Page 21 of Salvation
"Hi, Luna."
The guard broke her from her moment of forgetting their plight. "Hey, Jack."
"What brings you out by yourself?"
“I’m looking for Ella.”
“She’s on the corner that way.” He jerked his head, and she looked in that direction.
“Thanks.” She took off before he could say another word. Besides, she would be in his line of sight all the way to Ella and, as she strode off, Ella came into view. Her friend glanced her way and waved, so she picked up the pace. When she finally reached her, sweat had already formed under her breasts. Summer really was going to be a bitch, and it sounded like she was going to give birth in the middle of it.
“Hey there, what’s up? You look upset.”
“Can I walk with you?”
“Sure. Let’s head out this way.” Ella turned from the corner and headed away from the hotel. Her friend had spent a few years in the military, which meant she had enough experience to take her turn on patrols. It was weird seeing carefree Ella wearing a tactical vest and rifle in hand. Luna often thought she looked more at home in the kitchen baking up some scrumptious dessert than playing soldier.
“So, what’s happened to put that look on your face?”
“Well, first off, some good news. It seems Wolfe can now be in the sun without frying himself.”
Ella gave her a quick glance as they walked, but then turned her attention back to scanning the area. “I heard about that. Word travels fast around here, especially something like that. Whispers are it’s because he has a mating mark.”
“Well, I don’t know if that’s the reason, but it is good news. Now for the bad. Seems while he was out, he bumped into another vampire.”
“A loner?”
“Yes, and also his girlfriend, who he changed.” She launched into the story of what he had told her, including the part where he still loved this woman. The entire time, Ella would glance over at her with her mouth wide open and her brows arched high.
“Holy crap, that’s one helluva story. But he promised to take you to Kentucky no matter what, right?”
“He did, and here’s the best part. Seems the angel who was making all that fuss told him my time was limited. Demons carry for six months rather than nine, so that explains my rapidly expanding belly.”
Ella’s gaze widened. “That isn’t good. You guys need to get going and soon!”
“Yeah, I thought that as well, since we have no idea how long it will take for us to actually get there.” She chewed her lip, a bad habit she had when nervous. “I’m scared shitless. I’m terrified of having this baby in the middle of nowhere. I’m a wreck thinking about Wolfe and this vampire lover of his. What if she sees me as a threat and wants to harm me or the baby?”
They stopped since they had reached the end of the zone Ella guarded and her friend faced her. “First off, I can’t see Wolfe allowing any harm to come to you or his child. You’re making assumptions here, but you should talk to him about it. Share your concerns so he can address them.”
She nodded. “You’re right as always.”
“Has Wolfe heard from Noah?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Well, you need to figure this out and then tell him what you expect. He has a mating mark that I would lay money on belongs to you. I mean, it makes sense.”
“I suppose.” If that mark belonged to her, why did she not have one? Something was missing because shouldn’t she want to be with Wolfe all the time? She should be in love with him by now, shouldn’t she? Yet things did not feel right between her and Wolfe.
“He said she has a mark she got right after feeding from one of his men that left for Long Beach.” While she wasn’t feeling it, she pulled back her shoulders to show Ella she was confident. “You’re right. It’s time I stand up for myself and demand we plan our trip out of here. I’ll miss you, though.” Feelings nor not, she had this child and her own health to think of.
Ella laughed. “I’ll be along. We will find a way to get the vampires and everyone else out of here.”
“I hope you’re right.”
* * *
Follow her instinct,the angel said. Aurora wasn’t sure she trusted it any more than she did Michael at this point. Apparently, she was crazy enough to think she was going to Kentucky because she busied herself by going through what few possessions she had and packed what was most valuable to her into a backpack. It only took a short amount of time to fill her pack and then hoist it over her shoulders. Time to go see Lilith and tell her the news. She wondered how the demon would take her leaving.
