When her arms were full, too, we checked out and headed back to the car. She quietly stuffed what she’d purchased into the two backpacks she’d also grabbed.
We’re heading back, I sent Grey. I’d kept him updated on our progress, and he’d been unusually quiet. Until now.
Already?
Is there a problem?
Everyone is out in the barn. Isabelle mentioned that Gabby wouldn’t be like herself. We didn’t understand what she meant.
I waited, but he didn’t say more. When we pulled into the driveway, the yard and house were lit up. Ethan strode from the barn as I parked.
Isabelle opened her door and grunted.
“What the hell,” she said, getting out.
I opened my door and the scent of arousal filled my nose. Since it was Clay’s, it wasn’t pleasant.
“It’s Clay and Gabby,” Ethan said. “Everyone else is in the barn.”
Isabelle glanced at the house.
“They haven’t stopped?”
“Well, there appears to be a bit of a conflict. She’s still high and saying yes; he’s saying no.”
Why isn’t Clay completing the bond? I sent Grey as I moved around the car to stand near Isabelle.
“Ah. Any baddies?” Isabelle asked.
“No. The group is planning on staying the night.”
He’s afraid she’ll be angry when she’s herself again, Grey sent back. I could see Clay’s dilemma and was glad it wasn’t me.
Isabelle looked at the barn where everyone was crowded then at me.
“Be right back,” she said, moving toward the house.
I quickly stepped in front of her.
“No.” Getting between a horny werewolf and his Mate was never a good idea.
She looked up at me.
“You have no idea what I intend to do, so what exactly are you saying no to?”
“Going inside. It’s too dangerous.”
“Puh-lease,” she said and rolled her eyes. “It’s dangerous if I don’t stop this emotional maelstrom. It will seep into my skin until my insides feel like they’re bleeding.”
I wanted to swear because I could already see signs of her strain. Eyes squinted ever so slightly. Mouth turned down just a hint. Shoulders curved in a bit instead of defiantly back. And, we’d only been in the yard for a few minutes.
Reluctantly, I stepped to the side.
She gave me a weakly triumphant smile then walked into the house. This time, the boy didn’t follow her.
I glanced at him, and he held up his hands.
“I’m not going back in there. I’ve seen enough. That guy’s going to need an ice shower.”
Inside, I heard Isabelle tell Clay to give in to Gabby. He mustn’t have agreed because Isabelle then threatened to rip the lust from his Mate if he didn’t leave, which would mean Gabby would take even longer to recover. Given how long it had taken Gabby to wake from the last time Isabelle stole her emotions, I knew Clay would take Isabelle’s threat seriously.
I knew he gave in when she called for Bethi. By the barn, Winifred spoke to Bethi, who reluctantly crossed the yard and went into the house.
“Help Clay,” Isabelle said from inside. “I can’t touch Gabby.”
A moment later, Clay rushed out the door, hesitated, then growled in frustration and turned back toward the house. His breathing and pulse raced as he stood there. With a growl, he started pacing.
“I’ll send the rest in,” Isabelle said, pushing the door open. She glanced at Clay.
“Now you can help me,” she said, waving for him to follow. She didn’t wait to see if he did, but started toward the barn. Clay gave the house a last look then strode after her. It wasn’t hard to guess why she wanted him, but it was disappointing.
Ethan walked beside me as we trailed behind them.
“You don’t need to worry,” he said.
“About what?”
“That she’ll get hurt. I mean she will. No matter what you do. Worrying about it only fills her up more, you know?”
Isabelle reached the barn and waved at the house as she addressed everyone.
“Bethi won’t be able to handle Gabby on her own, and I can’t take anymore emotions. I need you all to go back inside, help Bethi and Gabby, and stay away from me.”
None of the Elders said a word about her commanding way. Everyone just left like she asked. Except for Clay, Ethan, and me. She strode into the lit center of the barn and faced us.
“Ethan, can you grab our new bags from the car? Carlos, can you ask around for some blankets? If we have to stay, I can’t sleep inside the house tonight.”
She looked at Clay and smirked at him.
“You look like you need to burn off some energy. How are you at fighting?”
Ethan chuckled beside me as she and Clay started sparring.
“She’s bossy,” he said as he turned away. “You’ll get used to that, too.”
I briefly wondered why he was sharing so much information about her. Did it matter when it was helping me? Not really.
I stayed to watch her for a few minutes. Clay had reason to be angry with her, but he didn’t try to take it out on her. He kept his moves to human speed until she pushed him to go faster. Even then, when there was an opening, he would go for it, but at a speed she could easily block if she paid attention. For the most part, she did. The few hits that went through were light. He would keep her safe.
Turning, I went back to the house to look for blankets.
Michelle helped me raid a linen closet while Bethi continued to talk with Gabby, and the rest worked together to prepare makeshift beds for the night.
“Staying outside with the girl or coming back in to snuggle with me?” Grey asked when he saw my arms full of blankets.
