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  Wendy had loved every moment of it, and if she were a braver soul, she wouldn’t have stopped at the kiss. She would have gone all the way to having sex with Vlad right there and then.

  And how crazy was that?

  They were both virgins, it was too freaking cold to get naked outside, and she was about to betray Vlad and break his heart.

  Maybe she shouldn’t?

  What if she gave up on her uncle and her cushy future in his organization? What if she married Vlad and had a bunch of babies with him?

  Yeah, talk about crazy.

  Thinking about a future with a boy because of one hot kiss was even worse than the disassociation she used to employ to escape her crappy life. This was pure la-la land.

  Wake up, Wendy! You are not in Kansas, and Vlad is not the wizard.

  The only real wizard in her life was Director Simmons. He’d saved her from her abusive father and had given her a fantastic job with even more fantastic pay and a promise of a life she could’ve never dreamt of.

  She wasn’t going to let her hormones derail her future.

  That was probably what had happened to her mother. When she’d met Wendy’s father, she’d probably felt the same way her daughter was feeling now, but unlike Wendy, she hadn’t had the wisdom to shake it off.

  That one wrong decision had ruined her mother’s life, turning her into a drug addict and making her abandon her only child.

  Her resolve reinforced, Wendy quickened her step. When she got to the large rock outcropping, she circled to its back and peeked to check on Vlad.

  Head hung low, his hands stuffed in his pockets, he was pacing in circles, still looking lost and confused.

  Good. She had him exactly where she wanted him.

  Crouching behind the rocks, she shook her arm and dropped his phone from her sleeve into her hand.

  Quickly entering the six-digit code, she held her breath, and then nearly choked on her own saliva when the screen flashed with access denied. She must have gone too fast and clicked a wrong digit. The second time around, Wendy forced herself to slow down and make sure she hit the right numbers.

  Her uncle answered almost immediately. “This is Director Simmons. Please leave a message, and I will call you back as soon as I can. Have a pleasant day.”

  Damn. He’d probably let the call go to voicemail because he didn’t recognize the number.

  “Hi, this is Wendy,” she whispered into the phone. “I’m in Big Bear, California, with a bunch of people who have paranormal talents. They came to get Jin out of the program, and Jacki and Richard begged them to take them too. I went along so I could tell you where to find them. We are in a cabin on Faulkner Road. The number is 227. I have to go now. Don’t return my call. I stole the phone, and I need to give it back.”

  Disconnecting, she debated what to do with the device. Maybe she should leave it there?

  Vlad would think that he lost it.

  But what if it had the find-my-phone feature? She should destroy it somehow. Except, if she bashed it with a rock, Vlad would hear it. Would turning the power off do the trick?

  46

  Mey

  When all the groceries and other supplies were put away, Mey made herself a cup of tea and sat on the couch.

  Ingrid and Richard were back outside in the hot tub, Vlad and Wendy were on their hike, and Bowen was sitting next to the front window. He had switched places with Leon, so his buddy could catch a few hours of sleep.

  Looking at her, he smiled. “Enjoying a few peaceful moments?”

  “I have nothing better to do. You are making a roast, and I already peeled the potatoes and put them in a pot to cook. Ingrid said that she would make the salad.”

  “You can join Ingrid and Richard in the jacuzzi.”

  She grimaced. “No, thank you. I think they are very happy to be alone out there. Besides, I need to call my sister.”

  Mey pulled out her phone and sent a text to Jin. Can you talk?

  Her phone rang a moment later. “I’m on the plane heading back to San Francisco.”

  Mey sat up straight. “Why?”

  “Kian is trading me for Arwel, but don’t worry. We have everything figured out. Kalugal is going to send his second-in-command to be held as hostage until my safe return. That was actually my idea, and I’m so glad that Kian listened to me. Maybe I have what it takes to be an undercover operative after all.”

