Page 3 of The Night Burning

She glanced at me, her brows in knots.

“How do you know that?” Roman asked, the same question that was stamped on Lucille’s face.

Shit. “I heard him talking to the others when they stopped by the library earlier to look at the records.” Lies on top of more lies, but what I could I do? Shane and I had agreed not to tell anyone about us yet.

Lucille huffed and turned to look at where Shane and the others were, crossing the main square, toward the other side of town.

“Well, I’m off too,” she muttered. “Night.”

“Good night,” I said as she walked away.

Roman offered me his arm. “Shall we?”

I rolled my eyes at him and slapped his arm away in a joking manner, but I hoped he got the hint. It had been years and I still hadn’t given in to him. Wouldn’t he get it? I really didn’t want to spell it out.

“We shall.” I walked toward my house. Roman fell into step with me.

I glanced over my shoulder once more, but Shane and the others were already gone.

2

RAIKA

I knewI was having a nightmare but I couldn’t wake up.

I was in a dark room with mirror walls, but I couldn’t see my reflection because of all the shadows surrounding me. I reached for them, but each time I moved, they moved with me, as if retreating before I could touch them. A loud laugh echoed through the room and a flash of light came from the shadows, illuminating a silhouette: Conri.

A growl reverberated in the darkness. A flash of light. Another silhouette. Phell.

They took turns appearing among the shadows, laughing and growling at me, circling me.

The worst part was when more flashes of light sparked from the shadows. Minsi calling for me, her arms frantic as she reached toward me. My mother crying “no” as she fell on the floor. Rue pushing a metal cart like the one we had for so long. Roman being thrown against the wall.

And Shane in his Shadow Wolf.

He broke off from the shadows and advanced on me, his teeth bared, his claws poised to strike.

“Shane, no,” I whispered. “It’s me.”

He rushed to me, his arm coming up for a strike.

I closed my eyes and braced myself.

A sound woke up and I sat in bed, breathing hard.

What the … ?

A loud, insistent knock came from the front door. Alarmed, I bolted from my bed and raced down the stairs. The knock came again but I opened the door a second late.

“What …” I stared at Shane. “What time is it? What are you doing here?” My eyes drifted down his body and I snapped them back. “You’re naked!” That was when I realized I was wearing thin shorts-and-top pajama set. I crossed my arms, as if I could hide anything.

“Sorry, I had no time, I shifted and came.” His voice and the hard set of his mouth said he was in distress.

“What is it?”

He ran a hand over his messy hair. “Minsi. She’s having a panic attack. Tyren and I are trying to calm her down, but nothing is working. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“It’s okay.” I glanced back at my house, pondering what to do for a moment. “I’ll go with you but, hm …”

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