Inescapable (The Premonition Series) (32 page)

Reed scans my room, saying distractedly, “Yes, you can. Do you have a passport? It doesn’t matter, we can stay in my home in Vermont until we can get you one, if we need to.”

“Reed,” I say, willing him to look at me.

“Evie,” he says, and then he is right in front of me, kneeling so that he can see into my eyes. “I cannot let you go…I thought I could, but I cannot. I thought I could just wait it out. Russell cannot live forever, and when he is gone, you would be mine. I mean, how long can he possibly survive, another eighty years? I could wait…it would be excruciating, but I will wait for you, if I have to. But now, I could lose you.”

Smoothing his hair back from his brow, I look into his eyes and say, “It will be all right. We’ll have all the time we want after…”

I don’t get a chance to finish, because he is up rushing around again. “No, we go tonight,” he says as he continues to pack my things.

“This decision will haunt me for the rest of my life, and since that will be an eternity…” I say, trying to reason with him. I go to his side, seeing him put my toothbrush in the bag.

“I can make you go, then it won’t be your decision, but mine,” he says, scanning the room for anything he might’ve missed.

“I can’t…I can’t, please, Reed…please.” I get in front of him and put one arm around his neck and one on his face, trying to get him to look at me again.

“We are leaving,” he says again, but when his eyes meet mine, I shake my head sadly. All of a sudden, I am in his arms. “You don’t know what you are asking me to do,” he says, speaking into the small space between my hair and my neck.

“I’m asking you to help me save Russell,” I reply, resting my head on his shoulder as I dreamed of doing for weeks, but it is bitter sweet. I can’t help feeling happy to have him in my arms again, but the circumstances of his surrender taint it.

“No, that is not what you are asking me. You are asking me to risk your life in order to save his. That is much different,” he explains.

“It’s what I’m being asked to do,” I say quietly. “I think that this is undoubtedly about Russell…about saving Russell. He’s my soul mate. I owe him this.”

“Evie, if something happens to you because of him, I’m not sure I will be able to stop myself from killing him,” he says fiercely.

“Shh, Reed, it’s going to be okay,” I say, smoothing his hair back gently with my hand. “Can I tell him? You know, about what I saw before and his necklace?”

Reed is quiet for a while, and I am aware that he is struggling with what to tell me. Finally, he lets out a long breath and speaks slowly. “I think that, if you tell him what will happen, it would be like making it preordained, with a fixed outcome. There may be no way to change it if he were to know prior to the event.”

“So, you’re saying that, if I tell him anything, I could be sealing his fate?” I ask him, shuddering as I think that I could’ve easily told Russell this evening.

“Yes,” he says reluctantly as if he much prefers that outcome.

I hug him tighter when I catch a glimpse of Reed’s side of this. If Russell doesn’t survive, then there would be no question of who I am supposed to be with, since Reed would be the only one left to claim me. By helping me, he is risking losing me to Russell.

“Why are you helping me save Russell?” I ask him.

“I don’t know what losing him will do to your soul. It seemed pretty happy when he kissed you tonight,” he replies casually, but he presses his body closer to mine possessively.

I flush with embarrassment and regret as I close my eyes and bury my face in his chest. “I’m very sorry,” I choke. “I didn’t intend for that to happen, please believe me when I say that it’s you that I want.”

Reed’s voice is tender when he breathes, “I know. I watched you push him away and deny what your soul wanted. Why did you do that?” he asks.

“Because he can’t kill the pain of not having you,” I say bluntly, bringing my hands down to his chest. “Why aren’t you shouting at me,” I ask shamefacedly.

Reed’s cheek softly brushes against mine as his shoulders round toward me protectively. “Because I realized how much you must want me if you could resist that kind of pull from your soul…it is humbling, the way you are determined not to give me up. You are so obstinate, Genevieve, what am I going to do with you?” he asks, resting his forehead against mine.

“Not obstinate, but you’re right, I’m determined,” I reply. “And, what is it that you would like to do with me?” I ask him, smiling devilishly into his green eyes, hoping that he would forgive me for the kiss on the beach.

Reed’s eyes darken. “I want to get you out of here, go, and never look back,” he states plainly, and I can tell he hasn’t quite given up on that plan.

“We can go wherever you want as soon as Russell’s out of danger. I promise. It will be just you and me,” I reply anxiously.

