Текст книги "A Beauty So Beastly"

Автор книги: RaShelle Workman

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Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 10 страниц)

Nine
Fresh Cut Wood

“What is it, Isaac?” My heart began to race, pushing the pain out and back in with each thump.

He cleared his throat, glancing at Adam.

“He’s fine to remain here.”

“Very well, Miss Cavanaugh.”

“When I came to work for your father fifteen years ago, you were just a small child. And while your parents were never kind to me they were never unkind either.” He coughed. “I knew I was luckier than most. Your father paid me well. Very well. I came to respect, even admire him.” Isaac cleared his throat again. “On your sixteenth birthday your father and mother came to me and asked if I would be willing to keep something for them.” He lifted the box in his hands. “They made me promise that if anything bizarre began to happen with you and if the two of them suddenly vanished I was to give you this box.” Isaac set it on my desk.

“Do you know what’s inside?” I asked, goosebumps tightening my skin.

“No, Miss Cavanaugh, I do not.” He stepped back. “I’ve witnessed many peculiar events in my life. I know your family is different.” He paused, pulling on the bottom of his vest, uncomfortable. “Have you heard anyone use the word Vaktare?” Isaac was suddenly nervous. He gave Adam a cursory glance.

I nodded, excitedly, taking a step toward him. “Do you know what that means?”

He shook his head. “I only know that I overheard your parents say the word on many occasions.”

I felt my face fall. It was weird. Normally my face didn’t move much.

“Miss Cavanaugh, your parents—you are different. Your parents knew I knew. Being in this house, I’ve heard things, even seen things.” He clasped his hands together. “Please know I would never do anything to betray your parents or you. I owe your parents my life. My allegiance is, and will always be, to your family.”

“Thank you, Isaac.” My eyes were misty. I wondered what my parents had done for him, but now wasn’t the time to ask. I quickly dabbed at the edges of my eyes. Crying was fast becoming annoying.

“You’re most welcome, Miss Cavanaugh. And if there is anything you need, you have only to ask.” He turned and left the room.

I scooted my chair closer to the box. It was beautiful. Not much larger than a sheet of paper. The latch had the head of a roaring lion. On the lid was carved the letter C. I guessed for Cavanaugh. Thorny vines wrapped around it and a single red rose bloomed in the center. Behind the C and the rose had been carved an intricate background. Creatures that appeared to be part man and part beast were in a forest.

“Aren’t these amazing?” I said touching one of the heads. As soon as my hand brushed the wood, the latch clicked open. I gasped, clutching my chest. And then laughed.

Adam smiled, crouching down so his head was even with mine. That must’ve been uncomfortable.

“Wait a sec.” I picked up the box and took it over to the bed. “This will be better.”

Adam seemed surprised by my actions. In truth, I was too. In the past, or even yesterday, the comfort of others hadn’t mattered to me.

I took a deep breath, eager for the answers that were sure to be inside.

“Go for it,” Adam said, noticing my hesitation.

Taking hold of the latch, I lifted it.

I didn’t know what I expected to find. The inside smelled like fresh cut wood. It had been stained to match the outside.

I glanced at Adam. He rocked back, appearing to be as confused as I was. I reached in and picked up the only thing in the box: a piece of paper. It’d been torn out of a notebook. On the paper, scrawled in black ink were a name and a number.

“Is this you?” I asked.

He shook his head. “My last name is Haddox, remember?”

All of my courage deflated.

Adam squeezed my hand. “So you call the number. Your parents thought the name and number were important, right?”

“I guess.” I placed the number back in the box and closed it. Exhaustion overpowered my limbs. “I’m tired, Adam. Would you mind giving me some time by myself?” I knew the pain would increase with him gone but it was becoming more bearable.

“Of course.” Adam glanced at his watch. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He got off my bed and went to the door. “It’ll work out. Everything happens for a reason.

I couldn’t agree or disagree. “Thanks, Adam. For all of your help and for staying.” As I said the words, a tendril of fear curled through my stomach, like a snake in search of its prey, it slithered inside. My heart raced. “You’ll still be here in the morning?” I asked, timidly.

Adam opened the door. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”

His words made me smile. I stared after him a few moments, thinking about how happy I was to have him in my life. I didn’t have my parents, and while I missed them, which was weird and wonderful, but I had him. Adam. It seemed overly lucky that he’d come just after I was cursed. I didn’t think Eva, Ashley, Cassidy or even Will would’ve handled the situation as well as he was.

