“He said we can’t just rush in and get our families,” I continue. “He said there would be serious consequences—death might be involved.” It was hard to push out those last few words. I can’t stand the thought of my little sister dying.
“He’s right.” Coop doesn’t hesitate with the answer. He shoots a look to the entrance as if he were keeping an eye out for Wes. “There’s no way the Counts are going to let us walk in like it’s a bank heist and take off with a handful of prisoners.” His cheeks flex, no smile. “They’d kill us without thinking twice.”
I give a slow, circular nod. “Wes said he’d help.”
Coop drills his sad, pale eyes into mine. “You need to be with him, Laken.” He swallows hard. “It needs to be real—hell, let it be if that’s what you want.” His shoulders sag in defeat. “It’s the only way he’ll help us. I know it is.”
“That’s not true.” I pull him in by the wrist and glide my hand down over his until our fingers interlace. “He loved my sister. He cares that my mom is down there—your mom, too. He’s going to help us free Casper.”
Looks like Wes didn’t waste any time morphing into a saint. Coop flicks his eyes to the corner. “Sorry.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “Is everything okay between you, two?”
There it is. Coop wants answers. He didn’t beat around the bush, and that’s what I like best about Coop. He’s all about the brass tacks—getting things done. Nothing ever has to wait to happen with Cooper.
“I was kind of hoping to see the two of you tonight.” Just the thought of having Wes and Coop in such close proximity guts me. “There’s something I need to say.”
“Laken,” it comes out sad, so sorry for me, for us. He tilts in his chin, his eyes never wavering from mine. “I don’t think I can. I have practice, then a four-hour shift.”
Coop works at a Mexican restaurant downtown—Maria’s.
“We can come to you.”
He shakes his head. “It’s okay—save the speech.” A sad smile sweeps over his face. “Be with Wes. He’s still the key to getting our families.” Coop leans in all the way until our lips are just about touching. “I swear to you on everything that is true, I will love you no matter what you decide. But you are in no way home free with Wes. Promise me something”—Coop pulls my hand close to his heart—“don’t worry about hurting my feelings, Laken. Just focus on getting our loved ones out of those tunnels alive. And if Wes is the direction your heart leads you”—the muscles in his jaw pop—“I’ll be right there cheering you on.”
The bell rings, and I groan, slightly perturbed because some small, vain part of me wishes he would have said the very opposite. I wish Coop would start a war, set the whole damn school on fire as a felonious show of affection.
“I call bullshit,” I say as I spin in my seat to face the front. Maybe I’m coming across as a bitch. Hell, maybe that’s what I’ve finally become, but deep down, Coop wounded me with his strange show of support for whatever direction my heart may lead me.
Selfishly I wanted him to fight. Maybe I did want a war. The Counts wage one every single day against Celestra. A fight to the finish is in my bloodlines.
I wish it were in Coop’s.
Maybe Cooper Flanders isn’t that into me after all.
Wes strides in with Kres by his side, and his dimples ignite as he beams over at me. He glances back at Coop, and the smile glides right back off. Wes lands in the seat next to me and presses a kiss over my cheek before picking up my hand. It feels like the old days.
But something is still amiss.
Cooper
Ms. Paxton drones on and on about campus safety, but I hardly catch every third word, I’m too busy losing myself in Laken’s hair. My fingers itch to comb through her butter soft waves as they waterfall over her seat.
Wes glances back a moment, miffed for no apparent reason. He shifts and wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. He looks over once more, but I keep my eyes fixated on his mother, pretending not to notice.
He’s on edge, I can tell. That lip-lock he witnessed between Laken and me has him rattled, as it should. I may have played it cool a few minutes ago, but I saw the hurt in her eyes. I heard her loud and clear when her thoughts drifted. Laken wishes I would start a war, set the whole damn school on fire as a felonious show of affection for her. My lips curve at the thought. God knows I’m willing to do just that and more. That was the fuel I needed. Every fiber of my being fucking rejoiced when those words floated through her mind. Her heart dropped just as mine soared on wings like eagles. But I’m not about to let my emotions get in the way of doing what we need to—rescuing our families. Wes is still the key whether I like it or not. And I don’t like it, not one fucking bit.
