But she had been fueled by those things before, and her eyes had never turned red. She had never exhibited the same kind of physical strength she had when she had demolished the creature’s chest, at least not before Isla.

A cold chill swept down Cassie’s spine, ice filled her veins. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. For a moment, she truly feared that she might pass out. Then, ever so slowly the air came back into her chest and the feeling returned to her muscles. She turned toward Danielle, her hands clenched tighter upon Julian’s as she met Dani’s worried gaze.

“What did they do to us in there?” Cassie asked softly.

“Cassie…” Danielle started.

“What did they do to me in there?” she demanded sharply, rising off of the chair.

Dani looked helplessly back at her, tears filled her eyes. “I don’t know,” she said softly. “But we need to go Cassie. There are more of them. Many more. We need to go.”

Cassie looked helplessly back at Julian, fighting back the tears that filled her eyes. “Come on Cassie,” he said forcefully, helping her to her feet.

She blinked back the tears, nodding slowly as she clung tighter to his hands, unable to stand this strange new world without his comfort. She kept both of her hands wrapped around his right one as he weaved swiftly through the tables, guiding her along. She couldn’t stop the shaking that wracked her, the trembling and terror that she feared may have taken up permanent residence in her body.

Dani reached one of the emergency doors and flung it open to the dark night. Cold air rushed in. Cassie’s scrubs were little protection against the howling wind, her bare feet froze immediately, but it was the most wonderful thing she had ever felt in her life.

Free! They were free! Stumbling outside, Cassie nearly fell to her knees, wanting to sob with joy as she inhaled heaping gulps of blessedly fresh air. They all stood at the edge of the doorway, staring out at the dark, cold night. Julian turned slowly toward her, a bright smile lighting his beautiful face. The moon played over his hard features, lighting the beautiful blue of his eyes.

She couldn’t help but return his jubilant smile, her heart leapt wildly in her chest as tears simmered in her eyes. Julian’s smile widened, making him appear so wonderfully innocent and joyful. Suddenly, he pulled her forward, drawing her tight against his chest. Before Cassie could react, his head bent to hers, his lips seized hold of hers. Cassie gasped in surprise, allowing him access to her mouth.

Unable to move, frozen beneath the gentle press of his mouth and tongue, a fresh surge of emotions tore through her. She wanted to jerk away from him, wanted to pull away from the wrongness of his kiss, but there was something that did not feel wrong about it. Desire and belonging did not pool through her like it did with Devon, but a strange swell of love bloomed through her, curling her toes as tears slipped down her cheeks. Though this was not right, in a strange way it was, which only served to confuse and unnerve her more.

Julian pulled slightly away, his hand caressed her cheek. Cassie stared silently at him, awe and pain filling her. She was an awful person, horrendous. Devon never would have kissed another person. He never would have considered it. And yet she had just kissed Julian, or he had kissed her, but she had returned it with even more feeling than she had thought possible.

And he was staring at her with such sadness and understanding that it was breaking her heart.

Cassie turned away, anger and self loathing washing through her as Dani stared at her in horror. She was so awful she was even being judged by Dani now, one of the worst forms of human life that Cassie had ever encountered. Her fingers lingered over her lips as she glanced helplessly back at Julian, guilt and anguish washed through her. She loved him, she truly did, but it was not the same as Devon, it could never be the same.

Julian stared silently down at her, his ice blue eyes warm and gentle. His fingers stroked over her cheek once more. His head bent to hers, his forehead rested lightly against hers. “Julian,” she breathed.

He sighed softly, his eyes closed as his hand briefly tightened on her face. “I know Cassie, I know. I just needed it.”

She was glad that he knew, because she sure as hell didn’t. As light as a butterflies caress, his lips brushed over hers once more before he pulled slowly away. She remained gaping up at him, unaware of the cold wind that beat against them. He smiled brightly, pinching her cheek lightly as he used his humor as a defense again.

“Come on princess let’s get as far away from this hellhole as we can.”

Before she could respond, or even stop to think what that kiss had meant to her, what Julian knew, or what her feelings about this situation were, Julian was tugging her forward. They rushed onward; they sprinted across an open baseball field before finally reaching the sanctuary of the woods. She didn’t know what was awaiting them out here, nor did she care. She was just happy to be free, to be breathing fresh air, no matter how cold or uncertain the world surrounding them was.

She clung tighter to Julian’s hand as they plunged into the forest, grateful for his strength and his presence. They needed to get free of this town, and she needed to find Devon. Soon. She had to know that he was safe, and she had to ease the torment she was certain he was going through. And she needed him to ease the tumult of emotions and confusion consuming her.

She studied the man before her as he led her easily through the trees, his hand strong and sure in hers. Though she tried to deny it, she knew that her feelings for him were not entirely platonic. She may not feel the same way about him that she felt about Devon, but there was definitely something there. She could only hope that she would not be even more confused about her feelings for Julian when she finally got the chance to see Devon again.