Page 57 of Tethered to the World
He grunted, but didn’t press her for more details. They entered the trees, the lights and the music of the party slowly fading as they traveled a path only he could see. She struggled to keep up with him, her feet tripping over themselves as the world swam in and out of focus.
Her body felt strange, almost too light, and she couldn’t seem to concentrate. “Logan.”
He stopped abruptly, sensing something wrong, and she swayed precariously.
“Are you drunk?” he asked incredulously, a small smile of amusement playing about his lips as he grabbed her chin, his fingers biting into her jaw as he studied her.
She shook her head, then nearly dropped to her knees. “I only had three or four sips.”
Logan frowned in concern, then bent and scooped her up in his arms. “The others already went home. They left the car for us.”
But she barely heard him as the trees spun wildly around her. One second she was in his arms, the next she landed hard on the ground with a heavy thump, Logan practically stepping on her as he tripped. She glared up at him. “What the fuck!”
He opened his mouth, then closed it, a blush heating his face. “I don’t know what happened.”
When he tried to scoop her up again, she shoved away his arms, and crawled to her feet.
“Seriously,” he hovered at her side, practically wringing his hands when she swayed again. “You were in my arms one second, then…you weren’t.”
Shadows began to tear away from the trees, slowly reaching across the forest to get to her. Particles began to dance in the air, so similar to the afterworld that she rubbed her eyes. But when she saw her hands, she stopped abruptly.
She could see through them.
“Annora.” Logan reached for her, but his hand passed clear through her fingers. “What the hell is happening?”
“I—”
“What drug did you take?” Logan edge closer, an urgency in his voice.
Her eyes widened at his accusation, then she narrowed her eyes. “Fuck you, asshole.”
She marched away from him, then shuddered when he reached for her and his hand passed clear through her arm. The sensation wasn’t painful, more like her limb waking up after it had fallen asleep.
“Son of a bitch.” Logan clutched his hand to his chest, then scrambled after her when she didn’t stop to wait for him. “Annora, wait.”
It irritated the shit out of her that she couldn’t storm off because she didn’t have any fucking clue where they parked the damn car. Logan finally caught up with her, silently guiding her, watching her with concern.
She couldn’t offer him any reassurance, not when she didn’t have a clue what was happening. The darkness inside her was scattered, seeping out of her skin, and she didn’t know how to stop it.
When the vehicle came into view, she reached for the handle—only to have her hand pass through the metal. More needles prickled along her fingers, and she hastily pulled back. She blinked down at herself, baffled by what was happening.
“Annora?” Logan stopped next to her, his eyes a little wider than normal as he tried to hide just how freaked out he was.
“You can see me?”
He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing painfully as he nodded. “What’s happening?”
She blew out a breath, rubbing the ache gathering between her eyes. Instead of slipping into the afterworld, she was pulling the darkness into the human realm. “The drugs you mentioned? I think I know what they do.” She smiled brightly at him while her insides felt like she’d swallowed glass. She peered up at him, feeling more exposed than if she’d been standing naked in front of him. “The drug enhances our abilities. Makes shifters stronger. Faster. More dominant.”
Logan reached out carefully, but stopped before he touched her. Then he dropped his arm and straightened. “What can I do?”
Just like that, he offered his assistance.
But damned if she knew how anyone could help her now.
She was worried what would happen if she tried to gather the darkness. While it might clear the drugs from her system, she was afraid her stalker would be waiting for her. She could almost feel his touch ghost along her body, urging her to go to him.
And it was most definitely a male.
