Dark Guardian #2: Full Moon Read online

  “What those dogs would have done to me if they caught me—it was nothing compared with what Connor would have done to me if something had happened to you,” he said.

  He was trying to make light of it, but I knew what he’d risked.

  “Has Mason hurt them?”

  With a sigh he rolled off me. “Not yet. They’re marching them somewhere, hands bound behind their backs.”

  “So we can rescue them tonight?”

  He squinted at the late afternoon sun and rubbed his nose. “We probably could, but I don’t think we should. I think we should follow, see where they’re going.”

  “Are you crazy?” I shoved myself to a sitting position. “We can’t rescue them soon enough, as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Just calm down for a minute and think about it, Lindsey. They’re going to take them to the lab. This way, we’ll know its location because they’ll lead us right to it.”

  I didn’t like this plan. I didn’t like delaying things. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t see the wisdom in letting the Bio-Chrome scientists lead us right to the lab.

  “So what do we do?” I asked.

  “I think we go back to the lair tonight, see what we can salvage. They trashed the place.”

  “Don’t you think they’re still watching it?”

  “They left someone behind, but I already took care of him.”

  I didn’t want to ask exactly what he’d done. Our very existence was in jeopardy. Any action was justified.

  FOURTEEN

  To say they’d trashed the place was an understatement. Clothes and food were strewn everywhere. It added insult to injury.

  “How did they even know where to find us?” I asked, baffled. No way could Mason have found this place—unless he knew exactly where to look.

  “I haven’t a clue.”

  “Someone must have told them.”

  Rafe spun around and scrutinized me. “You don’t think it was me, do you?”

  I held his gaze steadily and told him the truth. “No.”

  He seemed to release a breath he’d been holding. “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you did. I’m supposed to be on watch, and instead I go for a run—and in walks the enemy.”

  I went over to him and touched his cheek. I may have had doubts earlier, but that had been fear taking over all rational thought. “I know you wouldn’t betray us.”

  He shook his head, and I could see the shame in his eyes. “I should have taken my job more seriously. This is my fault.”

  “No, Rafe, it’s not. Just like Dallas’s death isn’t mine. We’re looking for someone to blame. We can blame Mason and Bio-Chrome.”

  He nodded with determination. “You’re right. I made a mistake, but I can fix it.”

  I glanced around again. The food had been opened, smashed, stepped on. Even Rafe’s bike was toppled on its side. I thought I must have been watching too many undercover cop shows, because I suddenly had this insane idea: If they’d hired mercenaries to track us down…

  “Could there be some kind of locating device on your bike?” I asked.

  “What? When would they have put it there?”

  I shrugged. “The clerk at the hotel said someone was looking for Dallas. Maybe whoever it was overheard you talking with Dallas about meeting up.”

  “I did point my bike out to him. Maybe one of Bio-Chrome’s mercenaries overheard me talking to him and confirmed that I was a Shifter. Damn it.” He rushed over to the bike, knelt down, and began probing every nook and cranny. Cursing, he held up a small disk. “This doesn’t belong.”

  He dropped it on the ground and lifted his foot.

  “No, wait!”

  He lowered his foot. “What are you thinking?”

  “If they left someone here, then they must not think they’ve gotten everyone. Any chance you could attach that to a rabbit or something?”

  “Send them on a wild goose chase. I like your thinking.” Grinning, he winked at me. “But then, I like everything about you.”

  I felt the heat flush my face. I liked everything about him, too.

  With his brow furrowed and his jaw tensed, he looked around. I knew what he was thinking.

  “I’ll be fine,” I assured him.

  He nodded. “I’ll be quick.”

  After he disappeared outside, I sat on an overturned crate and felt the tears sting my eyes at the sight of the destruction. It seemed like an omen for what might happen to all of us Shifters. Bio-Chrome, Mason, his father—they were working to destroy all that we’d built.

  And it looked as though they were going to succeed.

  Without Rafe there, the cavern that had once served as our refuge seemed incredibly ominous. Every time I heard a noise coming from outside, I froze, barely breathing, poised to fight whoever came for me. The minutes ticked by as slowly as hours.

  Absently, I cleaned up the mess, keeping my senses alert to anyone who might be approaching. Sometimes the anger took hold and I threw clothes, blankets, and canned foods into the containers as though they were the enemy. Then a deep sadness would well up inside me and I’d take great care to fold the blankets so they wouldn’t wrinkle, to line up the remaining cans so the labels were clearly visible to whichever Shifter might make use of this lair after us.

  Then I realized that we’d probably have to abandon this site. It was no longer our sanctuary.

  I tried really hard not to think about my friends. The pain I felt for them was excruciating. I hurt for Lucas because he was our leader, always looking out for our best interests. For Kayla because she’d only just come into our world, and this was a hell of a welcome. And for Connor because I couldn’t imagine him not being in my life.

  It didn’t help when I picked up a can of Red Bull—Connor’s favorite energy drink. Trailing my fingers over it, and thinking that Connor could have it after we rescued them, I decided to put it in my backpack.

  When I twisted around to look for it, my gaze fell on a shadow just inside the doorway. I released a small shriek before I realized who it was. Relief swamped me.

  “Oh my God, Rafe you made me jump out of my skin,” I scolded lightly as I hurried over to him and wound my arms around his neck. “I was so worried. It was taking you so long.”

  He hugged me to him and held me close. “Sorry, Lindsey. I saw them and decided to follow along for a while, to make sure they’re okay. Connor and Lucas are both a little bruised. I figure they put up a fight. And they look mad. Mason is liable to discover that he doesn’t like them when they’re mad.”

  I released a small laugh at the image of Connor and Lucas nipping at Mason’s heels as they marched, biding their time until they can make him pay. It felt good to smile.

  “Also, I had to be a little more careful, catching a rabbit I didn’t intend to eat. Took longer than I expected.”

  I felt like I never wanted him to let me go, but I realized we weren’t in a situation where any sort of romance would be appropriate. Our friends were out there, frightened or at the very least wondering if rescue would ever come. If I hadn’t gone to talk with Rafe, I’d be with them. It was wrong to feel any sense of happiness, and yet at the same time, I didn’t want Bio-Chrome dictating my emotions.

  I worked my way out of Rafe’s embrace and swept my arm in an arc, indicating the cavern. “I was trying to straighten things up, but I guess it’s pointless.”

  Rafe skimmed his thumb along my cheek, his light touch still enough to cause some discomfort from the swelling. I’d avoided looking for a mirror, not wanting to know how badly my eye had blackened from the fight last night. It was hard to believe that only a day had passed.

  “Not pointless,” Rafe said. “We’ll have to pack it up eventually when we decide to move everything to another lair.” He gave me an understanding smile. “Besides, we’ll need to rest tonight before we start out after them.”

  We began working together to put things into containers and stack them against the wall.

  I peered o