,” Sloane said aloud.

“You don’t know?” Chloe snapped.

Kael stirred on the ground and relief spread through Bri.

Sloane nudged her.
“You didn’t think I would kill the guy helping us out, did you?”

“Where were you?” Bri asked Abbey and Chloe. The realization of how much worse their situation could have been if Abbey hadn’t shown up made her stomach heave.

Abbey sighed and inspected the body. “She sent a decoy. I should have known better.” She said the last part to herself. “I can’t imagine what you went through.”

Abbey reached out to touch Bri. The night washed over her and she embraced the only mom she’d ever known. Abbey extended her arm to Sloane and pulled the girls against her. “I’m so sorry I lied to you. I hope you can forgive me someday.”

Sloane looked up at Abbey. “As long as we can hear your side of the story.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Sloane

Even though Kael’s house was closer, Abbey suggested we go to her place. I felt Bri’s relief through our new bond and in turn it became mine. As much as I’d enjoyed being a loner most of my life, there was something different about this situation. For the first time since Mom died, I was more than whole. If that was possible. Even though I knew who to ask about my mom, the sense of urgency had disappeared. I’d found what I came for.

We entered the condo through the back door. Chloe turned on the light above the sink. The dim light illuminated the rough shape we were all in. Bri’s face was covered with mud. My shoes squished over the tile floor before I kicked them off.

“Sloane, you can be the first to shower.”

I glanced at Bri and she nodded. “I’ll go next.”

I wanted Abbey to tell me everything but when I got under the shower spray all of my muscles relaxed. I watched the dark water swirl around the drain until it was almost clear again. I must have used half of the bar of soap before I felt clean enough to get out of the tub. I snuck into Bri’s room and took a deep breath, letting the whole crazy situation wash over me.

For some reason I knew we had more obstacles to overcome together but we could do it now. The bond between us was strong and nothing could break it.

You could be stronger
.

I whipped around. I was still alone. I padded to the door and checked the hallway. Voices echoed from down the stairwell. Bri’s was the most recognizable.

I waited a few seconds before heading to the closet. I grabbed the first shirt I saw and found a pair of workout pants in the dresser. I checked myself out in the mirror, tugging my fingers through my hair. Even though I knew I should have been worse for wear, the incredible healing power that Bri and I possessed was impossible to believe.

You can have it all.

I didn’t jump at the voice. I knew where it was coming from. This wasn’t the mental communication that Bri and I shared. The voice in my head was stronger by the second.

“Sloane?” Bri appeared in the doorway.

I plastered on a smile, the voice leaving no trace in my mind. “The shower is free.”

She bit her lip. “You should come downstairs.” She turned around and headed to the stairs.

Before I could ask her what was going on, a familiar voice rang in my head. No. It wasn’t in my head. Bri was already at the bottom of the stairs when she looked up at me with wide eyes.

“Sloane Thea Baker. Get down here.”

Dad. He was in Bri’s house. I took my time getting down the stairs.

“Couldn’t you pretend to be me?”

Bri looked up and frowned. “I already tried. He knew by my eyes.”

I shook my head. Another person who was able to tell the difference between us.

Though, the closer I got to Bri, the more my chest tightened at the thought of hurting her. I must have been delirious before.

I locked eyes with Dad. His pilot uniform was disheveled as if he hadn’t slept or showered in days. He rubbed the scruff on his chin. “Care to explain why you lied to me about where you’ve been?”

Chloe smirked from the other room and I had the urge to knock her out. Kael’s hair peeped over the top of the couch and Max faced us from the chair, chewing her lip as if her dad was standing there in front of us.

I shrugged, opening my hands at my sides. I could have lied again since everyone in the room already knew. I decided to be truthful to a point. I explained about the letter and meeting Bri, leaving out the killer Siren and nearly dying.

His anger defused as I spoke. When I finished he leaned against the wall, digging his hands into his pockets. I glanced at Bri and she gave me a promising smile. Why didn’t he seem more freaked out about Bri? My stomach turned.

“You knew about her.”

It was Dad’s turn to be in the spotlight. The kitchen door opened and Abbey strode into the hallway. She stopped in her tracks when she saw my dad. “Jerry?”

Bri crossed her arms. “You know each other?”

Dad cleared his throat. “How could you let this happen?”

Abbey scoffed. “Me? You allowed her to come here.”

“Like hell I did.”

“Then why is she standing in my house?”

I clapped my hands together. “Wait a second! Both of you knew about us?” I waved my hand between Bri and I. “And you never said anything?”

Abbey tore her gaze away from Dad. “You were never supposed to meet. I thought we’d taken care of it.”

“Don’t blame me,” Dad said. “Cara was right. There’s no way to stop it.”

Bri stepped forward. “You know?” She glared at Abbey. “How can he know and you not explain anything to me?” She was on the verge of tears.

I fisted my hands by my sides. “Or me!”

Abbey slammed her hand on the table. “Because I wanted to protect you! It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. Before you two were even born. I’ve seen what this curse does to people.” She stood in front of Bri. “I didn’t carry you for nine months, but I am still your mom.”

I glared at Dad. “Mom wrote to Abbey saying she was going to end another life. Was she going to try and hurt Bri?”

Abbey shook her head. “It’s more complicated then that.”

I remembered the note in Abbey’s room and my stomach roiled. “She was going to murder Bri.”

Abbey’s pained expression answered my question.

“She thought she was doing the right thing,” Dad said.

I took Bri’s hand in mine.
“No one is ever going to take you from me
.
”

She squeezed back.

Dad rubbed his chin. “We should head home now.”

I shook my head. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

His eyebrows furrowed.

Abbey touched his shoulder. “Jerry. They’ve already bonded. We can’t separate them.”

“She’s my daughter,” he said through clenched teeth. His eyes flicked up to Bri. “She’s going to destroy you.”

I wasn’t sure if he was talking to Bri or me. Before I could ask, Abbey grabbed him by the arm. “It’s done. If you want to come to Willows Lake to live that is fine, but Sloane is staying.”

“What?” I asked.

Abbey turned to us and spoke in a quiet voice. “The bond does many things. It will present you with extraordinary gifts and put you in extreme danger. Kendra-like danger and possibly worse.”

“Worse?” Bri said.

Abbey touched her chin, giving her a fleeting smile. “I tried to prevent this.” She paused. “Now we have to prepare.”

I looked to Dad. Even though I was still pissed that he never told me any of this, he was still my dad and I wasn’t sure if I could live without him either. “Are you going to leave me here?”

He looked at the ceiling and let out a sigh. “Give me a few days to pack the apartment and break the lease.”

I rushed into his arms and a chuckle vibrated against my cheek.

Abbey took Bri’s hands in hers. “From here on out, you two will get the whole truth from me.”

I said goodbye to Dad and watched him leave the condo. The sun started its ascent into the sky, dawn approaching quickly. I’d come to Willows Lake for answers and I’d already had more than I could handle. I’d also found my other half and even though Abbey warned us of danger to come, I knew I could do anything with Bri by my side.