He already knew the answer to that so I didn’t bother responding. He laughed and held the door for me.
When I returned to the barn, Ethan was sitting on the floor near the door and Clay and Isabelle were still sparring.
“You can set those here,” Ethan said, patting the boards.
He chuckled when I didn’t put them down and turned back to watch Isabelle and Clay spar. She’d worked up a sweat already and didn’t look like she was ready to stop any time soon. I recalled Ethan’s words about her going until she dropped. Reluctantly, I set down the blankets and went to the house to get her a glass of water.
“I think that’s enough for today,” the boy called out to Isabelle when he saw me. “You’re going to be sore tomorrow.”
Isabelle immediately jumped back a few steps from Clay. Once he relaxed his stance, she did too.
“Thanks,” she said to him. “Ethan would have whined the whole time.”
The boy snorted.
“Shut up and drink the water your bell boy brought for you.”
She grinned and walked over to me. It was hard not to breathe in deeply when she smelled so amazing.
“Thanks,” she said, taking the glass. She sipped it and sat next to the boy, ignoring me and Clay, who was leaving.
Instead of staying, I turned and walked with Clay back to the house.
“It’s hard on them,” he said, surprising me.
“What?”
“Their gifts. They can’t help who they are.”
I nodded, acknowledging that he wasn’t holding a grudge.
Inside, everyone was already bedding down for the night. Grey sat at the table, a deck of cards in his hands. He winked when he saw me.
“Thought you might want to stay up and play some cards with me.”
We kept watch while the rest slept. When Grey took a turn at sleeping, I went out to check on Isabelle.
Ethan lay by the door as if protecting the entrance but didn’t move when I stepped around him. Isabelle lay further away, almost to the opposite doors. Clay’s words came back to me as I studied the small lump she made under her blanket. Even with her friend, she couldn’t be who she was because it would hurt both of them.
I stayed for a while, watching over her until it was my turn to sleep.
****
The next morning, Winifred drove after the Elders discussed Isabelle’s need for companions who could keep control of their emotions. No one had questioned my place in the car. I’d proven I didn’t affect her, nor she me.
Isabelle sat next to Ethan in the backseat. I would have rather been sitting next to her, but having the boy beside her kept Isabelle content. So content that she fell asleep on his shoulder for several hours.
He didn’t try to make small talk to fill the time, just stared out the window until she woke.
“Sorry about the bath,” she said, wiping her mouth.
“No problem. I was overdue,” he said.
She looked out the window. We were just coming into a large city.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“Evansville,” Winifred said. “We’re going to stop for the day. Gabby said they recently swept through the area, so it should be safe.”
“Good. I have to pee,” Ethan said. “And dry off.”
Within minutes, we were pulling into a hotel parking lot. The three vehicles parked close, and we all got out and grabbed our bags, ready to check into the next hotel. Isabelle and Ethan stayed together as they walked inside with the rest.
Imagining that will be you someday, Grey sent me as he fell in step beside me.
Yes. Have you given any thought to what implications her ability might have for us?
What do you mean?
She absorbs emotions. When we Claim our Mate, we feel their emotions. What will a bond with me do to her?
Michelle and Emmitt broke off from the group to go to the front desk. Grey remained beside me, a slight frown pulling his brow.
I haven’t given it thought, but will now.
When Emmitt and Michelle returned with four room keys, they handed one to Thomas.
“We’ll stay with you,” she said.
Then she handed a key to Sam, Winifred, and Grey.
“An Elder in each room allows for better communication,” Winifred said when Ethan and Isabelle shared a look.
I knew it wasn’t a matter of Elder communication, but keeping an eye on Isabelle and Ethan to ensure they didn’t try to take off.
“We’ll go with Sam,” Gabby said, taking Clay’s hand.
“Do these rooms have a couch or am I sleeping with Sam?” Jim asked with a grin.
“No pull out sofas. Sorry, Jim,” Michelle said.
Jim didn’t seem to mind.
“Bethi, you and Luke can stay with me,” Winifred said.
Isabelle looked at Grey then me. A sudden surge of pain pierced my mind from the usually silent link, and I quickly pulled the fear that came with it and tucked it behind the wall. After that the link went quiet once more. But, it had been reminder enough. My sister was still with them, waiting.
Impatience threatened to bloom, but I held it at bay. As a group, we were moving in the right direction. North. Toward my sister. Rushing things with Isabelle would threaten my goals. Bethi had been clear. To defeat the Urbat, we needed all the women, and Isabelle’s cooperation was shaky at best. I wouldn’t do anything to send her running. But, how much longer did my sister need to suffer?
“I call dibs sleeping with you, Z,” the boy said under his breath. She nodded while still meeting my gaze.
“Let’s settle in,” Charlene said, looking at me nervously. “I’ll order room service, and everyone can meet in our room. We need to discuss what’s next.”
It wouldn’t be easy being in the same room with Isabelle but unable to sleep next to her. It would be hell staying in the same room with her while she slept next to someone else. I was used to hell.