The assembly comes to an end, and bodies stream out of the massive hall in a hurry as if the ceiling were on fire.
Carter pulls Laken off to the side, bubbling with enthusiasm, and now they’re hugging it out, squealing. I wish I were hugging it out with Laken. God knows I’d love to make her squeal.
Wes nods over to me as I rise. “Coop.” He tosses out a knuckle bump, and I meet him halfway. “Are we good?”
Are we good? “Yeah, we’re good.” The words unsettle me as they jet from my lips. I know for a fact Wes and I will never be good.
Laken bounces over. Her features go slack when she sees us together.
“Everything okay?” She looks from me to Wes, her eyes alive with worry.
“Everything’s fine.” Wes doesn’t waste a minute before wrapping his arm around her, claiming her as his own. “Coop knows I’m back, and that I’m going to do everything I can to get your families out of the tunnels.” He shoots a hard look over to me that says I’ve got this handled—step the hell off.
“Great.” Laken tries to break away, but he yanks her right back and buries a kiss on the top of her head, branding her with his lips. “We should probably get together and figure this out.”
She looks over at me with heavy eyes, an apology written all over her face, and my stomach sinks. The last thing I want is for Laken to feel bad. And, for sure, I don’t want Wes to note one emotion out of tune—ticking him off is nothing short of having a tiger by the tail. Not that I wouldn’t mind pissing him off a little if our families were free.
Laken glances up at him. Her features soften.
Then again, if Wes is what she wants I’ll support her. It’ll hurt like hell until the day I die, but deep down all I want is for Laken to be happy. Wish to God it were me making her happy.
Edinger crops up and injects his ugly mug into our circle.
“Mr. Flanders, since you were the one to rescue the girls, I’d appreciate a quick word with you.”
I helped pull Kresley and Grayson from their respective nooses last night, no thanks to Hattie. I’m still not sure what got into her, but knowing Kres and Grayson, it didn’t take much.
“Sure.” I drag my eyes over to Laken and Wes. “I’ll catch you guys later.”
I hop over the seat and follow Edinger across the hall to the English department. He walks a good clip until we hit his darkened room, and I head in first.
“Take a seat.” He throws his keys over the desk, so hard, the protective sheet of glass splinters into the shape of a bull’s eye. The lights are still off, and it’s dark as shit outside.
“So what’s the big reward?” I lean against the whiteboard. “Let me guess, you’re going to erect a statue in my honor.”
“You like to dream big.” His face disappears like a shadow.
If having Laken all to myself one day is dreaming big, I’d say he’s right.
“Tell me, Cooper”—he relaxes into his seat, his black eyes settle over mine—“did you enjoy yourself at the party?”
The party. I shake my head. Edinger was there—watching, listening. Not that I expected anything less.
“It was a nice night on Paragon.”
“It turned out a little nicer for Wesley.” He leans in over his
elbows. A scowl twitches on his lips before reverting to a dark smile. “Let me put this in modern terms; step up your game, Coop. Wesley had his tongue jammed down her throat for the better half of the night.” My stomach pinches as he says it. “Is that what you wanted?”
“No,” it comes from me emphatic, pissed to hell and back. I try to push the visual out of my brain, but it’s stained onto the surface, indelible—Wes hiding behind my eyelids like a coward. “That’s not what I want, but this isn’t just about me.”
“Do you remember the terms of our agreement?” He connects his fingers at the tips as he relaxes into his seat. “You remove Wesley from Laken’s heart, and you gain me as your supervising spirit for the rest of your time on this planet.” His eyes sear into mine like live coals. “Lose Laken—lose your life.”
“And spend the rest of my natural days in the tunnel.” I tighten the screws for him. “No, I haven’t forgotten.”