Reed’s arms tighten around me, and his tone is just as firm as he says, “No matter what, you cannot go into the Seven-Eleven without me again. Ever. Do you understand?” he asks me in no uncertain terms.

“I understand,” I agree immediately.

“I don’t know what to do anymore. You have me so wrapped around your finger I can hardly trust any of my decisions,” he says while he brushes my hair back from my face.

“You could stay the night. I don’t want you to go,” I reply, searching his eyes. I want to make sure that he isn’t going to go away again and have time to think about giving me up.

As if reading my thoughts, he smiles and shakes his head, saying, “Don’t worry, I plan to be so close from now on, you may have to reevaluate what it is you want.”

A sanguine smile plays upon my lips. “Reed, there is nothing that I want more than to always have you with me,” I reply.

But I soon find out that it takes strength and control in order to do nothing more than sleep next to Reed in my bed. I understand now what Russell had said about getting a tour of “the nicest parts of hell.” I think that Reed is affected as well by our close proximity, judging by the heavy sighs coming from him as I lay my head on his chest, listening to the powerful drumming of his heart.

At one point, I ask Reed, “Do you even need to sleep?”

“Yes, I sleep,” he replies, stroking my hair and I hear the smile in his voice. “But, I don’t require as much as a human does. I only sleep a couple of hours a night.”

“Oh, that must come in handy at tax time, when you have to account for all of your wealth,” I say, and I am gratified to hear him laugh. “I wonder if I’ll sleep less later.”

“I don’t know—I hope not,” he says seriously, which takes me aback.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because, this is nice,” he says, and his voice is so sexy, it makes me feel languid as I snuggle against him.

“Why did God bother with humans, when he already had such perfect creatures, like you?” I ask him offhandedly, because I’m struggling with what he can possibly see in me.

“Angels are not perfect, Evie. I have been among humans for a long time and I am only now beginning to understand what it is about them that is so compelling. Humans are so frail, and yet, they cling to life and to each other as if there is nothing else left for them. I used to be baffled by it, since I have lived in Paradise, and I know what awaits them. But, now, I am beginning to see what it is to need someone else so much, you would do anything just to be near her, to touch her, to love her,” he says, stroking my hair in a hypnotic way.

“What about half-breeds?” I whisper.

And I smile as he says, “Oh, especially half-breeds. I am extremely partial to half-breeds.”

CHAPTER 18

Birthday Wishes

“Hi,” I whisper, smiling sleepily at Reed as I lift my head from his chest. Gazing at him, it’s amazing to me that he doesn’t look like he has been in my bed all night. He looks perfect.

Reed’s smiles, “Good morning.”

“This is
way
too perfect to be my life,” I murmur, putting my head back down and snuggling tighter to Reed’s side.

He laughs a little while he strokes my hair. “This
is
better. I like holding you while you are sleeping much more than…”

My brow wrinkles. “What?” I ask in confusion. Rising on my elbow, I catch his guilty expression. “Much more than what?”

Reed sighs. “Much more than sitting out on your fire escape,” Reed replies with reluctance.

My eyes widen, “You sit outside my window?” I ask. He nods slowly. “Why?”

“When you have nightmares, I sit on the escape, and your heart doesn’t race as fast,” he says, watching me for my reaction.

“Reed, I have nightmares every night,” I murmur.

Reed frowns. “I know,” he replies. “You sleep better the nearer I am to you. Maybe it’s because of our attraction, the pull we have for one another. But, I would probably do it anyway because…I cannot seem to stay away from you for long.”

My eyebrows rise. “You can’t stay away from me?” I ask him, not fully understanding what he’s saying, because for the past several weeks, he has done a pretty good job of staying away from me.

Reed’s lips flatten in a grim line. “During the day I stay far enough away from you so that you don’t know I’m there, but, at night when you are asleep…I can get closer,” he admits.

I frown. “Oh…” I breathe, trailing off.

Reed’s eyebrow arches. “Oh?” he asks.

“You have been protecting me without my knowing it?” I ask with my heart thumping harder.

“You have become my most important mission, Evie. Protecting you is all I want to do; everything else is minor in comparison,” he murmurs, like a confession.

“Urn…okay,” I breathe.

“Okay?” he asks, hopefully. “You are okay with me protecting you?”

“I
have
let you protect me, Reed,” I reply in confusion.

Reed tries to suppress a frown. “No, you said I couldn’t be your bodyguard anymore.”

“What about formal?” I ask.

“You only asked me to ‘chaperone’ you,” he counters.