I set the box on my nightstand, changed into some PJs and went over to the bed. I tried to sleep, but as tired as I was, I couldn’t. So I climbed out of bed and walked over to the window seat, pulling open the curtains. The moon was nearly full. I curled up with a blanket and a pillow and fell asleep.

* * *

I sniffed the air. Another hunter was nearby. It was hungry, like me. And it needed to eat. But this was my territory. I roared, shaking my head.

In response the hunter howled. A wolf?

My ears pricked as I ran. Its large paws padded the dirt softly, making its movements barely perceivable. It was heading up the mountain, same as me.

Though it was summer the air this high up was chilly, especially at night. I found the temperature enjoyable and lifted my face toward the night sky. The moon shone brightly and the stars twinkled against the blackness. It reminded me of a map, the stars plotting points, telling me where to go. I stared at the stars more intently, as though seeing them for what they truly were.

Where should I go? I thought, searching for an answer.

To the right I heard the snap of a fallen tree branch. Instinctively I turned toward the sound, crouching low, preparing for the unknown. I’d been too caught up in the stars to listen to what was going on around me.

Whatever it was moved closer. I waited, shifting my body so that I was in the perfect position. Twin pools of blue glowed as it stepped into view.

I peered closer, trying to discover what it was.

“I wondered when you would finally shift.” The voice came from the area where the eyes glowed. It was male. He stepped out of the trees and into the moonlight. It was a large black cat, but bigger than any wildcat I’d seen in my mountains, or at the zoo for that matter. Thick black fur covered his body. He was on all fours, but his back legs had more of a bend at the knee, like a human rather than a wildcat. His paws were long and shaped like human hands and feet. Thick claws extended from them. They were sharp and pointed. His face held the shape of a cat but it somehow looked human too.

“What are you talking about?” I backed up the way I’d come, the prey I’d been hunting long forgotten.

In answer he lifted one of his front paws and a ball of light came out. It headed right at me. For a single second I froze, unsure what to do. In the next second instinct took over and I dove out of the way. The light hit the tree to my right. It made a sizzling and crackling sound and then the light went out. By the light of the moon I could see the tree had been charred and there was a hole deep within the trunk.

“Found out what your ability is yet?” He growled and sent another ball of light my direction.

I dove the other way, baring my teeth and making a hissing sound. That scared me almost more than the big cat and the ball of light.

“Please, what do you want? I can get you anything.” I hoped to reason with him.

“Can you?” He paused, tilting his head, as though he were mulling over my offer.

“Of course.”

The male cat roared and it felt like the whole Earth shook. I wanted to lower my head, to cower before him, but something inside told me not to. So I lifted my chin. “What do you want?” I was so scared, but I forced those feelings away, and stepped toward him. “Either tell me or leave.”

The male cat laughed and his long tail flicked back and forth randomly.

“Your family no longer has the right to give orders.” He snorted and his whiskers quaked. “Your father doesn’t even have his abilities any longer. They were stripped from him.” He seemed to know more about my family than I did.

“You know who I am? What I am?” My chin started to tremble.

He laughed harder. “Of course.” Something about the way he said the words sounded familiar but I couldn’t place his voice.

I realized for all my feigned toughness, if he attacked, I’d be dead. He probably weighed five hundred pounds.

“It’s time the Cavanaughs were destroyed and a new royal line took your place.” He charged.

I stood my ground, not knowing what else to do. As he got closer, he opened his mouth. Drool dribbled from his sharp teeth. He was so close I could smell his putrid breath. At the last second I closed my eyes, preparing for the inevitable.

But it didn’t come. There was a rush of wind and a loud thump.

I peered through my lashes and was surprised to find that the male cat had been knocked on its side. He rolled to his feet and shook his head. Standing between the cat and me was a gigantic blond wolf. His body was a similar shape to the cat, though he was bigger. His tail was fluffier, his ears were bigger, and his face was different. He was every bit as scary, especially as he bent low, baring his teeth.

“Leave now and I’ll let you live,” the wolf said. His voice was so deep I felt it in my bones.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come. Your fight isn’t with me. In fact I’m on your side with the rest of your kind, Locanis. We can kill her together.” The cat tried to move around the wolf, but the wolf blocked him from passing.

“No.”

The cat growled and sent a ball of light at the wolf. The wolf chuckled, batting the light away. “How does it feel to know you have the lamest of Vaktare abilities?” The wolf gargled laughter. “I mean, it’s a ball of light.”

“Shut up!” The cat shot another ball of light.

