Page 66 of Tethered to the World
A chair scraped back, and she swung around to see Mason rising to his feet.
“I’m going to kill that bitch.” His form seemed to bulk up, the space around him shrinking as he began to pace back and forth.
She couldn’t help but smirk. “I beat the crap out of her in front of her wolves, and I don’t think she was happy about it. When she came to confront me about it later, Terrance interceded, and we toasted to my victory. That’s when Logan found me.”
Mason scanned her face, as if looking for traces of the injury, only relaxing slightly when he found none. He didn’t resume his seat but leaned on the wall next to the window and crossed his arms, the scowl on his face completely intimidating—and kind of cute.
The grumpy look suited him.
“I’ll head out and question her about the drugs.” He glanced at the others, daring them to deny him, but no one protested.
“I don’t understand why you didn’t just flush the drugs out of your system last night.” Xander downed the last of the green sludge he called a power drink, watching her over the rim of the glass.
A shiver worked down her spine, her whole body going cold. She quickly shot to her feet and began to collect the dishes…only to have Logan slowly rise as well, blocking her exit.
He calmly took the plates and set them back on the table. “I’ll take care of them later.” He collared her wrists, then eased her backwards until her legs hit the chair, toppling her into her seat. Then he leaned against the counter next to her. “Speak.”
She bit her lip, running her fingernail along the edge of the table so she wouldn’t have to look at them. “When I ghost, my body goes to a different world, what I call the afterworld. It’s a place saturated with darkness and death. Most of the time it’s not bad, even quite beautiful.”
She peered up at them from under her lashes to see each of them watching her expectantly, and she sighed, knowing they weren’t about to let it go. “I’m connected to this afterworld. It’s where my powers come from. It allows me to heal, and keeps me from dying. I can use my gifts in small measure without trouble, but when I linger too long…”
She leased a pent-up breath. “Something’s waiting for me on the other side. Stalking me.”
“What?” Mason growled.
“Shit!” Logan straightened abruptly, his hands fisted at his sides.
“Fuck!” Xander carefully set down his glass, looking ready to reach across the table to strangle her.
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Only Camden sounded calm.
All the guys spoke at once, and she lifted her hands in surrender. “The stronger I get, the more I use my powers, the faster he seems to be able to find me in the afterworld. Last night, while the drugs were enhancing my gifts, I could practically feel him watching me. I don’t know what he wants, but I do know everything in the afterworld is deadly. Whatever he wants with me can’t be good.”
“You’re not to use your powers again.” Logan demanded, bending to shove his face right up to hers. “Understand?”
But she was already shaking her head. “I can’t promise that. My powers are what have kept me alive this long.”
Logan growled, but Xander spoke before he could say anything more. “She’s right. Avoiding her powers won’t help. She’s been avoiding them for too long. She needs to train. The longer she waits, the more her powers will become uncontrollable—like our beasts when we deny them their freedom. They will eventually rip themselves free and take control if we don’t learn to get along.”
The guys fell silent, none of them appearing happy with the decision.
“You will practice with your powers, but you willalwaystake one of us with you when you ghost.” Xander’s gaze was implacable.
She was already shaking her head. “No way in hell. There are things there that would kill you in a heartbeat. I won’t—”
“We’re connected.” He ruthlessly cut her off, leaning forward to get right in her face. “You showed me a little of what you can do last night. This darkness is a part of you, and you would never hurt us.”
He sounded so convincing, she almost caved, but she couldn’t risk them that way. “I—”
“And we can protect you from whatever is waiting.” Camden nodded, as if in complete agreement, and the others quickly followed suit.
“No. Absolutely not!” She shot out of her chair before the others could stop her, nearly tripping down the stairs to the living room in her need to escape. She dragged her hair back from her face, her fingers tangling in the strands, ready to rip them out in frustration. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Then show us.” Camden shoved back his chair, and held out his hand toward her. “Let’s decide what to do as a team.”
The rest of the guys came to stand next to him, signaling their agreement.
She paced back and forth, the urge to run storming through her veins, and she halted in front of Camden. “Why don’t we deal with the case first?”