“Then how is it you let this happen?” He growls it out, and the windows rattle in the wake of his thunder.
“I didn’t let shit happen. Laken chooses who Laken wants to be with, not me.”
Edinger glares as if I had freshly offended him. “I would have put someone bolder in her path if I knew the jellyfish you’d turn out to be.”
“What the hell do you mean, put in her path?”
A sly smile creeps up the side of his face. His eyes remain cold, his body rigid as stone.
“That day in the forest when she arrived—you didn’t think happenstance brought you to the exact juncture where your services were needed, did you?”
Shit. “I suppose that means you put Emmanuel Tobias in my way as well.”
“You’re smarter than you look. Why don’t you make use of those sparse brain cells and devise a plan to win her heart for good.”
“Win her heart for good.” I nod into the idea, my eyes fixated on the door behind him. “I wish it were that easy.”
“It’s not rocket science. She has feelings for you. Use your charm and wit to your advantage. She’s at a crossroads. Every moment is of the essence. She’s simply one heartbeat away. Seize her Flanders, and save your life in the process.”
I take a step for the door. “I’m not as interested in manipulating anyone as you might think.” And to be honest it sucks knowing it was Edinger doing just that when I met up with Laken in those woods. And here, all along, I was happily crediting fate. “So what’s eating you so bad that you can’t stand to see Wes with Laken? Want him for yourself?” Nothing would surprise me anymore.
He stands to his feet as I walk backward toward he door. “Wesley was never meant for Laken. You were.”
He drills those wicked eyes into mine, and every bit of me knows this to be true—always have. I didn’t need some demented monster to tell me. But it sure feels good having it confirmed.
I barrel out of the English building after my close encounter of the Edinger kind and stop shy of the final few steps. My heart seizes in my chest. There they are.
Wes holds Laken right under the statue of Asterion with his hands low at her hips.
If we were meant to be, then why in the hell would she let him hold her like that? Maybe she’s just playing along. But as much as I’d like to think this were an act to get our families back, a part of me knows she has feelings for him.
Wes tracks his hands over her back like two snakes slithering out of control. My blood boils as the promise of a homicide percolates in my bones. Just the sight makes me want to kill him, and I wish to God that glorified piece of copper would rouse to life and chomp Wesley’s head off in one clean bite.
“I’d pay with my soul to see Wes verses the Minotaur,” I whisper below a breath, and Asterion startles to life. His jaw unhinges wide like a piranha just as Wes leans in for a kiss.
Shit.
I book over using my Celestra speed and pull Laken from his grasp by a good two feet.
“What the hell?” Wes comes at me like a bullet, and Laken quickly dislodges from my grasp.
I glance up, and much to my horror and embarrassment, the Minotaur has restored itself to its solidified glory.
Fucking Edinger.
Wes taps his chest to mine as if he’s pumped and looking for a fight, and I’m ready to give him one—he doesn’t need to ask twice.
“Sorry, man.” I scratch the back of my neck in lieu of knocking him out. “The statue looked like it was about to topple—I swear I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”
Wes glares as if he’s not in the market for bullshit today. “So you leave me to die? Nice.” He nods over to Laken. “Looks like we’ve got a real superhero running around. Too bad he’s only interested in saving one person.” He pulls her in, and she doesn’t fight it. “I get that you’re pissed—you’re hurt, Coop.” His voice softens. “But don’t go taking it out on me, dude. You knew Laken and I were together”—he drills a finger into my chest—“and you took advantage of the fact I wasn’t able to believe her.”
“Stop.” Laken slices the air between us with her hand.
“I won’t stop.” Wes keeps shoveling the soil to his grave. I don’t mind. I’ll be right there with Laken to kick the casket in as soon as she says the word. “Look, Coop, Laken and I aren’t going anywhere. Set your sights on someone else, and respect the fact that destiny brought us together again, right where we belong.”