The wolf caught it. “Here kitty, kitty.” He threw the ball of light back.

The cat yowled, diving at the wolf.

They rammed into each other, their teeth snapping and tearing into the other’s fur. They rolled on the ground. Dirt kicked up around them, making their fight harder to see.

I watched the battle in amazement. Too stunned to do anything else. The creatures were like none I’d ever seen. Certain features made them obviously a cat or a dog, but they were much too big, their limbs too long. Plus they spoke English, like me, which was stranger still.

It suddenly occurred to me that I was in the presence of horrid beasts, and that I should run.

The cat roared in pain and the combatants broke apart. Panting, the cat said, “Look at her. She’s weak. Your mission is to kill her. Now’s your chance.”

The wolf barked once. “My orders are none of your business. Now either you leave or I kill you.”

The cat laughed. “You’ve gone soft. What happened to the fearless Locanis I heard stories about? You’re supposed to be a cold-blooded killer, not a simpering pup.”

The wolf was on the cat before he had a chance to defend himself.

In the distance I heard another howl and then several more. The blond wolf’s nose came up. He shook his head. “Get out of here!” He yelled those words at me.

“What? I—”

The cat took off down the hill.

The wolf perked his ears. They twitched and turned, listening.

“Hey,” I called after the wolf. “What’s going on?”

He wouldn’t look at me.

“Hey,” I yelled again, feeling a strong need to see his face. I knew if I did everything would be okay.

“Shut up. Get out of here. You don’t know what you’re doing and you’re going to get yourself killed.” He ran in the opposite direction of the cat.

I was suddenly very alone and very frightened. The wolf was right. If he hadn’t come along I’d be dead. I reached out after him. “Thank yo—“ I yelled as I glanced down at my hand but it wasn’t a normal hand. It was large and the back was covered with honey brown fur. The claws were long and pointed. I thought about what I’d been doing outside, on the mountain, before the other cat showed up. I’d been hunting.

Was I like him? A creature?

Feeling a strong need to find out, I dashed toward my house, past trees of pine and ash. I jumped over large bushes and wild strawberry patches. I ran through tiny trickling streams, burrowed under brush, and snapped at the heels of a family of elk I came upon. There was only one thought and it pushed me to run faster than I ever believed was possible.

I needed to see what I was.

I would check my reflection in the pool behind our house. When I came to the border of the Cavanaugh land, I stopped. I’d forgotten about the super tall chain link fence that went all the way around the back part of our property. How had I gotten out? I clawed my way up the fence. At the top was barbed wire. With effort I climbed over, though much of my fur snagged on the barbs. Jumping to the ground I ran to the pool and then slid to a stop.

My pulse raced with apprehension. Peering over the edge, I saw what I’d been afraid of. “No.” I quickly stepped back, took a deep breath and tried again. The beast was still there, staring at me with a horrified expression. I touched a paw to my face, watching it move the way my brain told it to. Except for my eyes, I didn’t recognize myself. Fizban had told me I was a Vaktare. Was the hideous creature staring back a Vaktare?

“How did I get this way?” I whispered the words, feeling those blasted tears push at my eyes again. I roared. “I am a beast!” The thought made me sadder than I’d ever been. My parents were gone and I had no idea what was happening to me. I couldn’t even call them and ask. The numbers I had for my mom and dad had been disconnected.

A pile of sadness seemed to bury me.

I walked over to one of the patio lounge chairs and tried to climb on. My claws tore through the polyester. But I didn’t care. I rested my head against the part that was still whole and closed my eyes.

“It’s all a dream, Beatrice. It’s all a dream.”

Ten
Naked And Tangled Up

When I opened my eyes I was shocked at how bright my room was. Seconds later I realized I wasn’t in my room. I wasn’t even on my window seat. I was outside. Birds chirped in the pine trees nearby. Squirrels prattled on at each other as they searched for nuts. The smell of pine and chlorine immediately told me I was by the pool. Shocked, I tried to stand, but my limbs were tangled within the broken patio chair.

That’s when I remembered last night. There’d been a large cat with the blue eyes. He’d tried to kill me. And the huge blond wolf. The cat had called him Locanis. Was that his name or his species? Whatever he was, the wolf had protected me. And then I’d seen my reflection in the pool.

I was like the black one, a large, weird, talking cat. I shuddered in dismay. If it had been a dream, how had I ended up outside in the exact spot where I’d lay down in my dream? Before I could find an answer, I heard my name in the distance.

“Beatrice,” Adam called, an edge of fear in his voice.

