Part 16 (1/2)

”So, will you do it?” She asked more impatiently.

He moved his face again, this time tracing his lips down to her earlobe. Every tiny movement he made had Avery's body involuntarily reacting. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to ignore it. Patrick was a playboy, and jerk off or not, he was good. And she was embarra.s.sed. Mason had to be watching this and it didn't take Avery to know that he'd be angry.

”I think so. For you.” Patrick whispered into her ear.

He kissed her then, on the side of her face, below her hair. The trail of light kisses moved, just to the hollow of her neck. Something about the attention was just too much. She broke away.

”Why are you fighting me? Are you still thinking about Mason?” He asked.

”No way. I'm not with Mason but...” She didn't know how to word herself so she didn't. She simply snapped her mouth shut and stared at the floor.

”That's a shame.” He said surprisingly quietly. ”You're hung up on a guy that's inevitably going to leave you.”

Taken aback, Avery thrashed to break away from him. Before she could conjure a proper response, Patrick spoke again.

”He's going back to the harpie court after this. You know that right? And the new Prince can't have a human as a girlfriend.”

Patrick's words landed hard. Avery averted her face. Patrick's hand snaked out and touched her shoulder. She wanted to slap him away but he only squeezed in some rea.s.suring manner.

”I'm not the nicest person in the world but I wouldn't treat you the way he treats you. You know he still talks to Adalyn. He's never stopped and likely, they'll be together after you're long gone.”

”He told me it wasn't about Adalyn.” Avery countered but her voice still waivered.

”Avery, don't be stupid. Did he really fight when you broke it off with him? Did he ever try to mend that bridge? And best of all, where is he right now?”

”He's--” Avery went to defend him immediately but couldn't bring herself too. She looked around finding herself unable to feel the magic in Mason's body. Maybe he wasn't as close as he'd implicated he'd be.

”He's with Adalyn now. I know it.”

Avery wiped her cheeks only to find the back of her hand wet. Great, now she was crying. Spiting her faulty reactions, she took a deep breath. Determined to keep her voice straight, she answered.

”Don't act so sweet. You tried to kill me yourself.” She pointed out.

Patrick actually made a guilty face.

”I told you I was doing Adalyn a favor.”

”Why do you owe Adalyn so much?” Avery suddenly asked, reckless questioning fueled by mixed emotions. ”Who are you?”

Patrick went quiet. Avery was too afraid to steal a glimpse at his face. Instead, she focused on composing herself. Patrick finally did speak.

”I just came out of a bad place. Worse than you could probably imagine. I didn't know anyone really but that day, I happened to meet Adalyn. She took me in like a lost puppy. She straightened things out for me. I owe her so much for that. So when she asked me to get rid of a human, what do you think I'd say?”

His fingers reached out and caught her chin. Their eyes connected and suddenly Avery's breath was stolen from her.

Then Patrick leaned forward and kissed her. It lingered for a few moments before Avery pulled back. Maybe she was being horrible, buying into Patrick's words about Mason leaving her. Maybe Patrick was right and Avery should be moving on. But that was the last thing she needed to think at that moment. Avery's thoughts s.h.i.+fted back to Leela.

”You'll need to hurry or we'll lose her in Portland.” She reminded him.

The moment dying quickly, Patrick followed her to a stand but he paced toward the pond. His wings twitched and opened, stirring up a cold gust of wind.

”Where is she then?”

”She's arriving at the Portland Airport at seven PM.” Avery instructed. ”I'm sure you'll recognize her but you can call me.”

Suddenly, movement caught her eye. Avery followed it instantly. A flash darted through the thick brush, behind the hanging moss and low branches of the trees. She double took at the woods. She hadn't imagined the shadowy figure but it had gone still and in doing so, had disappeared into the darkness. Swallowing, she scanned the remaining area. It was probably Mason but the unease crept up Avery's spine in a raking wave of coldness.

Patrick still stood in the same spot, oblivious and caught up in preening his reflection off of the murky pond water. He was still talking but it took a full minute for Avery to even tune back in to what he was saying.

”I'll pick her up, drag her back here, and dump her off. Then we can plan the next date.” Patrick had whirled to face her. If Avery had paled, she wasn't sure.

”Okay. Please. Please find her.” She said.

Patrick's wings snapped open and he began to flap. Dust stirred and the pond water sloshed. Patrick took off only a moment later, doing half a twirl in the air to slow off his flight moves. Only after he disappeared into the grey sky did Avery take her eyes off him. Next she set her sights on the forest.

”Mason is that you?” She headed for the tree line, waiting for the familiar face to surface. He'd probably be p.i.s.sed but Avery still needed to see him.

”Mason.” She called again when she reached the tree line edge.

It had gotten darker and the shadows between the trees had gotten thicker. The wind howled through the branches and the wood cried out from the force. Avery blinked but couldn't see much. Her hand blindly sought out the nearest tree and she fingered the bark.

The feeling of unease had returned full fledge and Avery found her stomach churning. Mason hadn't answered her. No one had. But she was sure she'd seen someone in the woods. Swallowing thickly, she backed up. Her shoes snapped a twig below her and the sharp sound made her jump. Skin crawling, she didn't hesitate anymore. Turning on her heel, she ran for the entrance door.

Suddenly the woods s.h.i.+fted. Twigs snapped and branches creaked loudly. The sounds too loud to be normal, Avery hurried more. She didn't turn around.

She opened the door, charged inside, and slammed the metal shut behind her.

Heart pounding in her chest, she closed her eyes and waited for the moment to pa.s.s.

”Stupid stupid Avery.” She told herself. People were out to kill her and she still put herself in danger. Opening her eyes, she examined her surroundings.

Being inside the first wall of Samuel's compound was comforting but not completely safe. The sky was open and empty, the wind had calmed, and the place was quiet. Avery trekked around the building, reaching the courtyard.

The sight in front of her made her stop. In the courtyard stood three harpies: Adalyn, Mason, and Eva. The gathering didn't seem like a social visit though. Eva's wings were open wide and her hands clasped a polished blade handle on her belt. Adalyn stood nearby but her attention was on the sky. Mason was the first to notice Avery.

”Are you okay?” He asked instantly.

Worried her face might betray her, she wiped her cheeks. She felt shaken and panicked but ignored it.

”What's going on?” She asked instead. She kept watching the others.

Eva shook the choppy black hair out of her face to reveal her scowl.

”We're out of time, Mikhail's on the move.” Eva said shortly.

”What do you mean?” Avery questioned for more details.