Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae 1)

Later that night, Charity walked up the path next to Devon. Cars and students littered the road and walkways behind them, many going home for the night and some headed to their last class.

Macy and Yasmine followed closely behind, the girls barely looking at each other, let alone talking. Apparently, whatever Macy had told Devon about the kill they’d made the other night had created more dissent between the girls. Charity got the idea that it had something to do with Yasmine failing to follow orders. Being that it had nothing to do with Charity, she didn’t ask any questions. She had enough on her plate.

“I still don’t think we should be doing this,” Devon said in a low voice. He was mostly healed up and back to his old self—moody and brooding. “This is stupid.”

“Roger agreed with me,” Charity said, keeping her head down. “You heard him. He wants us to act as normal as possible while he gets people in position. That means you’re going to class, too. If my BFF isn’t ready with whatever he’s planning, then it would be stupid to spook him into acting.”

Devon shook his head, veering closer. “I don’t agree with him on this point.”

“Me neither,” Macy murmured behind them.

Their group fell into silence. Whether they agreed or not, it was happening.

Ocean and sea salt hung heavy in the air as they wove through the buildings. Wind pushed its way through the branches all around them. Usually, she appreciated the beauty of the wooded campus, but now the very trees she’d admired could be concealing nightmares. The edge of Devon’s hand brushed against hers as they walked, sparking electricity. She held her breath, almost wondering if he would turn the action into a handhold, wondering what was happening to her that she’d let him.

Finally, however, they reached the lecture hall. He stopped near the door and faced her, waiting for her to meet his eyes.

“You will sit in the front, near the door,” he instructed her. “You will be normal—well, your version of normal. When the class is over, you will wait until I text, and then you will meet me at the door. You will not be a hero.”

Charity rolled her eyes.

“Understood?”

“Yes.”

His gaze intensified. He brought up his arms, as though to hug her close, but at the last moment his eyes flicked to the others waiting to the side. He closed his fingers around her upper arms instead. “I’ll see you soon, okay? Be safe.”

He about-faced and stalked away, with Yasmine hurrying to catch up.

“Well, that was weird,” Macy said as she watched the pair. “What’s gotten into him? Since when is he touchy-feely?”

“I think he’s being sentimental about almost dying to save me,” Charity said.

Macy shook her head. “I don’t think he’s got a sentimental bone in his body. Or a romantic one. Devon’s more of a hit-it-and-quit-it kinda guy.”

“Where has Dillon been, by the way?” Andy, Rod, and the girls had stopped in after breakfast to scoop up leftovers and rehash the events of the night before. Dillon had never shown, though, which Charity had thought a little odd, considering it was a pack affair.

Macy shifted uncomfortably.

“Don’t tell me he’s staying away because of Yasmine,” Charity said, eyeing the students entering the lecture hall. Whatever Vlad had done the night before to clear people away was not happening now. She took comfort in that fact. Still, she wasn’t in any hurry to go in. Out here, she could still run and call for help. In there, she’d be trapped.

Macy’s face reddened. “I told him he didn’t have to. I mean, yes, I have a jealousy problem when my boyfriend won’t stop ogling another woman—”

“Not to mention that it’s not cool to ogle women in general.”

“Right. Yes! Why didn’t I think of that?” She frowned down at her shoes. “Anyway, he keeps finding other things to do when Yasmine is going to be around. Despite being a shifter, he’s strangely non-confrontational.”

Charity laughed. “I think he’s against choosing sides between you and another pack member.”

“Well, yes, I guess there is that.” Macy pulled her long hair into a ponytail. “If only she were nice. I mean, look at you. You’re gorgeous, and it isn’t a problem. She just…” Macy shook her head, watching the dwindling flow of students into the lecture hall. It was almost time. “She rubs me the wrong way, but she’s pack. I need to get over it.”

After a moment of silence, Charity took a deep breath. “All right, I have to head in. I’ll text as soon as I can.”

After a welcomed hug from Macy, Charity headed for the door, dread washing through her middle as memories from last night swirled through her thoughts.

She hoped to hell nothing nasty waited inside those doors.Chapter Thirty-ThreeThe only nasty things that had lain in wait were Donnie’s friends. Every time she glanced up to check the time, one of them was looking at her. Some out of suspicion, and some in plain anger. She didn’t blame them. The last time they’d seen Donnie, he’d been sitting with her. Now, he was nowhere to be found.