“Miss Cavanaugh.” That was Isaac.

“I’m over here,” I tried to holler, but the words got caught in my throat.

“Bea. Bea, it’s me, Will. Where are you?” He sounded close.

“Here,” I called. The word came out raspy like I smoked two packs a day.

A shadow passed over my face. I squinted, trying to see who it was. “I seem to be wrapped up in . . .”

Will laughed. “What happened?” He leaned down and started to unwind the polyester material from my legs. His hands brushed my backside and I realized with a start that I was naked.

I screamed, quickly covering up as much as possible.

Will laughed harder. “Naked and tangled up. It must’ve been some party last night.”

“I—no.” I felt my whole body blush, from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.

“Miss Cavanaugh.” Isaac found me next.

Where Will was just standing there staring, Isaac quickly took off his jacket and threw it over me. “Thank you, Isaac.” I tried to cover myself but I was still mostly tangled.

Adam burst through the two men and bent beside me. “What the hell?” He ripped at the stupid lounge chair until I was free. Then he picked me up, making sure I was covered and practically ran toward the house.

“Wait for me,” Will called.

“Isaac, will you make sure Will leaves?” I asked, my gaze catching the butler’s.

“Of course. If you would,” I heard Isaac say.

Adam mumbled something under his breath.

“What?” I asked, mortified but trying not to be.

“I don’t like that kid.”

“Who, Will?” I shrugged, which made Isaac’s jacket fall off my shoulder and slide down my chest so I was exposed. I gasped.

Adam kept his eyes forward. “Don’t talk. Don’t move until I say so.”

I glanced up at his face. He was clenching his teeth, his jaw flexing and un-flexing. “You’re kind of bossy,” I said, surprised.

At my words his bright eyes found mine. He made a point of focusing only on my face. “Shhhhh.” Then he faced forward, opening the back door, walking through the living room, down the hall, and up the stairs. When he reached my room, he kicked open the door and basically tossed me on the bed. My limbs went flying, the jacket all but coming off. My face burned, embarrassed. The door slammed shut and I was alone.

“Rude.”

I thought I heard a bark of laughter from the other side of the door. “When you’re decent come find me.”

“Fine.” I jumped off the bed and ran into the bathroom, desperate to see my face. I was dirty, but still me. There were no sharp teeth. There wasn’t any fur. No claws or paws. I sighed. “Sleepwalking?” I thought aloud.

“More like shifting,” Fizban said from my cell phone.

I yelped. “How did you get in here?” I was asking my phone, which hadn’t been in the bathroom moments ago.

Fizban answered. “I can be anything. Why would you think I couldn’t move your phone?”

I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart.

Fizban popped out of my cell phone and was suddenly sitting on my toilet seat. The ends of her long red hair rested in her lap. She was dressed in fingerless gloves, a dress that’d seen better days and shoes with holes in the toes.

“Why are you dressed like Raggedy Ann?”

“Why are you not dressed at all?” She smirked when I suddenly reached for a towel and wrapped it around myself.

“I’m in the bathroom, where I should have privacy,” I sputtered.

“Uh-huh. Well get in.” The water in the shower turned on.

“Not with you in here.” The shower was a snail cove, which meant I went inside the shower and had privacy, but knowing her, she’d climb in too.

“I solemnly swear not to peek.” As she spoke, she raised her right hand.

“Fine.” The faster I finished, the faster I could find Adam. I walked into the shower, hung my towel on a hook nearby and stepped into the water.

“So, tell me how you’ve been?”

I snorted. “You probably know more than I do.”

“Perhaps, but I want to hear you tell it.”

She sounded suspiciously close. “I was shopping yesterday when I was overwhelmed by all of these emotions. I fell from the second story. Luckily Adam caught me.” I smiled at the thought of him. It was weird that I already cared for him. Cared. Yep that was the right word. I cared. For him and Isaac and Mrs. Dotts.

“I see. And what have you learned about the Vaktare?”

“Nothing,” I huffed, rinsing out my hair.

“That’s not true.”

I glanced around the corner. She stood right next to the opening.

“Get back,” I hissed.

She laughed. “Tell me what you’ve learned.”

I thought about it. “I can tell you what I think I’ve learned.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Last night I thought I was dreaming and a big black cat tried to kill me. Then a large wolf saved me. And I—I saw my reflection.

“And?”

“There was a cat or a Vaktare staring back, which means I’m a Vaktare.” I ran a razor over my soapy armpits. “The evil Vaktare, the one who tried to kill me, he called the wolf ‘Locanis’ but I don’t know if it’s the wolf’s name or his species.”

