Page 71 of Tethered to the World
“I don’t know.” She straightened, pushing her hair off her face. “I know he’s not one of the creatures. I’m afraid he’s like me, but he’d somehow gotten lost in the afterworld. He’s been stalking me for a while, always watching—as if he’s waiting for something.”
Just talking about her stalker sent a chill down her spine.
“Whenever he’s near, I can feel his hunger.” She licked her lips, her throat scratchy, her breathing erratic as her agitation increased. “One of these times he will catch me. I’m afraid if he gets his hands on me, he’ll drain me of my power and abandon me to the afterworld, trapped to wander forever, and he will be free to roam the world, feeding on whoever he touches.”
Xander dragged her to her feet, tucking her against his chest. “We won’t allow that to happen.”
She rested her head to her chest, letting his heartbeat soothe her, wishing she could believe him, but whoever was stalking her was relentless. He would never give up. “You—”
“You said we tether you.” Logan hunched down until their eyes met. “You’re stronger than you think.Wemake you stronger. I promise you that no matter what happens, we will not let you go without a fight.”
Which was exactly what worried her.
Chapter Eighteen
“She’s gone.” Mason entered the house, tossing his keys on the table, a massive scowl on his face.
“Who’s gone?” Camden looked up from the file he was reading on the computer. Xander came in from where he was working on the deck, while Logan continued to put together supper.
“Vicki has disappeared.” Mason slipped off his shoes, then took his customary spot at the table.
Annora stacked up the school books Logan and Xander had collected for her to help her catch up on her studies before school officially started. Since she didn’t grow up around paranormals, she was missing a lot of their basic education. “Where did she go? She didn’t seem the type to run from a fight.”
Mason leaned back into his seat, running a hand down his face. “I spoke with the wolves, and they don’t have a clue. She’s simply missing.”
Everyone gathered around the table. Camden leaned forward, closing the lid of his computer. “Did they make it official?”
Annora glanced back and forth among them. “Official?”
“If they make it official, she becomes part of our case.” Camden glanced at her for a second before turning back toward Mason, waiting for the answer.
“Not yet, not official, but they did give us approval to talk to anyone in the pack.” Mason turned toward her, looking a bit worried. “You should know she disappeared at the party. She never returned home, and you were one of the last people to see her.”
Annora wondered if they thought she had anything to do with it, and she narrowed her eyes at them. Though they didn’t know each other well, the idea was like a knife to the gut. “I can assure you I have the perfect alibi. She was alive and well when Logan dragged me off. After that I didn’t spend one single second alone…you guys were there.”
Xander harrumphed at her comment. “No one is casting blame on you, honey, but it does bring up an important question…you were drugged that night. What if she was as well? What if you were the target, and she just got in the way?”
Her skin crawled at the thought of someone watching her, watching the guys without her being aware of it, and it took her a good minute to push past the terror. “Do you think it was my uncle?”
Camden brushed a thumb along his lips as he contemplated her question. “Doubtful. In the first place, he has no access to the drugs. The drug is supposed to enhance a shifter’s abilities, which is the last thing he’d want. Not to mention your uncle is human. Vicki is enough of a bitch to rip apart anyone, human or not, who tried to take her.”
Relief had Annora wilting back into her seat as the guys continued to discuss scenarios. But she couldn’t get over the one question that repeated in her head. “If she was enhanced, then how was she taken?”
The guys quieted, turning toward her and waiting for her to continue. Logan turned off the stove behind her and joined them.
“Explain,” Camden ordered.
“We fought. She was already incredibly strong. If she took the drug afterward, she would’ve been even stronger. Not to mention she never goes anywhere without her posse. Where were they?” Needing to do something, she stood and grabbed the plates off the counter and began setting the table. “Think about it. A group of shifters could possibly have taken her, but not without her inflicting a lot of damage.” She passed out the silverware, her mind worrying the problem. “But what if our original theory was correct? If she drugged me, then she’s part of the operation. Why take her?”
“Or?” Mason prompted her when she passed him.
“Or she knew the person and went with them voluntarily.”
“Her supplier,” Xander volunteered.
“Maybe they pass out after the drug wears off,” she murmured. “They can easily be taken then.”
Logan grabbed her arm when she went to pass him, tucking her up against him. “What if you were the one who was supposed to be taken? What if she failed one too many times and was taken in your place? A way to get rid of her?”
