Page 75 of Stalked

Caleb huffed, clearly exhausted by my excuses. “Mercy, if only it were enough.” He walked up to me and placed his index finger under my chin, lifting it up slightly. “Your physical strength has heightened since the Awakening. You need to learn to use it.”

“Fine.” I backed up from his touch. “Just go easy on me, alright?”

“Not a fucking chance,” he said with a grin. He quickly shifted behind me and put his arm around my neck into a chokehold. “Now, try to pry my arm away.” The heat from his breath tickled the back of my ear, weakening me at my knees. “I’m your enemy right now, Mercy. Do what I showed you.”

I gulped and closed my eyes. As Caleb had shown me before, I grabbed his arm, pulled it down from my neck, stepped to the right, and elbowed him in the chest … hard. He winced and backed up slightly, giving me an opening. Now, taking his arm, I twisted it behind him, holding it in a firm grip. “Don’t hold back, Caleb,” I teased.

His face scrunched up, and blood rushed to his cheeks. “I’m not, Mercy. That was all you.” Caleb let out a low grunt. “You can let go now.” I released him, and he let out a heavy breath. He rubbed his arm, making it look like I had hurt him.

Hurt his pride, most likely.

Caleb straightened his back, his hands into fists, and moved his left foot in front of him in a fighting stance. “Now kick me,” he ordered, and I did just that.

I shifted my body slightly to the left and side-kicked him, but in a split second, he grabbed and twisted my foot. My entire body bent, and I fell to the floor. He was on me before I could get back on my feet and laid his chest against mine, pressing down on me. He forcefully grabbed my wrists and pinned them above my head. While he stared into my eyes as if he were devouring me, that tingling feeling shifted from my belly to my nerves. I wiggled out of his grasp, placed my hands on his chest, and blasted him off me. He flew so high up he slammed into the ceiling above and then plummeted to the ground. That time I didn’t apologize because I knew he was okay.

“You see,” I said, “I can just use my magic.”

Caleb proudly smiled at me and rose to his feet. He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead.

“Let’s get some water.”

We both took a swig of water and quickly returned to the mat. Before we could start again, we heard a commotion coming from the main living space of the lair. “Stay here,” he barked.

“No way. I’m coming with you.” Caleb shook his head and cursed under his breath again. We walked in and saw the others on their feet; they were looking at the entryway door.

“We heard the coffin lid opening,” Lily explained, then stepped back until she was standing next to me. “Someone’s here.”

“It’s probably Riley,” I said. “He did say he was on his way here with Amber.”

“He wouldn’t have gotten here that quickly after I got off the phone with him,” Shannon explained. “Would he?”

Caleb’s phone rang. He answered it but didn’t take his eyes off the entrance. I heard another male’s voice at the end of the line, while Caleb nodded.

“Okay, got it. Thank you for the warning.” He hung up. “That was my father, Roland.”

“Your father?” I remembered Roland from the brief memories I had of him, but I also remembered Caleb telling me how his father had been turned into a vampire centuries ago. So, the Roland I had once known and loved like a father and mentor was someone else now.

“A vampire was at the cemetery when we arrived here and went back and reported it to her clan. They’re going to strike by sundown.”

“Does Roland not have allegiance to his clan? Wouldn’t he have reported back to them about me and our arrival here, too?” I asked, but he didn’t answer. “Caleb, is your father on our side or not?”

He looked back at me. “Yes and no. He’s faithful to his clan, but he was sworn to protect the Chosen Ones, and he will. Right now, he’s on our side, but if we come after his clan, he won’t be able to protect us.”

Joel ran up and interrupted our conversation. “I hear them again. They’re on the ladder, so get ready, just in case it’s not Riley.”

The reality of my new life hit me. My chest tightened at the thought of using my powers against an actual enemy at that moment. I quickly stood in front of Shannon, ready to fight for her life?—prepared to fight for all our lives.

As we waited for something to come crashing through, we heard a familiar voice behind the door.

“Open the door, Mercy. It’s me.” We all sighed with relief. It was Riley’s voice!

Riley came in, and he pulled me in for a warm hug. I could feel my knees shake with relief, and I didn’t want to let go.

He’s safe.

A girl with long black hair pulled into a tight French braid, with rose-colored lips and deep blue eyes, stood quietly behind him. I glanced over his shoulder.

“You must be Amber,” I said.

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