LITMIR.BIZ

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watched her every movement. “Do you mind?” Her eyes narrowed with annoyance.

      “You’re a beautiful woman, Celia. You can’t blame a man for wishing.”

      “Turn around,” she snapped.

      “Fine.”

      He did, and within seconds her clothes were in the paper sack, and her purse and keys were lying on the counter next to her overnight bag. They were lined up and ready for the twins, who should be here within a matter of minutes.

      She unlocked the back door, opened it a crack and hoped, not only for herself and Malcolm, but for the whole Pack that her plan would work. She began walking around the room, concentrating on the feel of her steps, the wood beneath her feet, her breath deep and steady, the pattering of her heartbeat, the pulsing of her blood. Each part of her, changing, transforming.

      Her vision sharpened in the semidarkness until she could see clearly into each dark corner. She smelled the subtle differences in the hundreds of delicate scents used in the products they sold—the candles, the incense, the lotions and oils.

      And the Abatu outside.

      She dropped down onto all fours. Malcolm was beside her, his powerful energy filling her. It had been a long time since they’d run together, since she’d felt the tenuous strings connecting them. As they drew her to him, to his power and strength, she felt compelled to lean into him. To let him guide her. She fought the pull. She wouldn’t fall for it again.

      With her nose, she nudged open the back door and left the shop, walking onto the narrow street behind it. Malcolm was close on her heels. They moved slowly at first, getting a feel for their surroundings, the scents and sounds around them. The location of every Abatu and each human. There were so many.

      They moved steadily down the alley behind the shops, sticking to the shadows, their nails clicking against the asphalt. They passed cautiously by a large Dumpster behind a busy restaurant halfway down the alley. A man reeking of alcohol and body sweat was sprawled next to it. His eyes opened as they passed, saw them and started to scream.

      Spotted. Celia cringed. Back doors opened. Blinds lifted, curtains moved. Abatu were everywhere. Moving toward them, trying to capture their scent. They ran down the alley toward the hills and safety.

      People were pointing. Staring. Some with amazement. Some with disbelief. Some with horror. They moved quickly, not wanting to burst out into a full run in front of everyone, but the time for not drawing attention to themselves was over.

      A police cruiser turned down the alley, a mounted spotlight capturing them in its hundred-watt halogen glow. This was it. Their only chance. They took off running, fast and hard. Sounds of people screaming as they scampered away filled the air, boots slapping against pavement behind them, the squeal of tires, the burning smell of rubber.

      Finally they reached the end of the street and tore up the side of the hill, bolting up the embankment. Running hard. Running fast. There were a million ways for this to go wrong. They’d only just begun, and Celia wasn’t sure they were going to be able to make it.

      Below them on the highway, people stopped their cars and stared at them, two wolves racing up the hill, chased by the police. Their shouts filled the night air, some with excitement, others of fear. Soon there would be a party of men with guns searching for them, not because of what they’d done, but because of what people were afraid they would do.

      When they crested the top of the hill, Celia stopped and turned back, taking one last look at the cop car parked at the bottom of the hill, the cops on their radios calling for backup, the rear door of her shop swinging wide-open as Abatu filed inside, tracking their scent.

      She hoped and prayed they wouldn’t touch Ruby when she arrived to pick up the keys to Malcolm’s truck and their clothes. If only she could warn her somehow. But then she saw a cop go into the shop, and she hoped he’d take care of them and lock up behind him. Though that was probably too much to hope for.

      She heard a bark behind her, turned and saw Malcolm waiting impatiently for her at the top of the ridge. He was right; they still had a long way to go before reaching the rendezvous point. Reluctantly she pulled her gaze away from the shop. It wouldn’t be the last time she saw it, she promised herself, then tore off after Malcolm into the night.

      They crested the next hill and disappeared into the mountains, running fast and free. Sand shifted beneath her feet as she bolted up the mountainside. Small animals froze in fear or scurried from their path. They ran through the canyons, around, up and over mountains, following the moon as it rose higher and higher in the sky. Finally she was running free, stretching her muscles, breathing deep the sweet desert air. And all she wished was that she was back in her shop, not having to face the horrors to come. The thought that she could be trapped in the Colony; the fact that her mother was dead.

      She pushed the thoughts from her mind as they dropped down into a dry riverbed traveling its meandering path up to the red rock canyon, where hopefully by now Ruby had already left Malcolm’s truck and was long gone.

      Malcolm.

      She didn’t have to look to see if he was there; she could feel him next to her. His emotions were wide-open and easy to read in a way they hadn’t been in a long time. Their connection was stronger than ever. She tried to block it. She didn’t want to feel him, even if he had changed. Even if he really was sincere about wanting to make amends.

      Even if he really did love her.

      So what? It didn’t matter if he loved her or not. Some love wasn’t worth having. It was too late for them. There was too much damage between them. Too much to forget or forgive. What she needed to focus on now was her future, and how she could save the Colony without becoming trapped there.

Chapter 4

      “Did you see that?”

      Ruby’s eyes popped open as her sister, Jade, pushed on her shoulder. It was the middle of the night and a chill had seeped into the air and under her skin. They’d dropped off the truck as their cousin Celia had asked but then parked out of sight down the road and walked back up the hill to keep an eye on the truck. Something was wrong with their cousin, and Ruby knew Celia wouldn’t let them help her. She was hiding something from them, something big.

      Ruby shook herself fully awake and yawned. “What?” she asked.

      “I saw something,” Jade whispered.

      She stared into the darkness and repositioned against the boulder, trying to find a smooth spot. “Where?”

      “There.” Jade pointed.

      Ruby peered into the darkness lit only by the blue glow of a full moon. “Are those wolves?”

      “Or very big dogs.”

      “Shit.” Ruby rubbed her arms. “We’ve been out here a long time. Who knows what kinds of animals roam the desert at night? What is taking Celia so long?”

      “Who knows?” Jade said. “She was too cryptic on the phone. I hope she’s okay.”

      “Me, too. She’s in some kind of trouble, I just know it,” Ruby said. “My scalp has been prickling all day, and you know that only happens when something bad is about to happen.”

      “I know, I know,” Jade said. “But after that huge mess at the shop, why do we have to be so sneaky? Someone broke in and trashed the place, and her apartment upstairs, too. Add that to her phone call to bring her a vehicle and clothes in the desert, well, it would be very logical for us to stay and tell her about the shop and demand some answers.”

      “True,” Ruby agreed, and sighed. “But if she wanted us to know about it, she would have told us already.”

      “Maybe we should respect that and wait for her to tell us what she’s hiding instead of spying on her.”

      “I would,

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