  “Thinking outside the box is good for anything that you choose to do. The question is what you will enjoy doing the most. But back to the trade. Having a hostage still doesn’t guarantee your safety. Kalugal might decide to sacrifice his guy.”

  “I didn’t finish telling you the whole plan. We are going to do it out on his front yard, with Guardians pointing guns with special bullets at his head. I’m going to show him how it feels without the tether and then with it, and once he is convinced that it’s off, I will just walk out of there.”

  “What about Jacki?”

  “Kalugal will trade her for the privilege of talking with his mother. Kian is going to arrange that.”

  “What if he talks with his mother and then doesn’t release Jacki?”

  “Then he doesn’t get to talk to Areana again. I don’t think it will be a problem. Jacki is not important to him. Arwel is the valuable one as far as Kalugal is concerned.”

  “And you.”

  “Naturally. Although I want Jacki out of there as well. She is being treated well, and so is Arwel, but that’s because they know I’m watching.”

  “You’ll still be watching even after you release Kalugal. No one is demanding that you release Jacki as well.”

  “That’s so true. It didn’t occur to me, but you are right. Except, if Kalugal or his men mistreat Jacki, we won’t have anything to retaliate with other than withholding contact with Areana.”

  Mey sighed. “I hope that’s enough.”

  “Kalugal is not a bad guy, but I don’t know his men other than the one he talks with the most. That’s the guy we demanded as hostage, and he is okay too. If the others are like Kalugal and Rufsur, Jacki will be treated well.”

  As smart as Jin was, she was still naive. People had many layers, and what they showed on the outside was their best. The ugly usually came out when they thought no one was watching.

  “You don’t know that. Kalugal might be polite, soft-spoken, but totally emotionless. But then I’ve never met him, while you’ve been observing him since yesterday. That’s not much to go by, but it’s more than any of us have.”

  “What I saw and heard was mainly his negotiations with Kian, so obviously he was putting on a show. I’m actually basing my impression of him on his interactions with his lieutenant, and on that guy’s behavior. Rufsur was never cruel or even unkind to Arwel and Jacki, and that was even before he knew about the tether.”

  “You told me that he put them in a prison cell.”

  “Yeah, that’s true, but that’s because the other rooms inside the bunker don’t lock from the outside. I just wonder what Kalugal needs the cell for.”

  “Maybe he uses it as a brig. You know, for when one of his men does something he shouldn’t. Every military organization needs to have disciplinary measures.”

  Jin sighed. “I guess I’ll find out soon.”

  The knot in Mey’s gut twisted tighter. “I’m worried about you.”

  “I’m worried too,” Jin admitted. “But there is no other way. I have to do this.”

  “When is the exchange going to happen?”

  “Tonight. Kian wants to do it after midnight. I want to get some sleep on the plane so I won’t be dead when I get there. This freaking cold couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

  Mey switched the phone to her other ear. “Are you certain it’s a cold? The symptoms are very similar to transition.”

  “I’m sure. The doctor checked me, and she said it’s a cold. I have low fever, runny nose, and I’m nauseous and dizzy. Those are not transition symptoms.”

&
nbsp; “The doctor up there has no experience with adult Dormants transitioning. So far, only Kian’s part of the clan has found any.”

  “I've had colds before. It feels exactly the same. By the way, how come you are talking so freely? Are you alone in your bedroom?”

  “I’m in the living room, but only Bowen is here. He’s one of the two Guardians who have joined us. Richard is out back with Ingrid, playing footsie in the hot tub, and Wendy went on a hike with Vlad.”

  “Alone?”

  “With each other.”

  “Vlad is not a Guardian in training, is he?”

  Mey chuckled. “The kid is so skinny that a strong gust of wind could blow him away. But even if he were as buff as Bowen, Vlad is not Guardian material. He has the gentle soul of an artist. You should hear him sing. And he studies graphic design.”

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Bowen grinning as he crossed his thick arms over his chest.

  Show-off.

