Page 9 of Shadow Spirit

“Do you think it’s possible? That somehow Greg and Decker are both fated to me? What if I only want one of them—or neither of them?”

“Then they, and you, will have to live with the decision. But don’t worry about any of that right now. Just take it easy. Your color seems a bit better. How are you feeling?”

“The migraine and nausea seem to have resolved themselves, but I’m still feeling a little dizzy.”

“Then I’ll leave you to rest. Can I do or get anything for you before I leave?”

“No, I’m fine. Thank you.”

“Please let me know if you need anything. You’re an important part of this clan. Never doubt or forget that.”

He closed the door behind him, leaving Adriana to understand why so many called Colby Reynolds enigmatic. She removed her robe, hanging it around one of the posters at the foot of her bed and crawled back under the covers. The buzzing inside her head subsided, as did the dizziness, as she laid down and closed her eyes.

When she woke, she was greeted by the smell of a food tray someone had thoughtfully brought for her and left on a table. I must have been more tired than I thought. She stretched and then refreshed herself with a sponge and room temperature water. Not as good as a hot shower but it didn’t take as long, either. She pulled on a long, A-line skirt, soft knee-high boots and a loose-fitting sweater. She picked at the food on the tray, eating some and opting to leave the rest until she returned.

It wasn’t until she was popping a strawberry in her mouth that she realized she was restless and wanted to take a break from the abbey and anything that reminded her of her new reality. A life for which she seemed only to have the outlines. She would need to color in the image if she was to have a full life. She was determined that while Eoghan had robbed her of her humanity—or at least, part of it—he would not rob her of her future.

Wanting to avoid both Decker and Greg, she made her way through the less-traveled back passages to the garage and checked out a vehicle. There was pretty much anything anyone could want to drive—SUVs, trucks, sedans, sports cars, motorcycles, and vintage vehicles—all well-maintained and ready to go.

It was a sunny but blustery day, and Adriana opted for a 1937 Bugatti convertible in a gorgeous shade of cobalt blue. She signed it out, grabbed the keys, slipped into the driver’s seat, and headed out of the garage. The road that led into the nearby village seemed to be deserted so Adriana opened up the throttle, threw back her head to let the wind catch her hair and sped past farms and cottages, returning the waves of those who spotted her.

As she neared the village closest to St. Piran’s, she slowed down to a respectable pace and admired the quiet and picturesque seaside town and harbor. It really was beautiful here. Finding a place to park outside a pub, she got out and began to wander the sidewalks of the quaint village. She wandered without any real task or purpose. She was merely passing time and enjoying herself—just passing time. At the end of the road that led back to St. Piran’s there was a large, old stone church. It called to her to come inside, which was ironic given the fact that her coven followed the old Wiccan ways.

Stepping through one side of the enormous, arched double doors, the interior exuded peace. Her life of late had been much like a turbulent storm, the respite the church seemed to offer was palpable and she felt drawn inside. There was no one else there, so she found a pew and sat down, staring at the high altar and the massive stained-glass window beyond.

While she could feel the peace of the old church, she was also imbued with a feeling of waiting. She started to stand but sat back down. It was as if she was in the place she was supposed to be, but she had no idea what the reason for that might be. She shrugged her shoulders internally, breathed out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding, and contented herself to be still until the answer was revealed.

After what seemed to be an eternity, but which when she checked her watch was actually less than a half an hour, she decided perhaps there was nothing she was waiting for; perhaps she was just being lazy. She stifled a smile and stood up, leaving the pew to head back to the exit. As she reached for the handle, a door at the nave burst open, causing Adriana to turn around. A young girl—no more than nine or ten—crashed through the opening. Her eyes were wild with fear and her expression was shellshocked. Her coat was covered with wet, dark stains. Blood?

Adriana’s immediate and gut instinct was to grab the girl and run. She could practically hear the order screaming in her head. Not even taking time to second guess or overthink it, she obeyed the command. She knew from her studies and teachings that the voice and instinct she heard were perception, and she had been trained by those far wiser than her and her own heredity to listen to the voices of her ancestors and her own intuitive power. She sprinted back to where the child stood, placing her arm around her. Together they ran back down the aisle of the church, almost spilling out onto the sidewalk.

Not wanting to draw attention to them, Adriana slowed their progress from a panicked run to a fast-moving hustle and made their way to the Bugatti. She helped the child in, getting her to crouch down in the passenger side footwell. The girl looked up at her with terror-filled eyes.

“It’ll be all right. I promise,” Adriana said as she backed the car away from the front of the pub and turned to head back to St. Piran’s.

Knowing she would have to pass the church, she purposely didn’t drive fast. She just wanted to motor out of the village sedately, calling as little attention as possible to her departure. As they passed by the church, several men brandishing guns charged out the front door, shouting and discharging their weapons.

The time for circumspection and stealth was over. Adriana gunned the engine and roared past the men whose eyes had locked on the Bugatti. The sleek, vintage car sped along the narrow lane, its tires screeching against the ancient cobblestones as she made the turn onto the main roadway. Sweeping past stone cottages and farms, she could hear and then see when the men had taken up the chase in their black SUV.

The Bugatti seemed better suited to a high-speed chase along the old road as the SUV careened around a tight corner, narrowly missing a low stone wall as it recovered its traction and gained speed. The two vehicles raced along the winding country road, which was flanked by lush farmland and old growth timber. Adriana managed to stay ahead of her pursuers as the Bugatti’s well-maintained engine roared, and she managed to drive with precision.

An angel must have been watching over them, as the men couldn’t seem to get off a decent shot and someone at the abbey must have spotted them coming. The abbey loomed in the foreground, its weathered stone walls casting longer shadows the closer they approached. The great gates of the abbey swung open to allow the Bugatti to enter before the opening was immediately filled with men-at-arms. Adriana skidded to a halt in the courtyard.

“I’m Adriana. What’s your name? Are you from the village?” Adriana asked in a soothing voice.

“No. My coven lived outside a village to the north of here.” The child peeked over the open doorway of the car to see the SUV speed away, the men of the abbey retreat inside, and the gates close. Turning her attention back to her savior, the child answered, “My name is Erin.”

CHAPTER 6

DECKER

Sleep had not come easily to Decker. His interaction with Adriana had left his nerves jangling. He’d thought a workout on the heavy bag would help. It hadn’t, and the run in with Greg and then Colby had made matters worse. Just as he began to drift off, there was a knock on the door.

“Captain? Captain?”

Decker rolled off the bed, glancing down at the tented front of his sweatpants. Maybe he should have taken a very cold shower before trying to go to sleep.

Swinging open the door, he growled, “What?”

---