“I’m not going anywhere; you are.” I feel my stomach drop; what does he mean?
“Thaddeus, what are you doing?” Ryland says, grabbing his arm, and I can see the fear in Ryland’s eyes, feel it hit me through the bond.
“What’s right. We never should have let her get involved with us,” he answers, shaking off his arm.
Thaddeus reaches for me; grabs my face and I feel the fog rush over me. “No,” I gasp, but he doesn’t listen.
“You will take my keys and the bag and leave. Go live your life away from me. You are free to go where you want; just don’t come back here,” he says, and his words suddenly sound very reasonable. But if so, why do they hurt so badly?
He lets go of my face, and I stumble back. Tears fill my eyes. He is letting me go, but why does it feel so hollow inside me? Why does it feel so wrong?
“You can’t decide that for all of us, Thaddeus. I won’t, I can’t be without her,” Ryland growls, grabbing my arm and stopping me from leaving.
“She is right; I only hurt her, all of you. You’re free to go with her,” he says, and turns on his heel to walk up the stairs.
I feel destroyed; they look torn on what to do. My choice is taken, and the longer Ryland grips my arm, the worse the nausea gets from not leaving the house and following his order. I grit my teeth as nausea washes over me. Then, I am suddenly pulled toward the door. Ryland bends down, grabbing the bag.
“What’s going on?” I ask, confused. Ryland walks me outside, and the nausea instantly stops. Orion steps out behind us. Ryland walks to the garage, opens it, and gets in the car to reverse it. Cold arms wrap around my own, and Orion turns me around to kiss me. His tongue traces my bottom lip, and my lip’s part, his tongue playing with mine as I feel him pull me closer. He pulls back and grips my face. “I love you, Evelyn. I will see you soon,” he says and kisses my forehead.
“You’re not coming?” I ask as tears fill my eyes.
He shakes his head. “No, I will talk some sense into him.” I look toward the upstairs window and see Thaddeus, standing at the window watching us. It hurts when he turns around and walks out of view.
Ryland places his hand on my lower back, making me look up at him. “Come. We need to go before you end up in pain,” he says, kissing the side of my face.
“You’re coming with me?” He nods and looks at Orion. Orion grips the back of his neck, tugs him closer and kisses him. They look reluctant to pull apart, but Ryland grabs my hand and walks me to the car. I sit in the seat, my stomach churning at leaving them. Ryland leans over me, plugging my seat belt in.
“You will see them again, I promise,” he says, and kisses my head.
I watch him walk around to the other side. Ryland starts the car, turns it around and drives down the driveway. The house disappears behind us.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
E
velyn
Ryland drives us to a motel since we have no idea where to go. We know I can’t go back, so that doesn’t leave many options. The motel is one of those you find on the highway, in the middle of nowhere, that looks like something a serial killer has used to stalk their victims.
The man behind the counter looks like he doesn’t get much human interaction; he is awkward and makes me feel uncomfortable. Even after we are inside, I check the locks and the windows; Ryland shakes his head at my paranoia.
“What are you doing?” he asks, as I check the door again.
“Checking the door. He gave me the creeps,” I tell him, and Ryland shakes his head again, chuckling.
“You’re in a motel room with a Lycan, but that puny human gives you the creeps?” he scoffs.
“You don’t scare me. You’re mine; I trust you not to murder me in my sleep and stuff me as a house ornament,” I tell him, looking out the window.
“You need to stop watching Bates Motel,” Ryland says, pulling me away from the window.
“Do you think Orion and Thaddeus are okay?”
“We would feel it if they weren’t stop worrying. Come, let’s shower, then get some sleep,” he offers.
“You shower; I will watch to make sure no one comes in,” I tell him.
I have watched too many horror movies, and know shit always goes down when you’re showering.
“Evelyn, I promise, anyone who comes in won’t be leaving alive. Come. Have a shower with me,” he says, as he grabs the bag and unzips it. Rylands pulls out some clothes for me, placing them on the bed. “I need to get clothes tomorrow. All he packed is one set of clothes for you; the rest is cash,” Ryland says, shaking his head.
He starts stripping off his clothes as he walks into the bathroom, but I just watch. “Evelyn, shower,” he sings out, and I look toward the door, then follow him in and lock the bathroom door as well.
I know it’s irrational, but I have an irrational fear of motels, and spiders, so I know I am not going to be getting much sleep if we continue to stay in motels. I actually miss home; I would rather be with Thaddeus. At least I know he is psychotic. People tend to hide their true intentions well. Thaddeus doesn’t care if you don’t like him; you know what you’re going to get with him. Well, most of the time, but he can be sweet. A little bipolar, but sweet when he wants to be.