Page 9 of Primal Bonds

“Happy thoughts? Yeah, right.” Evie met Kyler’s eyes. “Better do what he says.”

The doorknob rattled and she froze. She darted a glance at the deadbolt. But somehow either she or Kyler had remembered to lock it in the rush to get the injured fada inside. Fortunately, the door was solid wood, and the shade on the back window was down. He couldn’t see into the kitchen.

Because she knew it was a man. She could almost picture him on the top step—tall, dark and coldly determined, sending feelers out.

A night fae.

She stilled, her breath shallow. Dread filled her. As if she could fool the fae when she knew he could sense them. But the earth fada was somehow shielding them. The dread lessened.

Across the unconscious man’s body, Kyler had his eyes screwed shut. Her wannabe badass looked scared to death, his face pale, his lips pressed tight.

Her heart clenched. That frightened, vulnerable expression took her back seven years to when Kyler’s dad had died and all they’d had left was their mom.

Their mother had tried her best, but those first few months, she walked around like a zombie. Evie’s dad had left before Evie was two, but Kyler’s dad had been an anchor for all of them. His sudden heart attack was just too unfair. Meanwhile, the money was running out. Her mom’s part-time job and food stamps only stretched so far.

Kyler had tried to act tough, but one night their mom had snapped and thrown them outside, ordering them not to come back until bedtime.

Kyler had slipped his hand into Evie’s. “What are we going to do?” he’d asked in a small voice.

Evie had taken a deep breath. “Why don’t we walk to the playground?”

Fortunately, it was summer, and there was another hour of light. She and Kyler rode every piece of equipment on the playground at least three times, and by the time they went home, their mother had calmed down and let them back in without any fuss.

The rattling stilled. But the fae was right outside.

Evie didn’t know how she knew, but she would’ve bet her pitifully small bank balance on it.

Happy thoughts, Evie. Happy thoughts.

Kyler’s tenth birthday. Yeah, that had been a good day.

Things had been better by then. Their mom had a job at an upscale restaurant, and Evie was working at a pizza place after school and on weekends. They lived paycheck to paycheck, but at least they had food in the house.

She and her mom had pooled their money to buy Kyler the latest video game console and a couple of games. Evie had baked Kyler’s favorite cake—chocolate banana, but hey, he’d asked. Now she tried to visualize his expression as he blew out the candles, then tore open his packages.

He’d learned not to expect much. That made his grin when he’d seen the console even more special. His face had lit up brighter than the ten candles on his cake. “This is the best birthday ever!”

Now Evie smiled. She squeezed the fada’s hand more tightly.

More footsteps, but they were moving away. The ominous presence receded.

Evie expelled a breath. She felt the night fae moving down the alley, testing other doors.

She stiffened. There must be blood on the back steps. Had the night fae seen it, or had the rain washed it away in time?

Happy thoughts, damn you. Don’t think about the blood. Not now.

Things went quiet—and then, whatever had been shielding them abruptly failed.

The earth fada was unconscious again. The ominous feeling increased.

Evie’s spine iced. The night fae was coming back.

She and Kyler exchanged a look.

“Don’t stop,” she mouthed. “Happy thoughts.” She set a finger on either side of her mouth and mimed a smile.

His lips twitched. “If you could see what you look like…”

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