  “So basically, Wendy is out there with no protection. I don’t like it.”

  “No one is looking for her out here. It’s just trees and snow and there is barely any traffic on the street. I think most of the cabins are unoccupied.”

  “How far is the town? Is it walking distance?”

  “Not really. It’s on the other side of the lake.”

  “That’s good. It means that they are not likely to encounter many people on their hike.”

  “My thoughts exactly. Get some sleep, Jin. And call me when you wake up.”

  “I will.”

  “Please, don’t forget. I want to hear from you before you go into the lion’s den.”

  “I love you too.”

  When Jin ended the call, Mey put her phone on the coffee table and leaned back. It had been more than an hour since Vlad and Wendy had left.

  Maybe she should call Vlad to make sure that they were all right?

  “Call him,” Bowen said. “For your own peace of mind.”

  “Do you read minds?”

  “It’s written all over your face.”

  Mey lifted the phone. “I would hate to interrupt a romantic moment.”

  Bowen chuckled. “I doubt it. Those two are so shy that neither would have the courage to initiate anything. Observing them together, I can see the wisdom of old-fashioned matchmaking and arranged marriages. They are perfect for each other, but unless someone gives them a push, nothing is going to happen.”

  47

  Wendy

  Wendy turned the device around, looking for the off button, but it was like no other phone she’d handled before. There were no visible buttons on the sides or on the back. The screen came to life when it was lifted, and a code was needed to unlock it. That was all.

  What if it needed a fingerprint or Vlad’s face to turn on and off? Or maybe a voice command?

  It seemed like she had no choice but to destroy it. The question was how to do that without making a noise. If there was a brook or a pond anywhere near, she could drop the phone into it and hope it wasn’t waterproof.

  Maybe snow would do it?

  Or perhaps she could pee on it? Would that be enough to destroy the blasted thing?

  The seconds were ticking away, and she was running out of time. Soon, Vlad would overcome his stupor and come looking for her.

  Glancing around, she caught the glint of water several feet away. It was only melted snow, but it was her only option.

  Wendy made two steps in its direction when the phone rang, the sound piercing the quiet and making her heart leap out of her chest.

  Panic choking her throat, she started running. And when she heard Vlad’s boots pounding on the ground behind her, she hurled the device away from her with all the force she could muster.

  Hitting a rock with a crunching sound, the phone bounced and landed somewhere she couldn’t see.

  As Wendy prayed that it was destroyed and wouldn’t turn on, Vlad’s arms shot around her from behind.

  He lifted her up in the air and turned her to face him. His expression a mask of fury mixed with hurt, he held her suspended above the ground and away from him, her legs pedaling in the air. “What have you done?”

  “Nothing.” Tears started streaming down her cheeks. “I did nothing.”

  “Why did you steal my phone?”

  “I wanted to call my father. I’m sorry. But I missed him, and I wanted to let him know that I was okay. He must be so worried about me.”

  Vlad’s face twisted in a disgusted grimace. “You are lying.” He dropped her carelessly and headed toward where the phone had landed.

  Crumpling down to the ground, Wendy wept. She was so stupid. What had she thought would happen a moment after she’d succeeded in making the call?

  What was Vlad going to do to her?

  He picked up the broken device, but since his back was turned to her, she couldn’t see what he was doing. Was the thing still functioning?

  If she were smart, she would get herself off the ground and start running. Except, Vlad was incredibly fast. How had he managed to get to her so quickly?

  He must have crossed a distance of at least two hundred feet in less than ten seconds. Her time perception must have gotten distorted because that wasn’t humanly possible. Or perhaps he’d been much closer to her than she’d thought when the phone started ringing, and she hadn’t heard him approach.

  Except, that wasn’t possible either unless he’d hovered above the ground. It was too quiet for her not to hear his boots crunching on the snow and the fallen twigs and leaves under it.

  “It’s still working.” Vlad’s words shattered the last of her hopes.