“Wow. See. You have learned a lot.” She stuck her head around the corner.

I screamed, cutting myself with the razor. Blood immediately formed. “Ouch. Dammit. You said you wouldn’t peek.”

“I say a lot of things.” She moved her head back around the corner, out of sight.

I rinsed the blood and waited for more. But none came. “So a Vaktare is a big hairy cat-beast. And I’m one of them?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Okay. And how did this happen? Did you turn me into one of these Vaktare when you cursed me?”

She peeked around the corner again, but this time I was prepared and splashed water in her face. She let out a yelp and moved back. “The curse isn’t really a curse. It’s more of a reverse curse.”

“What? You’re not making any sense?” I turned off the water and grabbed a clean towel.

She zipped her lips and then locked them with an invisible key.

“You aren’t going to tell me?”

She unzipped her lips. “Part of breaking the curse, or reversing the curse, is that you need to be the one to figure out what’s going on. If I help you, then you’ve really learned nothing. You need to experience what your life is truly about.”

“Oh, great. Like last night?” I opened the bathroom door and went into my closet. I wondered if she would follow or if she were somehow attached to my phone.

She followed.

“Can I get a little privacy? Please?” I asked with extra sincerity, batting my lashes.

Fizban laughed. “You’ve already changed, Beatrice. I hope it’s enough to save everyone.” She skipped out of the closet.

“Save? Who? My mom and dad?” I pulled on a lilac bra and undies.

“Sure, them and more. A lot has happened in eighteen years.”

I pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a lilac peasant top. “I don’t understand.” Looking back, the last eighteen years didn’t seem real now I could actually feel. “Are you talking about my ability to experience emotions now? Why couldn’t I before?” I quickly buckled on a pair of wedge heel sandals. Coming out of the closet, I went on, “My emotions are wonky. I cry constantly.”

Fizban was sitting on my bed flipping through a magazine. “Last night you shifted. It means your true nature is returning much faster than we—I expected. You need to be careful.”

“No kidding.” I opened my bedroom door. “Celeste,” I called out of habit before I remembered she was gone. Adam had replaced her. I glanced down the hall. It was empty. Isaac opened the bedroom door across from mine.

“Isaac,” I said, surprised.

“Miss Cavanaugh. I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of helping Adam move into this bedroom. I think it might be wise if he were closer to you.”

I turned my head, trying to figure out if he were being honest. That he’d done something so huge without my consent would’ve been grounds for dismissal in the past. He never would’ve tried it with my mom and dad around. Isaac grabbed the ends of his vest. “I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped, Miss Cavanaugh. I’m just worried.”

I let out a breath. “It’s okay, Isaac. I appreciate your concern.” Adam appeared behind Isaac.

“It’s for the best,” he said, bossily.

I lifted my chin. “I agree. It’s like Isaac read my mind.” I tried to slam the door but Adam stuck his foot in the way.

“Allow me to do your hair, Miss Cavanaugh.” He winked, his face filled with mischief.

“You’re acting weird.”

He chuckled as he walked into the closet. “Have a seat, Miss Cavanaugh.”

I did as he asked, wondering absently where Fizban had gone. Adam picked up the brush and started on my hair.

“My weirdness is in direct correlation to your weirdness. So it’s your fault, you know.”

My cheeks burned red.

Adam bent down so that I could see his handsome face in the mirror next to mine. “I’m sorry, Miss Cavanaugh.” He nudged my cheek with his. I thought about how I would’ve reacted to such familiarity a few days ago. I would’ve had him arrested. At least fired. But he’d saved my life. He’d stayed up the entire night making sure I was okay. He . . .

“I already told you to call me Beatrice,” I said, pretending to study my hands. They trembled slightly.

“Yes, Beatrice.” He held my gaze.

A burst of pain seared my heart. It had become almost bearable. Sometimes I forgot it was there. But at that moment, the way he looked at me, it came back with fervor. It was so strong it nearly knocked the wind out of me. I couldn’t put my finger on what the feeling was though.

Adam leaned his cheek against mine. “What is it?”

Inside the fireworks I’d felt before suddenly turned into falling rose petals. “I—I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

He stood up and continued working the knots out of my hair.

I tilted the mirror so that I could see his face. “Adam?” My whole body started to shake and I realized I was scared. But I needed to tell him. He had to know what happened last night.

“What is it, Beatrice?” he asked, his eyes filled with warmth.