“I’d call what you did to Sebastian a little more than chaperoning,” I reply with a shiver. “So you’ve been watching me without me knowing you were there?” I ask, not sure how I feel about that.

“Yes…I’ve been waiting far too long for someone like you to just let something harm you,” he replies.

“Someone like me?” I ask him as my heart beats furiously.

“A light that moves me…a hand I long to hold…”

“Oh,” I reply, feeling completely happy.

“Oh?” he asks.

“So…you want your old job back?” I ask him shyly.

“I never allowed you to fire me,” he replies in a sexy smile. “What are you doing today?”

“Ugh, I have class. I can’t blow it off either, since I’ve done enough of that,” I say. “What about you?”

His eyes soften and become almost shiny. “I have a surprise for you, but it’s not ready yet, so you will have to wait until tonight,” he says. “You are planning to go to the costume party, right?” he asks, already knowing my plans.

My eyes narrow a little as I sigh, “Yeah, I’m supposed to go with Brownie and Buns. We have to show the Delts their last clue to finding their composite.”

“I will meet you at the party tonight,” Reed states definitively.

“I won’t see you until tonight?” I ask him in disappointment.

Reed’s hand comes up to cup my cheek, and then he slowly brushes his lips against mine. When he pulls away to gaze into my eyes, he says, “It will be worth it, I promise. You will like your surprise,” he smiles.

“What is it?” I ask him in a daze from his kiss.

“It’s a surprise, remember?” he asks in amusement.

“Okay,” I smile, too. “But, this better be good, because I’m giving up a whole day with you.”

“It will be worth it. I promise,” he murmurs against my lips, before kissing me gently again.

Rising from my side, Reed asks me to go over my plans for the day again. He is coming across as a little nervous, like he is afraid I’m going to do something dangerous or reckless before he sees me again. I assure him that I am only planning on going to my classes, and then to the costume party at the Delt house tonight.

Leaning down, Reed kisses me goodbye. “I will see you tonight,” he says with a sexy smile. As he straightens, his dark wings unfold from his back, spreading out around him like a mantle.

“Tonight,” I agree breathlessly, before Reed goes to the window and disappears from sight.

I get ready for class quickly after that, putting on Russell’s necklace so that I won’t lose it. I head to Saga for breakfast and find Freddie at our table.

His eyes are animated, so I quirk my brow, asking, “What’s up?”

“Happy Birthday, Evie!” Freddie says, grinning at me. “How does it feel to finally be considered an adult? You can vote now,” he beams at me, taking a sip of his juice.

“Is today the thirtieth? October thirtieth?” I ask incredulously.

“Uh huh…you didn’t know it was your birthday today?” he frowns.

I rub my forehead anxiously. “It must’ve slipped my mind. How did you know it was my birthday?” I eye him suspiciously; I can’t ever remember telling him the date.

Freddie sighs at me and says, “Freshman Directory, it was in your bio. Dude, I’ve never heard of anyone forgetting her own birthday before, especially a chick. You’re really sketchy, Evie.”

My eyes roll playfully. “Thanks, Freddie. You’re so sweet to get me just what I always wanted for my birthday: insults and a hard time,” I reply.

“I was going to tell you how shady it is to be born on devil’s night, but now that I’ve already given you enough grief, I’ll just give you your present. So, here you go,” Freddie says, placing a beautifully gift-wrapped box in front of me.

My eyes widen. “Freddie…you never cease to amaze me with your kindness,” I say honestly, staring at the package. “Why did you do this?”

Freddie’s brow wrinkles. “Because you’re my friend. Open it, Evie,” he says, smiling.

I pull the ribbon and paper off to find a polished wooden box, encrusted with dragonflies. “Oh, Freddie, this is beautiful. Where did you get it?”

“An antique store—this area is littered with them. But, that’s just the box, Evie. You have to open it,” Freddie says excitedly, and I hardly know what to do because this gift looks terribly expensive.

My eyes meet his blue ones as I say, “Freddie…you didn’t have to do this…”

He rolls his eyes. “Would you just open it? I got a really good deal on it—I’m very practiced at negotiations,” he says, winking at me.

“Okay…” I reply, before opening the box.

Inside the box is a round silver compact with an etched dragonfly on the lid. Three inset opals make up the torso of a dragonfly’s body. The ornate wings of the insect are incised into the silver lid of the compact. Running my fingertips over its cold surface, I trace the delicately carved lines of the wings. Looking up, I smile at Freddie, before opening the lid of the compact. Inside is a small mirror.