  He turned around while returning the call. “Mey, we have a problem. Wendy stole my phone and called someone. She says she called her father, but I think she is lying.”

  Listening to him talk chilled her to the bone. He sounded so cold, so remote.

  She’d expected hurt, anger, accusations, but this was much worse. Vlad had simply shut down. His face was expressionless as he looked down at her. “Mey is on her way to pick us up.”

  She nodded. “I’m sorry. It was a stupid thing to do.”

  He arched a brow. “Stupid? I wouldn’t call it that. How long have you been planning to betray us, Wendy?”

  48

  Vlad

  As Wendy looked up at Vlad with a pair of teary eyes, his conviction of her guilt wavered.

  Perhaps she’d really called her father because she missed him?

  That would have been stupid, but not criminal.

  Except, he’d clearly smelled the lie on her, and he wasn’t even a good sniffer of emotions, which was painfully evident by the ease with which she’d managed to fool him.

  Wendy had no feelings for him, and the reality-bending kiss they had shared was nothing more than his pheromones in action. He was so desperately attracted to her that some of it must have rubbed off on her, and that residual had been enough to evoke her passionate response.

  And it had been passionate.

  Wendy could have faked her feelings, but she couldn’t have faked the flaring of her arousal. It had started as just a whiff, and when the kissing had gotten more intense, that scent had bloomed.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I had to.”

  He was about to ask why, and who she’d had to call so desperately, when the sound of a car engine diverted his attention.

  They were about two hundred feet downhill from the road, so he couldn’t see who it belonged to, but as it slowed down and then stopped, he figured it was Mey. All clan phones were equipped with excellent location trackers.

  Vlad heard two doors open, and a moment later saw Mey and Bowen coming down the hill toward them.

  Bowen cast Wendy a glare that could chill lava. “Did you find out who she called?”

  Vlad shook his head and handed him the phone. “You can check the outgoing calls.” The screen and the back cover were broken, but the device still worked.

  As a Guardian,
Bowen knew the override code to unlock every clan phone and didn’t need Vlad’s. Finding the outgoing call, he redialed it.

  From the corner of his eye, Vlad saw Wendy drop her head between her knees and start shaking all over. Resisting the impulse to crouch next to her and take her into his arms, he looked away.

  As Bowen put the call on speakerphone, it rang once, twice, and then it was answered by a recording. “This is Director Simmons. Please leave a message, and I will call you back as soon as I can. Have a pleasant day.”

  Was there a chance that the voice on the recorded message belonged to Wendy’s father?

  Given Mey and Bowen’s angry expressions, it didn’t seem so.

  Her hands on her hips, Mey glared at Wendy. “You called the program’s director? What possessed you to do that?”

  Rocking back and forth, Wendy didn’t look up and didn’t answer either.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Bowen sounded pissed. “She is a spy. We need to get out of here pronto.” He handed Vlad his phone back and pulled out his own. “Leon. Put Richard and Ingrid in the car and drive down to Redlands. Wendy is a mole, and she ratted us out. They know our location.”

  “Aren’t we going back to pack?” Mey asked.

  “No time.” Bowen lifted Wendy off the ground as if she was a sack of potatoes and threw her over his shoulder. “Damn.” He shook his head. “I was looking forward to eating that roast.” He started up the hill.

  The Guardian was going to miss out on a tasty meal, but Vlad was going to miss so much more.

  He’d been looking forward to a relationship with a girl that he’d thought liked him. Instead, he was left with an empty cavity where his feelings and hopes for Wendy had been.

  Mey put her arm around him. “I’m so sorry, Vlad. She had us all fooled, including Edna.”

  He shook his head. “That’s impossible. Edna is our judge, and everyone knows it’s impossible to hide malevolent intentions from her.”

  With her arm still wrapped around him, Mey urged Vlad to keep going. “Wendy must have an additional talent she was hiding from us. She can mask her true emotions somehow.”