“If you need to freak out, it’s okay. Feel free to freak out.”

Adam chuckled. It was full of kindness. “If the urge arises, I’ll be sure to freak out.”

“But don’t leave,” I said, worrying my hands.

“Beatrice Cavanaugh, you have my word that I will not leave.” His eyes were serious. His mouth set.

I wanted to believe him. I hoped he was telling the truth. “Last night. I . . . had what I thought was a dream, but it wasn’t.” I told him what happened. About the black cat and the blond wolf and about seeing myself in the pool. When I finished I said, “I believe a Vaktare is a cat-type thing.” I couldn’t hold his gaze any longer. “And I’m a Vaktare so that makes me one of those . . . creatures.” At some point during the story he’d paused in brushing my hair. I couldn’t read the expression on his face. “Are you freaking out?”

He began brushing again, his touch tender. “It’s quite a story, Beatrice.”

“You saw the way I was tangled in the chair?”

He nodded.

“And I was naked,” I whispered.

He smiled at that.

“So you’re like a werewolf, except a cat?” Adam divided my hair into three thick strands and began braiding it.

“Pretty much,” I said, thinking it over. I’d seen at least one movie with a werewolf in it. In my changed form I was hairy and had large teeth. I liked to hunt. But not people. I shuddered at the thought. “I’ve been craving red meat. And I’ve had a need to sleep under the moon.” I shrugged. “You’ve seen the changes I’ve been going through. Fizban told me I shifted, whatever that means.”

“Wait,” he wrapped the end of my hair in a tie. “Fizban? When did you talk to her?”

“While I was in the shower.”

“She was here?” Adam turned me around and started to work on my face.

“Yes.”

“So now what?” He brushed some mascara on my lashes.

“Now I need to call the number in that box and see where it leads.”

Adam finished my makeup and I stood up. Together we walked over to the box. I opened it, since it would only respond to my touch, and took out the paper. Adam handed me my phone. I dialed the number.

”Hello.”

“Yes, hello. My name is Beatrice Cavanaugh. I need to speak with Adam Henry.” I glanced at Adam, curious about whether he thought it was weird that his name was so similar to the one in the box, to the man on the phone.

“Well, Ms. Cavanaugh today is your lucky day. I am Adam Henry.”

I swallowed, suddenly nervous. If he didn’t have the answers I needed, I’d be lost. “Have you heard of the Vaktare?” I figured I might as well get right to the point.

The other end was silent for several long seconds. My Adam mouthed, “What’s going on?”

Shrugging, I said, “Mr. Henry? Are you still there?”

“How soon can you be in Boston?”

I shook my head, confused. “I don’t know. Soon, I guess.” My father owned a private jet.

“Excellent. Do not allow your flight to land after midnight.” He paused a moment. “The sooner you get here the better.”

I didn’t know this man. He could be a total creep. “It’s okay, your father and mother know me. Their names are Fisher and Lenora, correct?”

“Yes, but anyone could know that.”

The other line was silent again. I nearly hung up.

“Recently you began experiencing emotion . . .” He trailed off when I gasped.

“How did you know that?”

“Please, Beatrice, come as soon as you can. We have a lot to discuss. Call me when you land.” He hung up.

“What did he say?” Adam seemed nervous.

“He told me to fly to Boston.”

“Fly?” His face seemed to turn several shades of green.

“Are you afraid of flying?”

He coughed. “No, not at all.”

I went to my bedroom door. “Liar,” I said with a smirk.

Adam ran a hand through his hair. “Just a tiny bit.”

“Isaac,” I shouted.

He came up the stairs. “Yes, Miss Cavanaugh?”

“I need you to have the plane readied.”

“Oh?” he asked when he reached the landing. “Where are we flying?”

“I am flying to Boston, Massachusetts. Please schedule me a car and driver, book me suite, and have my bags packed.”

“When will you be leaving?” It was obvious he didn’t like that I was leaving him here.

I glanced at the clock next to my bed. It was ten in the morning. “How soon can the plane be ready?”

Isaac turned to head back down the stairs. “I’ll make the calls and let you know.”

“Thank you, Isaac.”

His features softened. “Of course.”

“Oh, and Isaac?”

He paused.

“Yes, miss?”

“Please make sure that I land well before midnight.” I had a feeling Mr. Henry made that recommendation because of what I’d become or what I was. A Vaktare? A werecat. I’d shifted after midnight last night. Maybe he did know something about me. The prospect scared and excited me.

“Of course.”