The Gathering (Darkness Rising 1)

Daniel and I stepped out the side door into the empty yard. I caught the faint smell of smoke on the wind and turned, frowning. I was about to mention it but decided not to. If I hinted the fires were getting closer, he'd never let me do what I was about to ask.

"I need a huge favor," I said. "And you know I wouldn't ask this if it wasn't important."

"Okay."

"Can I borrow your truck?"

He lifted one brow. "That's a huge favor? You can borrow it anytime. You drive just fine."

"I need it to go see Rafe. Now. Over lunch."

"Oh." His gaze shuttered.

"No, I'm not asking for your truck because I want to get back together with him. I'm worried about him and his sister being out there with the fire threat. They should be in town."

He relaxed. "Good idea."

"Under normal circumstances, I'd run there, and try to make it back by the end of lunch period but--"

"Not when we might have a man-killing cat roaming around. Come on. I'll drive you."

He started toward the lot.

I jogged up beside him. "You don't have to do that. Go eat your lunch."

"I've got some energy bars in the glove box."

I jostled him. "What, you don't trust me to drive your baby? Go on. I can handle it."

"It's not that. She's been acting up lately, remember? I don't want you stranded and walking back through the forest."

Getting a lift from Daniel was going to make it a whole lot tougher to ask Rafe about skin-walkers. But I'd have to work with it. The important thing was checking on him and Annie.

It took nearly as long to drive there as it did to walk. We had to travel out of town on the main road, then find the rutted lane Mr. Skylark had used for his truck. It was clear enough for Daniel's pickup to make it through, but it wasn't a trip he'd want to do daily.

When we got to the cabin, it was dark inside. I told myself they were just careful about using the generator--fuel costs money. Daniel parked twenty feet away and said he'd wait there for me, maybe get out and stretch his legs.

I knocked, then opened the door and my breath hitched. It wasn't just empty, it was empty. The crates that stored their clothes and food now held only an item or two.

I knew Rafe might leave when I couldn't provide answers, but I never thought he'd just ... go. As upset and hurt as I'd been, I'd held onto the scrap of hope that he really did care about me, that he wasn't just trying to make nice to secure my help. Wrong again. The moment he realized I didn't have any information that would help his sister, he'd left.

I was backing out of the cabin when I noticed a piece of folded paper on the floor weighted down by a rock. I nudged the rock with my foot and saw my name.

When I picked up the note, something fell out, and dropped beside the rock. I ignored it and took the note to the window to read it.

Left this AM. We'll come back when I have answers.

There was another line, so scratched out I couldn't decipher a word. I stared at the note for a second, then remembered the fallen object. I squinted at the floor but saw only the pale rock. I patted around until I found something, then rose, lifting it to the light.

It was the rawhide band with the cat's-eye stone, Rafe's bracelet, the one his mother gave him.

I clutched it in my hand. My breath hitched again, heart pounding.

Don't read anything into it, Maya. You know you can't read anything into it.

I opened the note again. Just those two lines. Cool and emotionless. Left. Will return.

I held the page up to the window, trying to see what he'd crossed out.