I nod my way past him. I can’t look at Laken, or I might lose it and go ape shit all over Wes and his sorry destiny-wielding ass.
I know for a fact whose side destiny is on.
Not his.
Wesley
For a second, I think of going after him, pummeling in Coop’s good looks with my fist until we’re both bloodied and bruised, but Laken holds me back.
“No—let him go.” She pulls me in with a violent force I can easily get used to. “He’s hurt.” Laken wraps her arms around me. “I just—I sent him the wrong signals.” She blinks away tears. “I guess I was confused.”
Our hands find one another, and we interlace our fingers. Laken is holding back her thoughts, erecting a barrier as tall and wide as the Hoover dam. She’s hiding her feelings behind that iron curtain, and I can only hope she’s telling the truth.
“Winter formal is coming up.” I wrap my arms around her and give her a spin. “I want to be your date. Come with me, please.”
“Yes!” She bounces a kiss off my lips, and her features melt with sadness as soon as she pulls away. “It’s a month from now. We should have my family back by then, right?”
“Laken,” I whisper her name as I spot Edinger heading out of the English building. “Yes. We’ll get them. Look, I have to get to the library. Can I meet you for dinner?”
“Carter offered to take me out.” She shrugs. “She’s my new roommate, so it’s sort of a celebration, and I couldn’t say no.”
“I’ve got a game at Rice tomorrow—I’ll be back late.”
“Not a problem. We’ll do it Friday.”
“I was thinking about the lake—just me and you.” I run my finger over the side of her face and trace out her perfect features. There are so many things I’d like to do to—with Laken. It’s taking all of my self-control not to haul her back to my room right now. I let that one slip through. I wanted her to hear it. I want her to know exactly what my carnal intentions are with her, to prove how bad I need her.
“I’m ready to do things with you, Wes.” Laken hooks her hand around the back of my neck and pulls me in. “I’m your spirit wife remember? It’s going to be you and me, forever.”
A slow smile bleeds from my lips as the memory of the Ensign meeting runs through my mind.
“You’ll always be my treasure.” I bury a quick kiss over her mouth. “There’s another meeting coming up.” I run my eyes over her beautiful face. Laken holds an exquisite beauty that I plan on sketching out every day of the year for the rest of our lives. “I can have you elevated.” My eyes bear into hers because I want her to know how seriou
s this is.
“Another meeting? In the room of fire?” The look of fear mixed with confusion takes over. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“No, I’m not. We need to push in deeper for the Counts to trust us. As soon as they see how committed we are, they’ll elevate our ranks and increase our privileges. We’ll be allowed to roam through those tunnels anytime we want.” I leave out the fact that I already am. But it doesn’t matter because I want Laken right there by my side.
“I’ll do it.” She never breaks our gaze. “But swear to me you’re just doing this to get our families out. Wes, you’re not going to want anything to do with the Counts after this, are you?”
“I promise you, my first priority is getting our families out—yes, ours.” I tread my fingers through her hair, soft as the finest silk. “Laken, you’re already family to me, and so is your mom and Lacey. I’m going to talk to some people and try to get this whole thing straightened out. There has to be a way to do this without going rogue. It’s better to have the Counts with us than against us. I swear to you on all that is holy, it’s the best way.”
She turns and kisses my palm before laying her head on my chest.
“I believe you, Wes. Do you think we can free the other people in the tunnels?”
“No. The Counts will always need Celestra blood to stay ahead of the game. They can do things we can’t. They can time travel, read minds—heck, they can shape shift, morph into any creature they want, but they’re too stupid to realize it. I can do it myself if I drink enough of their blood. As long as Celestra is more powerful, the tunnels are the only advantage we have. It keeps us on an even playing field.”
She shakes her head and gives a hard sniff. Laken has a heart the size of Texas, so, of course, the idea of a bunch of trapped Celestra kills her.
“Promise me something?” She looks up. Her pale eyes shimmer like stones under water. “When everything is said and done, we’ll get as far away from this place as possible.”