“Freddie,” I breathe his name reverently, “I’ve never had something so beautiful in my life. Thank you.” I close it with a snap and run my fingers lightly over the silvery surface again, feeling the coolness of each opal beneath my fingertips.

“It is a shame if my gift really is the prettiest that you have ever received,” Freddie says to himself, but since I have really good hearing now, I hear every word.

“Hey, what’d I miss?” Russell asks before sitting down on my other side with his tray of food.

“I gave Evie her birthday gift,” Freddie says, and I hold up the compact for Russell to see.

“Very pretty,” Russell says, smiling at me. He isn’t surprised, so he must know it’s my birthday, too.

“Happy Birthday, Red,” Russell says, pulling a small, unwrapped cardboard-box from his bag and placing it on the table in front of me. “I can’t wrap to save my life, sorry,” Russell adds sheepishly.

I frown and look from him to Freddie and back again. “Russell…I don’t need gifts,” I say.

“Yeah, ya do. Yer a girl—it’s like genetic or somethin’,” Russell says with a grin as he pushes it nearer to me.

I reluctantly open the box. Under the tissue paper, I find a silver bracelet with a small, metal pendant attached to it. Examining the pendant, it is a silver medal of St. Jude Thaddeus.

Quirking my brow at Russell, he smiles at me, saying, “It’s St. Jude. He’s the patron saint of desperate situations. I thought he might come in handy.”

His smile is warm, but I see something else in Russell’s eye… fear.
He’s afraid for me.

Holding the bracelet out for him to take, I ask, “Will you put it on me?”

His fingers brush my palm as he picks up the bracelet. Holding my wrist nearer to him, he fastens the clasp. I jiggle my wrist so that the pendant rests on top.

My eyes cloud as I murmur, “Thank you, Russell.”

“I sincerely hope ya don’t need it, Red,” Russell says quietly, but we both know that it is more likely that I will.

I imagine him thinking about Sebastian and the minivan when he was picking out my birthday present. It occurs to me then that my life hardly resembles what it had been on my last birthday. It has become almost unrecognizable to me when I see it in those terms.
Will it always be like this? Will a pendant be enough protection to see me through to the next birthday? Will Russell be there with me?
I wonder.

Looking back at Russell, worry etches in his face. I smile reassuringly at him. “I have your necklace, Russell,” I say, reaching up to unclasp it from my neck. Handing it to him, he put it on. Remembering the pendants covered in blood, I shiver.

“Thanks,” Russell says, examining the clasp for damage. “I wonder how I lost it? It looks fine…must’ve just slipped off. Are ya cold?” Russell asks in concern when he sees me rub my arms to dispel the goose bumps.

“I’m okay. What are you guys doing tonight? Are you still going to the Delt costume party?” I ask, hoping they are. I need to stay as close to Russell as I can from now on.

“Yeah, I got invited to the party, since the Delts still seem to be interested in me as a pledge for next semester. Freddie said he’d come with me,” Russell replies, and I see the look that Freddie and Russell exchange. They’re coming to babysit me and I’m going to babysit Russell.

“Well, you two make a nice couple,” I say, trying to bring some levity to this birthday party. Freddie throws his balled up napkin at me while Russell just laughs.

“I’ve got to run. I’ll see you guys tonight. Thank you for my present, Freddie.” I say, leaning over and pecking him on the cheek. “And thank you for my present, Russell,” I say, but when I would’ve kissed him on the cheek, Russell turns his head fast at the last second, so I end up kissing him on the lips.

“Yer very, very, welcome,” Russell says smoothly, grinning at me with his dimples exposed.

“Russell!” I say in exasperation, and I hear him chuckling as I walk away.

Dead people!
I think, while a cold shiver slips through me. I move entirely too close to Buns as we walk together to the Delt house. She finally just links arms with me to keep me from bumping into her every few feet.

“Sweetie, are you okay?” Buns asks as I sidestep another apparition in my path: a deceased middle-aged man in a hospital gown that seriously needs to have the back fastened more securely, since he is representing a really bad image of eternity. The next soul, however, is much worse. He is a young man who appears to have only recently died, based on his clothing. Judging by the way half of his face is scraped off, I’m guessing his motorcycle is buried next to him.

“Your wings are getting tangled in mine. Hold still, I’ll unhook them,” Buns groans.